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Components and Circuits For discussions about component types, alternatives and availability, circuit configurations and modifications etc. Discussions here should be of a general nature and not about specific sets. |
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10th Dec 2019, 11:53 pm | #1 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK.
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“Solid-Tube” rectifier replacement
I found two of these within a box of mainly used ex-TV valves recently donated. I’ve never seen anything like it before and I thought I’d share it with you!
Phil
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10th Dec 2019, 11:58 pm | #2 |
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Location: Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia.
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Re: “Solid-Tube” rectifier replacement
These were moderately popular and quite common in USA made TV's, they are simply a high voltage silicon EHT rectifier to replace the usual valve one. There are some octal versions too that replaced the 1B3.
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11th Dec 2019, 12:12 am | #3 |
Heptode
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Meath, Ireland
Posts: 551
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Re: “Solid-Tube” rectifier replacement
Looks like a EHT rectifier disguised as a valve, haven't seen one of those before. Thanks for sharing.
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11th Dec 2019, 12:24 am | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Surrey, UK.
Posts: 4,394
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Re: “Solid-Tube” rectifier replacement
Interesting that a US manufacturer should choose to encompass Pro-Electron (i.e. largely European market) coded devices with no mention of equivalent US-type codes- does this mean that there was little European production of this type of device?
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11th Dec 2019, 12:43 am | #5 |
Banned
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Mareeba, North Queensland, Australia
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Re: “Solid-Tube” rectifier replacement
If I remember rightly, these EHT rectifiers consist of many many tiny discs of selenium arranged in a tube. I "have" somewhere a stripped down version which is a phenolic tube containing the discs. If I can find it, I will post pics.
Joe |
11th Dec 2019, 1:45 am | #6 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK.
Posts: 5,553
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Re: “Solid-Tube” rectifier replacement
Thorn 1500 triplers used to be tubes of little discs like that.
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11th Dec 2019, 9:44 am | #7 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wiltshire, UK.
Posts: 13,996
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Re: “Solid-Tube” rectifier replacement
I've seen quite a few similar 'solid-state valve-rectifier replacements' - though mainly the versions made by International Rectifier as a substitute for the classic HT rectifiers in amplifiers, receivers etc.
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11th Dec 2019, 10:03 am | #8 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, UK.
Posts: 8,194
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Re: “Solid-Tube” rectifier replacement
The original types were in a phenolic tube and were developed in WW2 by STC I think.
Lots were on the surplus market and used in scopes etc . I have a couple of the later unis as pictured by the OP, but these were industrial types and on more massive bases Ed |
11th Dec 2019, 12:56 pm | #9 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Bewdley, Worcestershire, UK.
Posts: 4,748
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Re: “Solid-Tube” rectifier replacement
Thanks for the info, everyone. I’m donating one of these to the National Valve Museum, and will keep the other just in case!
As far as testing one of these goes, I doubt that a multimeter would apply sufficient forward voltage, but a Megger wouldn’t cause any harm!
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Phil Optimist [n]: One who is not in possession of the full facts |
11th Dec 2019, 5:35 pm | #10 |
Dekatron
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Greater Manchester, UK.
Posts: 18,711
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Re: “Solid-Tube” rectifier replacement
Those would have been handy when the heater winding (half a turn of EHT cable round the LOPTX core) burnt up on an RBM chassis.
I've never seen one before, and like Turretslug I'm intrigued by what's written on the box. Advert for the home market here. pg45 of the magazine, or pg 47 of the PDF HERE they are 12-Pin-Compactron and octal
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12th Dec 2019, 2:57 am | #11 |
Heptode
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Cedar Grove, Wisconsin, USA.
Posts: 823
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Re: “Solid-Tube” rectifier replacement
It's been ages since I used one. In a few sets the HV rectifier punctured through the insulation, as stated before. I told the customer that it was the cheaper way to go. I carried a few of them with me. both kinds.
Dave, USradcoll 1. I quit servicing 30 years ago, except my own equipment. |
14th Dec 2019, 7:35 am | #12 |
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia.
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Re: “Solid-Tube” rectifier replacement
That was the one, shown on page 47 that I mentioned previously on this thread that replaced the ubiquitous 1B3 and I had seen a number of them before in American sets. They really only became available because of advancements in high voltage silicon rectifiers. They are completely unlike the other type of multi-disc pile high voltage stick seleniums that came a decade or more before them.
There were some American companies that were ahead of the game in the task "replacing valves with semiconductors" . Other notable examples were Teledyne with the Fetrons that replaced the ECC83 and the 6AK5 and VMI (Voltage multipliers inc) that turned out to make the world's best high voltage silicon rectifiers, extensively used in the Aerospace industry. If you ever see a VMI made rectifier suited/rated to your task, buy it, it will never let you down. One of the first efforts was obviously to replace the valve HT rectifier, and for example there are also "Silicon 5u4's" Last lime I looked they were still selling these at Surplus Sales in Nebraska. Have a look on this page, just silicon rectifiers potted in a base: http://www.surplussales.com/Collins/CollAssor.html |
14th Dec 2019, 11:14 am | #13 |
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Re: “Solid-Tube” rectifier replacement
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14th Dec 2019, 3:21 pm | #14 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Haarlem, Netherlands
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Re: “Solid-Tube” rectifier replacement
Looks a bit like https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...180#post942180 though the brand name is different.
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