Duokit 2

VACUUM TUBE TESTER KIT LIST:
1x main board
1x LCD display
1x 0-115-230v 10VA transformer
1x AC-DC 9V 1A power supply
1 set wires (with potentiometer and switch)
1 x 4-6.3V/4A heating power
If you have some heating powers, please

check the KIT without the 4-6.3V heating
power:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/154069282618
This tester is ready to use and can work with most audio
tubes,
from small triodes: 12at7, 12au7, 12ax7,6sl7,6sn7 to
power triodes / pentodes like: 2a3, 300b, el84, 6v6, 6l6,
el84, el34, kt66, kt88, etc... and it also can test the
diodes and valves easily.
Precautions & description
Before switching on the power, please

check that the module is properly installed
on an insulating surface, that no short-
circuit risks exists. Avoid touching any part
of the module while power is turned on .
The module has all the functionalities of a
conventional tube tester but it uses a
pulsed mode which guarantees a high level
of security during tests.
The tests are effected with a rhythm of 0.5

seconds, and the measurement is done
within a very short time of 800 uS (0.0008
seconds).
Between tests, grid 1 is in negative

potential, and the tube is in a cut-off state
with zero dissipation.
With this type of functionality, little energy

in high voltage is used up (plate and G2),
and this helps avoid the use of heavy and
costly electric supply transformers, while
allowing tests with high voltage and plate
current (450V/340 mA).
A PIC microcomputer clocked at 12 mHz

caries out the acquisition, tests, fault
management and LCD display controls.
The plate supply uses an auto-oscillating

converter (Royer) controlled by a regulation
loop.
A high value (47 uF- 450V) capacitor can

deliver a high pulse current during the 800
uS test window.
This capacitor discharges slowly. It is thus

practical, when the plate voltage needs to
be lowered through the Vplate
potentiometer, to briefly push on the
DISCHARGE button.
This put on the plate supply output a

discharge resistor and accelerates the
process.
A SURCHARGE message ( Overload ) can

appears on the display, but will disappear
when the DISCHARGE button is released.
The G2 supply, which has a small debit, is

organized around a conventional circuit:
transformer, recovery/rectification, filtering
and stabilization using a buffered group of
zener diodes.
A mosfet power transistor controlled by a
potentiometer adjusts the Vg2 voltage.
These two supplies, i.e. plate ahd G2, are

protected by current limiters. Peripheral
circuits also benefit from this type of
protection.
G1 supply is designed like G2, but since

the debit is low enough, it is not buffered.
A neon lamp can show tube internal short

circuit. This neon lights up fixedly when a
excessive current runs through the tube;
otherwise, it blinks or remains off.
This simple circuit functions only as an aid

to the test, and has limited utility. It can
remain lighted up in the presence of tubes
with strong power or for certain types
(diodes, cathodic indicators).
Some tubes are unstable, and the

connection cords make up resonating
circuits so don't forget to install, near the
tube, ferrite beads on G1,G2 and plate
wires.
The microcomputer controls the current vs

voltage of the plate supply, if the current
becomes too high SURCHARGE ( =
overload ) warning will appear on the
screen, All other tests will then be
suspended until the problem is resolved.
LCD: please check the 3rd picture

Connector, transformer and power:
please check the 4th picture
Getting started:
As most connections are already made the kit is simple

to operate: Plug in all connectors.
Connect the mains voltage to T1 & T2 ( don't forget a

1A security fuse and on/off switch )
Connect the 4 wires: Cathode, G2, Plate and G1 to

appropriate socket pins according to the tube you wish
to test.
Connect the 4-6.3V/4A heater supply or transformer

Make sure that the module is properly installed on an
insulating surface, that no short-circuit risks exists.
Switch on mains power.
Adjust the Vplate voltage (Plate) ), Vg2 ( grid 2 ), Vg1

(grid 1) and heating voltage depending on the
characteristics of the tube to be tested.
Example: for the EL84 tube, the documentation

indicates:
Pin 2 : G1 ( grille 1 )
Pin 3 : K –G3 ( cathode & grid 3 )
Pin 4 : F ( filament )
Pin 5 : F’ ( filament )
Pin 7 : A ( anode ou plate )
Pin 9 : G2 ( screen ou grid 2 )
Take a look now at the testing conditions. In the

absence of indications, you can look at the
manufacturer's curves.
For instance, you can choose a plate voltage of 300V, a

G2 voltage of 250V, and a G1 voltage of -4.0V. Under
these conditions, the nominal debit will be 90mA.
Turn the V plate potentiometer until you see 300V on

the screen. Turn the Vg2 potentiometer until you see
250V on the screen. Turn the Vg1 potentiometer until
you see -4.0V on the screen.
Plug the tube and leave it to heat up for approximately

one minute.
Check that the neon short-circuit indicator is off or

blinking. For some tubes, this indicator can turn on
fixedly even if there is no short circuit. In general, this
phenomenon is caused by tubes with high mu, or by
valves and cathodic indicators.
It is not dangerous to undertake tests even if the

indicator is on. Push " TEST " and read on the display
the plate current value in mA.
Release the "TEST" button, the test is finished.
Tube matching can be done simply: just test several

tubes of the same type without changing the
parameters, and pair up either in twos or fours those
tubes whose currents are the most similar.
For double tubes like: 12ax7, 12au7, 12at7,-6sl7, 6sn7,

etc… Testing one or any of the internal triodes is done
by displacing the plate pin connection on either one of
the plate pins, all other electrodes ( Cathode & Grid )
are connected in parallel.
Advanced tests:
With this digital tester you can directly get the plate
current according to plate, G2 and G1 voltages.
You can also get 3 other important parameters in 2

successives measurements.
Here are the procedures:
Gm or Transconductance:
Make a first measurement with proper V plate and V

