philco 1y1 tube use and testing

[init4fun]

Originally Posted by fumplet

Hello I bought this tube off ebay just because Ive never seen one look like this before. Im hoping it glows like other current regulator tubes Ive seen but not sure how or what to test it with. I didnt see a tube category like on the ARF so I hope IM posting in the right spot. Not too much info I found on this tube other than a ballast tube book but that doesnt show test circuits for it.

Hi fumplet, welcome to Videokarma

I found that tube here;

https://www.radiomuseum.org/tubes/tube_1y1.html

And it's not a glow discharge tube like an 0C3 for example. It is more akin to a fancy light bulb, listed as having an Iron filament in a Hydrogen atmosphere. If I had to guess I'd bet it glows more like a "dim bulb" tester VS a nice bright vibrant purple or orange glow. For a quick test put your ohmmeter across the two fat pins and see if there is continuity