[Boatanchors] Want to buy a pair of tested 5651WA voltage regulator tubes (new)

[Richard Knoppow]

    I agree with you about the gas tubes. I didn't mean to suggest they 
never fail. In fact, I have seen them become unstable and even 
oscillate. I just meant that it was likely that something else was 
wrong. These tubes turn out to be quite cheap so just substituting new 
ones is a reasonable thing to do.

On 6/18/2024 11:30 PM, vilgotch1 at gmail.com wrote:
> 
> Hi all,
> 
> It's true that those gas discharge tubes don't fail often but there is a 
> small proportion that do. They either experience drift of the regulated 
> voltage or develop erratic firing characteristics, probably due to gas 
> leakage in either direction. I've found that the best way to check them, 
> if you have access to one, is a Tektronics 575 or later curve tracer. I 
> don't know whether any tube tester can duplicate the usefulness of a 
> curve tracer. Using that instrument you can clearly see the ignition and 
> stabilization voltages and see how constant they are at different 
> currents. Having said that, fortunately they are still cheap enough to 
> be able to be replaced easily. Woe betide us if the audiophooles ever 
> find a reason to use them!
> 
> 73,
> 
> Morris VK3DOC


-- 
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
SKCC 19998