Orange VT-1000 Valve Tester

[Crackle]

This little device is rather interesting, I wonder how it works. It seems to use an external 19 volt 3.4 amp DC power supply.
https://orangeamps.com/wp-content/upload...anual1.pdf

Mike

[Refugee]

That is a pretty good unit for doing amplifier valves.
It is less useful for radio valves though.

[Diabolical Artificer]

Probably tests them as a diode like most simple valve testers Mike, as well as testing for shorts, doubt it will test a valve at it's proper working voltage.

Andy.

[Crackle]

Orange claims the Testing sequences include:
 Heater filament test: Short circuit
 Heater filament test: Open circuit
 Heater filament test: Tolerance check
 Heater cathode insulation: Leakage
 Heater cathode insulation: Short Circuit
 Tests for heater current abnormalities
 Amplification factor
 Voltage gain
 Power gain
 Screen grid test
 Mutual conductance test
 Dual test for double triodes
 Emission
 Inter electrode leakage
 Inter electrode short circuit
 Flash-over (arc detection, high voltage breakdown)
 Gas ionisation test
In addition to the tests listed above, the VT1000 performs a series of unique tests under varying load conditions which are designed to filter out bad valves and to assess if the valve is good, or needs to be replaced.

I suspect there must be switch mode PSU's involved to get the HT voltage required for testing.
Mike

[radioman]

There are some less than happy owners of these here.
So, maybe a good idea in theory but not so in practice...

Andy

[Crackle]

Oh dear, it sounds over hyped and unreliable.

Mike