Joined: Jan Thu 27, 2011 4:37 pm Posts: 182 Location: north carolina, USA
In the accompanying photo, I have an OD3 and OD3W tube. What is the purpose of the base extending almost all the way up to the top in the OD3W tube? I've been wondering about that ever since I got that tube.
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_________________ "Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves?"
Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 655 Location: Orlando, FL, USA
Actually, the "W" suffix does not mean ruggedized.
The specific meaning of the "W" suffix is that a tube was made to a specific military specification differing somehow from the registered specification. Most of the time such tubes ARE ruggedized or somehow stiffened to withstand vibration, but that is not implied by the "W" suffix.
I have a couple of theories about the construction of the 0C3W and 0D3W (which look similar). Since no other glass types were protected in this way (that is, having plastic sides coming up almost all the way to the top), I suspect it was done for these tubes to stabilize their characteristics either by insulating them to give a more constant operating temperature or shielding them from light, which can effect the activation voltages of some gas devices.
