A few of my CRTs… Back row, left to right: CV5125, 5SP7 Middle row: SE5F, 6ЛO1И, 09D, 130BXB31 Front row: CV1522, D10/230, CV2175, 3ЛO1И, CV2272, DG7/32, CV2320, DG7/52A, ACR10, 7ЛO1М, 2BP1.

Ok, so you have collection of cathode ray tubes bought from dealers, ebay and friends...

Which work? Which have image problems? Which are dead? If you lack a full data sheet, how can you find out operating data such as the grid voltage for blanking? Focus anode voltage? X/Y deflection sensitivities etc.? …


Answer 1: An Electrostatic CRT Tester

You need ones of these!


Answer 2: An Electrostatic CRT Tester

You need ones of these!


Answer 3: An Electrostatic CRT Tester

Soviet 11Л06И CRT under test

Introduction

To test CRTs I used to connect together a rig made up of a couple of old Heathkit IP17 high voltage power supplies, a separate EHT power supply or I used an old scope clock power supply that wasn't very easy to adjust. I also couldn't easily test CRTs with a PDA connector. I could show that a CRT would produce a visible dot but couldn't really make measurements or operate a CRT at its correct voltages.

So I set about taking a scope clock power supply and putting it on its own PCB with a lot of potentiometers and jumpers to allow voltages to be finely adjust over a wide range.

This page and its documentation describes the resultant electrostatic CRT Tester. It is (almost) fully open design and open source all released under a Creative Commons ShareAlike 4.0 International license.

So you can roll your own entirely or you can buy a complete kit or or a minimal kit or a fully assembled tester - all described below or in the documentation.


Quick Links


Specification

Basic Design

Simple and manually operated - no micro-controller or PC in sight!

Limitations

There are a few limitations to the what the tester will do:

Some of these limitations have simple work-arounds available now or being planned.

Quick Links

Gallery


Other Uses

The CRT Tester delivers a range voltages to run valve heaters, a 200V - 300V +HT supply and a wide range of EHT voltages. So it can be use to test a variety of other electronic devices. Such as


Case Design

A case for the tester made from laser cut and engraved 5mm clear acrylic, together with the required fixings, banana plugs and jacks, wire and so on to house the CRT Tester is available as a kit. See the Kit Availablity and Prices section below.

(The photos of the acrylic shown here is of a prototype case without the engraved labels.)

The complete acrylic case kit comprising:

Here's a part assembled case waiting to have the PCB dropped in and wired up:

Quick Links

Documentation

Documentation - Eagle files, manuals, photos, STL files, lots o' stuff in general are availabe on a dropbox..

Quick Links

Kit Availability and Prices

The prices of all these kits are here.

The electronics kit is available in two forms:

Minimum Electronics Kit

This is the PCB and flyback transformer only i.e. the two key custom made components. You will have to buy all the remaining components. I bought them from Farnell (Element14), Digikey and a few parts from Ebay. If you are going down this route the I assume you know what you are doing ….

Complete Electronics Kit

This is the PCB with all the SMD parts fitted and all the through hole components and hardware in labelled bags.

I have been asked for a kit with the SMD parts unfitted. I have found that it is far quicker to solder paste a board, pick and place all the SMD parts then pop it in a reflow (toaster) oven, than it is to pick the SMD parts and put them all in bags. It also uses less resources as I'm not printing labels and using polythene or anti-static bags. So to say the least I am reluctant to supply an SMD unfitted kit.

Complete Case Kit

Remember!

The shop costs do not include any import or other taxes for where you live. These are yours to pay.

Built and Tested

I am also willing to completely build and test the board - with or without the case - please contact me for a cost.

Quick Links

Contact

Please contact me with any questions or enquires about ordering or postage.

Quick Links