I'm referring to amplifier tubes. I'm sure it works the same way whether the amplifier is the best legally produced amplifier or your readily available 1970s mid 80s 6LF6, 6LQ6 ect ect driver/final tube type.
I consistently hear qso's that go something like this "I'm running an amplifier that has one 8950 driving three 8950's, and I'm getting 600 watts out of it".
I'm assuming there's a few reasons why this person is getting that type of output or is believing he's getting it out of four 8950's.
The operator is driving the amp properly with the recommended drive wattage (or close), and has a very very very very loose/friendly watt meter.
The other option is that the operator is driving it with more than the recommended output.
If the latter is the case how would the tubes go?
Would the tube go up like a firecracker?
Or would they just quickly stop working?
If they stopped working because of overdriving, how does that exactly go? Could there be a bang, followed by smoke? Similar to a capacitor? Or will it slowly/quickly drop in output power until there's nothing left?
I've never had nor heard of that happening, and I am curious.
There was a time I myself thought ever watt made for a stronger signal on the other end. I was 5 years old, and belived in the tooth fairy also.. I get and believe it to be word that 4x one's current output will get a 1 s-unit gain on the other end.
Even as a newbie I have never over driven an amplifier.
I never owned rigs that had more than 4 Watts DK or ever thought of using a smaller amp to drive another larger amp. I've seen YouTube clips of people driving 4 watt 6-10 tube recommend drive amps with 50&100 watts. And I'm not talking about the amps that have an option low/hi drive switch. If there's a single thing I've learned it's how to properly drive an amplifier.
So. Back to my questions. Can tubes actually exsplode? Or do they just get soft until whatever it is (gas?) that makes them work disepates? PS I've given up trying to exsplain about a particular tubes rated output.
Those every watt types either don't care or believe differently, and refuse to listen.
You'd think the rediculous cost of the most commonly used sweep tubes would be enough to have one happy getting within 10 watts of a particular tubes rated output/dissapation. Go figure! 73
I consistently hear qso's that go something like this "I'm running an amplifier that has one 8950 driving three 8950's, and I'm getting 600 watts out of it".
I'm assuming there's a few reasons why this person is getting that type of output or is believing he's getting it out of four 8950's.
The operator is driving the amp properly with the recommended drive wattage (or close), and has a very very very very loose/friendly watt meter.
The other option is that the operator is driving it with more than the recommended output.
If the latter is the case how would the tubes go?
Would the tube go up like a firecracker?
Or would they just quickly stop working?
If they stopped working because of overdriving, how does that exactly go? Could there be a bang, followed by smoke? Similar to a capacitor? Or will it slowly/quickly drop in output power until there's nothing left?
I've never had nor heard of that happening, and I am curious.
There was a time I myself thought ever watt made for a stronger signal on the other end. I was 5 years old, and belived in the tooth fairy also.. I get and believe it to be word that 4x one's current output will get a 1 s-unit gain on the other end.
Even as a newbie I have never over driven an amplifier.
I never owned rigs that had more than 4 Watts DK or ever thought of using a smaller amp to drive another larger amp. I've seen YouTube clips of people driving 4 watt 6-10 tube recommend drive amps with 50&100 watts. And I'm not talking about the amps that have an option low/hi drive switch. If there's a single thing I've learned it's how to properly drive an amplifier.
So. Back to my questions. Can tubes actually exsplode? Or do they just get soft until whatever it is (gas?) that makes them work disepates? PS I've given up trying to exsplain about a particular tubes rated output.
Those every watt types either don't care or believe differently, and refuse to listen.
You'd think the rediculous cost of the most commonly used sweep tubes would be enough to have one happy getting within 10 watts of a particular tubes rated output/dissapation. Go figure! 73