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Specialized - Cathode Ray ·CathodeRay

17VP4

High-voltage P4 cathode-ray picture-display tube using magnetic deflection, with manufacturer data supporting wide-angle scanning and typical anode operation in the 12–14 kV range.

Directly heatedCold cathodeCommon cathodeDissimilarSpecialized
Sections
1
Base
12L
Socket code
DUODECAL5
Base pins
5
Nominal heater
6.3 V / 600 mA

Description

17VP4 — Direct-View Cathode Ray Picture Tube

The 17VP4 is a rectangular, direct-view cathode ray picture tube designed primarily for use in television receivers. It features a low-voltage electrostatic focusing system combined with magnetic deflection. The tube incorporates a unipotential cathode, an external single-field ion trap, and an external conductive coating that serves as a filter capacitor when grounded.

A closely related variant, the 17VP4B, is identical to the 17VP4 in all electrical and mechanical characteristics except that it features an aluminized screen, whereas the standard 17VP4 utilizes a non-aluminized screen.

Mechanical Specifications and Physical Dimensions

The 17VP4 is constructed with a rectangular glass envelope and a cylindrical, neutral density faceplate. The physical dimensions of the tube are as follows:

  • Overall Length: 19 3/16 ± 3/8 inches (with some specifications indicating 19 3/8 ± 3/8 inches)
  • Neck Length: 7 1/2 inches
  • Greatest Bulb Dimensions:
    • Diagonal: 16 5/8 ± 1/8 inches
    • Width: 15 3/8 ± 1/8 inches (with some variants specified at 15 25/64 ± 1/8 inches)
    • Height: 12 9/32 ± 1/8 inches (with some variants specified at 12 1/4 ± 1/8 inches)
  • Minimum Useful Screen Dimensions:
    • Diagonal: 15 1/2 to 15 3/4 inches
    • Width: 14 1/4 to 14 1/2 inches
    • Height: 10 3/4 to 10 7/8 inches
  • Raster Size: 10 7/8 inches by 14 1/2 inches (or 10 3/4 inches by 14 1/4 inches depending on the specific screen area configuration)
  • Net Weight: Approximately 18 pounds
  • Bulb Number (ASA): J133-C1

The tube uses a Small-shell Duodecal 6-Pin base (JETEC No. B6-63) and a Recessed Small Cavity Cap (JETEC No. J1-21) for the high-voltage anode connection. The bulb contact is aligned such that the anode cap aligns with pin position No. 6 within a tolerance of ± 30 degrees. The tube can be mounted and operated in any position.

Electron Gun, Heater, and Pinout

The electron gun of the 17VP4 utilizes a unipotential cathode and a low-voltage electrostatic focusing electrode. The heater is designed for standard television receiver supplies:

  • Heater Voltage: 6.3 Volts
  • Heater Current: 0.6 Ampere (with a tolerance of ± 10%)

Pin Connections (Basing 12L)

The tube uses the 12L basing arrangement. Viewed from the bottom of the base, the pin connections are assigned as follows:

Pin NumberConnection
Pin 1Heater
Pin 2Grid No. 1 (Control Grid)
Pin 6Grid No. 4 / Focusing Electrode (also designated as Anode No. 1 or Anode No. 4)
Pin 10Grid No. 2 (Screen Grid)
Pin 11Cathode
Pin 12Heater
Anode CapGrid No. 3 / Anode (internally connected)

Interelectrode Capacitances

The approximate direct interelectrode capacitances of the 17VP4 are:

  • Cathode to all other electrodes: 5 μμF
  • Grid No. 1 to all other electrodes: 6 μμF
  • External conductive coating to anode: 750 μμF (minimum) to 1500 μμF (maximum)

The external conductive coating, when properly grounded, forms a high-voltage filter capacitor with the internal anode coating, aiding in the ripple filtration of the high-voltage anode power supply.

Optical and Deflection Characteristics

The 17VP4 is equipped with a cylindrical gray faceplate designed to reduce specular reflection and enhance picture contrast under high ambient light conditions.

