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The Dynaco Tube Audio Forum

Dedicated to the restoration and preservation of all original Dynaco tube audio equipment - Customer support for Tubes4hifi VTA tube amp and preamp kits and all Dynakitparts.com products


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    A Hobbs meter for tube amps???

    deepee99
    deepee99


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    A Hobbs meter for tube amps??? Empty A Hobbs meter for tube amps???

    Post by deepee99 Wed Oct 10, 2012 8:02 pm

    Hey Bob, here's one for ya.
    Anybody who has spent even an hour or two in the pointy-end of an airplane as a student pilot becomes aware of the Hobbs Meter, which is a small digital-readout instrument that logs the time between "switch on" and "switch off" on the engine(s). The Hobbs is useful for logbook entries, and it's what the mechanics use to determine the number of hours on the engines to enable them to schedule oil changes, overhauls, and total engine and airframe time.
    I'm wondering if some DIY'er out there has come up with something similar for our tube gear. One gets a pretty good idea of how long-lived their particular tube complement is. Since they decay gradually, might it not be handy to know when they're past their prime? I'm not going to keep a written logbook for my M-125s and preamps, but it would be nice to know if they're hitting the 5,000 hour mark.
    Just curious if there's something like this out there, or if one could be practically and inexpensively built.
    Cheerio
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    djg


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    Post by djg Thu Oct 11, 2012 7:38 am

    Bob Latino
    Bob Latino
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    Post by Bob Latino Thu Oct 11, 2012 8:13 am

    Here's an hour meter from China on Ebay for less than $10 shipped. It looks to be about the same size as an IEC connector. The seller has sold over 100 of these.

    Low buck hour meter

    Bob
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    Buffalo


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    A Hobbs meter for tube amps??? Empty Hobbs Meter installation in M-125?

    Post by Buffalo Sun Oct 14, 2012 1:24 pm

    Hello Gentlemen,

    The under $10.00 hobbs meter looks like a good solution to measure either "wear and tear" or hours of enjoyment!

    Bob, Can this be incorporated in a yet-to-be built M125?

    Ray
    Bob Latino
    Bob Latino
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    Post by Bob Latino Sun Oct 14, 2012 5:50 pm

    Hi Ray,

    In order to do this you would have to cut a hole in the chassis the size of an IEC connector on the front face and then install the meter. You would also have to cut another hole in the chassis and install a switch to switch between the bias on the left side tubes and the bias on the right side tubes.

    It "could" be done but > Using a simple hand held multimeter would work just as well although maybe not look as "cool".

    Bob

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