[time-nuts] FE-5680A Rb lamp subject to wearout?

Bob Camp lists at rtty.us
Tue Nov 15 17:32:58 UTC 2011


Hi

By their nature, rubidium's run hot. Hot parts have shorter lives than they
would at a lower temperature. Figure on a 5 year life after you get them and
be happy when they last for 10 years. If really need to be *sure* you have a
standard that's good for 10 years, buy three and put two in storage. You
will spend more on the power supply, the heat sink (they do require a heat
sink), the box, and the distribution amp than on the three rubidiums.

Bob

-----Original Message-----
From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On
Behalf Of beale
Sent: Monday, November 14, 2011 5:25 PM
To: time-nuts at febo.com
Subject: [time-nuts] FE-5680A Rb lamp subject to wearout?

I've decided I can't pass up a rubidium standard at this price, having seen
the reports here that the units work. Just one question: it was my
impression that the rubidium in such a device gets somehow used up over
time. Can anyone hazard a guess as to how long this might keep running?  The
FE-5680A data sheet at http://www.freqelec.com/pdf/rfs_12pg.pdf seems to be
silent on the subject of wearout.  

Should I expect that this sort of repair procedure will soon be necessary?
http://www.ko4bb.com/Manuals/05%29_GPS_Timing/Efratom/Efratom_FRS_Lamp_assem
bly_repair.pdf

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