Skip to main content
Tube Tinker — Electron Tube Database
Alternatives & variationsDownload PDF datasheet

Specialized - Thyratron ·Thyratron

C3J

Xenon-filled three-electrode thyratron designed for relay, motor-control, and ignitor-firing service, providing triggered conduction for industrial control circuits.

Directly heatedCold cathodeCommon cathodeDissimilarSpecialized
Sections
1
Base
4CF
Socket code
-
Base pins
4
Nominal heater
2.5 V / 9 A

Description

Xenon-filled three-electrode thyratron for relay, motor-control, and ignitor-firing service.

General specifications

Tube and section characteristics

Properties common to every published source and operating point.

Heater and base

Base
4CF
Socket code
-
Base pins
4
Nominal heater voltage
2.5 V
Nominal heater current
9 A
Parallel heater voltage
-
Parallel heater current
-
Series capable
No

4CF - 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

Thyratron

X-ray radiationInterelectrode capacitances
Amplification factor
3
Max plate voltage
900 V
Max cathode current
2.5 A
Rectifier peak forward current
30 A
Rectifier forward voltage drop
0 V
Rectifier warm-up time
0 s

Thyratron section; published switching/rating data retained below.

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

1956 National Electronics Industrial Tubes

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Thyratron

Other

  • Maximum peak inverse voltage

    1250 V

    Published datasheet value

  • Maximum peak forward voltage

    900 V

    Published datasheet value

  • Maximum DC output current

    2.5 A

    Published datasheet value

  • Maximum instantaneous output current

    30 A

    Published datasheet value

  • Maximum AC short-circuit current

    300 A

    Published datasheet value

Characteristics

  • Heating time

    30 s

    Published datasheet value

  • Typical arc drop

    10 V

    At stated peak current

  • Ionization time

    10 us

    Approximate

  • Deionization time

    1000 us

    Approximate

  • Anode-grid capacitance

    2 pF

    Published capacitance

Data set 02

1963 Amperex Condensed

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Thyratron

Other

  • Heater or filament voltage

    2.5 V

    Section1

  • Heater or filament current

    8.5 A

    Section1

  • Peak forward voltage maximum

    800 V

    Thyratron

  • Peak inverse voltage maximum

    1250 V

    Thyratron

  • Peak anode current maximum

    30 A

    Thyratron

  • Average anode current maximum

    2.5 A

    Thyratron

  • Maximum grid voltage

    -300 V

    Thyratron

Characteristic

  • Filament heating time

    60 s

    Thyratron

  • Tube voltage drop

    10 V

    Thyratron

  • Ionization time

    10 µs

    Thyratron

  • Deionization time

    1000 µs

    Thyratron

Data set 03

1963 Philips Electron Tubes Handbook V3

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Thyratron

Capacitance

  • Capacites Cag

    3 pF

    Capacitances | Capacites Cag = 3 pF

  • Kapazitaten Cgk

    14 pF

    Capacitances | Kapazitaten Cgk = 14 pF

Other

  • Kenndaten Varc

    10 V

    Typical characteristics | Kenndaten Varc = 10 V

  • Ionization time

    10 µsec

    Typical characteristics | Tion = 10 µsec

  • Deionization time

    1000 µsec

    Typical characteristics | Tdion = 1000 µsec

  • Peak anode voltage

    900 V

    Limiting values | Vap = max. 900 V

  • Grid voltage

    300 V

    Limiting values | -Vg = max. 300 V3)

  • Grid voltage

    10 V

    Limiting values | -Vg = max. 10 V4)

  • Peak cathode current

    30 A

    Limiting values | Ikp = max. 30 A

  • Cathode current

    5 s

    Limiting values | Ik (Tav = 5 sec.) = max. 2.5 A

  • Cathode current

    2.5 A

    Limiting values | Ik (Tav = 5 sec.) = max. 2.5 A

  • lsurge (max

    0.1 s

    Limiting values | lsurge (max. 0.1 sec.) = max. 300 A5)

  • lsurge (max

    300 A

    Limiting values | lsurge (max. 0.1 sec.) = max. 300 A5)

  • Igp = max

    500 mA

    Limiting values | Igp = max. 0.5 A

Data set 04

1971 RCA HB3 Binder 2 of 7

Published operating points and test conditions from this source.

SECTION 1

Thyratron

Other

  • Filament voltage

    2.5 V

    Nominal

  • Filament current

    9 A

    Nominal

  • Maximum deionization time

    1000 us

  • Maximum critical grid current

    10 uA

  • Maximum anode voltage drop at end of life

    14 V

  • Maximum commutation factor

    0.66 VA/us^2

  • Peak forward anode voltage

    900 V

  • Peak inverse anode voltage

    1250 V

  • Peak negative grid voltage before conduction

    100 V

  • Peak anode/cathode current

    30 A

  • Average anode/cathode current

    2.5 A

  • Fault current

    300 A

    Short-duration fault rating

  • Ambient or condensed-mercury operating temperature range

    -55 to +75 C

Characteristic

  • Minimum heating time prior to tube conduction

    30 s

  • Anode voltage drop at beginning of life

    10 V

  • Grid control ratio

    200

    Approximate; stated grid-resistor and DC conditions

Capacitance

  • Grid-to-anode capacitance

    2 pF

    Approximate

  • Grid-to-cathode capacitance

    14 pF

    Approximate