Author |
Message |
pred
|
Post subject: How many tube testers does one need? Posted: Feb Thu 17, 2011 8:15 pm |
|
Joined: Jan Sun 24, 2010 10:52 pm Posts: 4314 Location: Phila Pa
|
It seems as though the number of tube testers are growing here.
The first one I got Eileen bought me a couple years back.
We have wandered into several at yard sales and the like picking them up for $10 here and there, I got a neat Green colored GE one at the last radio show in Kutztown and some small one in a wood case to replace one I had in a bad wood case, Now both of them are working, One nice and one ugly,,,
I bought a small Hockok 530 that is in real nice shape for cheap that works well.
I didnt count the testers yet, I am scared, Just like I try not to count consoles.
How many tube testers do you have and how many does one man need with 1 work bench and I dont service other folks radios.
I think I need help.
I just got a TV3 Yesterday, It is now recapped, cleaned and lubed and the pesky carbon resistors have been replaced, (I am home sick from work) and bored.
Is there somewhere I can seek help for this disorder?
Peter
|
|
Top |
|
 |
Johnnysan
|
Post subject: Posted: Feb Thu 17, 2011 8:18 pm |
|
Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 16749 Location: Albuquerque, NM 87123
|
I have 4 that I use on a regular basis. Your needs may vary.
|
|
Top |
|
 |
7jp4-guy
|
Post subject: Posted: Feb Thu 17, 2011 8:57 pm |
|
Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 2221 Location: Seattle, WA, USA
|
I only use one - a Hickok 752a. It will test most tubes out there and is 1/3 the cost of a 539C.
-Matthew
_________________ If it ain't broken, you’re not trying hard enough...
|
|
Top |
|
 |
Jim Dutridge
|
Post subject: Posted: Feb Thu 17, 2011 9:16 pm |
|
Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 7485 Location: Toledo, Ohio
|
3 here, Hickock 799, Knight 600A and a very early Jackson 580.
_________________ Jim KE8GMW ------------------------ "AC volts and DC volts and little lamps and lities..."
|
|
Top |
|
 |
pixellany
|
Post subject: Posted: Feb Thu 17, 2011 9:22 pm |
|
Member |
 |
Joined: Jul Mon 26, 2010 8:30 pm Posts: 29154 Location: Annapolis, MD
|
Quote: How many tube testers does one need? zero.
You can test tubes by simply wiring them up to a few power supplies and a signal generator. Or you can test for filament continuity and shorts, and then plug them into a radio.
|
|
Top |
|
 |
BPlus
|
Post subject: Posted: Feb Thu 17, 2011 9:57 pm |
|
Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 714 Location: NW WA
|
pixellany wrote: You can test tubes by simply wiring them up to a few power supplies and a signal generator. Or you can test for filament continuity and shorts, and then plug them into a radio.
"Simply" hardly describes the work it takes to read the tube manual and set up a test rig that you're sure is correct.
Sometimes you want to test a tube that doesn't go into any radio you have handy.
A tube tester still has its place.
-Steve W.
|
|
Top |
|
 |
Steve Johnson
|
Post subject: Posted: Feb Thu 17, 2011 10:31 pm |
|
Member |
 |
Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 4453 Location: Elbridge NY, USA
|
Quote: Is there somewhere I can seek help for this disorder?
You won't find any help here. I have well over 100.
I use 3.
Hickok 6000A for newer tubes
I-177B for older tubes
Triplett 2413 (for quick checks on the bench)
_________________ Steve Johnson https://stevenjohnson.com - Steve's Antique Technology
|
|
Top |
|
 |
bandersen
|
Post subject: Posted: Feb Thu 17, 2011 10:47 pm |
|
Member |
 |
Joined: May Fri 29, 2009 4:35 am Posts: 2189 Location: Chicago, IL USA
|
I use 3 as well.
Tripplett 3413B for quick and easy emission testing old up to compactrons
I-177B for testing old tubes more accurately
Hickock Cardmatic because it's fun
One of these days I'll pick one up that can handle compactrons.
|
|
Top |
|
 |
pred
|
Post subject: Posted: Feb Thu 17, 2011 11:08 pm |
|
Joined: Jan Sun 24, 2010 10:52 pm Posts: 4314 Location: Phila Pa
|
Steve Johnson wrote: Quote: Is there somewhere I can seek help for this disorder? You won't find any help here. I have well over 100. I use 3. Hickok 6000A for newer tubes I-177B for older tubes Triplett 2413 (for quick checks on the bench)
Is this more testers than radios?
Peter
|
|
Top |
|
 |
rocketeer
|
Post subject: Posted: Feb Thu 17, 2011 11:11 pm |
|
Member |
 |
Joined: Mar Tue 30, 2010 2:24 am Posts: 8929 Location: Lehighton, PA.
|
I have two; a Jackson 648, and an EMC 206. If I ever come across a real deal on a TV-7 or TV-10, however, I will probably hang onto it. I don't have the room or the resources to keep more.
