Yes Pat,

Those rectifiers would glow a pretty blue at different intensities depending 
upon the load on the power supply.  I thought they were the best on CW.  I 
don't remember what the amp was, but I had an amp back in the early 70's 
that had two 866's and 4 811A's.  I got it with my Halicrafters HT-37 which 
I still have.  I now wish I had kept the amp.

Howard, W A 9 Y B W

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Pat Byrne" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 7:41 PM
Subject: Re: introduction and some questions


> Those are the ones Howard and I guess they would change under modulationn.
> patAt 06:33 AM 12/14/2011, you wrote:
>>Hi Pat,
>>
>>Are the 866's the mercury vapor rectifiers?  Mercury vapor rectifiers glow 
>>a
>>very pretty blue when loaded.
>>
>>Howard #3
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: "Pat Byrne" <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>Sent: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 6:01 AM
>>Subject: Re: introduction and some questions
>>
>>
>> >I tuned my Valliant using the power supply sounds and the output from
>> > the receiver with the AVC off and the RF gain way down.  People
>> > watching over my shoulder said I was always within spec.  Great rig
>> > in the old 160 A M days!!
>> > Had a second replacement in my A M second childhood fifteen years
>> > ago!!  Still a great rig.  My stepson and his wife were entranced
>> > with the 866s when the rig was out of its cabinet!!
>> > Pat, K9JAUAt 02:09 AM 12/14/2011, you wrote:
>> >>Their isn't much that you really need sight  for.  The VCO across the
>> >>meter
>> >>is great, but a properly neutralized amp is resonent  at peak power
>> >>output,
>> >>so a VCO across the watt meter, let alone a TW1 or the new device 
>> >>comming
>> >>out will work.
>> >>I used to tune my valiant by diping the power supply hum, I mean the 
>> >>plate
>> >>and pressing my ear to the case.  Later, a friend of mine gave me a
>> >>stethoscope, which made the listening easier.  I adjust the grid and
>> >>modulation by listening to the pinging of the meter needle.  That's why 
>> >>I
>> >>always liked the valiant, I could tund it up independantly.
>> >>With the VCO across a watt meter, their isn't a radio, amplifier, or 
>> >>tuner
>> >>that can't be adjusted.