I'm getting a Zenith Hybrid!

[TUD1]

I tried the new regulator tube in the set. It got WORSE. The original Zenith tube at least makes the set somewhat watchable.

[DaveWM]

sometimes you have to try several regulator tubes. don't forget they are often 40-50 yrs old, no telling how well they will work. That being said there is always the varister to consider. Doug H did a nice post a long time ago in search of a modern equivalent. Those varisters can have wildly different performance when tested, but from what I understand the design takes this into consideration. I would try more regulator tubes 1st.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by TUD1

I tried the new regulator tube in the set. It got WORSE. The original Zenith tube at least makes the set somewhat watchable.

You never mentioned that you subbed the HV rect tube, 3DB3??.
That's the first one, I always try.
Another strange thing, Zenith did was connect the HV reg and damper tube heaters in series. That's why, the label states that those tubes have to be in pairs.

[Electronic M]

Originally Posted by dieseljeep

You never mentioned that you subbed the HV rect tube, 3DB3??.
That's the first one, I always try.
Another strange thing, Zenith did was connect the HV reg and damper tube heaters in series. That's why, the label states that those tubes have to be in pairs.

There were 2 workable damper types and two workable HV regs, but one pair had a different series heater current than the other. So if you put the XXXmA damper with the YYYmA HV reg one would not light, or one heater would burn up...