Tube testers

uTracer3 for $247 vs Amplitrex for $2760 (as of yesterday). I don't think it has anything to do with fun, simply budget. You pay a hefty premium for convenience.

"An old tube can measure perfect and be at the end of it’s life the next day."

That’s interesting. In well over 25 years of owning tube components (Friends also with similar tube equipment backgrounds) this hasn’t been the case. Test results correlated well with tube performance and tube longevity.

I’ve not known anyone who have had tubes test strong-very strong and then rapidly fail. @russ69 was this a rare or common occurrence?  As others have mentioned above the Amplitrex is an excellent unit.
Charles

@charles1dad   This was the feedback I was hoping to get from others and was wondering if others had the same experiences as @russ69  with sudden tube failures even when they tested well.  Much appreciated.

Yes.  While I have personally been fortunate in that I've never had a tube failure, including tubes I've been running for 15 years or so.  But, I know of plenty of instances where a tube suddenly failed after testing strong on a TV-7.  It is just something that happens occasionally and I don't know if any tester would be able to predict that result (the Amplitrex, because it tests at high plate voltage and dissipation might cause a failure in a tube ready to blow).  But, at least a tester will give some indication as to how much life still remaining in the cathode.

a tube will test fairly strong over the vast majority of its life and will only start to test weaker at the relatively shorter end of its life.  On a tube that tests strong, most testers are showing you that it is still in its middle life, but, they will not show you how close they are to the declining part of their life curve.  Hence, most tube testers are sort of rough screening devices--better than nothing and something that affords one some peace of mind. 

The very first tube tested on my Amplitrex was a rectifier that a friend wanted to have tested because it came from a dubious source.  It tested zero voltage drop in both directions  (dead short).  It was far better to know this from a test rather than in the amplifier circuit.

’something very good’.

then you have to find one that has been restored by a pro.

Since inheriting tubes in 1973, I check my tubes annually, before thanksgiving, ready for the holidays

My experience over many years:

1. stand in front of a monster tester at an electronic store checking everything from Fisher President II: fm tuner; am tuner; tape deck; two multiplex added; master control panel, two amps. legs, back and feet hurt, grumbling line behind me. maybe need 2 tubes in the whole lot.

2. wife got me a small portable tester of my own, wonderful. accurate? compared a few good and bad with the monster store unit, same results.

3. bought big jackson, had tech check the small one and it. they always agree.

4. stopped using the big jackson, use the small portable for myself and friends.

5. test new tubes when received, test annually, test when a problem occurs. found a few shorts; found a few weak; found a few ’unmatched’.

I recommend you and anyone who has tube equipment get a simple small portable tester. make sure the manual, real or download is available.

then, if you truly get serious, go for ’very good’. do real research and get one overhauled by a pro.