You Cannot buy this Vacuum Tube Tester. You Build It!

Have you ever encountered a Vacuum tube in person? Wonder if it still works and what you can use it for? Clem found a very old valve in his pile of parts. He quickly consults his friend Max to find out if his vintage Valvo ED tube is still working and together they start to build a high-end tube testing device DIY kit, the ROEtest V10 by Helmut Weigl. Clem also shows you treasures from his Tube collection, including some really weird vintage Valves! bit.ly/3z4LMDc
Engage with the element14 presents team on the element14 Community - suggest builds, find project files and behind the scenes video: bit.ly/2MFMG0v
Visit the element14 Community for more great activities and free hardware:
Tech spotlights: bit.ly/2KLz0TS
Roadtest and Reviews: bit.ly/2KH4fj3
Project14: bit.ly/2wPnajx

[@UsagiElectric]

Absolutely excellent video, and you have a stunning collection of old tubes! Oh, and thank you for the shoutout!

[@MAYERMAKES]

There is no way I could gloss over your work!

[@rpbale]

Love the video. Can’t forget about all those tube guitar amps out there. Another great video would be going through the calibration of your new tube tester.

[@MAYERMAKES]

That could follow

[@SharpblueCreative]

Back in the 1990's I was really big into analog audio - went through a stage of owning quite a few 'tube' amplifiers (we call them valves here in the UK). Along with modern 'Valve' amps made in the 90's by CR Developments here in the UK I also owned some 1950's Quad tube amps - a pair of Quad II amps which I had re wired, along with the electrostatic loudspeakers I picked up at a boot sale beck then. Vintage gear form the 1950's that sounded awesome when working. I remember even then it was not cheap sourcing new old stock 500B / KT66 tubes for those mono block amps. Lovely sound though.

[@MAYERMAKES]

thanks for the story!

[@Robyrob7771]

I worked at a company about 7 years ago that was still using vacuum tubes and had a full assortment in a cabinet in the stock room.

[@MAYERMAKES]

sweet

[@brianmicky7596]

Hi Clem, Totally mind blowing, l remember having something like that in my old radio, ( new project trees applicator) thanks for what you do, !! All the Best Brian 🤗😎

[@brianmicky7596]

Not trees but Grass Application

[@MAYERMAKES]

@@brianmicky7596 thanks, and yes that project is coming soon!

[@PurityVendetta]

Wow guys, tube amps and restoring valve radios are my thing but I've never been able to afford as they fetch incredible prices. I had to put my own projects on ice but recently resurrected them. I might well have a go at this tester instead of crossing fingers with tubes from my hoard! You guys make me wish I still lived in Germany.

[@MAYERMAKES]

Radios go up and down in price like waves, some day you get them cheap a year later they are up again. I only buy lots and sort through myself to get better deals.

[@AmRadPodcast]

This was great. I need to make one of these.

[@MAYERMAKES]

GO for it...be aware of the mass of soldering ahead of you OOOH boy! should have streamed that.

[@horsenuts1831]

That is quite a machine. I have an English AVO valve tester from the 1960s which is amazingly adaptable. When it was made, it was unbelievably expensive. It is interesting that technology in 2021 has now reached the point where it is possible for one person to reproduce the functionality, and publish the methodology on how to build an equivalent machine. The market for new and unused vintage tubes is extremely small, so kudos to somebody who built a tester for them. Personally, my old AVO tester is worth its weight in gold. I think I paid about €600 for it, and it can add €200 to the value of an old tube by mesuring how good it is (a bad tube can be worth €zero, but a good tube can be worth €5000). I will never sell my AVO tester.

[@MAYERMAKES]

awesome!

[@WilliamSoffe]

Clem is absolutely rocking that long hair

[@MAYERMAKES]

thanks, but I had to cut it it just was getting in the way to much...

[@WilliamSoffe]

@@MAYERMAKES noooooo!!!!

[@acoustic61]

I'm still deciding which tester to build. I like the Roe Tester but is quite a large project. I wish there was a group project to build the mainboard and enclosure. Also considering Etracer.

[@MAYERMAKES]

it is ahuge project, and due to availability mine is still not finihsed(some parts are unobtainium at the moment), its for sure the most advanced one, it really depends on what you want to do with your device.

[@acoustic61]

@@MAYERMAKES I still service vacuum tube guitar amps and hi-fi. So mostly pass-fail testing. I'd like to work on some old juke box amplifiers but they have a lot of odd tubes. Because of the condition of some of them, I really need to be able to test every tube first, to estimate repairs. I don't currently own a tester and need to borrow one. I figure with the prices that old testers are going for, I'm probably better off with something newer which can also do matching etc.

