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Registered Member #135
Joined: Sat Feb 11 2006, 12:06AM
Location: Anywhere is fine
Posts: 1735
Its a mercury vapor controlled rectifier, as you already know. There is an "ignition" electrode at the bottom that helps to vaporize some of the puddle of mercury into a conductive vapor. Once there is enough vapor present in the envelope to sustain conduction, there is no need to continue "ignition" as it is sustaining and conducting. When not in use the vapor re-condenses back to liquid mercury.
Registered Member #3414
Joined: Sun Nov 14 2010, 05:05PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4245
I was told it was an Ignitron, but apparently it's an Excitron
Apparently it's supposed to have a large choke in series with the cathode which acts as an electromagnet, and pulls the starting electrode clear of the mercury pool on startup.
The main difference between the AR64 and AR63, from what I can see, seems to be the prescence of a second grid, presumablt to cope with the higher voltage of the AR64. They both seem to have similar power ratings, though.
I guess I could probably use it with one grid at the ratings and specs for the AR63?
I guess I'd need to test the vacuum, etc. Without the correct data sheet that, and wiring it up correctly, could prove problematic, but I do have the datasheet for the AR63, maybe I could do a bit of extrapolation?
I don't currently have a use for it, though. I also have a smaller, metal cased one, which I was also told was an ignitron, but I've not looked at yet.
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English Electric Exitron
