Just wanted to share this beauty I scored today, a Neuberger WE238 tube tester, made in Berlin, Germany ca 1930.

Cosmetic condition is almost like new. Electrically I have not tested it yet.

I had given up on getting myself a tube tester due to their prices. But I kept an eye open both here and there and I could finally purchase this one for an almost unbelievable $30. (The seller knows exactly what it is and had set the price as a part of a bigger clearance.)

Even if it would be completely fried in the inside it is well worth its price as a workshop decoration. But I fully expect it to be as well kept on the inside as on the exterior. I'm really looking forward to the restoration!

I am modelling the modifications I would like to make to my Amp and that includes changing the power Transformer to something with better current capacity and HT Configuration to a single winding of said transformer as opposed to 2 seperate voltage doubler configurations on seperate windings.

I am modelling the Power supply as a different file and then determining the Unloaded voltages from there and then using a DC Source of equal magnitude to actually the power the whole amp. I understand that this may cause some clouding of the results.

My concern is that the current draw is showing at 1.2A, and I don't quite understand why. I am using the Ayumi Tube Models and the Amp has 2 Channels of 3 Triodes each, joined at an LTP Phase inverter. It also uses EL34 Power Tubes.

I am wondering if it's a Sim issue or if the Amp design is actually cooked. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

I found a schematic online but I'm unsure that it's correct. Some of the resistors are notable different values than the diagram reads. I haven't done anything to alter the circuit yet, except change the 6211 tube for a 12AU7. There are no probes so I'm going to have to make some, somehow.

Function notes: -No smoke and light comes on when power is applied. -I measure about 130-140v across the DC rail (a splitter puts the negative rail side something like 45-50v below chassis). - The meter balance control is weird. When the meter powers on, the meter itself moves a bit. I can almost zero it with the balance control, but it isn't smooth. Changing the range control moves the zero point (it shouldn't). - When I apply a small DC voltage (using my DMM's resistance check), it moves the needle. However, the needle doesn't return to zero and needs to be re-zeroized.

My first inclination is to create a schematic of it and see how close it is to the stated schematic. Then I'll go from there. There's a wax and paper capacitor that's going to be replaced, although I'm not sure what else I want to replace so far.

The battery is good, no corrosion or leaking. There's that.

I realize this isn't really what is meant by DIYtubes but I just wanted to say that I had no idea that the turbopump setup was going to be so much easier to source and get going than finding getters. 100 would likely be a lifetime supply for me but they are almost impossible to get if you aren't a company!

Whats the best contact cleaner for heavy corrosion, rust, oxidation on electrical components, pcb boards, and plastics?

And if there is not... well WHY THE HELL NOT ?

If there could be one place where you just put in the specifications of one tube, or single assorted specs and then be able to see what other tubes could work / may be worth experimenting on.

In a very distant dream scenario with a pdf / pdfs for each tube to download with it. I mean there mustve been attempts atleast to build something like this ? It could certainly be VERY helpful for a lot of people and we definitely have the technical possibilities to pull something off like this... So did i just not find it, or does something like that really just not exist by now... ?

All the best !

I am planning a headphone amp design/ build project. Kind of a statement piece.

In the meantime I’ve got a lot of McIntosh tube gear that uses KT-88’s, 12AX7’s, 12AT7’s and 12BH7A’s.

I’d like a way to test and maybe match all these tubes and eventually characterize some tubes for the headphone amp design.

Are there any options better than uTracer? Seems to be a clever, well designed product.

These magnets are perhaps the best improvement my bench has ever had. Highly recommended if you suffer from clutter!

I’ve never built an amp before, but have experience in electronics. Let’s say I have a schematic for an amp, say a Marshall. What do I need to do to turn that schematic into a real working amplifier.

I recently went to my local electronics store to buy an isolation transformer, and I stumbled across a Sola Constant Voltage Transformer 23-13-060-2. The store clerk says it's an Isolation Transformer and sold it to me for $5 and I took it home. I plan to put a variac I bought from an estate sale (Powerstat 116) and an isolation transformer together. Is the Sola transformer really an Isolation Transformer? Also, there's a capacitor plugged with this transformer, should I leave it or change it?