Tubes Asylum

• Re: Radioactive material in Preamp Tubes? - Jimmy 04:51:28 03/05/04 (0)
  In Reply to: Radioactive material in Preamp Tubes? posted by tubesound on March 03, 2004 at 17:39:21:

  Yes, it is very low level. I do not know if all tubes have it, but it helps the cathode emissions for a longer life.

  Even older neon indicator lights had a low level of radiation. This kept the 'flicker' out of the light emission. New neons flicker & do not have the radioactive material.

  Transistors & other solid state devices are not radioactive.
  
  

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• Re: Remember when they used Radium on watches? - Matts 21:15:20 03/03/04 (2)
  In Reply to: Radioactive material in Preamp Tubes? posted by tubesound on March 03, 2004 at 17:39:21:

  to make that great 50s advance- glow-in-the-dark watch faces? you didn't have to expose them to light to make them work!
  
  

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  • o yah, i had my grampas, it got stolen!* - muddyshoes 08:28:45 03/04/04 (0)
    In Reply to: Re: Remember when they used Radium on watches? posted by Matts on March 03, 2004 at 21:15:20:

    *
    
    

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  • It wasn't a weather balloon: don't believe the hype! - jusbe 05:27:54 03/04/04 (0)
    In Reply to: Re: Remember when they used Radium on watches? posted by Matts on March 03, 2004 at 21:15:20:

    THEY are among us. Can easily be identified by the octal sockets embedded in thheir foreheads posing as 'third eyes'.

    Wheatgrass and Rice Dream to go please!
    

    Big J.

    
    
    

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• Well....... - Steve O 20:41:15 03/03/04 (5)
  In Reply to: Radioactive material in Preamp Tubes? posted by tubesound on March 03, 2004 at 17:39:21:

  Most consumer grade tubes like 12AU7 don't contain anything radioactive as such so fear not. However, some gas regulator tubes do contain small amounts of radioactive materials to assure reliable ignition at spec voltages. Something like radon gas or an isotope of nickel in the plate IIRC. Thorium is another mildly radioactive material used in transmitting type tubes as the thoriated tungsten filament of directly heated, non coated cathodes. Neither of these uses are probably anything to lose sleep over but they're also something one wouldn't want to ingest either.

  If you have any remaining concerns, I'd be glad to properly dispose of any NOS RCA 845s you might have lying around. Email off forum.
  
  

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  • Re: Well....... - tubesound 03:50:10 03/04/04 (4)
    In Reply to: Well....... posted by steve o on March 03, 2004 at 20:41:15:

    It is sure that all variants of 12AU7/ecc82 or the military variant 5814A don't contain such material? Sorry I am an newbie, these are not gas regulator tubes?

    I have stored my 12AU7s in an box under my bed :)

    tubesound

    
    
    

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    • I received a 12AT7 in a box with a radioactive warning tag from AES.....nt - Jimmy 04:54:24 03/05/04 (2)
      In Reply to: Re: Well....... posted by tubesound on March 04, 2004 at 03:50:10:

      .
      
      

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      • Re: I received a 12AT7 in a box with a radioactive warning tag from AES.....nt - tubesound 05:11:00 03/05/04 (1)
        In Reply to: I received a 12AT7 in a box with a radioactive warning tag from AES.....nt posted by Jimmy on March 05, 2004 at 04:54:24:

        Not an joke? What brand of 12AT7?

        
        
        

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        • Jan Phillips 12AT7 with blue writing......nt - Jimmy 13:12:42 03/06/04 (0)
          In Reply to: Re: I received a 12AT7 in a box with a radioactive warning tag from AES.....nt posted by tubesound on March 05, 2004 at 05:11:00:

          .
          
          

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    • Re: Well....... - obleo 04:51:50 03/04/04 (0)
      In Reply to: Re: Well....... posted by tubesound on March 04, 2004 at 03:50:10:

      While they may not be radioactive....storing them under your bed is a sure way to attract aliens.

      Skip
      
      

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• Absolutely! - Rod M 19:02:05 03/03/04 (0)
  In Reply to: Radioactive material in Preamp Tubes? posted by tubesound on March 03, 2004 at 17:39:21:

  My ex-wife's step uncle-in-law's cousin that was a TV repairman died from exposure to radioactivity. The family thought it had something to do with some tests in Nevada, but the government told them it was the tubes.

  I keep all of my NOS tubes in a lead safe.

  Be careful, the horror…..
  
  
  

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• Yes! - braillediver 18:16:24 03/03/04 (0)
  In Reply to: Radioactive material in Preamp Tubes? posted by tubesound on March 03, 2004 at 17:39:21:

  Yes. So send all of your Mullard, Telefunken and Amperex tubes to me for proper disposal.

  
  This public service brought to you by:

  Mitch

  
  
  

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