Vector Tubes

[Santoro]

This is a blatant newbie question, but I have searched and found no good info.

Are Vector tubes the same as raster tubes?

[Ken Layton]

It's not so much the tube, but rather it's the yoke attached to the tube. Ever notice how much bigger (physically) a vector yoke is? It's also driven electrically much harder than a raster monitor so the vector yoke uses heavier gauge wire.

[MonitorGuru]

Vector tubes ARE raster tubes, in some cases. As ken indicated, the yoke is the difference.

However, more often than not, you'll find classic Vector tubes used 100 degree deflection tubes instead of 90 degree (19V100 instead of 19V90 etched on the glass).  This means the tube is slightly shorter, and the yoke must bend the electrons in a wider direction, requiring more power.

Using a V90 in a V100 or vise versa will result in extreme pincusion problems.


Why doesn't someone make a vector chassis? Because there are so few vector games out there (< 1% of all games ever made) and to start from scratch, or even finding the parts to make one would cost way too much with virtually no market to sell to. You need to make in the hundred thousands to get the cost down, and you'd never sell them.

[RetroJames]

For the WG6100 - The chassis is remade in two parts;

http://www.arcadeshop.com/parts.htm#Monitors

Deflection PCB = $169

HV Unit = $145

It would appear someone needs to make the yoke and the neck board and all the bits are there for "new" monitors.

[Santoro]

Wow, so close, and yet so far.