DIY Tube Tester. Working on Power Supply options, and finding one that's too messy. Part 1
Published at : 23 Dec 2025
In my hobby restoring tube radios, I have so far resisted getting a tube tester. I believe they are too bulky and expensive for my limited needs. I normally just keep a few (known working) tubes on hand, and swap one in if I suspect a tube has failed. I recently did some rudimentary testing on an EL41 power tube, and this led to the idea of creating a simple tube tester for the rather small range of tubes that I normally find in the radios I work on. I received numerous requests from viewers interested in this project, so I decided to get started on it. The first step was to create the multiple power suppliers that the tester will need. My first attempt left me frustrated with its complexity. This video shows the process of creating and testing this first attempt, and also portrays the reasons why I decided to go for an alternative solution. Hope you enjoy the process.