866A

866A
Westinghouse 866A mercury vapor half-wave rectifier tube.
Classification	Diode
Cathode
Cathode type	Directly heated
Heater voltage	2.5
Heater current	5 A
Anode
Max voltage	5000
Max current	250 mA
References
RCA Transmitting Tube Manual TT-3, 1940

The 866 is a mercury vapor half-wave rectifier intended for high-voltage applications. The voltage drop is approximately 15 volts up to 150 Hz. To avoid unwanted shorts the tube must be operated in a vertical position and the filament preheated for at least 30 seconds before applying the plate voltage.

Construction

Structurally, it consists of a linear electrode arrangement; a cup shaped anode with top cap and a cylindrical cathode. The socket is a medium 4 pin bayonet UX-4 and the glass envelope is ST-19. The 2.5 volt/ 5 Amp filament is connected to pins 1 and 4.

Operation

Under normal operating conditions the tube glows blue and mercury droplets are visible.

Pictures in working conditions

• 
  Westinghouse 866A mercury vapor half-wave rectifier tube. Glowing with 5mA
• 
  Westinghouse 866A mercury vapor half-wave rectifier tube. Glowing with 5mA in the dark (long exposure)
• 
  Westinghouse 866A mercury vapor half-wave rectifier tube. Glowing with 180mA in the dark.

References

• RCA Transmitting Tube Manual TT-3. Radio Corporation of America. 1940. pp. 64–65.

External links

• 866A and 872A high-voltage half-wave mercury vapour rectifiers
• 866 @ The National Valve Museum
• 866A at Radiomuseum.org