100R High-Vacuum Rectifier
The 100R is a high-vacuum diode rectifier designed for high-voltage power supply and voltage-multiplying applications. It is characterized by its robust power handling, high peak inverse voltage capability, and the distinct operational advantages of high-vacuum construction over gas-filled or mercury-vapor alternatives.
Physical and Mechanical Specifications
The 100R features a glass envelope construction with a top-cap anode connection to isolate the high-voltage plate circuit from the low-voltage filament pins. The physical dimensions and weight specifications are:
Pin Configuration
The base connections, viewed from the underside of the tube, utilize a standard four-pin layout where only the filament pins are active:
- Pin 1: Filament
- Pin 2: No Connection (NC)
- Pin 3: No Connection (NC)
- Pin 4: Filament
- Top Cap: Anode
Electrical and Filament Characteristics
The tube is equipped with a fast-heating filament designed to reach its operating temperature almost immediately upon application of power. This rapid heating characteristic allows the plate voltage to be applied simultaneously with the filament voltage, eliminating the need for time-delay relays.
The electrical and filament ratings are:
Operational Advantages and Applications
The high-vacuum design of the 100R provides several distinct advantages over gas-filled or mercury-vapor rectifiers:
- Temperature Tolerance: There is no lower limit to the ambient operating temperature. The upper ambient operating temperature is limited solely by the requirement to keep the bulb and seal temperatures below approximately 200°C. Full voltage ratings apply across this entire temperature range.
- Transient-Free Operation: High-vacuum operation prevents the generation of radio-frequency transients, reducing electromagnetic interference in sensitive equipment.
- High-Frequency and High-Voltage Capability: The tube is capable of operating at higher voltages and frequencies than typical gas-filled alternatives.
- Parallel Operation: Multiple 100R tubes can be operated in parallel to achieve higher direct-current output. Parallel operation is highly stable due to the constancy of high-vacuum tube characteristics and the absence of the "uncertain firing voltage" associated with gas-filled types.
- Circuit Flexibility: When used in properly designed rectifying or voltage-multiplying circuits, the combined system can deliver significantly greater direct-current output voltage and current than the nominal ratings of an individual tube.
Technical Summary
The 100R is a high-vacuum rectifier tube featuring a 5.0 V, 6.5 A filament, a Medium 4-Pin Bayonet base, and a top-cap anode. It supports a maximum peak inverse voltage of 40,000 V, a maximum average plate current of 100 mA under inductive input filtering, and a maximum plate dissipation of 60 W. Its design allows for immediate plate voltage application, stable parallel operation, and reliable performance across a wide temperature range up to a bulb limit of 200°C without generating radio-frequency transients.
