A Practical Guide to Tube Testers and Tube Testing - TV7 Eico 667 BG024

A Practical Guide to Tube Testers and Tube Testing - includes explanation and use of a TV-7D/U and an Eico 667 as well as practical tips and usages.

[@FirstLast-gs8tt]

This is a wealth of information!! Your contributions to this hobby are priceless! Thank you for taking the time to do this. I feel much more comfortable on how to use this tester now!!

[@sparks2209]

I have both testers but the 667 came with a booklet no rolodex tube spec's. The TV-7D/U, I picked up before it went to be turned in to supply depot as excess military gear. It had a broken 5Y3GT tube that I replaced and I re-calibrated it to Mil spec's. Like you I use both all the time on my bench.

[@ReyciclismoMTB]

SUper geek, over an hour watching a tube tester video, Great information.

[@boonedockjourneyman7979]

This is one of the most inspirational videos I've ever seen, over and over. There is nothing like this on KZbin. I have endless questions. I use a "Tillman adapter" to link an Eico 667 to Tek 575, 576 and 577 curve tracers for looking at IV curves for my brand of "matching." This video is what put me on that path. Your amazing.

[@Darryl603]

Thank you for taking the time to put this video together! There is so much here that you have learned over the years that a novice could learn in an hour by simply watching this. I look forward to your next one and I hope you get feeling better real soon. Knowledge is King and you have alot of it! Thanks for sharing it with us.

[@bennyboybangs]

Always been an electrical oriented kinda person, recently I have taken an interest in vintage audio equipment, I recently went to an auction where probably 50,000 tubes sat, by the end more then half remained, I gobbled up many not knowing a thing about them but now learning I’ve regretted those days after…. Wish I would have watched videos such as yours and others sooner, those tubes should have found the dumpster out back and for that it breaks my heart….

[@bennyboybangs]

***No no!!! Those tubes would have and did find the dumpster and for that it breaks my heart!!! lol

[@jackfiamingo9180]

Thank You for sharing your knowledge with us. Only one suggestion. Please, get a camera stand. Motion Sickness! It also doesn't help you in keeping things in focus.

[@brig.4398]

I really like your videos. When I went to school the teacher would often pull a tube from another set and try it in the bad set, he didn't use the tester. But when you don't have a supply of good tubes you have to rely on your tester.

[@gilbus4989]

Very informative and helps me a lot as venture into this hobby. Thanks.

[@stevenking2980]

No way! I just did one on my Hickok TV-7B/u. Is that yours? Yes! I see the placard. Great video. Glad I found ya and subscribed. Steven

[@mikebalboa]

Thank you for sharing so much great useful information in this video!

[@kylenovak97]

Great video. As a younger audio fanatic, this is how I learn about tubes!

[@gearheadted9210]

Great vid,hope you feel better!

[@larkenfield179]

Here's where anyone can download the RCA Receiving Tube Manual RC-30: archive.org/details/RCA_RC-30_1975

[@CassegrainSweden]

Thanks, a lot of of useful information!

[@dembydish]

Very interesting! Many thanks.

[@HeadphoneTarnish]

Great guide!

[@boboutelama5748]

The person that will be able to create a new tube tester, that is easy to use and complete in its ability, using modern methods ; will be the new king of the world. Those old machines are magnificent, but are very tricky to understand. Also, it very lacks technical datas about a lot of those tubes. I remember never have seen one single book in any kind of bookstore, whatsoever, on the planet.

[@ianbutler1983]

Thank you, very interesting.

[@jimdawes7261]

After buying what I thought was a tube tester on Ebay and then learning that it really only checks filaments I realized I should have done more (or some) research ahead of said purchase and then I watch this video (all of it). Very helpful, I have now ordered a 667 (just can't afford the TV7), hoping it will be as advertised. Anyone looking for an Accurate Instruments POS?

[@Kalkaekie]

This is a very, very interesting and helpful video ! Enjoyed every minute of it ! Thank you ! (:

[@jimjam041]

thanks for this video , i use a dut7 for selling.your explanation helps alot.im pretty sure i have sold you items on ebay.jimjams vintage music.

[@gordselectronicshobby3853]

When I worked for the Government as a civil service tech many years ago, I use to repair many TV 70 tube testers. What a nightmare.

[@MemoriesRR]

Thank you.

[@johnhodgson5313]

I enjoyed this, it finally explained the differences in terms that relate to what I do. A friend made it to 102 and I inherited his Eico 666 that had the 4 pin socket replaced with a compactron socket. This appears to have been a mod that Eico sold. Since I am doing ham radio and audio mods I was hoping that this was adequate, and I am happy to see that it does. One thing I don't know if you mentioned, it is not as important for a dual triode to be matched if it is used in a circuit where one gain stage follows the other like a guitar amp.

