The type 83 is a mercury vapour full wave rectifier. It was specified for use where a near constant output voltage was required across widely varying output currents.
Mercury vapour rectifiers are somewhat delicate. This valve has to be mounted vertically with the base at the lower end.
MV rectifiers require a delay between applying heater volts and anode volts. DLS10 as an example of the type of delay switch required. The delay is present to allow the vapour pressure to build by vaporising the mercury droplets.
This is rare, the coating on the anode is peeling away revealing the nickel sheet beneath.
A close view of the peeling anode. The condensed mercury has collected on at the lower right of the envelope.
The lower connection of the filament ribbon in one section.
The top mica showing the two tension springs for the top of the filament loop.
The classic envelope is 51 mm in diameter, and excluding the Ux4 base pins is 116 mm tall.
Reference: Data-sheet. Type 83 was first introduced in 1932. See also1932 adverts.
