I've started collecting (and repairing) televisions and realized that I don't have a CRT tester/rejuvenator. So, what's a decent model that I could purchase without spending a lot of money, say $50 or less? I don't have a lot of room in my house, so my collection won't be large, but I'd like to be able to test the more common tubes that are pre-1970-ish.

Any advice and recommendations would be much appreciated!

Thanks,

Dave

B&K 466, the 470 has a better rejuvenation function & later adapters but is in a really shoddy plastic case.

The Sencore CR-31 "Super Mack" is another good one that often goes cheap.

Thanks for the recommendations -- both of those testers sound like good ones. Let me see what I can find on ebay. Wish me luck...

+1 on the B&K 470 - a trusty CRT tester and great clean/balance function. The plastic case is molded, and the hinge fails. A strip of piano hinge and some sheet metal screws fixes that well. The adapter molex connectors are available, and a schematic for the universal adaptor is easy to figure out. I have all the adapters (thanks Dad!), save one - for the big neck black and white sets, which is why I keep another older tester around.

Cheers,

is the Heathkit IT 5230. It has 4 meters so you can see whats going on simultaneously without switching.
BUT, the one I own is a B&K 466.
The Heathkit also has a flimsy plastic hinge but that is a non electronic flaw.

Thanks. I've seen that Heathkit around but don't know much about it. Can it handle the older, garden variety tubes (e.g., the 10bp4)? It looks like the adapters that the unit comes with are for the "newer" tubes.

Dave


is the Heathkit IT 5230. It has 4 meters so you can see whats going on simultaneously without switching.
BUT, the one I own is a B&K 466.
The Heathkit also has a flimsy plastic hinge but that is a non electronic flaw.

It came with adapters for all the popular bases of the time plus an octopus adapter that you just hook on to the pins.
I also think the Heathkit does a better job at rejuvenation than the 466.

OK, so I poked around ebay and found a number of B&K 466's that look okay. But, I'd hate to buy one that is not restorable, e.g., one that has a bad transformer. Is there a simple "test" that I could have the seller do that would give me an indication of the electronic health of the unit? For example, could I have the seller set the heater voltage and see if the meter needle swings? Since most sellers won't have the ability to test it on a tube, I'm looking for something simple.

Any tips would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Dave

PS. I apologize if the above is a dumb question, but I've never used a 466 before.

The only problem I ever had with mine is one of the pots went bad.

Thanks!

Can you set the heater voltage (and see the needle move) without a load, i.e., the crt?

The only problem I ever had with mine is one of the pots went bad.

It has a Power light that comes on, and yes, the heater voltage can be set without a tube attached.

Also in the Set G1 Voltage position the G1 adjustment knob should swing the meter through it's entire range.

With the G1 knob pointing straight up, the meter needle (on G1 adjust position) should be approximately in the middle of the scale.
BUT, I would be more concerned about any strange odor coming from the unit as this may indicate a power transformer failing.
I think you'll be pretty safe buying one since CRT checkers are something you don't use everyday. CRTs have gotten better in recent years (the last 20 or so) and most set problems are PS or sweep related. So CRT checkers don't get a lot of use.
But ask the seller how many adapters comes with it. I've made about half of mine when computer CRTs started coming out.

Thanks, guys, this is very helpful, and exactly the type of information I was looking for!

Dave

It has a Power light that comes on, and yes, the heater voltage can be set without a tube attached.

Also in the Set G1 Voltage position the G1 adjustment knob should swing the meter through it's entire range.

With the G1 knob pointing straight up, the meter needle (on G1 adjust position) should be approximately in the middle of the scale.
BUT, I would be more concerned about any strange odor coming from the unit as this may indicate a power transformer failing.
I think you'll be pretty safe buying one since CRT checkers are something you don't use everyday. CRTs have gotten better in recent years (the last 20 or so) and most set problems are PS or sweep related. So CRT checkers don't get a lot of use.
But ask the seller how many adapters comes with it. I've made about half of mine when computer CRTs started coming out.