OFF TOPIC, SORT OF

[Bob Groh WA2CKY]

Oh, boy. Just went through this on the AMPS list. I had a 4-1000A and asked the same question. I think the full answer is that the only valid way is to fire it up under voltage. Best to run RF to it but a check of idling current may be sufficient. For an older tube, you need to (or should at any rate) condition the  tube for a couple of days (run filament voltage alone) and then put HV on it and run it longer. You need to check emissions after you have conditioned it and that means checking idling current which means full HV on it. Someplace I've got information on all of this. 

I had a beautiful 4-1000A in pristine shape. Sold it subject to return if it didn't work. Buyer put it in his PA, conditioned it and then tried it. No go - no idle current. So the tube was returned to me and I refunded buyer's money. 

At least that is my take on it at this time. I'm stopped for a bit until I get the old KW fixed so I can run the tests myself. Some of the guy's have built HV testers and they firmly believe that you need to HiPot all vacuum parts before using. 

So it doesn't look there is any easy way to do this without a full blown RF deck or test bed.  Ugh.

73
Bob, WA2CKY


----- Original Message ----
From: Murray Grandy <mgrandy at TELUS.NET>
To: HEATH at LISTSERV.TEMPE.GOV
Sent: Sunday, October 7, 2007 1:54:31 AM
Subject: [HEATH-TEMPE] OFF TOPIC, SORT OF

DOES ANYONE KNOW OF A WAY OF TESTING TRANSMITTER TUBES SUCH AS 4-400. WAS THERE EVER ANYTHING IN ANY OF THE ARRL HANDBOOKS. SEEMS LIKE THERE MUST BE SOME WAY TO JERRY RIG SOMETHING THAT WOULD DO A BASIC KINDA TEST.
Murray

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