Taylor 47A valve tester help - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Norman Raeburn · 13th Oct 2017, 8:21 pm

Hi Folks, I need to test some EL84's and don't have a B9A base fitted to my tester. I have read many posts on the forum but I can't find an answer to my needs. Can anyone provide an idiots guide how to do this, which base is best to make the adaptor fit and connections etc. I will provide the idiot if someone could give me some direction. Any advice or information will be gratefully received. Best regards, Norman.

David G4EBT · 13th Oct 2017, 9:32 pm

I have a Taylor 45D Valve Tester, which has a limited number of test sockets. Originally adaptors were available, but rarely turn up, so I made several adaptors to suit my own needs. All the pins on valve testers are 'commoned' - IE, all pins 1 are connected, all pins 2 etc. I wanted to extend the range of valves that could be tested, so I made my range of adaptors to all fit into the I.O valve socket on the 45D.

The article was published in the BVWS Bulletin, and the forum thread can be found here:

http://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/s...+Base+Adaptors

Hope that helps Norman.

Boater Sam · 13th Oct 2017, 9:40 pm

Mmm, but IO has only 8 pins. Is there any 9 pin socket on the tester? As David says all pin numbers are common, if you get a B9A socket and connect to a plug that fits any 9 pin socket on the Taylor, you can test B9A valves.

Freya · 13th Oct 2017, 10:26 pm

From Sideband way back in 2010 with a 45B which is basically a 47A with more valve holders.
Hi Guys.
I've got one of these testers that is working well after some restoration work. What I wanted to do was expand it's testing capabilities. Whilst it has B9A valve holders, there are no settings listed for EL84, ECL82 etc. My initial thought was to make an adaptor board fitted with a B9A holder, bring the pins out to 9 wander sockets and then make some leads up with wander plugs on the end and the other ends fitted to an octal plug. This plug would then fit into octal base 12. My thought was then to set the selector switches for 6V6 and plug the appropriate wander plugs into the wander sockets corresponding to anode, grid, cathode and of course heaters on the adaptor board. I would then set the other controls for the EL84 parameters. In other words, the tester thinks it's reading a 6V6 via the A,B,C switches but, via the adaptor, is connected to an EL84. Setting the gm and grid volts to the EL84 specs I should be able to test an EL84.

To try this out, I've temporarily wired a B9A valve base with EL84 connections to an octal plug via shortish leads, plugged this in to octal base 12, set the A,B,C selectors for 6V6 (which via the adaptor, supplies Anode, grid, cathode and G2 volts to the B9A holder), set the gm, grid and anode/screen volts for EL84 and switched on. Well it worked and I was able for the first time to test an EL84.

David G4EBT · 13th Oct 2017, 10:43 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boater Sam

Mmm, but IO has only 8 pins. Is there any 9 pin socket on the tester? As David says all pin numbers are common, if you get a B9A socket and connect to a plug that fits any 9 pin socket on the Taylor, you can test B9A valves.

The original Taylor 45D adaptors used the 14 pin socket but plugs for that are rare to non existant. In my case I only needs a max of 8 pins, (for an M.O. Adaptor) so the I.O. Socket was fine. I don't know what bases are standard on the 47A, hopefully at least a 9-pin. Luckily, the switch settings in the Taylor Valve Data book cover a wider range of valves which needed the adaptors to test them.

ms660 · 13th Oct 2017, 10:49 pm

I used to have a 47A valve tester many moons ago, can't remember for sure but possibly a B9 base was used for a B9A adaptor, B9's are quite rare these days.

Lawrence.

Norman Raeburn · 13th Oct 2017, 11:25 pm

Hi Guys, Thanks for the replies, I don't know if there are any 9 pin sockets on the tester, I will have a look tomorrow. It all seems a bit over my head how these testers work but that is also down to my lack of valve theory. All the best for now, Norman.

ms660 · 14th Oct 2017, 9:58 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boater Sam

Mmm, but IO has only 8 pins. Is there any 9 pin socket on the tester? As David says all pin numbers are common, if you get a B9A socket and connect to a plug that fits any 9 pin socket on the Taylor, you can test B9A valves.

I'm looking at a schematic for the 45A, all the valve base connections are not commoned in that one, eg: pin 1 on one valve socket doesn't connect to pin 1 on all the other valve sockets etc etc.

The 45A is a 9 position circuit selector job like what the 47A is.

