[time-nuts] Used Rb Operating Lifetime

[paul swed]

They seem to run a while especially if you reheat the bulb as discussed
several times in these threads. Sooooo for $38 I am taking the gamble. Have
5 older units and have recovered one of them by reheating the lamp. So far
the others are good and I do not run those 24 X 7. Instead should the main
go I will grab the next one and use it.
Regards
Paul.
WB8TSL/1

On Sat, Dec 31, 2011 at 2:30 PM, David <davidwhess at gmail.com> wrote:

> I agree that they are an amazing value but what kind of operating
> lifetime do the Rb tubes have?  SRS has this to say:
>
> >Historically, the lifetime of rubidium frequency standards has been
> >dominated by rubidium depletion in the discharge lamp. To avoid excess
> >flicker noise, manufacturers would load less than 100 µg of rubidium
> >into spherical discharge lamps. The PRS10 uses a lamp with a side arm
> >loaded with 1 mg of rubidium. This design eliminates rubidium
> >depletion as a failure mechanism, and provides better temperature
> >control without excess flicker noise.
>
> http://www.thinksrs.com/products/PRS10.htm
>
> On Sat, 31 Dec 2011 18:56:32 -0000, "Rob Kimberley"
> <robkimberley at btinternet.com> wrote:
>
> >I'm also enjoying all the feedback since my original post.
> >
> >I look at this way; these Rubidiums are probably in the region of $1000
> new.
> >We're getting them for a song. OK, you take the risk of the odd dud, but
> >that's the way of fleabay. I will let you all know how UK Customs performs
> >on my shipment if & when it arrives!
> >
> >Happy New Year to all Time Nutters out there.
> >
> >Rob Kimberley
>
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