TC-2 Heathkit Tester
 

I have a TC-2, I know its a emission tester, it has been rebuilt resistors checked. My problem is when I test a damper tube like a 6V3A or a 1B3GT it always seems to show weak or bad.I have checked other tubes and it always tests good with others, Could it be I am getting bad tubes? Everyone I buy seller swears it was the best on the planet as far as their tester goes. Or am i doing something wrong? Just curious what you think.

Usually there's a separate "Diodes O.K." scale for things like dampers and HV rectifiers, or at least the manual/chart will say "OK if > 25%" or similar. Dampers are always tough tubes to vet. Great in a tester, set is unhappy. Set works just fine, tests like crap. Truly this is a case of "The best test is a known working set."

I did not see that in my literature with tester but makes sense I will sometimes stick it in a working set to see if it is good myself was just wondering why it always shows bad on those tubes.

I have the TC-1 which is very similar to the yours and on the setup chart it say's for a 1B3 a good tube reads 30.

I've got an unrestored TC-1, and an unrestored TC-2 tester. Both of them are working fine, and also read low emissions on some tubes.

It's been said elsewhere on this forum that some tubes just need to be tested in-circuit. Thats what I do. I've always got 1B3's laying around that are known to be good.

Looking at the roll charts on mine, the TC-1 chart mentions about a good 1B3 showing 30 on the meter. The chart on my TC-2 doesen't. Mistake, maybe, or misprint?

My Knightkit version (KG-600B) has a note on the roll chart that "22 is good" for a 1G3... but no such note for 1B3, 1X2, 1V2.... IIRC, they all will test low. :scratch2:

jr