Larry
Last edited by rocketeer on Feb Fri 18, 2011 12:50 am, edited 1 time in total.
|
|
Top |
|
 |
Lou deGonzague
|
Post subject: Posted: Feb Thu 17, 2011 11:23 pm |
|
Moderator |
 |
Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 9377 Location: Latham NY 12110
|
I have had quite a few of these pass through my hands as I have a thing for test equipment. You learn as you go and want to refine what you have and pass on the testers that you aren't using to others who need them. I really think hoarding them serves little, I like to fix em up and pass them on. Right now I have an I-177 military that I have had for 20 yrs, a Hickok 800 and a recently acquired TV-2 military that I have gone through and like the multitude of ranges and all the meters that keep it calibrated on the fly. One I wish I had kept was the RD Cardmatic with all the cards One older unit for the old tubes and a newer on for the post war tubes is usually enough. Having a good stock of tubes is more important to me than anything else but space becomes a problem when you get into the thousands
|
|
Top |
|
 |
Steve Johnson
|
Post subject: Posted: Feb Thu 17, 2011 11:34 pm |
|
Member |
 |
Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 4453 Location: Elbridge NY, USA
|
pred wrote: Steve Johnson wrote: Quote: Is there somewhere I can seek help for this disorder? You won't find any help here. I have well over 100. I use 3. Hickok 6000A for newer tubes I-177B for older tubes Triplett 2413 (for quick checks on the bench) Is this more testers than radios? Peter I'm down to around 40 radios. Use to have about 100 but I have cut back the past 5 or 6 years to make room for more test equipment. I have around 10 Victrolas and other vintage record players now. I have over 250 pieces of vintage test equipment in the collection now including tube testers at this point (I don't count the workbench stuff). I think I have around 75 pieces of Supreme test equipment now. That's been my main focus for a few years. My wife has been very understanding. She actually allows 4 radios in the living room along with two Victrolas. She picked the radios. Quote: I really think hoarding them serves little
Some people collect radios, and a few collect test equipment. Besides, most of mine are a little older that most would want to use on a workbench.
_________________ Steve Johnson https://stevenjohnson.com - Steve's Antique Technology
|
|
Top |
|
 |
Paul Han
|
Post subject: Posted: Feb Thu 17, 2011 11:59 pm |
|
Joined: Apr Fri 23, 2010 4:02 am Posts: 1391
|
Wrong thread. 
Last edited by Paul Han on Feb Sat 19, 2011 12:08 am, edited 1 time in total.
|
|
Top |
|
 |
Lou deGonzague
|
Post subject: Posted: Feb Fri 18, 2011 12:06 am |
|
Moderator |
 |
Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 9377 Location: Latham NY 12110
|
Steve, you have a great collection of test equipment and the theme follows a brand. Also I see your point about a lot of them aren't practical on a bench today when there are better and easier to use units readily available. Having four or five of the same model seems a little over the top if they are not just junkers for parts. It's certainly better to see them in a collection rather than the landfill. I recently sold a nice Jackson 648 to a guy in our club, I really didn't have a need for it and I spent some time restoring it. At least now it's providing the function for which it was made instead of sitting on one of my shelves(like I have room on any of them).
|
|
Top |
|
 |
ghrmn
|
Post subject: Posted: Feb Fri 18, 2011 12:09 am |
|
Joined: Sep Sun 05, 2010 4:13 am Posts: 46 Location: South Jersey
|
I have a Hickok 799, Jackson 648-1, Jackson 648-A, Jackson 648, and a Hickok 560. Most of my work is on the 799. For older work, I'll pull a Jackson out. The 560 still has to be restored. Needs a control panel.
Last edited by ghrmn on Jun Wed 22, 2011 10:40 pm, edited 2 times in total.
|
|
Top |
|
 |
Steve Johnson
|
Post subject: Posted: Feb Fri 18, 2011 12:09 am |
|
Member |
 |
Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 4453 Location: Elbridge NY, USA
|
|
Top |
|
 |
Lou deGonzague
|
Post subject: Posted: Feb Fri 18, 2011 12:14 am |
|
Moderator |
 |
Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 9377 Location: Latham NY 12110
|
Oh yea, Rochester AWA. Wish I had kept that crazy thing but I was glad to pass it on after having it a few years. Did you ever do anything with it, I would love to see it working?
|
|
Top |
|
 |
Steve Johnson
|
Post subject: Posted: Feb Fri 18, 2011 12:48 am |
|
Member |
 |
Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 4453 Location: Elbridge NY, USA
|
I actually got it working enough to have it test a couple of tubes to see how it worked. It's a strange tester. With no meter and having to compare the brightness of the two rows of lamps was an interesting idea. At least you don't have to ever worry about burning up a meter. I can't believe it uses all these NE-45 neons for shorts testing.
_________________ Steve Johnson https://stevenjohnson.com - Steve's Antique Technology
|
|
Top |
|
 |
pred
|
Post subject: Posted: Feb Fri 18, 2011 1:49 am |
|
Joined: Jan Sun 24, 2010 10:52 pm Posts: 4314 Location: Phila Pa
|
Steve that is a great looking tester above!
I will be parting with a couple in the next couple months as well as many radios,
Moving causes us to look at whet we have and sometimes we decide not to move and other times we think, "I gotta get rid of some of this"
Peter
|
|
Top |
|
 |
Tim Tress
|
Post subject: Posted: Feb Fri 18, 2011 2:46 am |
|
Member |
 |
Joined: Jan Thu 01, 1970 1:00 am Posts: 9812 Location: Beaver Falls, PA. USA
|
I have a few, but my workhorse testers are a pair of Hickoks; a 600A for older tubes, and a 6000A for later stuff.
_________________ Tim KA3JRT
|
|
Top |
|
 |
Who is online |
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 21 guests |
|
|