[FlyGuy007]

I have a tube that is about 16 months old. When I first got it it could cut at 22% speed at 90% power all day long drawing 25mA. Slowly over time it reduced to about 15% speed still at 90% power and still drawing 25mA. Now it's down to cutting at about 11% still at 90% power and still at 25mA.

Is this the way a tube fades away? Just a gradual loss of power? I can't tell if the tube is as bright as it used to be but I suspect it's not.

Mike

[zax15uk]

Mike,

This is not abnormal for a sealed gas tube. There is probably some visible deposition of the electrodes on the glass tube but otherwise it will appear normal.

If you've been using it for 4hrs a day during those 16 months, it's probably got around 1600 hrs on the tube so your results sound average.

Zax.