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Power - Triode ·Triode

242A

Power transmitting triode intended for RF amplifier and oscillator operation, with manufacturer data centered on radio-frequency output and high-voltage plate service. It belongs functionally with transmitting power triodes.

Directly heatedCold cathodeCommon cathodeDissimilar
Sections
1
Base
-
Socket code
J4
Base pins
4
Nominal heater
10 V / 3.25 A

Description

Power triode for oscillator, RF amplifier, modulator, or audio amplifier service.

Socket description

Jumbo 4-contact

General specifications

Tube and section characteristics

Properties common to every published source and operating point.

Heater and base

Base
-
Socket code
J4
Base pins
4
Nominal heater voltage
10 V
Nominal heater current
3.25 A
Parallel heater voltage
-
Parallel heater current
-
Series capable
No

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

Triode

X-ray radiationInterelectrode capacitances
Plate resistance
3500 Ω
Transconductance
0.0036 S
Amplification factor
12.5
Max plate voltage
1250 V
Max plate dissipation
100 W
Max cathode current
150 mA

Promoted fields mapped from published ratings/characteristics; additional published values preserved in parameter table.

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

1933 Western Electric Tubes

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Triode

Other

  • Plate-grid capacitance

    13 pF

    Published direct interelectrode capacitance

  • Plate-filament capacitance

    4 pF

    Published direct interelectrode capacitance

  • Grid-filament capacitance

    6.5 pF

    Published direct interelectrode capacitance

Data set 02

2026 Western Electric 200s

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Triode

Other

  • Maximum Plate Voltage

    1000 Volt

    Maximum Plate Voltage 1000

  • Maximum Plate Current

    0.85 Ampere

    Maximum Plate Current 0.85 Ampere

  • Maximum Plate Dissipation

    85 Watts

    Maximum Plate Dissipation 85 Watts

  • Maximum Plate Voltage

    1250 Volt

    Maximum Plate Voltage 1,250

  • Maximum Plate Current

    0.15 Ampere

    Maximum Plate Current 0.150 Ampere

  • Maximum Plate Dissipation

    100 Watts

    Maximum Plate Dissipation 100 Watts

  • Maximum Modulated Plate Voltage (DC)

    1000 Volt

    Maximum Modulated Plate Voltage (DC) 1,000 Volts

  • Maximum Non-modulated Plate Voltage (DC)

    1250 Volt

    Maximum Non-modulated Plate Voltage (DC) 1,250 Volts

  • Maximum Output

    125 Watts

    Maximum Output 125 Watts

  • Max. direct plate voltage

    1250 volt

    Max. direct plate voltage 1250 volts

  • Max. direct plate current

    150 milliamperes

    Max. direct plate current 150 milliamperes

  • Max. plate dissipation

    85 watts

    Max. plate dissipation 85 watts

  • Max. direct grid current

    50 milliamperes

    Max. direct grid current 50 milliamperes

  • Max. r-f grid current

    5 amperes

    Max. r-f grid current 5 amperes

  • Max. frequency for the above ratings

    6 megacycles

    Max. frequency for the above ratings 6 megacycles

  • Max. plate voltage for upper frequency limit of

    80 volt

    Max. plate voltage for upper frequency limit of 80 Mc 600 volts

  • Max. plate voltage for frequencies between

    6 volt

    Max. plate voltage for frequencies between 6 and 80 Mc in proportion.

  • Max. direct grid current

    50 milliamperes

    Max. direct grid current 50 50 milliamperes

Characteristic

  • Grid Bias Voltage

    -50 Volt

    Grid Bias Voltage —50 Volts

  • Load Impedance

    7000 Ohms

    Load Impedance 7,000 Ohms

  • Undistorted Output

    10 Watts

    Undistorted Output 10 Watts

  • Grid Bias Voltage

    -100 Volt

    Grid Bias Voltage —100 Volts

  • Peak Output

    125 Watts

    Peak Output 125 Watts

  • Filament voltage

    10 volt

    Filament voltage 10 volts a.c. or d.c.

  • Nominal fi l a m e n t current

    3.25 amperes

    Nominal fi l a m e n t current 3.25 amperes

  • Average thermionic emission

    1.5 amperes

    Average thermionic emission 1.5 amperes

  • A m p l i fi c a t i o n factor

    12.5

    A m p l i fi c a t i o n factor 12.5

  • Plate resistance

    3500 ohms

    Plate resistance 3500 ohms

  • Grid to plate transconductance

    3600 micromhos

    Grid to plate transconductance 3600 micromhos

  • Direct plate voltage

    1250 volt

    Direct plate voltage 1250 1000 750 volts

  • Grid bias

    -70 volts

    Grid bias —70 —46 -25 volts

  • Direct plate current

    60 milliamperes

    Direct plate current 60 75 100 milliamperes

  • Plate dissipation

    75 watts

    Plate dissipation 75 75 75 watts

  • Load impedance

    10000 ohms

    Load impedance 10,000 7000 6000 ohms

  • Undistorted output

    18 watts

    Undistorted output 18.0 12.0 5.0 watts

  • Direct plate voltage

    1250 volt

    Direct plate voltage 1250 1000 volts

  • Plate dissipation

    80 watts

    Plate dissipation 80 70 watts

  • Load resistance, plate-to-plate

    8000 ohms

    Load resistance, plate-to-plate 8000 6000 ohms

  • Load resistance, per tube

    2000 ohms

    Load resistance, per tube 2000 1500 ohms

  • Direct plate current for carrier conditions

    106 milliamperes

    Direct plate current for carrier conditions 106 130 milliamperes

  • Grid bias

    -90 volts

    Grid bias —90 —70 volts

  • Direct plate current

    150 milliamperes

    Direct plate current 150 150 milliamperes

  • Grid bias

    -150 volts

    Grid bias —150 to —200 —120 to —160 volts

  • Nominal power output

    180 watts

    Nominal power output 180 100 watts

  • Plate dissipation

    57.5 watts

    Plate dissipation 57.5 50 watts

  • Direct plate voltage

    1000 volt

    Direct plate voltage 1000 750 volts

  • Direct plate current

    150 milliamperes

    Direct plate current 150 180 milliamperes

  • Grid bias

    -160 volts

    Grid bias —160 —120 volts

  • or circuit breaker should remove the plate voltage if the plate current exceeds

    175 volt

    or circuit breaker should remove the plate voltage if the plate current exceeds 175 milliamperes.

  • circuit, reduced plate voltage or a series resistance of

    1000 volt

    circuit, reduced plate voltage or a series resistance of 1000 to 5000 ohms in the plate circuit should

  • A

    5 volt

    A 5% decrease in filament voltage reduces the thermionic emission approximately 25%. Either

  • A resistance of

    20 ohms

    A resistance of 20 to 80 ohms of three watt rating is suitable.

  • voltages off,

    30 volt

    voltages off, 30% above normal voltage for 10 minutes followed by a longer period at normal voltage.

  • on the basis of

    5

    on the basis of 5% second harmonic distortion.

  • of the plate voltage. For complete or

    100 volt

    of the plate voltage. For complete or 100% modulation, the plate voltage varies from zero

  • fourth of the peak power output under

    100 volt

    fourth of the peak power output under 100% modulation. In this case, since the plate voltage