[Boatanchors] Want to buy a pair of tested 5651WA voltage regulator tubes (new)

[Richard Knoppow]

    Well, not exactly. Light affects the strike voltage, in the dark the 
required voltage is higher. In fact, they work better with some light. 
Some gas tubes were made with a small amount of radio-active material to 
energize them in the dark. They usually have the triangular mark showing 
radioactivity. For a 5651 the data sheet shows a strike voltage in 
darkness of 160 volts and in light 115 volts. I have not seen anything 
about operating in direct sunlight. That would seem to be rather unusual 
and might cause some trouble but room light should not cause trouble and 
in fact, might insure the tube fires reliably.

On 6/19/2024 1:00 AM, Brian Clarke wrote:
> Another problem with gas-regulated tubes is exposure to sunlight. If
> even small amounts of sunlight get to the tube, its behaviour will be
> erratic. So light-shielding is the answer.
> 
> 73 de Brian, VK2GCE


-- 
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
SKCC 19998