[@lensherman6242]

Take a look at uTracer. It's a kit that is very capable. Not as slick as this, but still very good.

[@radiotvrepair1059]

Thanks for this vedio how i found PCB and components for this tube tester.

[@MAYERMAKES]

You find that info at the link in the description.

[@chrischrisssssssss]

Is that a pair of MB Quart speakers at 2:50 beside your head? Maybe 390 MCS? Just wondering. I am a huge fan of their speakers and have used a lot of different models of them. Subscribed for MB Quart love!

[@audiodoctor2999]

Very cool guys. I am an audio electronics repair guy in San Diego, California. I own the Orange VT-1000 and use it very often. as you know this unit is not made anymore so if it dies I'm screwed. Will this unit be avail to purchase or build? I am very interested. Will it assign a gain/matching number like the Orange unit does? Please keep me posted, and GREAT WORK!!!

[@MAYERMAKES]

you got all the infos on the page linked in the description. the files parts and software have to be purchased from the creator and the unit built by yourself.

[@EverettVinzant]

If I knew someone that blows glass… is there a procedure that could be used to repair a broken tube if the only problem is that it lost vacuum? I realize that it would be an expensive repair, but for unique tubes, maybe it would be worth attempting?

[@MAYERMAKES]

yes, that is a possibility and people do that for special tubes.

[@EverettVinzant]

@@MAYERMAKES thank you for your time.

[@odindimartino597]

The cathode of indirect heating tubes tend to oxidize quickly

[@EverettVinzant]

@@odindimartino597 thank you for adding that. I realize anything can be tried, is it possible to replace it? I would guess dismantling a vacuum tube for repair would be no small feat.

[@odindimartino597]

@@EverettVinzant It's near to impossible because elements in most tube are held in place with a mica insulator, the cathode is difficult to make and the material between the heather and cathode is fragile. Also,tubes are assembled in a special support and with special equipment. Homemade tubes exist but those are with direct heating and elements are held in place the same way as filament lamps

[@jassenjj]

And it just happens that you have one of the most bizarre tubes laying around: the EQ80. I'd be glad to see the setup to test it :))

[@MAYERMAKES]

there are many bizarre tubes i nthe collection!

[@notnecessary7730]

I have 3 TUBE TESTERS, Each unit tests 10-15 different tubes. My GGrandfather left them to me alone with all his ham equipped......Anyone want to buy it all?

[@topquark22]

Apparently, germanium transistors give a similar sound to vacuum tubes. Some people even call them "tubes." Have you heard this?

[@MAYERMAKES]

Germanium transistors are often used in foot pedals for overdrive, it's a good alternative but not the same.

[@toketcang]

Hahahha .. ibought the kit some years ago when it's still version 4 or 5 but did not find the time to assemble one. I guess need to materialize now with some pcb upgrade i think

[@MAYERMAKES]

at this point Id suggest just buying the updated version and use the components you have. its quite a leap from version to version

[@JejetRC]

I like how you say the big vacuum tubes are styropyro territory lol.

[@MAYERMAKES]

i have a death machinetube like he does but I'm not qualified to do the things he does.

[@TediChannel23Ja]

Great video

[@MAYERMAKES]

thanks

[@kimmy_future4265]

i hope one day i can have a big warehouse full of old equipment and supplies lol

[@MAYERMAKES]

We all do!

[@Izbit2110]

Cool channel any connection to Newark Electronics?

[@Davedarko]

so this is where that door leads to

[@MAYERMAKES]

exactly, wait until you see whats behind door number 3!

[@microphonology2830]

1:43 oh ah valvo Ed... Ah Longlife Ad1...

[@MAYERMAKES]

indeed,

[@GHILLIESARCADEANDMORE]

Cool

[@MAYERMAKES]

thx

[@MichaelOfRohan]

GAVIIIIIIN!? Oh, Gav.. Where are you?!

[@hectororta9676]

Electrón tubes or vacuum tubes ?

[@MAYERMAKES]

or Valves

[@stephensu4371]

hows about next video: how to make triode at home, btw nice work

[@MAYERMAKES]

that would be a cool video, but could be very hard to do...

[@NiHaoMike64]

That's what glasslinger does.

[@MAYERMAKES]

@@NiHaoMike64 true... But a lot of experience and equipment is needed

[@EthanDoezYT]

Clem I’m liking the long hair more and more every time! Seriously you rock it dude! Bros with long hair gotta support each other… I don’t know if that actually a phrase people use but might as well support everyone. Anyways this was an amazing video and I love seeing the videos you make and everyone else makes on element 14!

