Is there a way to assess what remains life of hp 5065a Rubidium lamp ? I bought a 5065a is arrived in excellent condition almost like new. The only incorrect parameter was the value 2arm, over 50, after a tuning of R1 now is around 40. everything works very well, but I'd like to know how much life have more ? is possible or only the time replay me.

Dott. Alfredo Rosati wrote: > Is there a way to assess what remains life of hp 5065a Rubidium lamp ? > I bought a 5065a is arrived in excellent condition almost like new. > The only incorrect parameter was the value 2arm, over 50, after a > tuning of R1 now is around 40. > everything works very well, but I'd like to know how much life have > more ? is possible or only the time replay me. > Probably as much life as you have left Dottore, they don't wear out or get used up like Caesium. Components in them may die like with any electronics, but the lamps should last as long as you :^) They are a lot more reliable and accurate than the small newer Rb standards for sure. I am sure mine will outlive me. Dan

> Dott. Alfredo Rosati wrote: > > Is there a way to assess what remains life of hp 5065a > Rubidium lamp ? > > I bought a 5065a is arrived in excellent condition almost like new. > > The only incorrect parameter was the value 2arm, over 50, after a > > tuning of R1 now is around 40. > > everything works very well, but I'd like to know how much life have > > more ? is possible or only the time replay me. > > > > Probably as much life as you have left Dottore, they don't wear out or > get used up like Caesium. Components in them may die like with any > electronics, but the lamps should last as long as you :^) They are a > lot more reliable and accurate than the small newer Rb standards for > sure. I am sure mine will outlive me. The lamps can be replaced if need be, although there's a lot of stuff to take apart before you can get to it. I'm told that you can even install Efratom lamps in a 5065A with some Dow RTV. Those are supposedly about $40 new, or could be cannibalized from an LPRO. What I don't know is if the buffer gas ever gets embedded into the walls of the filter or resonance cells, or diffuses out, or otherwise causes problems. If that were to happen it would limit the working life of the unit in a way that wouldn't be easy to get around. -- john, KE5FX

Hi Common wisdom (possibly wrong in the > 20 year range) is that the filter and resonance cells do not significantly degrade with time. More or less - neon bulbs that are excited electrically burn out. Bulbs that just sit out in the bright sunshine last for a long time. Bob On Feb 18, 2010, at 9:50 PM, John Miles wrote: > >> Dott. Alfredo Rosati wrote: >>> Is there a way to assess what remains life of hp 5065a >> Rubidium lamp ? >>> I bought a 5065a is arrived in excellent condition almost like new. >>> The only incorrect parameter was the value 2arm, over 50, after a >>> tuning of R1 now is around 40. >>> everything works very well, but I'd like to know how much life have >>> more ? is possible or only the time replay me. >>> >> >> Probably as much life as you have left Dottore, they don't wear out or >> get used up like Caesium. Components in them may die like with any >> electronics, but the lamps should last as long as you :^) They are a >> lot more reliable and accurate than the small newer Rb standards for >> sure. I am sure mine will outlive me. > > The lamps can be replaced if need be, although there's a lot of stuff to > take apart before you can get to it. I'm told that you can even install > Efratom lamps in a 5065A with some Dow RTV. Those are supposedly about $40 > new, or could be cannibalized from an LPRO. > > What I don't know is if the buffer gas ever gets embedded into the walls of > the filter or resonance cells, or diffuses out, or otherwise causes > problems. If that were to happen it would limit the working life of the > unit in a way that wouldn't be easy to get around. > > -- john, KE5FX > > > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. >