[Milsurplus] Radioactive OA2 tubes?

[Ian Wilson]

The Wikipedia entry on gas discharge regulator tubes states that some of
these
contained small amounts of radionuclides to facilitate ionization. The
benefit
would be more reliable turn-on, meaning lower striking voltage or if the
tubes are
in the dark.

It would be interesting to know how tube that were enhanced in this way were
marked. I wonder why they weren't given a different designation, since they
are
really a different tube?

73, ian K3IMW

On Sun, Sep 26, 2010 at 11:26 AM, Niel Wiegand <nielwiegand at aggienetwork.com
> wrote:

> While scanning through the T-368 manual at
> http://128.205.126.49/images/PDF-Files/T-368-11-809-10.pdf  I came
> across the following warning on page 23:
> > Tube types OA2 used in the transmitter contain radioactive material.
> > These tubes are potentially hazardous when
> > broken; see qualified medical personnel and the Safety Director if you
> > are exposed to, or cut by, broken tubes.
> > Use extreme care in replacing these tubes and follow safety procedures
> > in their storage and disposal (par. 28.1).
> > Never place a radioactive tube in your pocket.
> > Use extreme care not to break radioactive tubes while handling them.
>
> I had not realized OA2s were radioactive.
> - Is this true of all OA2 regulator tubes?
> - Did the T-368 use special OA2s?
> - What's the advantage of the radioactive OA2s used in the T-368?
> - How are T-368/radioactive OA2s marked?
>
> 73,
> Niel - W0VLZ
>
>
>
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