The first link in post#14 here shows a 45A schematic:

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=71806

Lawrence.

David G4EBT · 14th Oct 2017, 10:10 am

That was well spotted Lawrence - really helpful.

What a labour intensive job it was to wire up valve testers.

A real bonanza for the wire manufacturers too!

ms660 · 14th Oct 2017, 10:47 am

Yes, pin to pin mirror for B9A to B9 in that schematic for example would exempt some valves from being tested, take the ECF80 as an example...

ECF80 pin connections:

1=at
2=g1
3=g2
4=h
5=h
6=ap
7=kp
8=kt
9=gt

g1(pin2) can't be routed to the grid supply via circuit 4 because there's no pole connection via circuit selector B to a contact that's connected to the grid supply, neither can ap (pin6) be routed to the anode supply via circuit 7 because circuit 7 is permanently connected to the cathode rail.

There are ways around that.

Lawrence.

David G4EBT · 14th Oct 2017, 12:38 pm

Showing my ignorance, the manual provided by Bill at post #14 in the other thread shows a 'BR9' base. I'm not familiar with that - only B9, B9A and B9G, none of which seem to conform to the 'BR9' base in the manual in terms of numbering or pin layout. (See the undated diagram below entitled 'Standard Vale Bases in Use Today'). Obviously a donor valve with a suitable nine-pin base would be needed to make an adaptor, cross wired to a B9A socket, to enable EL84s to be tested.

ms660 · 14th Oct 2017, 12:48 pm

According to this, B9 is the bottom right hand one:

http://www.tubecollector.org/documents/bases/diag5.gif

That looks like the same pin spacing arrangement as the BR9 in the 45A schematic.

EDIT: It's also used for the two panel interconnect in the AVO two panel valve tester, the B9 is often called a British 9 pin hence (probably) the BR prefix in the 45A schematic

Lawrence.

ms660 · 14th Oct 2017, 1:36 pm

And here's one shown for a valve from some Mazda valve data which clearly shows the pin spacing difference:

http://www.r-type.org/pdfs/tp22.pdf

Lawrence.

Norman Raeburn · 14th Oct 2017, 1:53 pm

Hi Folks, I have had a quick look at this today, there are two 9 pin valve holders described as "9 pin English and British 9 pin glass". I don't know if this is any help or not. I don't have time to look at it further today but will try to get to it tomorrow. Thanks for the replies thus far. Norman

ms660 · 14th Oct 2017, 2:10 pm

The 9 pin English will be a B9, the British 9 pin Glass will be a B9G (as used for the EF50 valve etc)

Lawrence.

David G4EBT · 14th Oct 2017, 2:42 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ms660

And here's one shown for a valve from some Mazda valve data which clearly shows the pin spacing difference:

http://www.r-type.org/pdfs/tp22.pdf

Lawrence.

That's the same pin layout as in the 47A circuit that Bill supplied, but if you look at the pin numbering on the circuit, it's different from that of the valve data. The circuit shows pin 1 at the top with pin 9 to the left of it, and pin 2 to the right of it. The B9 Base in the Mazda data sheet you gave the link to Lawrence, and the attachment to my earlier post show pin 9 at the top, with pin 8 to the left and pin 1 to the right, with pin 4&5 at the bottom with an arrow between them. The rather poorly drawn base in Taylor manual shows pin 6 at the bottom. True, if the Taylor diagram is rotated clockwise it can be made to more or less look like the valve data pin layout. All a bit confusing though - well it is to me!

I've attached clips from the two sources below to show what I mean.

ms660 · 14th Oct 2017, 2:57 pm

It doesn't matter about the orientation angle, what matters is the perpendicular from pin 9 heading across the valve base/holder, in both cases it falls between pins 4 & 5, in both cases pin 9 is the center pin of the group of five pins that are wider spaced. That spacing is clear on the valve tester schematic and in the link to the B9 valve base data which I posted earlier but in the last thumbnail you posted the difference in the pin spacing is not clear in the right hand drawing.

Lawrence.

DuncanLeece · 15th Oct 2017, 9:25 am

Greetings Norman.....it seems ages since we last chatted!

I have an old 47a too, and when I bought mine it came with the adaptor I have photographed. It seems to take a different approach to those mentioned thus far, utilising an eight-pin socket on the tester plus a fly-lead. To me it looks commercially-made and has the name 'Spearette' on it if that means anything to anyone.

