Tube testers

[speakerman1]

I was going to pull the trigger on a Hickok. It is going to high. My B&K I can't test my power tubes so I was looking. 1st time on ebay in over a month.

Larry

 

[Fairchild]

If you are going to pay the price for a Hickock, it might be worth the little extra to be sure it has been recently calibrated.

Jim

 

[speakerman1]

To have one calibrated cost a little money.

Larry

 

[ksrigg]

I don't know if you can find a Hickok which tests EVERYTHNG. O have one which testes MOST of the tubes I use often including most of the power tubes, but there are still some it will not test. You might be better off buying two testers to cover all the bases. Mine has not been calibrated, but I think it is very close. Everything is relative too. I don't think it is a problem when you are testing your own tubes...matching them is easy...just get the same readings for the ones you want to use, and let the others rest..

 

[orange]

I don't know if you can find a Hickok which tests EVERYTHNG. O have one which testes MOST of the tubes I use often including most of the power tubes, but there are still some it will not test. You might be better off buying two testers to cover all the bases. Mine has not been calibrated, but I think it is very close. Everything is relative too. I don't think it is a problem when you are testing your own tubes...matching them is easy...just get the same readings for the ones you want to use, and let the others rest..

Old tube radio repair trick: learn to make substitutions and compare similar tube tyope.

That and a variac, I doth desire.

 

[rtp_burnsville]

My friends that mess with old radio stuff always say that Hickok is the only tester to look at. Don't remember exactly why but if I remember correctly they perform some tests in a way that actually works.

Robert

 

[orange]

Is it the TV-7 they talk about?

 

[rtp_burnsville]

Is it the TV-7 they talk about?

I don't recall which models.... I'll ask the next time our paths cross.

Robert

 

[rtp_burnsville]

Hi Guys,

Here is some info one of the radio guys just sent me:

From Lyn:
""There are two type of tube testers. The simpler kind just tests for the emissions of the filament. The filament is heated and the right voltages are applied and the amount of current the filament will generate is measured. If the filament is worn out, there are low emissions and the meter indicates on the bad half of the scale. They also check for internal shorts.

Your typical drug store meter just checked emissions and internal shorts. Usually that is good enough.

The Hickok and a few other meters do the above and also put a signal on the control grid and measure the trans-conductance (Gm) of the tube. You will notice the extra controls to set bias, etc. The set-up chart also tells what Gm to look for on the meter. Sometimes they set the English and then it is good-bad reading.

All tube checkers need to be checked themselves. Like mine measures low consistently. It is on the list of things to fix but I have not pushed to fix it since I can check tubes on a known good tube checker at the museum. Some tube checkers also use vacuum tubes and they also need to be checked periodically.

If your tube tests bad on a bad tube tester, you might be throwing away a good tube. Also some circuits will work just fine using a weak tube. I have some tubes that test just below the question mark and they function just fine. Remember, some of the drug store checkers were designed to sell tubes."

 

[orange]

Usedstereoguy on the auction site has at least three for sale, One is a Superior and works and one is I don't totally know then one Precision not working.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/usedstereoguy/m ... SS:US:1150" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;