This exhibit is a Brimar 5Z4G full wave rectifier. Professional equipment, including radar, etc., sometimes required circuits in which valve cathodes carried large signals and had to 'float' at voltages well below that of the chassis. Glass-envelope '-G' versions of common types were therefore required. The original metal envelope 5Z4 had to have the outer envelope at below cathode potential to prevent them acting as an anode so were at a disadvantage in these applications.

Initially, these '-G' versions were larger than their metal counterparts but with the introduction of 'pinchless', slimline '-GT' types 5Z4GT the advantage of the compact metal types was reduced to the point where RCA decided to phase out production in favour of (slightly cheaper) all-glass types.

Designed to supply equipment of up to 40 Watts total power, this rectifier was made by several manufacturers. This suggests a very popular type, and one that found use in military equipment during WW2.

The normal pattern of a central tube cathode with the anode extended sideways to increase the area available to radiate away the heat.

A closer view of one of the rectifier sections.

The classic envelope is 45 mm in diameter and, excluding the IO base pins, is 106 mm tall.

 
Pin Connections

IO	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
	m	h	nc	a(2)	nc	a(1)	nc	h,k

 
Absolute Maximum Operating Conditions

Rectifier	Vh	Ah	Va	mAa
	5.0	2.0	350	125

Thanks to Frank Philipse for supplying the above datasheet

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This exhibit was last updated on 04 July 2009