How to test a tube without a Tube Tester. Is this EL41 any good?
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. In my current project, I suspected an EL41 output tube to be faulty, but unfortunately did not have any others on hand. I decided to try and test it, following the method that TRX Bench presented in a similar video. His video is here, and I highly recommend you see it. https://youtu.be/bBywJjGib1w Hope this helps you, but remember that high voltages are dangerous!