  • Phosphor: Type P4 (Sulfide type)
  • Fluorescent Color: White
  • Phosphorescent Color: White
  • Persistence: Short
  • Faceplate Light Transmission: Approximately 58% to 72% at the center (with some specifications indicating a nominal 72%)

Deflection Angles

The tube is designed for magnetic deflection with the following approximate deflection angles:

  • Diagonal: 70 Degrees
  • Horizontal: 65 to 66 Degrees
  • Vertical: 50 Degrees

Electrical Ratings and Operating Conditions

The electrical ratings of the 17VP4 are established under the Design-Center system. These maximum limits must not be exceeded under any operating conditions.

Design-Center Maximum Ratings

  • Anode Voltage (Grid No. 3, Anode): 16,000 Volts DC (with protective face viewing window)
  • Focusing Electrode (Grid No. 4 / Anode No. 1 / Anode No. 4) Voltage: -500 to +1000 Volts DC
  • Focusing Electrode Current: -15 to +25 Microamperes DC (measured at design-center maximum anode voltage plus 10%)
  • Grid No. 2 Voltage: 500 Volts DC
  • Grid No. 1 Voltage:
    • DC Negative-bias value: 125 Volts DC
    • DC Positive-bias value: 0 Volts DC
    • Positive-peak value: 2 Volts
  • Peak Heater-Cathode Voltage:
    • Heater negative with respect to cathode during warm-up period (not to exceed 15 seconds): 410 Volts
    • Heater negative with respect to cathode after equipment warm-up: 180 Volts
    • Heater positive with respect to cathode: 180 Volts
  • Grid No. 1 Circuit Resistance: 1.5 Megohms (maximum)

Typical Operating Conditions

The 17VP4 can be operated under different typical anode voltage conditions. Two representative operating points illustrate the performance of the tube:

Operating Point A (12,000 Volt Operation)

  • Anode Voltage: 12,000 Volts DC
  • Focusing Electrode Voltage: -48 to +260 Volts DC
  • Grid No. 2 Voltage: 300 Volts DC
  • Grid No. 1 Voltage (for visual extinction of undeflected focused spot): -33 to -77 Volts DC
  • Ion Trap Current (Standard Coil No. 111): 75 ± 50% mA
  • Ion Trap Field Intensity: 35 Gausses (using a single-field ion trap adjusted to the optimum position)

Operating Point B (14,000 Volt Operation)

  • Anode Voltage: 14,000 Volts DC (Note: The anode voltage should not be operated below 12,000 Volts, as brightness and focus quality degrade significantly below this level)
  • Focusing Electrode Voltage: -56 to +308 Volts DC
  • Grid No. 2 Voltage: 300 Volts DC
  • Grid No. 1 Voltage (for visual extinction of focused raster): -28 to -72 Volts DC
  • Ion Trap Field Intensity: 37 Gausses (equivalent to 37 mA through JETEC ion-trap magnet No. 117)

The focusing electrode voltage can be modulated within its maximum range without causing damage to the tube. Under specific test conditions (such as using an Indian Head test pattern with blacks adjusted to be just black, yielding an average beam current of 100 αA on a 10 3/4" by 14 1/4" picture area), the focusing voltage range is typically -64 to +350 Volts.

Socket description

Small-shell Duodecal 5-contact CRT base

General specifications

Tube and section characteristics

Properties common to every published source and operating point.

Heater and base

Base
12L
Socket code
DUODECAL5
Base pins
5
Nominal heater voltage
6.3 V
Nominal heater current
600 mA
Parallel heater voltage
-
Parallel heater current
-
Series capable
No

12L - Terminal pinout

Electrical assignments shared by every tube using this base designation.

No verified pinout is recorded for this base designation.

Section ratings

1 physical section, each with unique specifications.

Section 1

Cathode Ray

X-ray radiationInterelectrode capacitances
Max plate voltage
350 V
Max screen voltage
5 V

CRT-specific electrode/focus/deflection data retained as parameter rows.

Source-dependent data

Operating conditions by source

Each block preserves the test conditions and published values from one reference. Values from different sources are intentionally kept separate.

