[time-nuts] Rubidium Oscillators

[Brian Kirby]

I said it wrong, I put 9 years on it, I do not know how long the LORAN 
station ran it.  So it had more life than 9 years....

David I. Emery wrote:
> On Mon, Mar 10, 2008 at 10:12:46PM -0500, Brian Kirby wrote:
>   
>> For maximum stability, the rubidium should be run continuous.
>>
>> I lost a lamp in a FRK-L last summer.  The unit had been running for 9 
>> years continuous - and I was the second owner.  It was used at a LORAN 
>> site previous, I am sure they probably ran it continuous, for the same 
>> reasons.
>>     
>
> 	According to various spec docs I have seen, many of the telecom
> oriented rubidiums (such as the LPRO and FE series) are designed for
> between 15-20 years lamp life continuously on... so running one that way
> is not likely to use up available life quickly unless the unit already
> has lots and lots and lots of hours on it.   And they aren't absurdly
> expensive on Ebay these days - bet a new bulb (if even available) is
> almost as much as a  used but working rb off Ebay.
>
>