[ARC5] [Milsurplus] Tube Tester

[Bob Macklin]

The Heath TT-1 is the only dynamic tube tester that heath ever made. They
don't come cheap.

Bob Macklin
K5MYJ
Kent (Seattle), Wa,
"Real Radios Glow in the Dark"

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kenneth G. Gordon" <kgordon2006 at verizon.net>
To: "Michael Tauson" <wh7hg.hi at gmail.com>; <jfor at quik.com>; "Bob Macklin"
<macklinbob at msn.com>
Cc: "arc5" <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, July 12, 2009 3:03 PM
Subject: Re: [ARC5] [Milsurplus] Tube Tester


> On 12 Jul 2009 at 14:12, Bob Macklin wrote:
>
> > The Heath TC-2 and TC-3 are really the same unit except the TC-3
> > handles tubes that were non-existent at the time the TC-2 was
> > produced. For an emission tester both of these units are just fine.
> > Many were used in Radio/TV shops in the 50's and 60's.
>
> Bob:
>
> The Heathkit model I am talking about is NOT simply an
> emission tester: it is a full-fledged Dynamic Mutual
> Conductance (DMC) type.
>
> I am not sure of the model, but it IS one of the TC-*
> models.
>
> Possibly the TC-1 (?)
>
> I don't know, but I DO know that Heathkit sold at least ONE
> tube tester that was a Dynamic Mutual Conductance
> type...somewhat like the Triplett 3444 which I have, or the
> military TV-2, of which I have two (one working), or the
> Hickok types that sell for so much money on eBay.
>
> In fact, even Eico and most other kit manufactuers, sold
> DMC types. The Eico 666 is one such for instance.
>
> Most tube testers are, as you say, emission types, which
> except for their being faster and easier to use, are hardly
> any better than a good multimeter, coupled with a power
> supply, and a good understanding of how to measure
> things.
>
> Also, unfortunately, many so-called Dymanic Mutual
> Conductance types are not very effective as the test
> voltages and frequecies are too low or too limited.
>
> The I-177 is a military version of the Hickok 600 series, I
> believe, and is quite good.
>
> Later models of the TV-2/U are also quite good. The early
> models suffered from un-wanted oscillation under certain
> test conditions which could ruin either or both the tube
> being tested AND the internal rectifiers.
>
> My first model TV-2/U cannot test VR tubes without going
> nuts. I have ruined both the 83 and the 6X4s in it by
> attempting to test VR tubes.
>
> In later model TV-2s, ferrite beads were installed on nearly
> every wire and connection in the beast, and that fixed the
> oscillation problems.
>
> The TV-2B/U is a good one, although ALL the TV-2s are
> somewhat slow to use since the operator can set or adjust
> nearly everything in them...and, in fact, must for each
> change of tube type.
>
> Ken Gordon W7EKB
>