[Drake] EXT :Re: Tube tester wanted

[Cecil]

These are all true statements if one has only one radio.  It pays only to keep spares of tubes.

If one is in the hobby with a dozen tube radios and doing restorations then owning a tube tester or three makes sense.  

I would much rather find a grid shorted to another tube element in my tube tester than in my radio...

Cecil
K5DL

Sent from my iPad

On Apr 8, 2013, at 9:01 AM, Richard Radke <rar100 at excite.com> wrote:

> I agree also. Any tube tester worth having is going cost way more than a set of replacement tubes, and it will tell you less.
> 
> Rick
> W9WS
> 
> 
> On Apr 8, 2013, at 8:49 AM, Stevens, Bill (ES) wrote:
> 
> All
> I agree I spent money on a tester and it just sits never used it about all it will really tell you is if you have a short and if the fil is open besides a finger touch can tell you if it's alive. I second Gareys emotion buy a full set of tubes.
> Bill
> WB2UFC
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: drake-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:drake-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Garey Barrell
> Sent: Sunday, April 07, 2013 12:26 PM
> To: drake at mailman.qth.net >> Drake
> Subject: EXT :Re: [Drake] Tube tester wanted
> 
> Joe -
> 
> You, and your Drakes, would be better served by spending the money on a set of replacement tubes.
> 
> It's best to try the new tubes one at a time, in a properly operating radio, as not all 'new' tubes are good.  Once you have a 'known good'
> set of tubes, any time you think your radio may not be operating up to par, start subbing appropriate tubes.  If no improvement, putthe 'old'
> tube back in and your good tube back on the shelf!  Once a radio is tuned up and operating normally, there are very few tube 'failures' or 'weaknesses'. There are a LOT ofgood tubes tossed out because of tube testers and those who think they're like spark plugs and replace them all at once!  :-) 'Weakness' is a result of Cathode depletion, and modern tubes have LOTS of cathode coating.  PA tubes are the only ones that will eventually 'wear out' in normal use.  Run them off resonance however, and they'll wear out in a hurry as the Cathode coating get blown off by amperes of current!!
> 
> Testing them at 60 Hz in a tube tester only remotely infers how they would work at RF.  A tubetester is useful if you have a box of 1000 tubes of unknown condition and you want to sort them out!
> 
> 73, Garey - K4OAH
> Glen Allen, VA
> 
> Drake 2-B, 2-C/2-NT, 4-A, 4-B, C-Line
> and TR-4/C Service Supplement CDs
> <www.k4oah.com>
> 
> Joseph Trombino, Jr wrote:
>> 'm looking for a Hickok 752A tube tester in working condition.
>> 
>> A Heathkit TT1A tube tester could work for me as well.
>> 
>> If anyone out there has one of these critters for sale please let me know.
>> 
>> Trying to keep my Drake gear in working condition and a good tube tester sure would help in this endeavor.
>> 
>> Many thanks for any assistance.
>> 
>>            73, Joe W2KJ
>> 
> 
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