• WARNING: Tube/Valve amplifiers use potentially LETHAL HIGH VOLTAGES.
    Building, troubleshooting and testing of these amplifiers should only be
    performed by someone who is thoroughly familiar with
    the safety precautions around high voltages.

Another silly tube yesting question

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Hello,

I am trying to repair a piece of equipment that generates its output from the anode of a Brimar 12bh7a tube.

There is no output and some evidence of burning around the base of this tube, yet when the power is on, the tube still lights up.

I (think I) have correctly measured the heater resistance (using this pinout ... http://www.drtube.com/datasheets/12bh7a-rca1955.pdf )

And get measurements between 3 ohms and 6 ohms measuring between pins 4,5 and 9.

So would a tube light up if it was faulty?

Thanks
 
There are a lot of ways for a tube to go bad, a faulty heater is only one way.

That the heater is still good is, well, good.

More likely is a faulty component in the associated circuit.

Discoloration around hte base of the tube may simply be because tubes get hot.

A circuit schematic would be most helpful.
 
Yes, tubes can go bad in other ways than a broken filament.

The cathode can reach the end of its life - electron emission rate will drop. (How old is your tube?)
The tube can get gassy.
The grid wires can bend/break and short circuit to the cathode.


p.s. Why two separate threads for the same question ?
 
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