Valves at Low Plate Voltages (1)

Is it just nostalgia, or are valves really somehow better than transistors? Recently valves have been making something of a comeback in many areas. Using valves seems to involve a lot of effort, and in particular the high voltages frighten many people off. But there are dozens of valves lying about in many a cellar — so why not try something new with those old valves?Valves are usually driven using an anode voltage of 250 V or more; practically never with an anode voltage below 100 V. For power amplifiers, in particular for radio transmitters, several kilovolts can be used. Such inconveniently high voltages naturally put many people off, as do the special transformers and high-voltage electrolytic capacitors that are needed. But things need not be like this. A series of experiments has shown that most of those valves nostalgically kept at the back of the cupboard will work at very low voltages. Of course, we are not talking about achieving the ultimate in power or amplification, but for simple applications — and a bit of fun — it fills the bill.