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Drifter · #1 10-09-2009, 10:18 AM

Hello... I ordered a matched pair of Tailors 3-500zg tubes from RF parts. I bought them because they were the cheapest. My question is.... the Tailor brand any good?

W5LZ · #2 10-09-2009, 10:44 AM

As you've deduced, they are the cheapest brand going. That means they are the most economical, and that's good. Are they the 'best' brand going? I really doubt it, the best is never the cheapest.
And just for for grins. That first number in a tube designator such as the '3-500' series, tells you the number of elements in that tube. That means that a '2-500zg' is one hell of'va big diode, or rectifier. A pair of them would make a very high current full wave rectifier and power supply. Bet the required transformer for that thing would weigh a ton.
- 'Doc

(I know it was a 'typo'.)

GLR · #3 10-09-2009, 11:04 AM

Just a general life question for you. Wouldn't it be better to ask if something is any good before you purchase rather than after?

Drifter · #4 10-09-2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by W5LZ

As you've deduced, they are the cheapest brand going. That means they are the most economical, and that's good. Are they the 'best' brand going? I really doubt it, the best is never the cheapest.
And just for for grins. That first number in a tube designator such as the '3-500' series, tells you the number of elements in that tube. That means that a '2-500zg' is one hell of'va big diode, or rectifier. A pair of them would make a very high current full wave rectifier and power supply. Bet the required transformer for that thing would weigh a ton.
- 'Doc

(I know it was a 'typo'.)

Thanks. I was looking for economical.

Captain Kilowatt · #5 10-09-2009, 12:49 PM

At one time many years ago the brand name Taylor was a decent brand. Taylor tubes went out of business many years ago and RF Parts bought the name. Taylor tubes are simply Chinese tubes from the same factory the other Chinese tubes are made at but branded with the name Taylor and sold exclusivly thru RF Parts. IOW they are the same thing as the non-Taylor brand Chinese tubes. Nowadays you pretty much take what you get as there are only one or two factories still making vacuum tubes.

555 · #6 10-09-2009, 07:44 PM

run your taylors for a while save up a get you some Eimacs

Captain Kilowatt · #7 10-09-2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 555

run your taylors for a while save up a get you some Eimacs

Eimac does not make any new glass tubes any more. With the gas leakage problem they had with the 3-500's I don't know if I would want to spend my $$$ on a NOS set and risk them arcing on the first try. There have been MANY cases of just that happening with the Eimacs.

bigred222 · #8 10-30-2009, 10:33 AM

save up and get you a 8877

Drifter · #9 10-30-2009, 10:46 AM

I got my match set of Taylor's 3-500zg tube from RF Part a few weeks ago. They were well packaged. I removed the old Emiacs from my Heathkit SB-220 installed the Taylors. I left the amp on for 24hrs. I tuned up and getting about 1kw average on AM. I am running it at 800 watts average.

bigred222 · #10 10-30-2009, 05:35 PM

you gonan run that into the 3000a7 you got?