I found some old tubes. Can I use those?

[Eccu]

Hello

At first I must say that I haven't never before play with tubes so teach me like little boy.

I pick up some old tubes from old TV which laying in dustbin so I wonder if I can use those in some simple amplifier, at least I hope so.
Even some old fashion DIY radio would be nice to do if possible.

I'm not sure about every models because signs was partly vanished.

Tubes:
Tungram (or something):
PCL 85
PCL 86

Telefunken:
PCL 805
PCC 89 (I guess)

Philips:
PCF 200
PCL 84
PCF 80
EF 183
ECH 84

Is there some disadvantages to use old tubes?

[dhaen]

They are all TV valves. They have various heater voltages, but all have 300mA heater current. That's the disadvantage.

PCL85: Was designed for Field deflection oscillator and output. Can be used for power regulator or audio (at a push).
PCL86: Nice Audio triode pentode.
PCL805: Close to PCL85
PCC89: Variable mu RF amplifier double triode - limited use.
PCF200: Also used in TV tuners. Oscillator / mixer - limited use
Are you sure this isn't a PFL200?

PCL84: Triode pentode used as video amplifier (do a search, this one was discussed last year)
PCF80: as PCF200, but not equivalent
EF183: Variable mu IF amplifier pentode - very limited use
ECH84: My favourite! Triode heptode. Used in sync separator and horizontal oscillator / AFC circuits. Fabulous valve akin to a dual gate mosfet. probably useless for audio

[Eccu]

Quick answer... thanks.
So will summary be that, maybe PCL84, , PCL85, PCL86 and ECH84 can be used to some nice amplfier?

I must start to use google to search additional material about these. .


Because these tubes are old ones will they be too old? I mean that are they vanished too much? Or even can tubes vanished like normal bulbs?



Sorry my poor english!!!

[dhaen]

Yes, they do age with use, but can last forever "on the shelf".
You can get a good indication of use with the triode-pentodes (PCL's) by seeing how much black staining there is on the inside of the glass. After much use they have dirty stains.

I don't know any use for the ECH84, but maybe someone can suggest one

When you search, also search for "ECL" The only difference is the heater requirements: Eg ECL86 is the same as PCL86 except heater voltage and current.

Here is a thread about ECL84:
Suitability of ECL84 tubes for audio

Considering that Finnish grammar is 10,000 miles from European grammar, your English is very good

[Colt45]

i made an SE amp with ECL84 once.. it worked ok, and was quite loud actually. (although i was running it at 150% ratings.. 6w vs. rated 4w. and 330v instead of.. 250 i think).

worked ok though.. theyre cheap as hell too.

[Eccu]

Thanks guys...

OK, at first I must finish my Crescendo amplifer (hopefully on next weekend) and then I can pay attention to these tubes. Now I know where to start.

[Eccu]

I forgot to say this.

Some those tubes have shiny color inside of glass. It is more like an mirror than black stuff. Is this bad thing?

[dhaen]

The "shiny stuff" is evaporated barium.
It's called "gettering", and has come from a small round or square "halo" looking object; the "getter ring".
After the valve was pumped to a near vacuum, the "getter" was fired using an RF heater to red-white heat, and the barium evaporated. The barium gettering has an affinity for gasses it finds, thus the vacuum remains "hard".
You may see a black edge to the gettering. That is where it is doing it's work.
If the gettering is used up, due to atmospheric gas leaking in, it goes white.

[becki200]

Hi the PCLl 86 is very nice for small cheap amps, i ve built some amps with this tube. For PCL 84 check www.jogis-roehrenbude.de youll find a PCL84SE there. Best regards Thorsten

[refference]

Hi ,

About PCF80 , it’s a triode / pentode , and you can do a very
simple power amplifier , using the pentode as a voltage amplifier
and the triode as a concertina phase inverter , driving a pair of
EL34 or 6L6 ( or anothers ... ) connected in push-pull .
It’s is a very simple and reliable design . ( Dynaco style )
I can send the basic design , if you want .

About ECH84 , it was used in the 50’s , in some cinema tube
amplifiers ( European made ) , as a phase inverter and driver amp,
driving a pair of EL34 , connected in push-pull .
The design is very unusual , because this is not the main function
of this tube ( AFC / local oscilator and frequency changer in super-heterodyne radio / TV receiver ) and I can not say anything about sound quality connected in the way above . ( I think that was acceptable )

Regards ,

Carlos