[@EJP286CRSKW]

A 12AX7 isn't operated in push-pull mode, so your earlier remarks and diagram about + and - envelope distortion don't apply. Class A. About the only real reason for gain-matching the triodes is if they perform the same function in different channels of a stereo amplifier and you want the same gain so as to be sure(r) you get the same kind of distortion out of both, and this is pretty marginal, getting on towards snake-oil.

[@kostaskritsilas2681]

EJP The most important reason for matching sections in any dual triode tube is in a long tail pair phase splitter. An unmatched dual triode can result in different drive levels to each side of the push pull power stage. This is somewhat mitigated by the surrounding circuitry, which is designed to not let the tube characteristics be the only determinant of circuit performance, so unless the dual triode is severely mismatched, it will still work fine, it just may not sound its best.

[@trikky2.2]

Thanks for that :)

[@Tysman909]

I bought a hickok 752 for the sockets and ability to test dually sided tubes simultaneously at press of a button. No compactron socket. But has every other socket

[@phillipbroussard9762]

Great vid, getting ready to buy a hickok 600a all calibrated with 90 day warranty, my question is, does it have the 9 pin socket ,thanks

[@whiskeyleaks4421]

so i ended up getting the same one by poartron..thanks for the vids..if i need it calibrated what do ya charge?

[@Blueglow]

google "tv-7 gm conversion" there is a table. or alltubetesters.com sells a meter with the gm scale on it

[@umajunkcollector]

Hmmm, tube testers 101, good vid. Don

[@Tysman909]

The hickok 752A can test them all 4pin up to compactron and test dual tubes without changing switches just press plate 2 button :) I own the hickok 752 without the compactron sockets but I bought the ca-5 adaptor so can test them with my tester

[@maylee1388]

not sure do anyone said it already, but in the front page of tube chart supplement of 667 "4,5,6 pin and septal base tube can be tested...by using the eico model 615 adapter" not need a 666

[@alexnuzzi4780]

Just getting into collecting tubes and testing… any suggestions on where to start getting tube lots? Flea markets and garage sales any other suggestions?

[@stevenking2980]

I heard you can buy an adapter to test the compactron tubes on the Hickok. I love tubes too. Let me know if you need any. I'm not using many, and I came into a ton of them a year ago. Steven

[@KB1UIF]

Good informative video, but you didn't cover the important step of SHORTS testing. With most Tube Testers you should not continue to test if there is a short detected with possible damage to the tester if you continue. I realize you are testing known tubes and you know there are no shorts, but you were trying to teach others how to use a Tube Tester and the shorts tests should be carried out prior to the conductance testing.

[@deadfreightwest5956]

I had a Harmon Kardon receiver with 2x 5881s, Tung-Sols, no less.

[@jimjam041]

deapending the time of day your wall voltage can change.i use a voltage regulator that helps

[@delatronics3257]

I was contemplating building a tester; what are your thoughts? I just need to test audio valves like 12ax7, el84, 6l6 and EL34. I saw a Hickok TV3 would that be a better buy? Thank you for sharing your vast experience on the subject!

[@rondeldebbio9219]

Excellent! I believe that eico has an adapter that will plug into the 667 to test 4 pin tubes, kinda nice, but does eico 667 test for leakage? Thanks again.

[@scottjamable]

If a NOS 70's RCA fat bottle EL34 /6ca7 pegs the meter past 140 on my 667, how much would that be or close to on a tv-7? I am looking to buy a fourth tube to match my other 3 Fat Bottle RCA 6ca7's in my 100 watt Marshall amp I am restoring. and my other three are very strong pegging the meter past 140 on the 667. Thanks I really enjoy your videos!

[@ErwinSerle]

Should you test for shorts before any other test ?

[@raycarr225]

There seems to be two schematics for both versions of 667. One having 270k resistors x’s 2 and the other a 300k & 330k. The question is: update older version with the 300 level resistors or leave as is?

[@The8TrackChap]

Did you show how to do short tests?

[@KD0CAC]

Thanks for the video . I did have a question , I have a TV7 and noticed you never did the 1st thing I do , after doing setup , I run the run the function switch through the shorts test on all ranges . Did you just forget , or have a reason ?

[@oldestgamer]

Absolutely the FIRST thing done, testing a shorted tube can blow your tube tester!

[@cliffjones7868]

@@oldestgamer YES Shorts are The priority.

