16-07-2015, 12:53 PM
Yes Nick, you can use DC for the heater supply for indirectly heated cathode valves.
The problem you might run into is the complexity of the unit for plotting the curves such as different valve bases and switching needed etc.
The usual trick to overcome some switching is to wire the valve sockets in parallel, pin 1 to pin 1 to pin one etc, pin 2 to pin 2 to pin 2 etc and bring those connections out in the form of fly leads with plugs on the end and numbered, these can then be plugged into the voltage supply sockets on the front panel marked as C, G1, G2, G3, A, Htrs etc, you would need to compile or refer to a set of data for the connections. It might be wise to decouple the valve socket pins to HT -ve as some valves can have the propensity to turn themselves into oscillators
Remember the unit as such is not a full tester, it could be adapted to test for leakage, shorts and gas etc it depends how far you want to go.
This post might cross with others, it took me a while to write it.
Lawrence.
The problem you might run into is the complexity of the unit for plotting the curves such as different valve bases and switching needed etc.
The usual trick to overcome some switching is to wire the valve sockets in parallel, pin 1 to pin 1 to pin one etc, pin 2 to pin 2 to pin 2 etc and bring those connections out in the form of fly leads with plugs on the end and numbered, these can then be plugged into the voltage supply sockets on the front panel marked as C, G1, G2, G3, A, Htrs etc, you would need to compile or refer to a set of data for the connections. It might be wise to decouple the valve socket pins to HT -ve as some valves can have the propensity to turn themselves into oscillators
Remember the unit as such is not a full tester, it could be adapted to test for leakage, shorts and gas etc it depends how far you want to go.
This post might cross with others, it took me a while to write it.
Lawrence.