[@MAYERMAKES]

thank you, it is such a dumb coincidence that I had to get rid of the hair a few weeks ago....maybe do another round of growing

[@EthanDoezYT]

@@MAYERMAKES yes! Honestly the best compromise you could make it where it’s short but long hair. It’s a lot easier to manage and not have in your face but still long enough to where it could be considered long. 😂 I’ve thought about this way to much…

[@KeritechElectronics]

Your electronics lab is too big :D Roetest looks professional as hell, and equally as much expensive to make. Seems like a good homage to backplane industrial PCs of the '90s/2000s :) Klirrfactor would be THD (total harmonic distortion).

[@MAYERMAKES]

Haha thanks I knew somebody would know the translation

[@questforknowledge750]

How do photons got out of a vacuum tub?

[@MAYERMAKES]

the same way they go through any permeblae susbtrate aka glas.

[@questforknowledge750]

@@MAYERMAKES ya it slows down threw glass then speeds back up again. Kinda breaks the law of conservation ! A theory that breaks laws is the wrong theory no? The right theory makes new inventions possible with out finding it by accident! Seems like a lot of inventions lately where found by accident which is another pointer that the theories we have are wrong.

[@derlissi9754]

Kann das sein, das Sender im englischen Transmitter heißt??? Noch einer: little people need it = kleine Leute brauchen es :^)))

[@MAYERMAKES]

vieles kann.. und muss nicht. beides funkt

[@toddanonymous5295]

An easier and cheaper option is to pick up an old Tektronix 575 curve tracer. Stay away from ebay. You can sometimes find them at hamfests cheap but they will probably need a little work. Look for one with the 122c option which has a collector supply that goes up to 400 volts. A small variac can supply the filament voltage. Testing tetrodes and pentodes will need an external high voltage supply such as an old heath IP-17. An adapter is easily fabricated with tube sockets for tubes you want to test. Using banana sockets on the tube socket pins allows configuring with external resistors. To drive the grids you may need to amplify the base/gate output of the 575. Check out the manual for the 570 vacuum tube tester for ideas on converting the 575 for tubes. I was going to convert one of my 575's for tubes but don't do much with tubes anymore. Personally can't see the interest in tubes since the germanium transistor went the way of the dinosaur .

[@Praecantetia]

MÁX!

[@Praecantetia]

@@MaxKoschuh Geiler Nachname

[@omarcusihuaman4261]

pala que tales nerdzasos jjajjajaj (ya me suscribí)

[@adventureoflinkmk2]

Damn, e14 got monetization approval?

[@basinstreetdesign5206]

Since when is 167% emission compared to spec sheet. good? If tube characteristics were all over the map to that degree then spec/data sheets would be completely unreliable. A good tube should be within 20-25% of the quoted spec to be a good candidate for inclusion in a design. Otherwise any paper design would be completely a crap shoot when built.Anyway, upvoted since the quality of your information, history and editing is very good.

[@clemensmayer9171]

the specs on oldtube datasheets are (variies dependent on manufacturer and period) usuallymeant as guaranteed minimum emission rates. brand new tubes usually emit higher than spec, they degrade overtime in use and are usually replaced whenthe emissiongets to low or the tube fails to perform its function. we take manufacturing to tight tolerances for granted now but electronics made in the 40s and 50s were not that consistent inthe manufacturing process andoutcome. So you design based around a guaranteed emission rate and voltage your tube can handle, + some margin for less than perfect tubes.

[@tubes_oldtubes_old]

@@clemensmayer9171 Specs on datasheets are not minimal but typical rating or values wanted by manufacturer but there is a large range of spread. In fact for unused tubes values for plate current are +/-30% or even +/-40%. I tested many unused NOS tubes with 80% plate current, I have a Roetest V10. Old western datasheets show only typical ratings, except TFK datasheet for ECC803S, a special tube, datasheet says each triode is not far than 15% from typical value 1.2mA. Only datasheets for old russian tubes show the typical ratings but also minimum and maximum values, for example 6n3p plate current 6 - 8.75 - 11.5 mA. For new tubes production is the same spread or higher, I bought directly from factory ECC83 that measure 65% - 135% plate current.

[@damianvmitchell]

Probably very informative, but the attempts at humor, and typical KZbin padding / embedded ads, just wound me up, and never found out what the content was (I got to over half way of the runtime)

[@Davedarko]

spoiler alert: there is a conclusion in the second half, as is customary in most videos

[@damianvmitchell]

@@Davedarko it seems like 90% of the useful content might be in the second half... A lot of time wasted?

[@geirendre]

Is this childrens channel or?

[@edwardebel1847]

Sorry, the first part of this video is a waste of time with foolishness and what the authors think is "amusing". Not amusing, not informative. You got my view and my comment, and here's my "thumbs down".