[@GeoffEspeland]

I just watched your video on tube testers and found it very informative. I'm retired and I work on tube guitar amps as more or less a hobby. I have a Precision 10-12 tester and I was wondering where you would place this tester in your hierarchy of tube testers ie: good, mediocre, or not so good. Thanks, Geoff

[@Blueglow]

mediocre, if you are just looking to see if a tube is good or not, use it. If you are trying to match tubes or determine much more, probably not

[@GeoffEspeland]

I want to get a mutual conductance tube tester for matching tubes . I would like to know what your recommendation would be, please. I like the idea in the Hickok 752 and the Weston 981 where you can just flip a switch(s) and test the other side of a dual triode tube. Any input is greatly appreciated. Thanks

[@goodun6081]

Geoff Espeland, i have a 752a, been using it for many years. its excellent, easy to use, and does a quick setup and test for dual diodes such as the 12AX7 etc. it can and will test just about anything (though there isn't much data available for some Western Electric tube types). the A version adds a built-in 9 pin Novar socket (for 7868's etc) and 12 pin Compactron socket, and additional positions on the rotary switches/controls, to test those without needing external adaptors or having to reset the rotary switches in order to finish testing the tube. I have amassed quite a collection of data for it and it is rare to come across a tube that I can't test with it, or figure out how to test an oddball or unusual tube, where to set the switches and the bias and so forth and so on.

[@Tysman909]

I think tv3/u is a very good tester better then tv7 cause has bias fuse and can test tubes in umohs on scale. Can test diodes also

[@Littlelewie151]

If you could find a socket for tubes with oddball pinouts, could you make an adapter?

[@Imperialdubsquad]

how do you perform the gas test on the tv7 d/u im not sure what the book means by the largest division etc??

[@Tysman909]

Mutual conductance is not emissions test it's how the tube amplifies or gain of a tube

[@jameshochstetler6093]

How do you test loctal tubes on this machine? as an example 35Y4.

[@Tysman909]

If yah have 4 of those shoulder type 6l6 tubes that test good can I order them from you?

[@slick51]

Do you repair tube testers? I have a Precise 111 that I bought on eBay that was DOA. I live about an hour from you and can drop it by...

[@SuperJV4x]

once you test a tube and put it away, does it keep that value if not further used? for example, if I test a tube today, package then sell it in 5 years are the values still valid? thanks

[@Blueglow]

id say 99.5% of the time yes. If tubes are stored in a non-climate controlled building the heat & cold could always cause expansion/contraction of the glass around the metal pins causing slight leaks and letting the tube get gassy over time but that's a pretty extreme rare case. Short of that scenario or them somehow being physically damaged, they should be good to go for centuries. It is a glass bottle with a vacuum pulled on it, as long as that doesn't change what's inside should be preserved perfectly.

[@SuperJV4x]

Blueglow Electronics thank you

[@silverbushman]

Hi do you have any tube testers I'd like to get into building and repair thanks Andrew

[@fishyrider3528]

Great video. If I want a good tube tester, can i buy one restored and calibrated by you? I kinda trust you. Im from europe. So cant buy one and send it to you... ill pay the right price for the service if you are interested.

[@fishyrider3528]

Ps i would love a tv7du like yours.

[@Bobcat-UDX109]

I just watched this video on the Practical Guide to Tube Testers. You don't find a lot of knowledge about these any more!!!! I am curious as to whether you might entertain a question. I have a Precise Development Model 111 Gm/Em tester that I bought probably 10 years ago and have not done anything with. I was not able to find much information on it on the web outside of the fact that I did find a manual on it that has a schematic, and some instructions for use. That brings me to the question.. Neither the tube roll OR the manual tell you anything about what socket to use for the specified tube under test. There are however, multiples of some... for instance 2 octals, 2 9 pins.... Does it matter which one you plug the tube in to test it? I have not powered it up yet, I'd really like to change the electrolytics first and check out a few other things.... but this one question is nagging at me... Do you have any thoughts on this? Thank you much and, again, I really enjoyed this! Thanks, Bob KG5JAI.

[@Blueglow]

Sadly, I don't have any info on that unit either

[@Bobcat-UDX109]

NOt a problem friend. The schematic is a rather "busy" one... but it looks like the daunting part is really in the rotary switches that select the pins on the tubes and what they get tied to up in the guts of the test circuitry. I have already noticed that all "Pin 1's" are tied together, all "Pin 2's are tied together" and so on... I suspect that a little patience will yield the results. Thank you though. I enjoyed your video.

[@vsmichael1]

Why throw or toss your tubes?

[@Tysman909]

I have portable software that can convert your 0 to 120 scale to gm it's easy to use

[@erin19030]

Tube testers are for amateurs.