[Milsurplus] BC-344-D

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

Joe,

It is a shunt protector for the input (antenna) coil windings in the 
receiver.  Up to fairly reasonable currents, it limits the voltage applied to the 
coils to the ionization potential of neon, which if I recall correctly is 67 or 68 
volts.  In many installations (SCR-399/499 for example) the receivers had 
their own antennas which were not spaced that far away from the transmitting 
antenna.

Also used in the BC-312/342, BC-224/348 and (as NE-2) in the newer (meaning 
RAT/RAV and later) Command Set receivers.

In a message dated 6/6/2006 6:18:03 PM Central Daylight Time, jfor at quik.com 
writes: 
> carolew wrote:
> 
> >[snip] Behind the tuning dial is a tube/bulb that appears to be labeled NF 
> (or
> >NE)
> >48 (or 43). Here are my questions:
> 
> It NE...  for Neon
> 
> >1. What is it?
> 
> It's a Neon bulb
> 
> >2. What does it do?
> 
> I have no idea. Dial light perhaps?
> 
> >3. Is it stock or an after-market mod?
> 
> Stock, slthough less stock than 20+ years ago. They should last 20,000+ 
> hours.
> They also contain tiny amounts of radioactive material to aid starting. They
> should glow red-orange.
> 
> >4. Is it worth replacing? (It appears to be quite dead).
> 
> They usually blacken if NG. There is NO filament to burn out.-John
> 
> 

Robert & Susan Downs - Houston
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MVPA 9480
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