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Solid
State Replacement for the 83 & 5Y3 Rectifier Tube
Since the 83 & 5y3 tubes
used in Hickok and other Tube Testers are bring a premium price these
days, some have suggested using a solid state replacement. While it is
true that the solid state replacement runs cooler and uses less power, it is not a
dependable modification to use on a tester, if you want a accurate
reading on all tubes you are testing. The manufacture of most these
tube testers, using tubes, could have used solid state rectifiers, but
used tubes since tubes give a more reliable reading, for the different
power demands of the tubes being tested. In later years Hickok came out
with a Solid State tube tester. The Hickok 580 still had some
problems associated with the solid state application and had to have
modifications done to make it operate correctly. The tube chart for the
580 was created for the 580 using solid state rectifiers. Modify a 580 to use
tubes and you will have to change the tube chart readings for every
tube on the chart. The same goes for replacing tubes with solid state
replacements. Don't agree? Ok take a Properly calibrated Hickok
600 tube tester that has good rectifier tubes in it and test several
tubes for GM readings. Be sure that you test tubes that have different
power requirements. Now replace the tubes with solid state
replacements. You will have to try to recalibrate the tester now since
the solid state replacement have been installed. Now check the same
tubes you checked before. Most of your results will be different. Even after the
tester is re calibrated the
percentage of difference will be different on each of the tubes depending on
their power requirements. Yes
the solid state replacement will allow your tester to run cooler and
will give you a reading for the tube you are checking but the reading
will not be correct. Stay with what the tester was designed to use and
make sure you have a properly calibrated tester and you will have a
tube tester that will give you accurate reading for many years.
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