Vacuum tube tester, do you own one?

[fernando_g]

Do you own a vacuum tube tester?
If so, what make and model?

I just got my hands on an EICO 628. It is only an emission-type tester (I can't afford the dynamic transconductance ones!), but it is in a pristine condition, and with some small refurbishing it should be as good as new.

[7N7]

I am interested in testers; sadly I no longer have one.

As an Englishman, of course I had an English tester, an AVO 163, which has a good reputation in England.

I do not know much about American valve testers; can we see a picture of your EICO?

7N7

[riffer3]

I've got one on my "To Buy" list

[HollowState]

Your Eico tester may be the first tube tester I ever owned. Either that or a 625, Can't remember. But over the years I've owned many different types. Currently I have:

For receiving tubes:
Hickok USM-118B cardmatic (my favorite because it's fast)
Hickok 539C (my favorite manual type)
Hickok 1575B (similar to 539C w/cathode bias resistors)
Hickok 752A
B&K 700 (also easy and fast setup)
2 Tektronix 570 curvetracers (late round corner versions w/5K+ S/Ns)

For transmitting/industrial tubes:
A rack mounted system, with various plug-in sockets, for steady class-A tests up to 1500 watts input. (<5kv) Gm is measured with a 1Khz 1v reference signal. All elements are monitored.

A second rack mounted pulse system (<2500v) for 2500 watt tubes and up. Peak amps measured with sample & hold peak detector. (analoge meter) Maximum filament power is 200 amps or 1500 watts. (The limit of my AC mains.) This system also tests large rectifiers and thyratrons on a CRT display using isolated AC. (<10amps)

I could put up a pix or two if anyone is curious. (Yes, I've been doing this a long time)

Victor

[tubelab.com]

I have two tube testers around here somewhere. One is an Eico, and the other is a Hickok. Both are mutual conductance type. I use the Hickok occasionally. I have found that when testing a batch of random used tubes about 5% of tubes that tested good in the tester had problems when used in an amplifier. The usual problem is high distortion, low gain, or low output. When the tube tester says the tube is bad, it usually is.

If I have a bunch of the same tube to test, I will rig up a test fixture that biases up the tube to a reasonable current and runs a signal through the tube. The output goes to a scope and a distortion analyzer. The distortion readings vary a lot for some tube types, and are a lot closer for others. 6AU6's in triode are all over the place.

[bassrogue]

I have a Hickok model 800 tester that I use most of the time and a Heathkit model 21 for backup. The Hickok is a mutual conductance tester.

[Conrad Hoffman]

I have a small Eico, but I don't remember the number. Works well, but I always remember the advice given in the old Tektronix manuals- don't rely on the results from a tube tester. If the tube works in the circuit, it's good. To test, swap the tube in question with a known good tube.

[Colt45]

hickok 800 or 800A.. i forget

[fernando_g]

Originally posted by 7N7
I am interested in testers; sadly I no longer have one.

As an Englishman, of course I had an English tester, an AVO 163, which has a good reputation in England.

I do not know much about American valve testers; can we see a picture of your EICO?

7N7

Sure! Just give me a couple of days and I will do so.

[fernando_g]

HollowState:
you really have some awesome artillery!
I wish I could afford half of what you got.

But between sound reproduction and my other hobby (my wife calls it a mental disease),photography, I have my resources stretched thin.