grid, note the corresponding current. Change V grid by
+ or - 1 volt. Note the new current.
Transconductance is the difference in the 2 currents
expressed in mA / V ( or µS / µmhos ).
Rp or Plate resistance:
Make a first measurement with proper V plate and V

grid, note the corresponding current.
Change V plate by + or - 10 volts or more ( the current

must change significantly), note the new current.
Plate resistance is the difference between the 2 plate

voltages ( in Volt ) divided by the difference in the 2
currents ( In Ampere ) and is expressed in Ohm.
µ or voltage gain = Gm x Rp
Of course you can match tubes by comparing currents

under same working conditions.
Testing diodes, valves, gas regulators,

cathodic indicators:
Diodes:
These low power tubes can be tested to a maximum debit

of approximately 20mA, for higher currents, observe the
procedure for valves testing.
Insert a 100 KOhm resistor in series with the plate for

limiting the current.
.
Before plugging the tube, turn the Vplate potentiometer
fully counterclockwise, and, if needed, push the
DISCHARGE button several times in order to bring the
plate voltage under 20 V.
When the tube is hot, slowly turn the Vplate potentiometer

and observe the increase in current until you reach the
manufacturer testing voltage.
Valves:
Valves or rectifiers will be tested like the diodes but, as

the plate current is higher, the value of the series resistor
must be lower. Use a 4.7 KOhm - 2 W resistor.
The test sequence is similar to the diodes.

Gas regulator:
The test of these tubes is carried out in series with the

appropriate value-limiting resistance with the anode
( plate ), in order to limit the current. The regulator voltage
can be read directly on the screen.
Cathodic indicator:
Testing for the brightness of the cathodic indicator can be

carried out simply by connecting the electrodes to the
appropriate plug, and by adding the appropriate resistors
according to manufacturer datasheet.
Control of the eye can be done by connecting the blue

wire going to Vg1 potentiometer to black wire of TEST
button. This will block Vg1 switching and its voltage will
be linarly controlled by its potentiometer.
Remove this connection for testing other kind of tubes.
Specifications:
Dimensions : 146 x 133 x 28 mm ( h.

maxi )
Measurement Mode: Pulsed, run by a 8

bits micro-computer clocked at 12 MHz
ADC sampling: 10 bit monotonous (1024

points)
Duration of the measurement window: 800

μS
Interval between measurements: 0.5

second
General accuracy: better than 5%
Grid 1 voltage range: 0 to -100 volts
Grid 2 voltage range: 15 to 350 volts
Plate voltage range: 2 to 450 volts
Plate current ( maximum ) : 340 mA
Display resolution, grid 1 voltage: 0.1 volts

+ / - 1 digit
Display resolution, grid 2 voltage: 1 V + / -
1 digit
Display resolution, plate voltage: 1 V + / - 1

digit
Display resolution, plate current: 0.1 mA + /

- 1 digit up to 34 mA
1 mA + / -
1 digit I > 34 mA Supply voltage
( nominal ): 110 V - 230 V 50/60 Hz
Tube Protection: By automatic cut-off

between measurements ( Vgrid down to -
100 V )
Tube connections: Short-circuit protected.

Duokit 2

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VACUUM TUBE TESTER KIT LIST:

If you have some heating powers, please

Precautions & description

Before switching on the power, please

The tests are effected with a rhythm of 0.5

Between tests, grid 1 is in negative

With this type of functionality, little energy

A PIC microcomputer clocked at 12 mHz

The plate supply uses an auto-oscillating

A high value (47 uF- 450V) capacitor can

This capacitor discharges slowly. It is thus

This put on the plate supply output a

A SURCHARGE message ( Overload ) can

The G2 supply, which has a small debit, is

These two supplies, i.e. plate ahd G2, are

G1 supply is designed like G2, but since

A neon lamp can show tube internal short

This simple circuit functions only as an aid

Some tubes are unstable, and the

The microcomputer controls the current vs

LCD: please check the 3rd picture

As most connections are already made the kit is simple

Connect the mains voltage to T1 & T2 ( don't forget a

Connect the 4 wires: Cathode, G2, Plate and G1 to

Connect the 4-6.3V/4A heater supply or transformer

Switch on mains power.

Adjust the Vplate voltage (Plate) ), Vg2 ( grid 2 ), Vg1

Example: for the EL84 tube, the documentation

Take a look now at the testing conditions. In the

For instance, you can choose a plate voltage of 300V, a

Turn the V plate potentiometer until you see 300V on

Plug the tube and leave it to heat up for approximately

Check that the neon short-circuit indicator is off or

It is not dangerous to undertake tests even if the

Release the "TEST" button, the test is finished.

Tube matching can be done simply: just test several

For double tubes like: 12ax7, 12au7, 12at7,-6sl7, 6sn7,

You can also get 3 other important parameters in 2

Here are the procedures:

Make a first measurement with proper V plate and V

Make a first measurement with proper V plate and V

Change V plate by + or - 10 volts or more ( the current

Plate resistance is the difference between the 2 plate

Of course you can match tubes by comparing currents

Testing diodes, valves, gas regulators,

These low power tubes can be tested to a maximum debit

Insert a 100 KOhm resistor in series with the plate for

When the tube is hot, slowly turn the Vplate potentiometer

Valves or rectifiers will be tested like the diodes but, as

The test sequence is similar to the diodes.

The test of these tubes is carried out in series with the

Testing for the brightness of the cathodic indicator can be

Control of the eye can be done by connecting the blue

Remove this connection for testing other kind of tubes.

Dimensions : 146 x 133 x 28 mm ( h.

Measurement Mode: Pulsed, run by a 8

ADC sampling: 10 bit monotonous (1024

Duration of the measurement window: 800