I'm Looking for a tube tester for my new hobbie... Is their a recommendation. Not to expensive.
Ken
A lot depends on the type of tubes you plan to test. If you will be working on radios from the 1930's be sure a tester has proper tube sockets. Newer testers may not test old tubes due to socket limitation.
Testers such as EICO 666 are good for older tubes, common and don't cost a lot. There are a couple on eBay now.
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=eico+666&category0=
Norm
:Hi:
:
:I'm Looking for a tube tester for my new hobbie... Is their a recommendation. Not to expensive.
:
:Ken
I'm planing on using it for radios from the 1930 - 1950 I have a Philco Model 60 that I don't want to put to sleep yet. A Zenith 10S669 and a few others I would like to work on.
Ken
:Hi Ken
:
: A lot depends on the type of tubes you plan to test. If you will be working on radios from the 1930's be sure a tester has proper tube sockets. Newer testers may not test old tubes due to socket limitation.
:
: Testers such as EICO 666 are good for older tubes, common and don't cost a lot. There are a couple on eBay now.
:
:http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=eico+666&category0=
:
:Norm
:
:
::Hi:
:
:
:
:
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::I'm Looking for a tube tester for my new hobbie... Is their a recommendation. Not to expensive.
::
::Ken
I have this tube tester:
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&dfsp=1&from=R10&_trksid=m37&satitle=eico+625&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D2&sadis=200&fpos=53207&sabfmts=1&saobfmts=insif&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1
I have the blue version, which is the first version. I like it better--has that old fashioned look to it. Others say that it looks strange. The 625 is supposed to have a lid, though I often see them without. I also see the lid hinged in front, instead of being hinged from the rear (more sensible). Not sure about that one. Obsolete tube setting sheets are available for this tester.
Also, there is some fairly rare, though occasionally seen, test equipment made by Philco. It looks good, but was produced in the 30s/40s, so it won't be as good for 1950s and later electronics.
Type in 'tube tester' in the eBay search to see how many kinds you can get. There are a lot.
Whatever tester you do buy, make sure to check all resistors for drifting. Otherwise tests will be inaccurate.
T.
It works fine, except that with modern AC line voltages, it wouldn't zero adjust. There is a simple fix that I can provide.
Doug
:Hi: Norm
:
:I'm planing on using it for radios from the 1930 - 1950 I have a Philco Model 60 that I don't want to put to sleep yet. A Zenith 10S669 and a few others I would like to work on.
:
:Ken
:
:
::Hi Ken
::
:: A lot depends on the type of tubes you plan to test. If you will be working on radios from the 1930's be sure a tester has proper tube sockets. Newer testers may not test old tubes due to socket limitation.
::
:: Testers such as EICO 666 are good for older tubes, common and don't cost a lot. There are a couple on eBay now.
::
::http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=eico+666&category0=
::
::Norm
::
::
:::Hi:
::
::
::
::
:::
:::I'm Looking for a tube tester for my new hobbie... Is their a recommendation. Not to expensive.
:::
:::Ken
That sounds very good if thats an offer I'm interested. Drop me a line. Thanks
Ken
:Ken - I have a Heathkit TC-2, which handles most of the oldies - octals and pre-octals, plus miniatures. It is a simple emissions tester.
:
:It works fine, except that with modern AC line voltages, it wouldn't zero adjust. There is a simple fix that I can provide.
:Doug
:
::Hi: Norm
::
::I'm planing on using it for radios from the 1930 - 1950 I have a Philco Model 60 that I don't want to put to sleep yet. A Zenith 10S669 and a few others I would like to work on.
::
::Ken
::
::
:::Hi Ken
:::
::: A lot depends on the type of tubes you plan to test. If you will be working on radios from the 1930's be sure a tester has proper tube sockets. Newer testers may not test old tubes due to socket limitation.
:::
::: Testers such as EICO 666 are good for older tubes, common and don't cost a lot. There are a couple on eBay now.
:::
:::http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=eico+666&category0=
:::
:::Norm
:::
:::
::::Hi:
:::
:::
:::
:::
::::
::::I'm Looking for a tube tester for my new hobbie... Is their a recommendation. Not to expensive.
::::
::::Ken
Email:krrue95631@cox.net
Ken
:Ken - I have a Heathkit TC-2, which handles most of the oldies - octals and pre-octals, plus miniatures. It is a simple emissions tester.
:
:It works fine, except that with modern AC line voltages, it wouldn't zero adjust. There is a simple fix that I can provide.
:Doug
:
::Hi: Norm
::
::I'm planing on using it for radios from the 1930 - 1950 I have a Philco Model 60 that I don't want to put to sleep yet. A Zenith 10S669 and a few others I would like to work on.
::
::Ken
::
::
:::Hi Ken
:::
::: A lot depends on the type of tubes you plan to test. If you will be working on radios from the 1930's be sure a tester has proper tube sockets. Newer testers may not test old tubes due to socket limitation.
:::
::: Testers such as EICO 666 are good for older tubes, common and don't cost a lot. There are a couple on eBay now.
