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Author Topic: tube tester recommendations 12BY7A, 6146B  (Read 273 times)

KU7I

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tube tester recommendations 12BY7A, 6146B
« on: November 24, 2022, 05:39:10 AM »

Good day,
I am looking for recommendations on which tube tester to use to test 12BY7a and 6146B tubes for my TS820S and TS-830S. I found a lot of each type, approximately 50 12BY7As and another 100  6146Bs. I currently do not have a tube tester. Seems many hams like the TV-7 but apparently there are many versions of this so please comment. Thank you. Lane ku7i
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K1KIM

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Re: tube tester recommendations 12BY7A, 6146B
« Reply #1 on: November 24, 2022, 05:48:55 AM »

If this is a one-off deal you are looking at, you might be able to get someone to test all those tubes for less than the $1000 a calibrated/serviced Hickok TV-7b goes for.

Just a thought.
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KX4OM

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Re: tube tester recommendations 12BY7A, 6146B
« Reply #2 on: November 24, 2022, 01:30:02 PM »

You could build a simple transmitter and test them at RF. There are many designs from the '50s on up in the QST archives and 73 Magazine (Wayne Green put 73 in the public domain). Or, check Tom, W8JI's site on what is involved:

www.w8ji.com/designing_ham_transmitter.htm

It might be easier to buy a 6146-based rig and plug in the cache of 6146B tubes and note the performance. That's what I did when testing a dozen of 6146 and 6146B tubes I have an HW-101 and a Tempo 2020 as my "tube testers". A rig like the Tempo 2020 or one of the Kenwoods gets you the 12BY7 as well. After your fortune of tubes has been established, resell the test rig(s) to recoup your cost.

Ted, KX4OM
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K8AXW

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Re: tube tester recommendations 12BY7A, 6146B
« Reply #3 on: November 25, 2022, 08:10:12 PM »

I've read with great interest the comments about tube testers and their dollar value.

Reason being I  have a Hickok 752A tube tester that I no longer have a use for and have considered selling it.

Problems are, I have no idea what it's worth or how I could ship it. It's heavy and one of those things that a person needs to LOOK at before buying.  I've read too many horror stories about selling stuff on-line.

Any suggestions or comments?

Al - K8AXW
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K1KIM

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Re: tube tester recommendations 12BY7A, 6146B
« Reply #4 on: November 26, 2022, 12:28:06 PM »

I've read with great interest the comments about tube testers and their dollar value.

Reason being I  have a Hickok 752A tube tester that I no longer have a use for and have considered selling it.

Problems are, I have no idea what it's worth or how I could ship it. It's heavy and one of those things that a person needs to LOOK at before buying.  I've read too many horror stories about selling stuff on-line.

Any suggestions or comments?

Al - K8AXW

Same reason all my boat anchors and hybrid equipment is still on the shelves. Too heavy with way too many problems in shipping.
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KX4OM

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Re: tube tester recommendations 12BY7A, 6146B
« Reply #5 on: December 19, 2022, 11:22:32 AM »

A DIY tube analyzer kit that should work (I have not built one).

https://www.dos4ever.com/uTracer3/uTracer3_pag0.html

Works with a computer with a GUI. Tests tubes up to 400 volts. Another model, the uTracer6 works up to 1000 volts.

Many examples of builds by users.

According to the website 1,987 of the uTracer3 are in service as of 9 November, 2022 in 61 countries. Over 2,200 of both types in 63 countries.

Quote from the website:

"If you are a radio amateur, or use very powerful amplifier tubes, the uTracer6 might be more suitable for you."

Ted, KX4OM

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WA2ISE

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Re: tube tester recommendations 12BY7A, 6146B
« Reply #6 on: December 20, 2022, 12:56:47 PM »

A simple "emissions" tester may be sufficient enough.  This sort of tester can test for internal shorts and if there is enough cathode electron emission (the thing that wears out inside vacuum tubes).   This should weed out tubes that could damage your rig.
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KA4LFP

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Re: tube tester recommendations 12BY7A, 6146B
« Reply #7 on: December 24, 2022, 01:51:13 PM »

A simple "emissions" tester may be sufficient enough.  This sort of tester can test for internal shorts and if there is enough cathode electron emission (the thing that wears out inside vacuum tubes).   This should weed out tubes that could damage your rig.

That's always been my thought when I see guys (like someone did here) say "Just buy a radio that uses tube XYZ and test for power output with that".

In many cases, a radio that supports tube XYZ isn't particularly cheap (like my Hallicrafters Hurricane), or the radio itself needs a full refurbishment before it's in factory original specs and would be a good "source of truth" for testing tubes. (again, see my Hallicrafters Hurricane, or some of my Swans, or a few Kenwood TS-xxx radios I have - none of them have had all caps, out of tolerance resistors, IF cans, etc 100% refurbished, such that they'd work as "sources of truth")

And -- then after all of that work -- as you state, what about the tube that looks perfect, but is shorted internally and BLOWS UP your nicely refurbished Kenwood/Hallicrafters/Swan/Drake vintage tube rig, burning up lots of nearly unobtanium chokes and coils, not to mention caps and resistors in locations that take hours to get down to and re-align after replacing again?

Yeah - "testing with a radio" doesn't seem like a good option for that "box of tubes" you bought at a hamfest....
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