This board is a kit, you need to solder the components. All components plus valve and 2 x battery boxes.
The XE3 is also fascinating historically.
Today we would use a specialized FET-input operational amplifier with input currents measured in femtoamps. But the XE3 achieved similar ultra-high input resistance using nothing more than:
A heated filament,
A vacuum,
Carefully shaped metal electrodes,
Meticulous manufacturing.
It demonstrates how far engineers pushed thermionic technology before semiconductors arrived.
Unique chance to incorporate this versatile thermionic valve into you home projects and classroom experiments.
The board can be used in conjunction with a simple ionization chamber for radiation detection or with an antenna for atmospheric detection such as lightning strikes,. The output can be used as is with a meter ( not supplied|)or the LED lead suppled. The output can also be coupled to opto -isolators or voltage sensors for alarms and controls. Great for home experimentation with safe voltages.
This is for a built and tested board with test LED lead and two BNC connectors. This board will perform best in a metal enclosure. Great fun to experiment with a valve with low Voltages!
The Valve used is the Hivac XE3 and these valves were rescued when the Hivac factory closed 60 years ago! At the time they were a true innovation and used in many detecting systems. A piece of British engineering history. Believed to be the last remaining stock.
Includes;
Complete set of components and high quality board
2x BNC panel mounted connectors for connection from box to ionization chamber
1x Test LED.
1 x Heater battery box
1x HT battery box.
The XE3 is an Electrometer Triode manufactured by Hivac in the UK around 1960. The Board can be used as a stand alone unit to demonstrate thermionic emissions and used to detect both positive and negative ions in the atmosphere. It can also be used in conjunction with a simple ionization chamber using a tin can to measure radiation particles. A great way to experiment with low voltage valves. You will need to provide 1.5v for the heaters and 6-9 volts dc for the anode volts. Long battery life due to the low currents involved.
The board should be connected to an Ammeter in the region of 0-200uA. Alternatively a test LED lead is provide which will show a visual indication of changes in ion levels.
Instructions included
The valves used are NOS and are available if you just want to buy the valve - see in my shop.