Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!kitty!larry From: larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) Newsgroups: sci.electronics,talk.bizarre Subject: Re: "Magic Eye" tubes Message-ID: <1838@kitty.UUCP> Date: Sat, 11-Jul-87 16:58:16 EDT Article-I.D.: kitty.1838 Posted: Sat Jul 11 16:58:16 1987 Date-Received: Sun, 12-Jul-87 16:47:20 EDT References: <1495@frog.UUCP> Organization: Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, NY Lines: 37 Keywords: anachronism, macho Summary: The "Cat's Eye"... Xref: mnetor sci.electronics:939 talk.bizarre:2408 In article <1495@frog.UUCP>, john@frog.UUCP (John Woods, Software) writes: > Does anyone (a) know where I can get a Magic Eye tube (if they are even still > made), and (b) have information on how to use them (required voltages, etc.)? > > Believe it or not, I want to use this "stab from the past" to indicate > CPU usage on a computer -- I specifically wanted something disturbingly > anachronistic (a meter came in second place...). Yup, those tubes sure are an anachronism! Some people I knew called them "Cat's Eye" tubes. What you want is a type 6E5 manufactured by RCA. Newark Electronics (Chicago, IL) still has 'em in their catalog for $ 27.50. You can probably find them for less money in surplus stores or some mail-order companies which specialize in the sale of vacuum tubes. There is also a 6U5, which is similar to the 6E5. About 10 years ago, an industrial electronics distributor that I deal with was doing some housecleaning of ancient inventory and gave me a 6E5 along with a mounting assembly made by Amphenol which was specifically used for panel mounting (it has a nice Art Deco escutcheon plate :-) ). I took the 6E5 and mounted it in a small box as a conversation piece. I built a DC-DC converter using a Triad toroidal transformer to provide 250 volts DC @ 0.025 amperes from a 12 volt plug-type power supply. I used a function generator IC with an op amp to give me a triangular wave with an amplitude of 8 volts - necessary for "full scale" deflection. The completed device "winks" when turned on, and has adjustable wink "rate" and "depth" controls. Talk about an anachronism of components in that box! You will need 200 to 250 volts DC at 0.025 ampere maximum, 6 volts AC or DC @ 0.3 ampere for filament, and your "deflection voltage" will range from 0 to -8 volts for 0 to 90 degress deflection. I highly recommend this tube as an exercise in anachronism! <> Larry Lippman @ Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, New York <> UUCP: {allegra|ames|boulder|decvax|rocksanne|watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry <> VOICE: 716/688-1231 {hplabs|ihnp4|mtune|seismo|utzoo}!/ <> FAX: 716/741-9635 {G1,G2,G3 modes} "Have you hugged your cat today?"