I saw on a few tube substitution guides that the type 83V (vacuum, non-mercury) and 5Z3 are substitutes for the type 83 rectifier tube. If I don't want to go the solid state route, would the 83V and/or the 5Z3 work in place of the type 83 rectifier tube originally used in the Hickok tube tester?



Thanks,
Joe

Stick with the 83. It was used for a reason, mainly the stability it provides.

Gene

The 83V (Sylvania data) is rated at 175ma max and 25 volt drop. The 83 is 250ma max and 15 volt drop. Not sure if testing some tubes might exceed the 175ma? There are lots of old posts about SS replacements. I left my 6000A original with the 5Y3 and 83 and have never had a problem. I do keep a spare of each on hand but it's been 20 years now and still going strong!

Corby

The mercury-vapor tube drops a constant 13V over all of the AC cycle. The drop in vacuum rectifiers varies with current. Even though the drop isn't a lot more than 13V it's enough to affect Gm readings.

Voltage drop with silicon rectifiers is also constant over the cycle (half a volt), so those make an acceptable substitute.

I would assume that the low drop of the silicon rectifiers would require a mod or recal? The TV7 uses the mercury rectifier also. It is mounted sideways, and that is said to be not ideal at all. Still, the testers seem to work OK, regardless.

An 83 has an easy life in a Hickok, plenty of time to warm up before getting hit with plate voltage (when the Gm button is pressed).

Some tubes read a little different with the extra 12V on the plate; others read the same.

I wonder if adding a 12 volt zener diode in series following the 1n4007 diodes would make the solid state replacement work the same as an 83 tube for all cases.

I never tried it, since the extra voltage always gives a more accurate test, and the 15 watt reduction in power-transformer load (83 heater) allows that much more for the tube being tested without lighting the fuse lamp.

Of course the original roll-chart data assumed the 83 was being used.

I use a TV-7B most of the time, and as far as I recall it still has its 83 installed. Been 20 years since I looked inside.