What the heck does a getter do ?

bereanbill · 17th May 2009, 06:13 PM

This ? has no bearing on anything...just my pointy head being over-active right now. I understand the fundamentals of how vacuum tubes work..all components except for the getter. Exactly what is it's function...and the "flashing" for that matter. I have heard a few different...and somewhat conflicting I might add...explainations. Can someone clarify this for me ? Thanks in advance..

Update on my first build coming soon. I am abandoning the cascaded preamp volumes in favor of a master volume. I am also adding switchable rectifier settings...ss/tube. Film at 11:00 ...

Colt45 · 17th May 2009, 06:27 PM

it gets.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getter

bereanbill · 17th May 2009, 07:10 PM

Ok...so what I had heard is correct in the sense that the getter removes impurities within the vacuum. So the chrome-like coating on the inside of the tube...is that the result of the getter reacting with the impurity or is that a component of the getter itself. What I mean is this : does the presence of the chrome-like coating indicate a tube with little use or does it show that impurities were removed from the vacuum. Tubes with a lot of hours seem to have less chrome inside...I have heard this referred to as "getter loss" ??

AudioFreak · 17th May 2009, 07:25 PM

As the getter does it's job it slowly disappears so a full shiny getter should generally indicate a tube with little use and decent vacumn.

bereanbill · 17th May 2009, 07:51 PM

Thanks...that's what I thought...

17th May 2009, 06:13 PM	#1
bereanbill diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2009	What the heck does a getter do ? This ? has no bearing on anything...just my pointy head being over-active right now. I understand the fundamentals of how vacuum tubes work..all components except for the getter. Exactly what is it's function...and the "flashing" for that matter. I have heard a few different...and somewhat conflicting I might add...explainations. Can someone clarify this for me ? Thanks in advance.. Update on my first build coming soon. I am abandoning the cascaded preamp volumes in favor of a master volume. I am also adding switchable rectifier settings...ss/tube. Film at 11:00 ...

17th May 2009, 07:25 PM	#4
AudioFreak Warp Engineer On Holiday Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Queensland, Australia	As the getter does it's job it slowly disappears so a full shiny getter should generally indicate a tube with little use and decent vacumn. __________________ - Dan

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17th May 2009, 06:27 PM	#2
Colt45 diyAudio Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Canada	it gets. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getter

17th May 2009, 07:10 PM	#3
bereanbill diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2009	Ok...so what I had heard is correct in the sense that the getter removes impurities within the vacuum. So the chrome-like coating on the inside of the tube...is that the result of the getter reacting with the impurity or is that a component of the getter itself. What I mean is this : does the presence of the chrome-like coating indicate a tube with little use or does it show that impurities were removed from the vacuum. Tubes with a lot of hours seem to have less chrome inside...I have heard this referred to as "getter loss" ??

17th May 2009, 07:51 PM	#5
bereanbill diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2009	Thanks...that's what I thought...

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