Thanks for your video. I repaired one same equipment after watching your video. Old equipments has the problem of capacitors. Especially in power supply section.
I have that tester. Got mine for $50 from Govt Liquidators. Included all of the probes and cables, even the tool to wedge between the handle and the leakage button for reforming caps. Works great, I use it all the time. PS my display is always at 000 on power up. The low capacity cable is RG 62 B/U...
Now I don't feel so bad! I am always following and getting what you have for test equipment. Finally, we reversed roles. You'll love the PR57! Mine came with stuck switches. Had to take apart the whole assembly. Works great now. A lot of the these have broken switch plastic knobs. No big deal. You just have to push in the rod with your finger. Nice capacitor & inductor tester! A lot finer than our Solar CB-160s. Nice modern tube tester also!
I've really enjoyed the test equipment videos you've done in the past, probably more than your TV stuff, frankly. I'm really looking forward to seeing more of these.
You have to use contact cleaners which have no liquid carrier such as petroleum distillates, and use a dropper or small swab and above all avoid getting any of it on the insulators. The voltages are probably controlled through high current circuitry not directly via the controls on the front but rather through logic.
Those numbers shown when Idle may be the voltage on the leads. It is a separate display on the LC-102 which is a newer version of this tester. FYI, the LC-102 is AC/Battery operated, LCD displays, pre-programmed (EIA) or user-set values (good/bad display), ESR test, dielectric absorbion test, tests for Switching (Power supply) transformers. Also displays leakage by current or ohms. Leakage test is good to 1KV. Ideal for someone who also works on newer stuff like me.
My Ebay bargain was a Sencore CR-70 that I won for $20! The seller said it was missing the accessories and knew nothing about it. All of the sockets and manual were there and it works just fine. I want to get a Sencore PA-81 next.
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoy them. I have another piece of test equipment on the way. I took a gamble and it may not work, but for sure it will be interesting to explore.
I think the major cool feature of the Mighty Mite TC 162 its 300M grid leakage capability! I think the TC 152 has that too. No other tester comes close to that. That said, the circuit a tube is used in is the acid test, and substitution is still the most positive test I know of, except maybe for a really good curve tracer.
I remember finding switches like C&K or grayhill and they had the same style or series push down... and then locking... but having the exact same format. You would think that Sencore would have had a minor change and chose a locking type. Bob, can you just put a small switch in the back in case you need to extensive leakage testing?? Maybe you can but I bet its a 99 pole 200 through sw.. hehehe!!
I sure hope the PR57 works properly. It's missing the leakage probe, but that's OK. I doubt I'd use it much anyway. I also won a Fluke frequency counter this morning. That just leaves one device I'd love to have - a quality synthesized or DDS RF generator.
I've had pretty good luck buying equipment in unknown condition cheap. I think most folks just don't know how this stuff is supposed to work and have no way of testing it.
Yeah, contact cleaner can cause havoc in some circuits, very high voltage RF, amateur tube transmitter and antenna tuner band switches are classic examples.
Thank you for explaining how to use the Sencore. I am just starting out and recently purchased one on ebay. Did you have to calibrate the Sencore? Is there a way to discharge the electrolytics after testing/reforming?
Hi glad you enjoyed the video. I'm sorry I'm not sure about the discharging. I think you can but it's been a few years since I've used it and I don't remember. I think the manual is available online for free.
You don't need to discharge the cap either before or after any testing. The Sencore will discharge the capacitor before any tests are make to protect itself, and will discharge the capacitor as soon as the leakage button is released to protect you. Don't bother "reforming" any capacitor. This is a temporary process at best and the capacitor will soon return to it's leaking failure mode. Just replace the capacitor. BTW, the LC75 has a built in ESR function so it's far more desirable.
I got one of these second (or tenth hand, maybe?). Leakage testing seems to work alright but the capacitance testing flashes all 8's no matter what I test. I thought it would be something wrong with the leads so just for grins I swapped them out... No dice. Do you know where I might be able to look for that? Kind of at a loss. I'm trying to put together a budget lab and I'm not off to a great start with broken equipment :-) Any help is appreciated.
+Jason Atkin The Sencore TC-162 I restored and use in my workshop. The LC53 has not been repaired yet. I've been using a Solor CB-1-160 for testing mica caps. The paper and electroltics I always replace so don't really have a need to test them.
Your i-177 should convert 83 tube to solid state very easy to make I built one for my hickok 752 you can find it just google search for: updated hickok 539C calibration
Thanks for your video. I repaired one same equipment after watching your video. Old equipments has the problem of capacitors. Especially in power supply section.
I have that tester. Got mine for $50 from Govt Liquidators. Included all of the probes and cables, even the tool to wedge between the handle and the leakage button for reforming caps. Works great, I use it all the time. PS my display is always at 000 on power up. The low capacity cable is RG 62 B/U...
Nice tester this is a must to open a tv repair shop . Nice
Now I don't feel so bad! I am always following and getting what you have for test equipment. Finally, we reversed roles. You'll love the PR57! Mine came with stuck switches. Had to take apart the whole assembly. Works great now. A lot of the these have broken switch plastic knobs. No big deal. You just have to push in the rod with your finger.
Nice capacitor & inductor tester! A lot finer than our Solar CB-160s.
Nice modern tube tester also!
