2. amps-preamps
  3. 1060131716

Does heat kill tubes?

My system went into a steel container for the past three months while my house was going through remodeling. Container sat on my drive way which receive lots of sun, interior temperature often reached 120+ on hot days. My SF Line 3SE was working flawlessly before packing into the box, it now has a noisy channel which was caused by a bad tube in the buffer section.

Tubes are not as rugged as transistor, but they should be able to withstand 120 degree easily without operation. I assumed if it could survive years of life on the shelf, it should survive a few months in a container. Or am I wrong?
semi

Showing 1 response by aida_w

aida_w
308 posts
 
I think you are right. I'd consider transportation into and from the container, new setting up and all that moving around being the cause of that failure. A tube guru once told me: "tubes last much much longer than you would expect - as long as you are nice to them." Being stuck in a hot container can't be nice? :-)
Good luck!
More to discover