HHomeBackground Color:He
LiBeHydrogen Main PageBlack White GrayBCNOFNe
NaMgHydrogen Pictures PageAlSiPSClAr
KCaHydrogen Technical DataScTiVCrMnFeCoNiCuZnGaGeAsSeBrKr
RbSrYZrNbMoTcRuRhPdAgCdInSnSbTeIXe
CsBaLaCePrNdPmSmEuGdTbDyHoErTmYbLuHfTaWReOsIrPtAuHgTlPbBiPoAtRn
FrRaAcThPaUNpPuAmCmBkCfEsFmMdNoLrRfDbSgBhHsMtDsRgCnNhFlMcLvTsOg

HP-45B hydrogen thyratron.
An example of the element Hydrogen

Sample Image    |    Spin Video    |    QuickTimeVR Rotation
HP-45B hydrogen thyratron.
A thyratron is a vacuum tube used to switch on high voltages. They act like a switch that can be turned on by applying a small voltage to a control terminal. They can only switch on, not off: They turn back off only when the voltage being controlled drops to zero on its own. The modern equivalent is the SCR (silicon controlled rectifier) and triac.
This one contains a small (less than atmospheric pressure) amount of hydrogen gas instead of a pure vacuum. Various different gases are used in thyratrons, and apparently the hydrogen variety is used when particularly fast switching times are required.
Source: eBay seller tapent
Contributor: Theodore Gray
Acquired: 24 February, 2007
Text Updated: 29 April, 2007
Price: $5
Size: 5"
Purity: <1%
The Elements book Mad Science book Periodic Table Poster  Click here to buy a book, photographic periodic table poster, card deck, or 3D print based on the images you see here!