Data set 01

1961 Tung Sol

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Cathode Ray

Other

  • Maximum Anode Voltage

    18000 V

  • Typical Anode Voltage

    14000 V

  • Maximum Grid2 Voltage

    500 V

  • Typical Grid2 Voltage

    300 V

Characteristic

  • FocusingMethod

    Magnetic

  • DeflectingMethod

    Magnetic

  • DeflectionAngleApproximate

    90 degree

  • PhosphorNumber

    4

  • FluorescentColor

    White

Data set 02

1966 Tung Sol Electronic Tubes 4 of 4

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Cathode Ray

Characteristics

  • FACEPLATE LIGHT TRANSMISSION AT CENTER (gPPROX.) — value 1

    58 percent

    Published CRT datasheet value; multiple values on a row correspond to separate source-table conditions or limits.

  • FACEPLATE LIGHT TRANSMISSION AT CENTER (gPPROX.) — value 2

    72 percent

    Published CRT datasheet value; multiple values on a row correspond to separate source-table conditions or limits.

  • HEATER VOLTAGE

    6.3 V

    Published CRT datasheet value; multiple values on a row correspond to separate source-table conditions or limits.

  • HEATER POSITIVE WITH RESPECT TO CATHODE

    1 V

    Published CRT datasheet value; multiple values on a row correspond to separate source-table conditions or limits.

  • MA%IMUM GRID MI CIRCUIT RESISTANCE

    1.5 mA

    Published CRT datasheet value; multiple values on a row correspond to separate source-table conditions or limits.

  • PATTERN wITN THE BL ACNS JUST BL AC N, TO GIVE AN AVERAGE BEAM CURRENT OF 100 NICPO AMPERES ON A

    100

    Published CRT datasheet value; multiple values on a row correspond to separate source-table conditions or limits.

  • DC ANODE N2„ GRID N} VOLTAGE

    12 V

    Published CRT datasheet value; multiple values on a row correspond to separate source-table conditions or limits.

  • OC ANODE Ni VOLTAGE (FOCUSING ELECTRODE)

    260 V

    Published CRT datasheet value; multiple values on a row correspond to separate source-table conditions or limits.

  • DC GRID M2 VOLTAGE

    3 V

    Published CRT datasheet value; multiple values on a row correspond to separate source-table conditions or limits.

  • DC ION TRAP CURRENT STANDARD COIL 8111 — value 1

    8111 mA

    Published CRT datasheet value; multiple values on a row correspond to separate source-table conditions or limits.

  • DC ION TRAP CURRENT STANDARD COIL 8111 — value 2

    75 mA

    Published CRT datasheet value; multiple values on a row correspond to separate source-table conditions or limits.

  • ION TRAP FIELD INTENSITY (APPROX.)D

    35

    Published CRT datasheet value; multiple values on a row correspond to separate source-table conditions or limits.

Other

  • MAXIMUM ANODE 81 VOLTAGE RANGE FOR FOCUS B — value 1

    81 V

    Published CRT datasheet value; multiple values on a row correspond to separate source-table conditions or limits.

  • MAXIMUM ANODE 81 VOLTAGE RANGE FOR FOCUS B — value 2

    -64 V

    Published CRT datasheet value; multiple values on a row correspond to separate source-table conditions or limits.

  • MAXIMUM ANODE 81 VOLTAGE RANGE FOR FOCUS B — value 3

    350 V

    Published CRT datasheet value; multiple values on a row correspond to separate source-table conditions or limits.

  • MAXIMUM DC GRID N2 VOLTAGE

    5 V

    Published CRT datasheet value; multiple values on a row correspond to separate source-table conditions or limits.

  • MAXIMUM DC ANODE #i VOLTAGE

    -5 V

    Published CRT datasheet value; multiple values on a row correspond to separate source-table conditions or limits.

  • MAXIMUM DC ANODE IM1 CURRENT RANGE — value 1

    -15 mA

    Published CRT datasheet value; multiple values on a row correspond to separate source-table conditions or limits.

  • MAXIMUM DC ANODE IM1 CURRENT RANGE — value 2

    25 mA

    Published CRT datasheet value; multiple values on a row correspond to separate source-table conditions or limits.

Data set 03

1968 General Electric Co

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Cathode Ray

Other

  • AnodeVoltageMaximum

    16000 V

  • AnodeVoltageTypical

    14000 V

  • Grid2VoltageMaximum

    500 V