You may remember that my interest is in older radios and gramophones so I have never used this thing, and know nothing about it; but if the knowledgeable folk on this forum think it will work for your job, I will happily post it down to you for you to borrow. I suppose you could make your own copy of it too?

best wishes
Duncan

ms660 · 15th Oct 2017, 9:40 am

That looks like a TV valve adaptor.

Lawrence.

martiR2R · 15th Oct 2017, 1:30 pm

This is the valve base wiring chart, shows what's connected to what. Hope it's of some help.

Regards
Martin

13th Oct 2017, 9:32 pm	#2
David G4EBT Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 5,761	Re: Taylor 47A valve tester help I have a Taylor 45D Valve Tester, which has a limited number of test sockets. Originally adaptors were available, but rarely turn up, so I made several adaptors to suit my own needs. All the pins on valve testers are 'commoned' - IE, all pins 1 are connected, all pins 2 etc. I wanted to extend the range of valves that could be tested, so I made my range of adaptors to all fit into the I.O valve socket on the 45D. The article was published in the BVWS Bulletin, and the forum thread can be found here: http://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/s...+Base+Adaptors Hope that helps Norman. __________________ David. BVWS Member. G-QRP Club member 1339.

13th Oct 2017, 9:40 pm	#3
Boater Sam Banned Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Middlewich, Cheshire, UK. & Winter in the Philippines. Posts: 3,897	Re: Taylor 47A valve tester help Mmm, but IO has only 8 pins. Is there any 9 pin socket on the tester? As David says all pin numbers are common, if you get a B9A socket and connect to a plug that fits any 9 pin socket on the Taylor, you can test B9A valves.

13th Oct 2017, 10:26 pm	#4
Freya Octode Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Falmouth, Cornwall, UK. Posts: 1,990	Re: Taylor 47A valve tester help From Sideband way back in 2010 with a 45B which is basically a 47A with more valve holders. Hi Guys. I've got one of these testers that is working well after some restoration work. What I wanted to do was expand it's testing capabilities. Whilst it has B9A valve holders, there are no settings listed for EL84, ECL82 etc. My initial thought was to make an adaptor board fitted with a B9A holder, bring the pins out to 9 wander sockets and then make some leads up with wander plugs on the end and the other ends fitted to an octal plug. This plug would then fit into octal base 12. My thought was then to set the selector switches for 6V6 and plug the appropriate wander plugs into the wander sockets corresponding to anode, grid, cathode and of course heaters on the adaptor board. I would then set the other controls for the EL84 parameters. In other words, the tester thinks it's reading a 6V6 via the A,B,C switches but, via the adaptor, is connected to an EL84. Setting the gm and grid volts to the EL84 specs I should be able to test an EL84. To try this out, I've temporarily wired a B9A valve base with EL84 connections to an octal plug via shortish leads, plugged this in to octal base 12, set the A,B,C selectors for 6V6 (which via the adaptor, supplies Anode, grid, cathode and G2 volts to the B9A holder), set the gm, grid and anode/screen volts for EL84 and switched on. Well it worked and I was able for the first time to test an EL84. __________________ Stephen _________"It`s only an old telly" ___

13th Oct 2017, 10:49 pm	#6
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Taylor 47A valve tester help I used to have a 47A valve tester many moons ago, can't remember for sure but possibly a B9 base was used for a B9A adaptor, B9's are quite rare these days. Lawrence.

13th Oct 2017, 11:25 pm	#7
Norman Raeburn Heptode Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Leven, Fife, Scotland Posts: 823	Re: Taylor 47A valve tester help Hi Guys, Thanks for the replies, I don't know if there are any 9 pin sockets on the tester, I will have a look tomorrow. It all seems a bit over my head how these testers work but that is also down to my lack of valve theory. All the best for now, Norman.

13th Oct 2017, 8:21 pm	#1
Norman Raeburn Heptode Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Leven, Fife, Scotland Posts: 823	Taylor 47A valve tester help Hi Folks, I need to test some EL84's and don't have a B9A base fitted to my tester. I have read many posts on the forum but I can't find an answer to my needs. Can anyone provide an idiots guide how to do this, which base is best to make the adaptor fit and connections etc. I will provide the idiot if someone could give me some direction. Any advice or information will be gratefully received. Best regards, Norman.

