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Old 28th Nov 2010, 8:07 pm   #481
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Default Re: The "Sussex" Homebrew Valve Tester.

Just added a bit more to the manual at the earlier link. The optional low voltage heater board, more info on the leakage detector circuits and more info on the heater cathode shorting fix.
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Old 12th Dec 2010, 10:39 pm   #482
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Default Re: The "Sussex" Homebrew Valve Tester.

Having read through this thread and now with this really useful and very well thought out manual I'm ready to order the components and begin to build the tester. In reality I probably won't get much done until after Christmas, but I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm not particularly experienced, although I've built a few valve-based audio amps, pre-amps and active crossovers in the past, but never something like this.

Ed, I will send a PM regarding the transformer, likewise Martin regarding the kit of parts or the PCB.

Gordon
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Old 17th Dec 2010, 10:12 pm   #483
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Default Re: The "Sussex" Homebrew Valve Tester.

Finished at last, well almost I just have to get the caps for the valve pin selection knobs.
The second photo shows a PCC84 being tested.

Thanks again to Mike for sharing his superb creation with us.

Frank
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Old 17th Dec 2010, 10:40 pm   #484
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Default Re: The "Sussex" Homebrew Valve Tester.

Oh, there's fancy!

That is very much in the old fashioned tradition of home construction.
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Old 17th Dec 2010, 11:37 pm   #485
M0XNA Neil
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Default Re: The "Sussex" Homebrew Valve Tester.

Frank,

Your tester is so much more professional looking than my suitcase version! Well done.

Neil.
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Old 18th Dec 2010, 12:09 am   #486
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Default Re: The "Sussex" Homebrew Valve Tester.

Well done Frank,
That looks great and has very retro look to it.

Regards

Rob
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Old 18th Dec 2010, 10:27 pm   #487
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Default Re: The "Sussex" Homebrew Valve Tester.

I especially like the valve base drawer. It reduces the 'footprint' on the workbench and keeps dust and solder blobs out of the valve bases.

You could easily make it look like a 'twenties' style radio with a wooden cover fitted with a dummy bakelite tuning scale.

Brendan
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Old 19th Dec 2010, 9:31 pm   #488
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Default Re: The "Sussex" Homebrew Valve Tester.

Thanks Guys for the kind comments.

I haven't had very much time to play with it yet but already I have found a NOS Mullard PCC84 reading low, particularly on one side, it was also giving a reading of 3uA grid current.

I look forward to using it in the future and I am sure I will get great use out of it.

Frank
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Old 20th Dec 2010, 5:33 am   #489
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Default Re: The "Sussex" Homebrew Valve Tester.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ed_Dinning View Post
I have the transformers (US 120V pri) and can send to them.
Dear Ed,

I just joined the forum and do not have private messaging enabled for some reason. I am very interested in building the Sussex VT. could you email me with info on how I may get the transformer from you?

thanks
Jerry
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Old 20th Dec 2010, 5:39 pm   #490
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Default Re: The "Sussex" Homebrew Valve Tester.

Martin,
I cannot private post for some reason, could you contact me by email so I may order a PCB to the States?

thanks
Jerry

Last edited by paulsherwin; 20th Dec 2010 at 9:28 pm. Reason: Public email address removed
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Old 20th Dec 2010, 9:12 pm   #491
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Default Re: The "Sussex" Homebrew Valve Tester.

Hi Jerry, you should be able to receive PM's, but you may not be able to send them until you have a certain number of posts.
I'll PM you details and my e-mail address


Ed
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Old 26th Dec 2010, 6:04 pm   #492
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Default Re: The "Sussex" Homebrew Valve Tester.

Hello,

I've just been looking at Frank.C's work. Very nice indeed!
I don't recognise all of the valve socket types.. Could somebody enlighten me please??

Thanks.

Bodge99
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Old 27th Dec 2010, 11:35 am   #493
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Default Re: The "Sussex" Homebrew Valve Tester.

Outstanding work, Frank.
I love the contrast of the wooden case and the 'bling' of the illuminated LCD displays!
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Old 27th Dec 2010, 12:10 pm   #494
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Default Re: The "Sussex" Homebrew Valve Tester.

Hi Bodge99
The valve bases that I have fitted care a combination of the ones that I really wanted and also whatever else I had to hand.

I have attached a pdf of the layout with the bases marked. There are two MO marked one should be a IO. I also have a CAD drawing of the layout if anyone wants it just let me know and I will e-mail it to you.

Frank
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Old 28th Dec 2010, 2:46 pm   #495
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Default Re: The "Sussex" Homebrew Valve Tester.

Frank: Thanks very much for the info. I'm gradually collecting parts to build the Sussex and I would like to fit as many types of valve bases as possible.
I'm thinking along the lines of fitting 10-12 on the tester itself and using plug in adapters for the more obscure types. The only problem that I forsee is actually obtaining the rarer bases..

Bodge99
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Old 5th Jan 2011, 10:41 pm   #496
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Default Re: The "Sussex" Homebrew Valve Tester.

ive done a bit of quick reading through this and im intrested but the truth be it electrics scare me.. im more of a mechanical minded person.. but my dad is into his old valve radios hence I joined up here to get information for him.
I know hes been looking for a valve tester and I know he would be very intrested in this. would it be possibile for someone to email me the information that he would need? I would be most grateful and im sure ill be back on this thread asking some more.

thanks
James

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Old 6th Jan 2011, 3:33 pm   #497
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Default Re: The "Sussex" Homebrew Valve Tester.

Hi everyone!

I have a suggestion which I wonder if it is possible to do in this forum, and that is to make a new thread that can only be contributed to by a few people which will only contain the updated original information needed to build the Sussex Valve Tester and keep this thread and have a reference between them.

That would mean that it would be easier to find up to date, and latest versions, of the information relating to the Sussex Valve Tester rather than searching the whole thread.
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Old 17th Jan 2011, 11:24 pm   #498
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Default Re: The "Sussex" Homebrew Valve Tester.

Hi All,

I've now got most of the components on the board, but have a question regarding the orientation of the diodes on the three relays. I've found Les' manual really helpful, but have noticed that on the circuit diagram on p16 diode D14 on RL1 is oriented differently than is shown on p6 on the board component layout. Likewise diode D12 on RL2 is oriented differently compared to how it is shown on the relay daughter board layout on p7. Diode D13 on RL3 is the same on the circuit diagram as it is on the daughter board layout.

Could someone help me out with the correct orientation for these components?

many thanks

Gordon
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Old 31st Jan 2011, 1:05 am   #499
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Default Re: The "Sussex" Homebrew Valve Tester.

Hi. I designed my own valve characteristics curve tracer with a similar pin switching arrangement to the one described here and, like yourselves, ran into similar stability issues when tracing high gm valves.

Here's a proven method of eliminating parasitic oscillations where conventional grid stoppers can't be used. See page 11.

http://frank.pocnet.net/instruments/...ionsForUse.pdf

Solder 100R and 270pF as close as possible to all the valve pins. Replicate for each valve socket. Works in my design with bunched spaghetti wiring. Check that earth termination is OK for your design.

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Old 31st Jan 2011, 4:40 pm   #500
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Default Re: The "Sussex" Homebrew Valve Tester.

An interesting document but not the Link you wanted i think
Alan
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