[Milsurplus] Radioactive OA2 tubes?

[Bruce Gentry]

Niel Wiegand 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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>   
Almost all gas regulator and voltage reference tubes have some 
radioactive gas in them. It's purpose is to ensure the tube will fire 
under all reasonable conditions, hot and cold, dark and light. It also 
helps stabilize the regulating action and reduces noise.  The military 
tended to be far more fastidious about radioactive content.  I was told 
the labeling was mostly for keeping track of how much radioactive 
material each tube contained so the total could be calculated when there 
were large numbers of them. Breaking a dozen or so of them in a small 
unventilated room might be reason for concern, but I have never heard  
of any cleanup when breaking one or two in a typical open room workshop. 
Thoriated tungsten filament tubes are also definitely radioactive,  a 
few are marked but most are not.    

      Bruce Gentry