[Boatanchors] In need of a 83 tube for my Hickok

[JAMES HANLON]

Bill,

You wrote:

"Guys,
I'm in need of a 83 mercury rectifier for my Hickok 539...am afraid to buy off? Ebay..don't trust the guys selling. If you have a spare to sell or trade for another tube I would appreciate it. I have a NOS RK-4D32 Raytheon or a tested6146 would like to trade.? Antique Electronics is out of stock and don't know when they will get any in.?
Thanks In Advance,
73's
Bill N3WM"

The forward voltage drop across a mercury vapor rectifier is about 11 volts.  The forward voltage drop across a single silicon diode rectifier is about 0.7 volts.  Silicon diode rectifiers rated for higher voltages sometimes have several diodes in series in a single package, so the voltage drop across them may be several times 0.7 volts.  In any event, the difference in forward voltage drop across the 83 and a silicon diode is inconsequential.  I would have no hesitation substituting a couple of appropriately rated silicon diodes for an 83 in my own Hickok tube testers, a 533 and a 6000A.  My 1965 ARRL Handbook rates an 83 at 500 Max AC volts per plate, 250 ma DC Output Current, 1400 volts Max Peak Inverse, 800 ma Peak Plate current.  If you wanted to be quite conservative, put two 1000 volt, 1 amp silicon diodes from the same batch in series for each side of the 83.

Jim, W8KGI