I picked up this tester a week ago after a long search for a Hickok. It is in great shape. Most tubes I've tested seem to be in the correct realm for readings but whenever I test an 80 rectifier tube, it never makes
it into the "green" area of the meter (you have to use the "english" setting for 80's rather than the transconductance ranges). The manual says
a good 80 will go into the green (good) area of the meter. All these 80 tubes test good/strong on my other testers, but on the 533a, they always
barely make it into the middle/questionable zone. I took the tester apart and cleaned the contacts of all the switches with contact cleaner and
took out the two internal rectifier tubes (83 and a 5Y3, I believe) and found they test great (on a different tester) so I'm pretty sure it's not them.

I'm hoping someone out there won't mind giving me an idea or two about this particular problem.

One idea I had is if anyone out there has a 533a tester and/or tested one like this and can you give me an idea of whether the Hickok 533a actually does go in
to the green/good zone on an 80 tube or any other ideas/thoughts?

Thanks in advance, everyone!

-George

Hi,
Did you by chance test the 80 that you had been testing on your Hickok, on the other tester? Is that other tester a transconductance type, or just an emmision type? Some tubes that test high on an emmission tester will test low on transconductance testers due to "hot spots" that can occur on a filament, or a heater.

How do 5Y3 tubes test on the Hickok in compairison to the 80? If the 80, or multiple 80's test low, it can be a characteristic of the tube. Many tubes such as 6SQ7's, will tend to test low, it is just inherent in the design of the tube.

While the 80 may seem low, if the 5Y3 also test low, it may indicate a problem with the resistors that are swithed into the plate load may have shifted to a higher value, which will impact readings. Usually these load resistors will not normally be used for most other tube types do to dissipation characteristics.

If the 5Y3 tests in normal acceptable range on the same tests that the 80's appear low, the tester probably is just fine. The 80's that you have may actually be low.

Ultimately, the final arbiter of condition is the radio, or equipment that uses that tube.

: I picked up this tester a week ago after a long search for a Hickok. It is in great shape. Most tubes I've tested seem to be in the correct realm for readings but whenever I test an 80 rectifier tube, it never makes
: it into the "green" area of the meter (you have to use the "english" setting for 80's rather than the transconductance ranges). The manual says
: a good 80 will go into the green (good) area of the meter. All these 80 tubes test good/strong on my other testers, but on the 533a, they always
: barely make it into the middle/questionable zone. I took the tester apart and cleaned the contacts of all the switches with contact cleaner and
: took out the two internal rectifier tubes (83 and a 5Y3, I believe) and found they test great (on a different tester) so I'm pretty sure it's not them.

: I'm hoping someone out there won't mind giving me an idea or two about this particular problem.

: One idea I had is if anyone out there has a 533a tester and/or tested one like this and can you give me an idea of whether the Hickok 533a actually does go in
: to the green/good zone on an 80 tube or any other ideas/thoughts?

: Thanks in advance, everyone!

: -George

: Hi,
: Did you by chance test the 80 that you had been testing on your Hickok, on the other tester? Is that other tester a transconductance type, or just an emmision type? Some tubes that test high on an emmission tester will test low on transconductance testers due to "hot spots" that can occur on a filament, or a heater.

: How do 5Y3 tubes test on the Hickok in compairison to the 80? If the 80, or multiple 80's test low, it can be a characteristic of the tube. Many tubes such as 6SQ7's, will tend to test low, it is just inherent in the design of the tube.

: While the 80 may seem low, if the 5Y3 also test low, it may indicate a problem with the resistors that are swithed into the plate load may have shifted to a higher value, which will impact readings. Usually these load resistors will not normally be used for most other tube types do to dissipation characteristics.

: If the 5Y3 tests in normal acceptable range on the same tests that the 80's appear low, the tester probably is just fine. The 80's that you have may actually be low.

: Ultimately, the final arbiter of condition is the radio, or equipment that uses that tube.

:
: : I picked up this tester a week ago after a long search for a Hickok. It is in great shape. Most tubes I've tested seem to be in the correct realm for readings but whenever I test an 80 rectifier tube, it never makes
: : it into the "green" area of the meter (you have to use the "english" setting for 80's rather than the transconductance ranges). The manual says
: : a good 80 will go into the green (good) area of the meter. All these 80 tubes test good/strong on my other testers, but on the 533a, they always
: : barely make it into the middle/questionable zone. I took the tester apart and cleaned the contacts of all the switches with contact cleaner and
: : took out the two internal rectifier tubes (83 and a 5Y3, I believe) and found they test great (on a different tester) so I'm pretty sure it's not them.

: : I'm hoping someone out there won't mind giving me an idea or two about this particular problem.

: : One idea I had is if anyone out there has a 533a tester and/or tested one like this and can you give me an idea of whether the Hickok 533a actually does go in
: : to the green/good zone on an 80 tube or any other ideas/thoughts?

: : Thanks in advance, everyone!

: : -George