[R-390] Tube testers and other babblings

[Bob Camp]

Hi

About the only thing I can add to what's been said so far:

Often I get tubes in batches from very odd sources. Some better than others.
This makes for some fun when testing them since a whole batch may be bad.
Each time this happens I really don't know if it's the tester or the tubes.
Here's a solution:

Take a couple of tubes that you have a lot of. Three is a nice number. Run
them in the radio for a few days to burn them in. Then measure them in the
tube tester. Record the readings and store them away.

Some time in the next few years you will pull out the tester, test a few
tubes and then ask the question - are all of these bad or is it the tester?
Then you pull out the reference tubes and you have an answer.

Of course this only works on a tester like a TV-7 that has a meter scale
with numbers on it rather than a three zone good / who knows / bad scale.

    Take Care!

        Bob Camp
        KB8TQ

----- Original Message -----
From: "Scott Bauer" <ody@radicus.net>
To: <r-390@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Saturday, August 17, 2002 9:43 PM
Subject: [R-390] Tube testers and other babblings


>
>   Hello Gang,
>
>   Most of you don't know me. I am new to the list.
>
>   I recently bought a very nice 390-A from a gentleman here on the list
and
> am completely
> hooked on the 390-A. I really love this radio. I then got on ebay and
> bought a ton of tubes.
> I then realized that I had no way of finding out the condition of the
tubes
> that I am buying
> as "NOS & NIB". So I bid on and won a B&K Dyna Jet tube tester. Now, after
> it is too
> late, I have a few questions. Please remember that I know practically
> nothing about tube
> gear and tubes. So with all of the babble out of the way, This is what I
> would like to know.
>
>   Is the B&K tester worthy and accurate ? If not, is there a certain
tester
> that would serve
> me better?
>
>   All of the tubes I have bought look new. Should I test them all? Does
> testing the tubes
> put wear on them?
>
>   Most of the tubes I bought are JAN tubes. Some are GE. I also got some
> 5814A's made by
> National Gold Line. Is it OK to use the National tubes if there are some
> JAN's or GE's
> already in the radio or does it matter if one would mix and match?
>
>   Lastly, some of the tubes that I bought are dated back to the 40's.
> Should I save these?
> It seems that they would be collectible.
>
>   Thanks for any advice.
>
>   Scott
>
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