Looking to build a high voltage tube tester

[Ed_Chambley]

Hey guys, did a forum search and I cannot find a discuaaion on making a tube tester.  I have a hickock 6000A, which is a good tester, but I recall someone mentioning a few years ago about either making or a design for a tester that would test tubes under operating voltages.


I would like to add one, but of course I do not need to test a large variety.  I would like to test 9 pin and octals.  For the power tubes, testing at 500 vDc wuld be nice, but most commercial testers are only 400 VDC.  I really do not know why so input is appreciated.Up to 300 for small tubes would be nice.  Of course, I do prefer adjustable.


I wish to match power tubes and check balance in dual bottles.  If anyone has a schematic/layout and method, if you have the desire to share it would be appreciated.

[PRR]

Build a Champ, two sockets at each location. Bring key points out to meter-holes.

Run known-good tubes through it. All good 12AX7 will be around 150V-200V at plate. 6SL7 will run a bit lower. All good 12AU7 or 6SN7 somewhat lower. If a ??? tube doesn't read like others, doubt it.

EL84 wants a smaller Rk than 6V6 6L6 for maximum output. But EL84 will work with 6V6 values, just make a note of what an average good EL84 reads.

Also feed guitar and speaker. 12AU7 needs more strum-power than 12AX7 but it will play OK. A tube may come to nominal DC values but rattle or hiss or buzz or ring like a bell. Such non-test problems may be more important than finding exactly 1,600uMho @ 1.5mA.

[jjasilli]

Maybe this will float your boat:  http://triodeel.com/tester.htm


Though it sure makes PRR's suggestion seem attractive, which also let's you listen to a tube to check for microphonics, e.g.

[Ed_Chambley]

thank to both of you.  Good stuff.

[DummyLoad]

this one gets good reviews...

http://www.dos4ever.com/uTracer3/uTracer3_pag0.html


--pete

[Ed_Chambley]

Thanks DL. Just a quick review of this has thrown me a curve. Some of the builds housing the board are first rate, but they also show basic approaches.


Again, good stuff.

[DummyLoad]

i would add automation: select from a menu and relays to configure the appropriate connections to the appropriate socket. IF i were to build one. and...IF i wanted a modern tester, i'd just probably just buy an amplitrex.

http://amplitrex.com/

they're asking price is not unreasonable for what it does and is in-line for a decent piece of test gear, just don't need that level of testing. no one really does unless you're a distributor or an obsessed hi-fi nut.

i'm with PRR, just need to build the champ "test" fixture... 

--pete

[pompeiisneaks]

What is that 'not unreasonable' price?  I don't see one on that site? 

~Phil

[DummyLoad]

What is that 'not unreasonable' price?  I don't see one on that site? 

~Phil

2.9k


--pete

[MaBerY]

this one gets good reviews...

http://www.dos4ever.com/uTracer3/uTracer3_pag0.html


--pete

I have build this thing and a friend of mine did too. Works like a charm.
It has a bit of a learning curve adjusting measurement parameters in the accompanied windows software, but it is well documented on Ronald Dekker's site