[Boatanchors] newbie question

[Glen Zook]

I have several tube testers and, most of the time, they sit on a shelf!  The best tube tester in the world is the unit itself.  I have seen tubes that check excellent that just would not work in the circuit and tubes that test bad that work fine!

Remember, receiving tubes and the lower powered transmitting tubes (6146, 807, etc.) last for decades.  I have numerous tubes manufactured during the 1920s that still work fine.

I would also add a good frequency counter to the list of equipment.  There are excellent counters that run well under $100 these days.
 
Glen, K9STH


Website:  http://k9sth.com


________________________________
 From: Bob Macklin <macklinbob at gmail.com>
To: Bill Cromwell <wrcromwell at gmail.com>; boatanchors at mailman.qth.net 
Sent: Saturday, June 29, 2013 8:17 PM
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] newbie question
 

Where tube testers work well is when you do not have a supply of tubes to 
use for swapping. If they say a tube is bad, it probably is.

A few weeks ago I was having a problem with the 2M converter on my SB-301. I 
used my Heathkit TC-3 (pretty old) to check the tubes. One of the RF amp 
dual triodes showed a short in one section. I tried the RF amp dual triode 
from my 6M converter. It showed a short in the other section. I did not have 
any spares.

The end result I put both tubes back in their original locations and both 
converters are working fine.

VTVM, RF signal generator, then scope, then tube tester.