Cold cathode tubes

[razorrick1293]

Hi there,

I just found out about cold cathode tubes and wondered if anyone had used them in audio or any other applications and what types there are? I think they were used in digital applications wern't they? or am i wrong?

Ricky

 

[DF96]

Neon mains indicators and voltage stabilisers are cold cathode valves.

 

[payitforwardeddie]

I've had ideas about using a 85A2 to stabilise the G2 volts on an EF86.
Any good? 😎

 

[coloradosound]

I think cold cathode tubes means cold cathode flourescent bulbs which I've seen.
Basically a flourescent tube that people use to light up their transparent computer
cases and turn their cars into a traveling light show.

There are advantages to the cold cathode flourescent tubes as to the conventional
heated cathode tubes, but I haven't ever heard of cold cathode tubes for audio use
(as in actually being a part of the signal path), but if one wants to turn their sound
system into a light show like them "show" computers, I'd say "be my guest" and
post the pics.

 

[GMuffley]

If you put enpough voltage to the plate, any tube can become a cold cathode tube. I seem to recall Ken Stevens experimenting with cold cathode operation (2000 vdc), as reported by Ike Eisenson's Audio Dimensions updates back in the 1970s.

 

[razorrick1293]

hmm, ok, quite interesting, someone told me that they had an amp made of "cold cathode" tubes, im guessing theres some cold cathode diodes that might be implemented in some kind of clipping/limiter circuit? and what valves would work with 2Kvdc? im sure the conventional type wouldnt last long.

 

[woodturner-fran]

I've just done some repairs to an audio innovations phonostage which used some OA2 cold cathode tubes with a 5687 to make a valve shunt supply. Sounds nice too!

 

[DigitalJunkie]

There were also cold-cathode rectifiers,like the 0Z4,etc.

 

[astouffer]

There are three element cold cathode tubes with the third element used as a trigger. See http://www.westernelectric.com/spec_sheets/376C.pdf