Home > All images > Dave > Control gear
Return to the thumbnail page FILE 451/9149 Return to start See previous file See next file Skip to end
W tube fitting internals Underneath the previously pictured NOS W tube was this fitting, at the time, I didn't realise it was a W tube fitting, until I dragged it out and opened it up. It revealed a second W tube, albeit gassed devastatingly. Looking closer, the lamp cap has come loose, and it looks to have taken the glass vacuum rod with it too, so I'm hopeful a repair can be made. The fitting here is shown open, revealing even more surprises, quickstart gear, and also confirming the make of the fitting as being atlas or BLI.

W tube fitting internals

Underneath the previously pictured NOS W tube was this fitting, at the time, I didn't realise it was a W tube fitting, until I dragged it out and opened it up. It revealed a second W tube, albeit gassed devastatingly. Looking closer, the lamp cap has come loose, and it looks to have taken the glass vacuum rod with it too, so I'm hopeful a repair can be made.
The fitting here is shown open, revealing even more surprises, quickstart gear, and also confirming the make of the fitting as being atlas or BLI.

DSC07123.JPG PICT1177.jpg Kevs__odd_ball_18_.jpg DSC02576.JPG crust.jpg
File information
Filename:PICT1177.jpg
Album name:Dave / Control gear
Filesize:115 KiB
Date added:19 Dec, 2016
Dimensions:960 x 717 pixels
Displayed:760 times
URL:http://80.229.24.59:9232/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=5057
Favourites:Add to Favourites

Comment 1 to 6 of 6
Page: 1

AngryHorse   [19 Dec, 2016 at 05:42 PM]
Nice and simple in there, in good condition too!
Dave   [19 Dec, 2016 at 05:43 PM]
From what I was told its been in that shed for a few decades so considering all that, its kept amazingly well.
Arrowslim   [19 Dec, 2016 at 06:35 PM]
the fused connector block has ATLAS/THORN written all over it. real nice save there. Cant be many of these kicking around
dor123   [01 May, 2025 at 10:13 AM]
What is the "Quickstart" along with the series choke?
Lightbulbfun   [01 May, 2025 at 11:38 AM]
thats the quick-start cathode heating autotransformer Smile its across the output of the choke, when voltage is first applied to the fixture about 9V-18V is applied across the cathodes of the tube, which heat them up to electron-emissive temperature very quickly at which point the tube is able to strike (if suitably grounded) on the 240V OCV across it, and once it strikes, as the cathode-heating transformer is *after* the choke, the voltage going into it then drops to the running voltage of the tube, and thus cathode heating voltage is now appropriately reduced
dor123   [01 May, 2025 at 02:32 PM]
This reminds me the Eltam and Shaingout rapid-start ballast for F96T12 /HO 110W T12 American lamps, which also have a heating transformer in additional to the series choke.

Comment 1 to 6 of 6
Page: 1

Add your comment
Anonymous comments are not allowed here. Log in to post your comment