A new way to decorate the Christmas tree....

[drh4683]

This idea came to me while I was testing a 6LB6 this evening after admiring how nice they look when they glow. You can only see them when you're servicing the TV. Then it occured to me, why not make a string of vacuum tube christmas lights. This way, the tubes can be see seen all the time and they look great on the tree in a dim lit room.

I used all tubes that would be commonly found inside zenith color TV's. I used miniature tubes to limit power consumption. My first string uses 14 miniatures, tubes like the 6KT8, 6EJ7, 6HA5, 6GJ7. The typical zenith TV tubes. All the tubes are 6 volt, wired in parallel of course. I had the perfect wire, red and green striped telephone wire (christmas colors...). I wire wrapped the leads around the tube pins then touched solder on them. All the tubes I used were in my box of known bad tubes. The only reason I kept them was to see how many tubes I changed in the period of one year of TV servicing. The tubes are lit up at about 10 volts through my variac.

All the tree needs now are some ornaments, like resistors, capacitors and coils etc.

Just a wierd idea I had that I thought I'd share with fellow electronics enthusiasts.

Don't forget, the 6LB6 is the "Star" at the top of the tree!

Enjoy the Holidays-
Doug

[zenithfan1]

HA! Thats great! Something I have never seen before. Very cool looking. Have you showed your family yet!? I'd bet they'll get a hell of a kick out of it! My tree is a boring 'ol Solid State

[Phil Nelson]

A few years ago, I made a funny Hallowe'en character using radio tubes and pilot lamps, with a green SX-42 dial for the face and a blue globe Arcturus tube for the nose. The "hair" was mini glass tubes alternating with lit pilot lamps. Resistors and bumblebee capacitors formed the mouth & whatnot. It was mostly stuck together with hot glue, so it eventually sagged, but I think the whole thing is still in a box somewhere.

Phil Nelsosn

[radiotvnut]

That Christmas tree brings back a forgotten memory. In the late '80's and early '90's, various organizations around town were allowed to set up Christmas trees at the local shopping mall. The electronics class from the local high school decorated a Christmas tree using old vacuum tubes. To say the least, I thought the idea was neat and tried to get my Mother to go along; but, no luck! A few years later, I was in the same electronics class and they didn't even teach tubes. In fact, most everyone (including the instructor) thought I was weird for showing interest in such "outdated technology".

[firenzeprima]

a real cathode Christmas tree. Be careful to burn it because the tubes are very warm!

[ehoove]

But what about the sound? I bet those carols are to die for!
Happy Holidays,
Jim

[Sandy G]

Kewl !!

[newhallone]

Originally Posted by radiotvnut

A few years later, I was in the same electronics class and they didn't even teach tubes. In fact, most everyone (including the instructor) thought I was weird for showing interest in such "outdated technology".

I had the same problem. They wanted me to learn logic circuits. I just wanted to learn tubes

[SPL db]

[dsndblm]

That is one of the coolest things I have seen in a long time!!

Hmmm, I still have a few weeks to get mine going.

[Aussie Bloke]

Hey that's an awesome idea for Xmas tree lights, it looks so cool! Anyone who collects old electronics should have a go at making Xmas lights out of valves if they have any in their collection they could spare.

I too did a certificate 3 and 4 electronics course over a 4 year period and the teacher I had for television/VCR servicing thought I was weird taking interest in early technology. I brought in my 1972 Philips N1500 VCR and demonstrated its operation in class, the teacher was amazed it was still working.

[Tony V]

I love it!

[kenhappen2u]

thats Great ! now all you need playing in the background is tubular bells

[Hemingray]

I should take a hand at this on my tree, along with that, make some ornaments from tubes too.

[mhardy6647]

Maybe you could string out a complete AA5 radio circuit. Put a speaker at the top of the tree and listen to Holiday music while the tubes glow (good insulation and an isolation transformer would be key accessories) :-)