Difference between revisions of "Find out if an Electronic Tube Is Good"

Electron tubes are almost outdated, but there was one time when the electron tube was in every piece of electronic hardware that received or transmitted Radio Frequency signals or accomplished some other electronic function like amplifying sound. As we will discuss, tubes were a giant step forward in getting wireless transmissions received or transmitted in the early years of radio. In England, tubes are called valves, but if you call them a tube or a valve, they still do the same thing. Tubes are called vacuum tubes, and you can say they are electronic tubes. It is the same function, same thing, just different wording.

Electron tubes are almost outdated, but there was one time when the electron tube was in every piece of electronic hardware that received or transmitted Radio Frequency signals or accomplished some other electronic function like amplifying sound. As we will discuss, tubes were a giant step forward in getting wireless transmissions received or transmitted in the early years of radio. In England, tubes are called valves, but if you call them a tube or a valve, they still do the same thing. Tubes are called vacuum tubes, and you can say they are electronic tubes. It is the same function, same thing, just different wording.

== Steps ==

== Steps ==

#  Tube names are derived by the number of electrodes they contain. All common tubes use a filament or heater, similar to the filament used in incandescent light bulbs. The function of the heater or filament is to heat up and release free electrons, which are then controlled by the other electrodes in the tube. Tubes with a "directly heated" cathode use the filament as the cathode. Tubes with "indirectly heated" cathodes have the filament encased within a metal tube, which serves as the cathode. Triodes have 3 electrodes: cathode, grid and plate.  Tetrodes have 4 electrodes: cathode, control grid, screen grid, and plate. Pentodes have 5 electrodes: cathode, three grids - control grid, screen grid, suppressor grid and plate.

#  Tube names are derived by the number of electrodes they contain. All common tubes use a filament or heater, similar to the filament used in incandescent light bulbs. The function of the heater or filament is to heat up and release free electrons, which are then controlled by the other electrodes in the tube. Tubes with a "directly heated" cathode use the filament as the cathode. Tubes with "indirectly heated" cathodes have the filament encased within a metal tube, which serves as the cathode. Triodes have 3 electrodes: cathode, grid and plate.  Tetrodes have 4 electrodes: cathode, control grid, screen grid, and plate. Pentodes have 5 electrodes: cathode, three grids - control grid, screen grid, suppressor grid and plate.