14th Oct 2017, 10:10 am	#9
David G4EBT Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 5,761	Re: Taylor 47A valve tester help That was well spotted Lawrence - really helpful. What a labour intensive job it was to wire up valve testers. A real bonanza for the wire manufacturers too! __________________ David. BVWS Member. G-QRP Club member 1339.

14th Oct 2017, 10:47 am	#10
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Taylor 47A valve tester help Yes, pin to pin mirror for B9A to B9 in that schematic for example would exempt some valves from being tested, take the ECF80 as an example... ECF80 pin connections: 1=at 2=g1 3=g2 4=h 5=h 6=ap 7=kp 8=kt 9=gt g1(pin2) can't be routed to the grid supply via circuit 4 because there's no pole connection via circuit selector B to a contact that's connected to the grid supply, neither can ap (pin6) be routed to the anode supply via circuit 7 because circuit 7 is permanently connected to the cathode rail. There are ways around that. Lawrence. Last edited by ms660; 14th Oct 2017 at 10:52 am.

14th Oct 2017, 12:38 pm	#11
David G4EBT Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Cottingham, East Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 5,761	Re: Taylor 47A valve tester help Showing my ignorance, the manual provided by Bill at post #14 in the other thread shows a 'BR9' base. I'm not familiar with that - only B9, B9A and B9G, none of which seem to conform to the 'BR9' base in the manual in terms of numbering or pin layout. (See the undated diagram below entitled 'Standard Vale Bases in Use Today'). Obviously a donor valve with a suitable nine-pin base would be needed to make an adaptor, cross wired to a B9A socket, to enable EL84s to be tested. Attached Thumbnails __________________ David. BVWS Member. G-QRP Club member 1339.

14th Oct 2017, 12:48 pm	#12
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Taylor 47A valve tester help According to this, B9 is the bottom right hand one: http://www.tubecollector.org/documents/bases/diag5.gif That looks like the same pin spacing arrangement as the BR9 in the 45A schematic. EDIT: It's also used for the two panel interconnect in the AVO two panel valve tester, the B9 is often called a British 9 pin hence (probably) the BR prefix in the 45A schematic Lawrence. Last edited by ms660; 14th Oct 2017 at 12:59 pm.

14th Oct 2017, 1:36 pm	#13
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Taylor 47A valve tester help And here's one shown for a valve from some Mazda valve data which clearly shows the pin spacing difference: http://www.r-type.org/pdfs/tp22.pdf Lawrence.

14th Oct 2017, 1:53 pm	#14
Norman Raeburn Heptode Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Leven, Fife, Scotland Posts: 823	Re: Taylor 47A valve tester help Hi Folks, I have had a quick look at this today, there are two 9 pin valve holders described as "9 pin English and British 9 pin glass". I don't know if this is any help or not. I don't have time to look at it further today but will try to get to it tomorrow. Thanks for the replies thus far. Norman

14th Oct 2017, 2:10 pm	#15
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Taylor 47A valve tester help The 9 pin English will be a B9, the British 9 pin Glass will be a B9G (as used for the EF50 valve etc) Lawrence.

14th Oct 2017, 2:57 pm	#17
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Taylor 47A valve tester help It doesn't matter about the orientation angle, what matters is the perpendicular from pin 9 heading across the valve base/holder, in both cases it falls between pins 4 & 5, in both cases pin 9 is the center pin of the group of five pins that are wider spaced. That spacing is clear on the valve tester schematic and in the link to the B9 valve base data which I posted earlier but in the last thumbnail you posted the difference in the pin spacing is not clear in the right hand drawing. Lawrence.

15th Oct 2017, 9:25 am	#18
DuncanLeece Pentode Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Banff, Aberdeenshire, UK. Posts: 104	Re: Taylor 47A valve tester help Greetings Norman.....it seems ages since we last chatted! I have an old 47a too, and when I bought mine it came with the adaptor I have photographed. It seems to take a different approach to those mentioned thus far, utilising an eight-pin socket on the tester plus a fly-lead. To me it looks commercially-made and has the name 'Spearette' on it if that means anything to anyone. You may remember that my interest is in older radios and gramophones so I have never used this thing, and know nothing about it; but if the knowledgeable folk on this forum think it will work for your job, I will happily post it down to you for you to borrow. I suppose you could make your own copy of it too? best wishes Duncan Attached Thumbnails

15th Oct 2017, 9:40 am	#19
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,454	Re: Taylor 47A valve tester help That looks like a TV valve adaptor. Lawrence.