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WE316a/VT191 triode

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Diy martin

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Joined 2003
#1
Hello Diy members,

I have bought a pair of WE316a/VT191 triodes on Ebay. Now I am looking for data about this tube. Hopefully there are members who already worked with these tubes. I want to build SE amp and I am looking for a nice driver stage. All info is welcome.

Thanks and regards,

Martin
 

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#4
Diy martin said:
Hello Diy members,

I have bought a pair of WE316a/VT191 triodes on Ebay. Now I am looking for data about this tube. Hopefully there are members who already worked with these tubes. I want to build SE amp and I am looking for a nice driver stage. All info is welcome.

Thanks and regards,

Martin
Click to expand...


316a is pretty useless as an output stage , but should make an excellent driver . I played around with these things a while ago , and found it can more or less be considered to be a lower dissipation 801 . Ra around 4k , mu 8 . Sockets are unobtainium , I made mine from teflon and receptacles from a V35 connector (as pictured , hope this one is not also stolen......) Another alternative is just to use clip connectors for testing

ps That is my kitchen in the background ! Should read : 'Picture courtesy of 316a' . Please do not steal my pictures in future without prior permission !

cheers

316a
 

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#6
Re: 316A

Diy martin said:
Hello members,

Thanks for the info.

Yamamoto is building a tube amp with these tubes ,so it is possible to use the 316 in an output stage !!!!!!

Sorry that I borrowed your picture (steeling is not the right word)

Martin.
Click to expand...

Hello ,
Yamamoto canes the life out of his 316a's ! Did you see the operating point ? I have no idea how long these valves will last at 25 watts or so dissipation . Compare the size of the anode to that of an EL34 or in fact an EL84 . To me , and what I have been advised by folks who use this as a driver , it's 8 watts max . It's a class C rated device remember : pulse operation . Pushing the dissipation to 10 watts or so and the anode starts to cherry-up , where they got the figure of 30 watts I don't know . These things are fragile enough already , just getting them sent in the mail is bad enough , they're such a beautiful valve , it would be a pity to cane the nuts off 'em in an output stage . One of many valves missing from Western electric's datasheet page unfortunately , I'd love to see the original specs/curves for these if anyone has these .

cheers

316a
 
#8
Pushing the dissipation to 10 watts or so and the anode starts to cherry-up , where they got the figure of 30 watts I don't know .
Click to expand...

The tube is designed to operate with the plate red hot. It's made of tantalum, you see, and it acts as the getter when it "has colour". No colour and the tube is gassy. I've been told that these little transmitting types only really begin to sing when the plate looks scary hot.

One of many valves missing from Western electric's datasheet page unfortunately , I'd love to see the original specs/curves for these if anyone has these .
Click to expand...

A spec sheet didn't come with the tube?

John
 
#9
hmmm...

jlsem said:


The tube is designed to operate with the plate red hot. It's made of tantalum, you see, and it acts as the getter when it "has colour". No colour and the tube is gassy. I've been told that these little transmitting types only really begin to sing when the plate looks scary hot.



A spec sheet didn't come with the tube?

John
Click to expand...

Hello ,
I have a GE with a datasheet but it's not very comprehensive . I know the 826 is a valve with this red-hot characteristic but these do not seem to have any gettering , although the 316a does . It would be interesting to know how long these valves last being twatted at 25 watts . The box suggests '50 hours' lifespan which does not seem promising !

cheers

316a
 
#11
The box suggests '50 hours' lifespan which does not seem promising !
Click to expand...

I used to know what the "50 hour guarantee" on military tubes meant (it appears on other JAN tubes as well), but I've forgotten. I'm certain the tubes last much longer.

You are right, though - the 316A would make a better driver than output tube.

John
 
#12
I think I remember, correct me if I'm wrong. Tubes with 50 hour guarantee for the military were burned in and tested and were guaranteed not to fail utterly within the first 50 hours of use. Almost all tubes that made it past the first fifty hours would not fail subsequently.

John
 
#13
To the threadstarter

jlsem said:
I think I remember, correct me if I'm wrong. Tubes with 50 hour guarantee for the military were burned in and tested and were guaranteed not to fail utterly within the first 50 hours of use. Almost all tubes that made it past the first fifty hours would not fail subsequently.

John
Click to expand...

Hello ,
I saw your posting on the HongKong forum . Unfortunately for DIY projects it's a pretty useless place to ask . If you want a datasheet , don't ask the HK bunch (who are STILL going on about what ECC82 and ECC83 sounds best !) look at Frank's site . Datasheet is here...


STC4316a

cheers

316a 🙂
 
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