I've really enjoyed the test equipment videos you've done in the past, probably more than your TV stuff, frankly. I'm really looking forward to seeing more of these.
that gizmo for holding the button down is hilarious.
Thanks, and I agree. Much nicer to see a numeric current value rather than a blinking neon light ;)
Cool new toys Bob.
Can't wait to see what is inside that make them work!
I'm glad I read a warning about using contact cleaner on the switches. That can leave a residue that ruins the super high impedance leakage test.
You have to use contact cleaners which have no liquid carrier such as petroleum distillates, and use a dropper or small swab and above all avoid getting any of it on the insulators. The voltages are probably controlled through high current circuitry not directly via the controls on the front but rather through logic.
Those numbers shown when Idle may be the voltage on the leads. It is a separate display on the LC-102 which is a newer version of this tester. FYI, the LC-102 is AC/Battery operated, LCD displays, pre-programmed (EIA) or user-set values (good/bad display), ESR test, dielectric absorbion test, tests for Switching (Power supply) transformers. Also displays leakage by current or ohms. Leakage test is good to 1KV. Ideal for someone who also works on newer stuff like me.
I like the Secore capacitor tester I’ve the 103 , found a lot of bad components with it.
My Ebay bargain was a Sencore CR-70 that I won for $20! The seller said it was missing the accessories and knew nothing about it. All of the sockets and manual were there and it works just fine. I want to get a Sencore PA-81 next.
Thanks! I'm glad you enjoy them. I have another piece of test equipment on the way. I took a gamble and it may not work, but for sure it will be interesting to explore.
I think the major cool feature of the Mighty Mite TC 162 its 300M grid leakage capability! I think the TC 152 has that too. No other tester comes close to that. That said, the circuit a tube is used in is the acid test, and substitution is still the most positive test I know of, except maybe for a really good curve tracer.
I remember finding switches like C&K or grayhill and they had the same style or series push down... and then locking... but having the exact same format. You would think that Sencore would have had a minor change and chose a locking type. Bob, can you just put a small switch in the back in case you need to extensive leakage testing?? Maybe you can but I bet its a 99 pole 200 through sw.. hehehe!!
I've heard Sencore is still pretty good about supporting their older models.
I sure hope the PR57 works properly. It's missing the leakage probe, but that's OK. I doubt I'd use it much anyway. I also won a Fluke frequency counter this morning. That just leaves one device I'd love to have - a quality synthesized or DDS RF generator.
Ancient thread and all, but hope that PR57 turned out. I made my own leakage probe out of a marker pen body!
We have those Sencore testers at school. Very durable with the abuse that they get from the students :)
I have both a LCR and ESR meter. very good equipment to have.
I really want to see this equipment testing capacitors bigger than 2000 Micro Farads, no body show that...
That reminds me I still owe you guys a video on the Wavetek 183.
Perhaps. I also read that RG-62 (13pF/ft) might work well.
Hi
Thank you for a nice Video.
Did you manage to make a cable?
Did find a solution and source the triangular leads housing?
Best regards
Jo
I still need to fix the inductance mode. Hopefully that won't be too difficult.
Yeah, that must have been an afterthought.
I've had pretty good luck buying equipment in unknown condition cheap. I think most folks just don't know how this stuff is supposed to work and have no way of testing it.
Yeah, contact cleaner can cause havoc in some circuits, very high voltage RF, amateur tube transmitter and antenna tuner band switches are classic examples.
I want one of those capacitor testers
Thank you for explaining how to use the Sencore. I am just starting out and recently purchased one on ebay. Did you have to calibrate the Sencore? Is there a way to discharge the electrolytics after testing/reforming?
Hi glad you enjoyed the video. I'm sorry I'm not sure about the discharging. I think you can but it's been a few years since I've used it and I don't remember. I think the manual is available online for free.
You don't need to discharge the cap either before or after any testing. The Sencore will discharge the capacitor before any tests are make to protect itself, and will discharge the capacitor as soon as the leakage button is released to protect you. Don't bother "reforming" any capacitor. This is a temporary process at best and the capacitor will soon return to it's leaking failure mode. Just replace the capacitor. BTW, the LC75 has a built in ESR function so it's far more desirable.
I got one of these second (or tenth hand, maybe?). Leakage testing seems to work alright but the capacitance testing flashes all 8's no matter what I test. I thought it would be something wrong with the leads so just for grins I swapped them out... No dice. Do you know where I might be able to look for that? Kind of at a loss. I'm trying to put together a budget lab and I'm not off to a great start with broken equipment :-) Any help is appreciated.
I suggest asking on the Antique Radio Forum in the test equipment section. I never did get around to working on mine...
hey, i have one of these im working on. did you ever figure out your all 8"s situation?
Bet you drive a Cadillac too!
You have to be very careful though. Some less than honest sellers will state they don't know how to test and they know the equipment is faulty.
Humm, since this needs a low capacity probe, I wonder if a scope probe would work.
Check a bigger choke like about 1hy or 2hy and it will be fine I would guess.
What ever wound up happening with the Sencore, Bob? Did you ever get it into it?
+Jason Atkin The Sencore TC-162 I restored and use in my workshop. The LC53 has not been repaired yet. I've been using a Solor CB-1-160 for testing mica caps. The paper and electroltics I always replace so don't really have a need to test them.
Your i-177 should convert 83 tube to solid state very easy to make I built one for my hickok 752 you can find it just google search for: updated hickok 539C calibration