[ARC5] TV-2

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

On 16 Mar 2019 at 10:43, Scott Johnson wrote:

> I hate to be a naysayer, but in my opinion, the TV-2 is sort of a
> marginal tester, 

Having two of them, I most heartily agree !

> due primarily to the fact that all those meters don't tell you much,
> and it is a slow, tedious tester to use. 

Again, agreed. 

In addition, it oscillates under some conditions of settings, and badly enough to destroy the 
83 rectifier. The early model, the straight TV-2/U (which I own) was so notorious for this 
oscillation, especially when testing VR tubes, that the next model had copious quantities of 
ferrite beads installed on practically every lead in the instrument to stop the oscillations.

I absolutely cannot test any VR tubes in my TV-2/U due to the terrible oscillation that takes 
place with the subsequent destruction of the 83 rectifier...which is getting harder and harder 
to find.

> The meters are also somewhat notorious in their inability to stay in
> calibration, there is no direct plate current meter, the units are
> arbitrary, and it is un-necessarily complex. 

Very, very true, and especially the "...un-necessarily complex..." bit. It takes an inordinate 
number of switch and control settings to test each tube or section of tube.

>  That being said, it looks cool, and I will admit to having one in
> my collection.

Well, I have two, both given to me: the operational one, the TV-2/U, I use occasionally, but 
the later TV-2B/U has signficant problems. I have not yet come up with enough incentive to 
attempt to fix those problems. Several of its sockets must be replaced, and the weirdest 
problem with that one is that when first turned on it will work for several minutes, then 
suddenly quits completely, almost as if the power switch was turned off...except it isn't..

>  If one needs a more analytical tester than the TV-7 or 10, I
> would suggest looking for a Hickok 539C, Weston CA-1630, Weston 686 type 9,

Or a Triplett 3444...one of which I also own, and which was given to me. That also needs a 
bit of work: the selenium rectifiers in it have deteriorated to the point that they need to be 
replaced, and I have not gotten into that yet since to replace a selenium rectifier with silicon, 
a resistor of the appropriate value should be installed in series with it, and I have not yet 
taken the time to calculate that out for each selenium rectifier which must be replaced.

I consider the Triplett 3444 to be about the best tube tester available, though.

> or any of the excellent British AVO testers (Mks. I through IV, model 160,
> or VCM 163).  Better yet, just find a nice TV-7 C or D, and have a tester
> that will last the rest of your natural life. And will become second nature
> to use.

Good ideas, all. Thanks,

Ken W7EKB