On 25 Sep 2003 15:54:17 -0400, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:

Doug Shields wrote:
I just purchased a Heathkit high voltage regulated supply on Ebay.
The description stated "It has been tested to power up and nothing
more." When I received the supply I found that 3 of the 6 tubes (2 x
6L6GC and 1 6BH6) in the supply were missing. I thought that "powers
up" means that at least the filaments light up on any form of tube
equipment. Am I wrong? The seller plugged it in and apparently the
pilot light came on which to him means that it powers up. The seller
refuses to listen to anything and has told me "We consider this a
closed issue, no more correspondence." Is it me? Thanks. BTW, does
anyone have two good 6L6GC tubes at a reasonable price?

By Ebay standards, this is LIKE NEW-- EXCELLENT CONDITION because it has
never been on fire or filled with mud.

There are a bunch of 6L6 variants in current production. The Russian

There are two major glass variants of the 6L6, plus the metal one.
One of the glass, has twice the plate dissipation of the other and it
basically twice the size. They are about the same size as a 6550.

Retail price on the big ones, new (they are used in a lot of guitar
amps) is EXPENSIVE. I've not seen any of the Russian equivalents.

5881WXGT tube is available from Antique Electronics Supply for seven or
eight bucks. It has a taller envelope than the standard 6L6, and is

There are the two *standard* 6L6s. Retail on the larger one at music
stores is nigh onto 30 bucks.

basically a 7027 without the pin jumper. It far exceeeds 6L6 specs and

Again, which 6L6 specs?
I used to run 90 watts out on 75 and 40 with a pair of the larger
ones. My guitar amp runs 290 watts plus with 6 of them and they don't
last forever. :-))

Roger Halstead (K8RI EN73 & ARRL Life Member)
www.rogerhalstead.com
N833R World's oldest Debonair? (S# CD-2)

will last nearly forever in a circuit designed for the 6L6.

If that's too much money you can get a Russian 6L6 design for around five
bucks that is about as good as the GE originals but no better.
--scott

It usually means "let the smoke out."

Let the buyer beware :-(

Why would you want to buy any piece of old tube gear that some ignorant
schmoe had turned on without first checking it out? We all know that this
stuff needs work before you "just plug it in." Don't buy from people who
don't understand that basic principle. There's always another good deal
around the corner.

Phil

It usually means "let the smoke out."

Let the buyer beware :-(

Why would you want to buy any piece of old tube gear that some ignorant
schmoe had turned on without first checking it out? We all know that this
stuff needs work before you "just plug it in." Don't buy from people who
don't understand that basic principle. There's always another good deal
around the corner.

Phil

Hey Phil, I'll bet you learned that by experience didn't you. Like most
of us!!!!!!!!!! But then again maybe you were never an "ignorant
schmoe", but I'll bet you were!

Phil Nelson wrote:
It usually means "let the smoke out."

Let the buyer beware :-(

Why would you want to buy any piece of old tube gear that some ignorant
schmoe had turned on without first checking it out? We all know that this
stuff needs work before you "just plug it in." Don't buy from people who
don't understand that basic principle. There's always another good deal
around the corner.

Phil

Hey Phil, I'll bet you learned that by experience didn't you. Like most
of us!!!!!!!!!! But then again maybe you were never an "ignorant
schmoe", but I'll bet you were!

Phil Nelson wrote:
It usually means "let the smoke out."

Let the buyer beware :-(

Why would you want to buy any piece of old tube gear that some ignorant
schmoe had turned on without first checking it out? We all know that this
stuff needs work before you "just plug it in." Don't buy from people who
don't understand that basic principle. There's always another good deal
around the corner.

Phil

"Doug Shields" wrote in message
om...
Hello all,
I just purchased a Heathkit high voltage regulated supply on Ebay.
The description stated "It has been tested to power up and nothing
more." When I received the supply I found that 3 of the 6 tubes (2 x
6L6GC and 1 6BH6) in the supply were missing. I thought that "powers
up" means that at least the filaments light up on any form of tube
equipment. Am I wrong? The seller plugged it in and apparently the
pilot light came on which to him means that it powers up. The seller
refuses to listen to anything and has told me "We consider this a
closed issue, no more correspondence." Is it me? Thanks. BTW, does
anyone have two good 6L6GC tubes at a reasonable price?

Doug W4DAS


I think that's bad faith on the seller's part, but.....

