The Mullard M8204 is a special quality xenon filled thyratron valve and previously known as Type 2D21. This example is of tetrode construction and was designed for relay or grid-controlled rectifier applications.
When a certain critical anode current flows the ionisation of the gas begins an avalanche discharge that overrides the grid control and leads to saturation current flow. The anode current can then only be extinguished by reducing the anode volts below the ionisation threshold.
The gm value in a normal hard valve is replaced by the control ratio parameter. In this valve the ratio is 250. At saturation the valve voltage drop is 8 Volts.
The box anode covers all internal electrodes.
This shows the rectangular shape of the anode box.
The thin glass tube envelope is 18 mm in diameter and, excluding the B7G base pins, is 46 mm tall.
Reference: Data-sheet. Type M8204 was first introduced in 1959. See also1959 adverts.
