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Old 18th May 2018, 10:57 am   #1
Ed_Dinning
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Default Elektor design for a valve curve tracer.

Hi Gents, I see that there is now an Elektor design for a valve curve tracer, based on one of the Raspberry Pi series of processors.

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Old 18th May 2018, 1:17 pm   #2
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Default Re: Elektor design for a valve curve tracer.

Hi Ed
I couldn't find it do you have an issue number or link please.
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Old 18th May 2018, 6:23 pm   #3
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Default Re: Elektor design for a valve curve tracer.

Here's a link to the Elektor article: https://www.elektormagazine.com/labs...ents/labs/1527

There is a video too but all documents are behind a login-page.

The designer says the software and stuff is some 129MB in zipped format, I hope he can find a place to upload it all for free.
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Old 19th May 2018, 10:40 am   #4
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Default Re: Elektor design for a valve curve tracer

I have had a look at the project. It's quite comprehensive - four galvanically isolated supplies for: anode supply 0 to 400V @ 350mA, screen grid 0 to 400V @ 30mA, grid up to 100V @ 30mA, DC heater supply to 14V at 3A. Heater voltage can be set by software potentiometer or soft presets. The description suggests use as a valve or semiconductor curve tracer.

The control uses lots of opto-isolators and a Raspberry Pi 2 or 3 with a 7" touch screen. I haven't found the hiding place for the software download yet.
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Last edited by mole42uk; 19th May 2018 at 10:45 am.
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Old 19th May 2018, 1:24 pm   #5
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Default Re: Elektor design for a valve curve tracer.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dekatron View Post
There is a video too but all documents are behind a login-page.
Registration is free if you want to get to the documents.
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Old 20th May 2018, 10:43 am   #6
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Default Re: Elektor design for a valve curve tracer.

It's an on-going project, currently at the 'proposal' stages, that needs to be followed to see the conclusion and/or software.

Worth bookmarking.

My only comment (so far) would be on the disappointing requirement for a special wound mains transformer - these days, generating the various supplies would be relatively easy using SMPS technology.
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Old 21st May 2018, 2:05 pm   #7
Ed_Dinning
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Default Re: Elektor design for a valve curve tracer.

Hi Gents, I (being a transformer designer) can easily live with the specially wound transformer, or a collection of individual transformers.
An SMPS unit ( I used to design those too) would add additional complications, not to mention noise, which is not a good thing associated with test equipment.
This unit looks beefy enough to satisfy those who also want to "burn in" their valves.

Ed
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Old 25th May 2018, 7:19 am   #8
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Default Re: Elektor design for a valve curve tracer.

The code has been posted for this project at the link in post #3.

Actual download is in the second post under comments down the page - CurveTracer.zip (and not 129Mb, it's 358.53kb)
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Old 17th Jun 2018, 6:58 pm   #9
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Default Re: Elektor design for a valve curve tracer.

Hy guys,
I had just done my first test with 6s33s on my u-Tracer using obviously external DC PSU.
I set mesurments for 120V at 150 mA, -45V Ug1.
The curves seams to be nice but doing the fast testing, I was not abble to set plate resistance (120ohms) and target mu(amplification factor) so obviously errors occure especialy for gm which for me is the criteria in matching those tubes.

What shall I do?
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Old 18th Jun 2018, 9:22 am   #10
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Default Re: Elektor design for a valve curve tracer.

some photos of mine u-tracer
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

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ID:	164817  
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Old 18th Jun 2018, 4:57 pm   #11
Ed_Dinning
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Default Re: Elektor design for a valve curve tracer.

Hi Victor, a smart piece of kit!
I'm away from home at present, but did you ever publish details of it ?

Ed
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Old 18th Jun 2018, 9:22 pm   #12
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Default Re: Elektor design for a valve curve tracer.

Thanks, I will
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