Tubes Asylum

Is this tube is safe to use?

72.74.123.24

erik

Folks, I've been using these tubes for about 5 years, today while I was trying a new set, I noticed that the metal in the bottom part of the right one is burnt. Is it safe to use? It's E180F pentode from '56.

Thanks in advance!

Follow Ups:

RE: Is this tube is safe to use? - Jonesy 14:44:39 04/11/25 (1)
Sure looks like something overheated but if you've been using it thus far, it may still be okay. I am not familiar with that particular tube type.

I'm assuming you don't have access to a tube tester.

Before I obtained a tester I would use a multimeter to at least check the tube for continuity between pins and see if there are any unwelcome shorts. You can look at a data sheet or establish a baseline using a known good tube first.

Using the multimeter place a probe on the first pin and cycle through the rest of the pins with the other probe. Repeat cycling again from the second pin, then third, fourth and so on. Make note of the ones that have continuity vs those that don't.

Do it all again with the suspect tube and in a couple of minutes you at least have something a little more concrete to work with.

Jonesy

"I know just enough to get into trouble. But not enough to get out of it."
- RE: Is this tube is safe to use? - erik 07:59:26 04/16/25 (0)
  Hey Jonesy, appreciate your input. You're right, I don't have a tester on hand, but I decided not to take any chances and swapped in a different set of tubes. The old ones served me well—and I got lucky and found almost the same tubes, just from '58.

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