A vacuum tube (also called a VT, electron tube or, in the UK, a valve ) is a device

sometimes used to amplify electronic signals. In most applications, the vacuum tube
is obsolete, having been replaced decades ago by the bipolar transistor and, more
recently, by the field-effect transistor . However, tubes are still used in some highpower amplifiers, especially at microwave radio frequencies and in some hi-fi audio
systems.
Tubes operate at higher voltages than transistors. A typical transistorized amplifier
needs 6 to 12 volts to function; an equivalent tube type amplifier needs 200 to 400
volts. At the highest power levels, some tube circuits have power supplies delivering
several kilovolts.
Vacuum tubes are making a comeback among audiophiles who insist that tubes
deliver better audio quality than transistors. These old-fashioned components are
more electrically rugged than their solid-state counterparts; a tube can often
withstand temporary overload conditions and power-line transients that would
instantly destroy a transistor.
The major disadvantages of tubes include the fact that they require bulky power
supplies, and the high voltages can present an electric shock hazard.

vacuum tube - electronic device consisting of a system of electrodes arranged in an evacuated glass or m
etalenvelope
electron tube, thermionic tube, thermionic vacuum tube, thermionic valve, tube
acorn tube - a small vacuum tube; used at high frequencies
anode - a positively charged electrode by which electrons leave an electrical device
cathode - a negatively charged electrode that is the source of electrons entering an electric
al device
circuit, electric circuit, electrical
circuit - an electrical device that provides a path for electrical current to flow
diode, rectifying tube, rectifying valve - a thermionic tube having two electrodes; used as a rectifier
electrode - a conductor used to make electrical contact with some part of a circuit
electronic device - a device that accomplishes its purpose electronically
electron multiplier - a vacuum tube that amplifies a flow of electrons
gas-discharge tube - a tube in which an electric discharge takes place through a gas
control
grid, grid - an electrode placed between the cathode and anode of a vacuum tube to control the flow of ele
ctronsthrough the tube
klystron - an electron tube used to generate or amplify electromagnetic radiation in the microwave region
by velocitymodulation
magnetron - a diode vacuum tube in which the flow of electrons from a central cathode to a cylindrical ano
de is controlled bycrossed magnetic and electric fields; used mainly in microwave oscillators
pentode - a thermionic tube having five electrodes
plate - the positively charged electrode in a vacuum tube
television pickup tube, television-camera
tube - a tube that rapidly scans an optical image and converts it into electronicsignals
tetrode - a thermionic tube having four electrodes
triode - a thermionic vacuum tube having three electrodes; fluctuations of the charge on the grid control th
e flow from cathodeto anode which makes amplification possible
X-ray
tube - a vacuum tube containing a metal target onto which a beam of electrons is directed at high energy f

or thegeneration of X rays

)
Comm
on
types
of
vacuu
m
tubes:
Diodes
Triodes
Tetrode
Pentode
Magnetr
ons
Right: Al
bert W.
Hull with
a
dynatro
n (an
alternat
e form
of
triode).
Hull
later
develop
ed the
magnetr
on. The
magnetr
on
produce
s
microwa
ve
energy
and is
the
basis of
radar
and
the micr
owave
oven.

Thyratron
Thyratrons improved power systems, they could handle high voltages and
act as a switch or rectifier. They could be used as a radio detector (in radar
for example) and to convert AC to DC power. After 50 years they were
replaced by thyristors (solid state).
Triodes:
Triodes are tubes which can be used in amplifiers, computers, radio
receivers and transmitters and other things. Triodes were later replaced by
transistors. This tube has a hot cathode in the center surrounded by a
metal grid with the anode surrounding that. The cathode emitts electrons,
and in the vacuum electrons freely flow through the grid to the anode. By
energizing the grid negatively you repel more electrons, this means that
less electrons can pass through the grid to get to the anode.
A volt-ampere (VA) is the unit used for the apparent power in an electrical circuit, equal to the product of rootmean-square(RMS) voltage and RMS current.[1] In direct current (DC) circuits, this product is equal to the real
power (active power) [2] inwatts. Volt-amperes are useful only in the context of alternating current (AC) circuits
(sinusoidal voltages and currents of the same frequency).
Some devices, including uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs), have ratings both for maximum volt-amperes
and maximum watts. The VA rating is limited by the maximum permissible current, and the watt rating by the
power-handling capacity of the device. When a UPS powers equipment which presents a reactive load with a
low power factor, neither limit may safely be exceeded.[3][dead link] For example, a (large) UPS system rated to deliver
400,000 volt-amperes at 220 volts can deliver a current of 1818 amperes.
The volt-ampere is not an SI unit. This is because even if reactive or apparent, the quantity the unit represents is
power, and SI is a coherent system that does not use different units for the same quantity in different contexts.[4]