If somebody claims only that "it powers up", I get suspicious real fast.
Either the seller is being consciously deceptive, or he's stone stupid. If I
were selling an HV power supply, I would have taken the very small amount of
time and effort to check the output voltage and current. If I found zero
output, I sure wouldn't describe it as "powers up." I would have said
something like "turns on, hums, no meter movement, no output, don't know
what's wrong, a fixer." I also hope I would never be so lazy as to not look
inside to see if a tube was missing.

For your part, all that you should assume about that is that the power cord,
power switch and the pilot light works. Even a dumb seller should describe
external physical damage and the sound of loose internal parts, or goo
dripping out of the vent slots. OTOH, opening the case and looking for
glowing filaments or missing components is beyond the "powers up" report.

This is a lesson for you in not reading wishful thoughts into a vague
description. Next time, send the seller a question. If the answer is still
vague, then pass it by. No great deal is worth feeling screwed later on.
Consider this a learning experience; both in the transaction and the repair.
Don't buy from this guy again, and just move on. Still, sorry about this
example.

Ed
WB6WSN

"Doug Shields" wrote in message
om...
Hello all,
I just purchased a Heathkit high voltage regulated supply on Ebay.
The description stated "It has been tested to power up and nothing
more." When I received the supply I found that 3 of the 6 tubes (2 x
6L6GC and 1 6BH6) in the supply were missing. I thought that "powers
up" means that at least the filaments light up on any form of tube
equipment. Am I wrong? The seller plugged it in and apparently the
pilot light came on which to him means that it powers up. The seller
refuses to listen to anything and has told me "We consider this a
closed issue, no more correspondence." Is it me? Thanks. BTW, does
anyone have two good 6L6GC tubes at a reasonable price?

Doug W4DAS


I think that's bad faith on the seller's part, but.....

If somebody claims only that "it powers up", I get suspicious real fast.
Either the seller is being consciously deceptive, or he's stone stupid. If I
were selling an HV power supply, I would have taken the very small amount of
time and effort to check the output voltage and current. If I found zero
output, I sure wouldn't describe it as "powers up." I would have said
something like "turns on, hums, no meter movement, no output, don't know
what's wrong, a fixer." I also hope I would never be so lazy as to not look
inside to see if a tube was missing.

For your part, all that you should assume about that is that the power cord,
power switch and the pilot light works. Even a dumb seller should describe
external physical damage and the sound of loose internal parts, or goo
dripping out of the vent slots. OTOH, opening the case and looking for
glowing filaments or missing components is beyond the "powers up" report.

This is a lesson for you in not reading wishful thoughts into a vague
description. Next time, send the seller a question. If the answer is still
vague, then pass it by. No great deal is worth feeling screwed later on.
Consider this a learning experience; both in the transaction and the repair.
Don't buy from this guy again, and just move on. Still, sorry about this
example.

Ed
WB6WSN

On Sat, 27 Sep 2003 02:06:46 -0700, "Ed Price"
wrote:


"Doug Shields" wrote in message
. com...
Hello all,
I just purchased a Heathkit high voltage regulated supply on Ebay.
The description stated "It has been tested to power up and nothing
more."

"To me", having worked in industry, something tested *to* power up,
was checked out physically and taken *to* the point where they were
ready to apply power, but did not apply power.

On the news groups and e-bay it more than likely means they plugged it
in, turned on the switch and didn't blow a fuse, or *maybe* what ever
it was didn't smoke.

Roger Halstead (K8RI EN73 & ARRL Life Member)
www.rogerhalstead.com
N833R World's oldest Debonair? (S# CD-2)

On Sat, 27 Sep 2003 02:06:46 -0700, "Ed Price"
wrote:


"Doug Shields" wrote in message
. com...
Hello all,
I just purchased a Heathkit high voltage regulated supply on Ebay.
The description stated "It has been tested to power up and nothing
more."

"To me", having worked in industry, something tested *to* power up,
was checked out physically and taken *to* the point where they were
ready to apply power, but did not apply power.

On the news groups and e-bay it more than likely means they plugged it
in, turned on the switch and didn't blow a fuse, or *maybe* what ever
it was didn't smoke.

Roger Halstead (K8RI EN73 & ARRL Life Member)
www.rogerhalstead.com
N833R World's oldest Debonair? (S# CD-2)

Come on, Roger. To people on E-bay, it just means the pilot light
works. ;-)

Isn't that giving them the benefit of the doubt? :-))

Roger Halstead (K8RI EN73 & ARRL Life Member)
www.rogerhalstead.com
N833R World's oldest Debonair? (S# CD-2)