1534 — Double-Anode Mercury-Vapour and Gas-Filled Rectifying Valve
An industrial double-anode rectifying valve designed for heavy-duty power rectification and battery charging applications.
Overview
The 1534 is a mercury-vapour and gas-filled double-anode rectifying valve designed primarily for industrial applications. It is capable of delivering a rectified current of up to 15 A per valve and is rated to charge up to 110 lead-acid (Pb) cells. The valve features a directly heated oxide-coated filament, two independent anodes housed in separate bulb chambers, and an auxiliary ignition electrode to facilitate reliable starting.
Mechanical Construction and Physical Dimensions
The 1534 has a specialized physical structure consisting of a central vertical column with two lateral bulb chambers containing the anodes. The valve is designed exclusively for vertical mounting with the base down.
The physical dimensions and mechanical specifications of the valve include:
- Maximum overall height: 270 mm
- Height from the base to the center of the lateral anode chambers: 150 mm
- Height of the lower base assembly: 100 mm
- Maximum width across the two lateral anode chambers: 197 mm
- Maximum diameter of each individual lateral anode chamber: 74 mm
- Maximum diameter of the central column: 42 mm
- Base plate width: 145 mm, with mounting holes spaced 125 mm apart (each hole having a diameter of 10 mm)
- Net weight: 560 g
- Shipping weight: 1900 g
The electrical connections are distributed across the structure:
- Anodes (a, a'): Connected via top caps on each of the two lateral bulb chambers.
- Auxiliary Ignition Electrode (ah): Connected via an M4 screw terminal on the central column.
- Filament (f, f): Connected at the bottom of the base.
Filament and Pre-Heating Requirements
The 1534 utilizes a directly heated, oxide-coated filament. Due to the mercury-vapour and gas filling, strict pre-heating protocols must be observed to prevent damage to the cathode before anode current is drawn.
To ensure the proper delay, the use of an external time delay switch (such as type 4152) is recommended.
Electrical Characteristics and Auxiliary Ignition
The valve operates with a low internal arc voltage drop and requires an auxiliary ignition circuit to initiate conduction.
- Arc Voltage Drop (Varc): 15 V
- Ignition Voltage (Vign): 45 V
Auxiliary Ignition Circuit
To reliably achieve the ignition voltage of 45 V, an auxiliary D.C. supply unit must be connected to the valve. This auxiliary supply should deliver approximately 100 V with a current capability of 25 mA. It must be connected between the auxiliary ignition electrode ah (positive terminal) and the cathode (negative terminal) via a current-limiting resistor. An auxiliary ignition unit (such as type E3 108 03) is recommended for this purpose.
Operating Limits and Ratings
The 1534 is rated for industrial service under specified temperature and electrical limits.
The maximum average anode current of 7.5 A per anode allows the double-anode valve to deliver a total rectified current of 15 A in typical full-wave configurations. The transformer voltage limits (Vtr) are specified for standard rectifier circuits.
Technical Summary
The 1534 is a robust, directly heated, double-anode mercury-vapour and gas-filled industrial rectifier. Operating with a filament supply of 1.9 V at 23 A, it requires careful pre-heating (typically 2 minutes, or 5 minutes after transport) to safeguard its oxide-coated cathode. With a maximum peak inverse voltage of 850 V and an average anode current rating of 7.5 A per anode (15 A total per valve), it is highly suited for industrial battery charging (up to 110 lead-acid cells) and power rectification. Its operation is supported by an auxiliary ignition electrode (ah) requiring an external 100 V, 25 mA D.C. source to maintain a stable 45 V ignition threshold.
