83 Tube testing

[TROG]

I have a 600a Hickok Tube tester : Checking an 83 Tube I have two both are gassy. Just wondering if gassy is O.K. for these

83 TUBE#1 Floats up then drops

83 TUBE#2 Floats a lil down and back up

This does not seem right to me?

Gassy: You can see the filaments and a nice blue cloud around it.
Hickok 600a book Preformed page three 8.GAS TEST
Fails step b: The push switch P5 is pressed and held down while the BIAS dial is turned to cause the pointer of the meter to indicate 100- micro-omhs on the 0-3000 scale.

[Phlogiston]

Blue glow is good. It is a mercury rect.

   

[Chuck Schwark]

(02-27-2012 09:12 AM)TROG Wrote:  I have a 600a Hickok Tube tester : Checking an 83 Tube I have two both are gassy. Just wondering if gassy is O.K. for these

83 TUBE#1 Floats up then drops

83 TUBE#2 Floats a lil down and back up

This does not seem right to me?

Gassy: You can see the filaments and a nice blue cloud around it.
Hickok 600a book Preformed page three 8.GAS TEST
Fails step b: The push switch P5 is pressed and held down while the BIAS dial is turned to cause the pointer of the meter to indicate 100- micro-omhs on the 0-3000 scale.

An 83 is a merc vapor type and the blue glow is normal.

Chuck

[Phlogiston]

(02-27-2012 05:07 PM)Chuck Schwark Wrote:  

(02-27-2012 09:12 AM)TROG Wrote:  I have a 600a Hickok Tube tester : Checking an 83 Tube I have two both are gassy. Just wondering if gassy is O.K. for these

83 TUBE#1 Floats up then drops

83 TUBE#2 Floats a lil down and back up

This does not seem right to me?

Gassy: You can see the filaments and a nice blue cloud around it.
Hickok 600a book Preformed page three 8.GAS TEST
Fails step b: The push switch P5 is pressed and held down while the BIAS dial is turned to cause the pointer of the meter to indicate 100- micro-omhs on the 0-3000 scale.

An 83 is a merc vapor type and the blue glow is normal.

Chuck

This new site has an echo

[codefox1]

Last post got blown away. Blue OK, red or yellow not OK. This poor tube has been abused for a half century operating horizontally in tube testers when should be operated vertically, and switched on instantly without any warning to the mercury wanting to be vaporized. How any of them survived is a complete mystery, but my Hickok (worst offender) is still going strong. I do have a spare or two in my stash.

Best test is to see if current drawn makes sense.

[Alan Douglas]

83s are just loafing in tube testers. There's no current flow until the Gm button is pushed, so they have time to warm up. 50mA max, and only 150V on the plates, easy life.