Hi all,

I have made plenty of headway with this Tester now that I have a Manual written in English ..... thank you Robert.

Known valves in the Metrix table of 'Selectors and Voltages' are no problem.

I assume that if I have a known valve and can find its data sheet, then I can setup the Tester to at least check the valve to see if it has 'shorts' and some emission .... ???????

BUT, if the markings have been rubbed off the valve, is there a process to go through to try a determine if the valve is functional and what type it is etc?????????? eg if only two pins are shorted (using DMM) then these should be the heater connections ....??????
other pins ....???????

I assume that if I have a known valve and can find its data sheet, then I can setup the Tester to at least check the valve to see if it has 'shorts' and some emission ..

Yes, if you follow the setup procedure correctly, you should get results.

Just bear in mind that, in terms of performance, a valve can read good or bad on such a tester and perform the exact opposite in circuit. Valve testers, by necessity, are compromises. The best tester is the circuit that the valve is designed to operate in (shorts aside).

if the markings have been rubbed off the valve, ...

I guess you mean if you find a valve with no markings on it and no other clue as to what it might be? You can sometimes make the valve type reappear briefly by putting it in a freezer for a while and upon removal if there's sufficient humidity in the air you can often see the outline of the valve type. Same can be done with warm breath if the rubbing off has not been too complete.

Otherwise comparing the valve with known ones can help. Also, if you see certain valve types often enough their design characteristics will be like old familiar faces.

You can determine the heater pins with a meter, but be aware that some valves have internally connected pins that will register as a short.

Thanks GTC,

Over the next few weeks, I will make the time to test a box of valves with this Tester ... and hopefully start to gather that experience you refer to. It would be disappointing to not be able to use a valve or not put it to good use, simply because the markings no longer exist. It is a pity that all modern electronic components aren't manufactured with the same durability etc .... yes, I do understand the reasons why .... but I don't have to like it ....

Hi Tinkera
I have just joined Vintage Radio and noticed you mentioned the Metrix 310.
I have a 310B and am quite happy with it. I do use a variac on the 240 input to get the voltages correct.
I have scanned the manual ( for a 310 in English) and it's quite a good copy but runs to about 24 MB over 8 files.
I am quite happy to get a copy to you (somehow?) if you need it.
Cheers
David

Interesting to see an egg crate as the radio of the week, I got one handed to me yesterday as a fixer. That will not happen until I get an STC off the bench.

Not withstanding that I have been fiddling with these radio's for the best part of 50 years, often you can look at a valve and get a fair idea of what it possibly is. A rectifier has two distinct patterns and valves like 6J8 and 6B8 can often be held up to the light and the fact that there is a triode under the main body used to help distinguish it.

6AQ5 can be determined by the fact that pins 1& 7 are common and grid 1.

Take that on board, some times you can breath on them (v cold) & see the number.

Marc

A pink one got passed in at the Radiofest on a bid of $3,000. It's in mint condition. Reserve price was $4,500 and probably worth it too. It looks like AWA just manufactured it.

The ROTW shot is a fluke. The order that the radios appear are set a year in advance and VR loads the next radio and its info every Sunday morning at the stroke of 00:00:01. It's probably time I did another refresh. Some of the photos were uploaded last year but others have been there since ROTW was introduced.

Hi DavidA,

Yes, please. An electronic copy would be great. Can you send each of the files in a separate email?? .... I think 5MB per email is the max. My email address is visible in the Members section (or click on my User ID above).

Using a Variac is a good idea. I added a socket to measure voltage with my DMM when I wish to quantify valve performance.

Cheers,
Ian

I think 5MB per email is the max

I use this for large files:

http://www.dropsend.com/

Hi Tinkera
One of the Metrix files is over 5meg I looked at Dropsend but it appears they want access to my card to extract money...how much I'm not sure.
If it is permissable you can send an address to my email address and I will send a CD (dvd?) free of charge.Shouldn't cost much.
Cheers
David

I looked at Dropsend but it appears they want access to my card to extract money..

Huh?

I have never paid a cent to dropsend, nor given them any card details.

Occasional use is free.

Simply follow steps 1, 2 and 3 on their home page.

Hi DavidA,

Suggest you send the smaller files first, then the largest one last ....

Members emails are "hidden" by default. You need to go into your Member profile if you wish to "unhide" it. I cannot access it at the moment.

A 5MB e-mail attachment limit is a disgrace in this day and age. I suppose one has to stick with what they are able to access though.

Up until the end of last year (I think it was) I hosted my own e-mail server so that there'd be no limitations at this end on receiving photos and circuit diagrams from members. I was able to received any e-mail that members wanted or were able to send, that was until some of TPG's IP blocks were reported to these stupid spam reporting mobs and got those IP blocks sh!t-listed, which was why I could no longer send out e-mail. That was my punishment for never spamming anyone.

Anyway, as a result of that I had to scramble to find a solution and I ended up getting one of my domain name providers to host my three e-mail accounts. To be honest I don't know what the hard limit is, and there would be one, but I've never had a complaint about an unsuccessful send from a member since changing over and I do continue to receive a few biggies every now and then. I'd rather use my own self-contained free service with no limits but with spammers spoiling things and my reluctance to disrupt the service of this website by changing ISPs I had no alternative but for the few dollars a month it costs it is a good second best.

I do realise that operating one's own domains isn't for everyone though.

Hi DavidA,

None of the files have come through to my email address as yet ..... ?????

Have you used Dropsend ....?????

Ian
Have been away for a few days. Will try Dropsend now.
Cheers
David

Ian
DropSend will not support files larger than 4 mb and my largest is about 6.6 mb.
You should be able to see my email now.
Cheers
David