:::
:::http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=eico+666&category0=
:::
:::Norm
:::
:::
::::Hi:
:::
:::
:::
:::
::::
::::I'm Looking for a tube tester for my new hobbie... Is their a recommendation. Not to expensive.
::::
::::Ken
:Doug
:
:Email:krrue95631@cox.net
:
:Ken
:
::Ken - I have a Heathkit TC-2, which handles most of the oldies - octals and pre-octals, plus miniatures. It is a simple emissions tester.
::
::It works fine, except that with modern AC line voltages, it wouldn't zero adjust. There is a simple fix that I can provide.
::Doug
::
:::Hi: Norm
:::
:::I'm planing on using it for radios from the 1930 - 1950 I have a Philco Model 60 that I don't want to put to sleep yet. A Zenith 10S669 and a few others I would like to work on.
:::
:::Ken
:::
:::
::::Hi Ken
::::
:::: A lot depends on the type of tubes you plan to test. If you will be working on radios from the 1930's be sure a tester has proper tube sockets. Newer testers may not test old tubes due to socket limitation.
::::
:::: Testers such as EICO 666 are good for older tubes, common and don't cost a lot. There are a couple on eBay now.
::::
::::http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=eico+666&category0=
::::
::::Norm
::::
::::
:::::Hi:
::::
::::
::::
::::
:::::
:::::I'm Looking for a tube tester for my new hobbie... Is their a recommendation. Not to expensive.
:::::
:::::Ken
....Also, though I have no problems adjusting the line voltage regardless of whether a load is present or not, be sure that you ar adjusting the line voltage while the tube you are testing is lit.
T.
My line voltage was running around 123V. But after my mod, there is no problem.
In the process of developing my mod, I wound up with the line-adj control going backwards - you turn it CW to move the needle CCW. I should fix that someday.
These testers have an old copper-oxide diode, which don't seem to loose "umph" like some seleniums. But I got the idea of replacing it with a 1N400X silicon diode on general principles. That made the line adj worse, maybe because of lower forward voltage drop across the silicon diode? So, I re-installed the original copper-oxide diode.
Another thing I learned was that the Heath schematic shows the diode installed backwards, at least the way we draw diodes today. That confused me for a while. Later, somebody told me that years ago, they hadn't yet adopted a uniform convention for showing diode polarity. (Now, it's understood that the arrowhead points away from the anode and the vertical bar is closest to the cathode.)
My Heath tester has a large meter made by Simpson. (Later versions used a different meter made by a sister company of Heath after they changed hands.) Anyway, the Simpson meter has a plastic dial cover. At one time, my dial cover took on a static charge that played hob with the meter's operation. I got advice somewhere about how to remove the charge - maybe cleaning it with something? Anyway, that problem has never come back.
Doug
:I'm surprised that your's won't line adjust. My EICO 625 usually line adjusts with the control turned up about 3/4 of the way. My line voltage is between 119 and 125. With the control being turned 3/4 of the way up, that means that there is plenty of room for reduction for higher voltages. Perhaps there is something wrong with your control or transformer?
:
:....Also, though I have no problems adjusting the line voltage regardless of whether a load is present or not, be sure that you ar adjusting the line voltage while the tube you are testing is lit.
:
:T.
Dave
Rather than replacing the pot, my mod is cheaper ($0).
Doug
:The early TC-2 and TC-1 used a 100 ohm line pot, the later ones used a 200 ohm pot. If you can't get your line adjust down far enough replace the pot. The copper oxide rectifier cannot be replaced with silicon, germanium will work if you adjust the voltage divider.
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:Dave
I Think we're both confused. I was interested in the information, you were offering. Sorry I've seen plenty of them on ebay for a reasonable price.
Ken
:Ken: I'm sorry, I should have been more clear. My Heath TC-2 isn't for sale - I was just mentioning that model as a possible alternative for you. They show up on eBay frequently.
:Doug
:
::Doug
::
::Email:krrue95631@cox.net
::
::Ken
::
:::Ken - I have a Heathkit TC-2, which handles most of the oldies - octals and pre-octals, plus miniatures. It is a simple emissions tester.
:::
:::It works fine, except that with modern AC line voltages, it wouldn't zero adjust. There is a simple fix that I can provide.
:::Doug
:::
::::Hi: Norm
::::
::::I'm planing on using it for radios from the 1930 - 1950 I have a Philco Model 60 that I don't want to put to sleep yet. A Zenith 10S669 and a few others I would like to work on.
::::
::::Ken
::::
::::
:::::Hi Ken
:::::
::::: A lot depends on the type of tubes you plan to test. If you will be working on radios from the 1930's be sure a tester has proper tube sockets. Newer testers may not test old tubes due to socket limitation.
:::::
::::: Testers such as EICO 666 are good for older tubes, common and don't cost a lot. There are a couple on eBay now.
:::::
:::::http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=eico+666&category0=
:::::
:::::Norm
:::::
:::::
::::::Hi:
:::::
:::::
:::::
:::::
::::::
::::::I'm Looking for a tube tester for my new hobbie... Is their a recommendation. Not to expensive.
::::::
::::::Ken