Anyone tried the Eurotubes "Pro One" bias meter?

[Little Pigbacon]

I'm thinking of getting a couple of these. The one with the LCD readouts. Are they shiny and awesome?

https://www.eurotubes.com/store/pc/bias%20probes.htm

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: Anyone tried the Eurotubes "Pro One" bias meter?

I have one, I have no complaints. I'm no electrical engineer so I cannot attest to its accuracy, but I've used it to retube/bias five or six amps and haven't blown any of them up yet.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Anyone tried the Eurotubes "Pro One" bias meter?

So I ordered one of these, along with the Eurotubes regular bias probe. It should be a fun way to bias amps, and if I like it a lot more than the probe, I'll buy a second one.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Anyone tried the Eurotubes "Pro One" bias meter?

Eurotubes stuff came in. The pins on the probes look like they need cleaned. I won't have time to do any of it until the weekend.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Anyone tried the Eurotubes "Pro One" bias meter?

Finally biased the JVM that I bought just before Christmas, with the new JJ EL34's. The Eurotubes bias meter is great. It shows you the plate current and the plate voltage at the same time, and it runs off the power of the amp. I like it a lot better than using a multimeter, because of the plate voltage readout, but also because my multimeter tries to go to sleep after a while, to save battery life. The Eurotubes meter has no such hang-up, and you can play while it's connected. Also, it has one less decimal place than my multimeter, and the display is a lot less jumpy.

I'm eventually going to buy a second one, so that I can use one on each side when I adjust bias. Of course, this means I'll have to do the same for the nine-pin version, because my Tubemeister 18 takes EL84's.

Folks, I am in the game.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Anyone tried the Eurotubes "Pro One" bias meter?

Tubemeister is cathode biased/self biasing.

But congrats on the new toy.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Anyone tried the Eurotubes "Pro One" bias meter?

Tubemeister is cathode biased/self biasing.

It really is a tubemeister!

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Anyone tried the Eurotubes "Pro One" bias meter?

So the JVM410H had a plate voltage of 439 V, after it warmed up. (When I first turned it on, it was giving 500 V.) I set it at 38 mA, measuring one tube per side.

 

[zzmoore]

Re: Anyone tried the Eurotubes "Pro One" bias meter?

I have always preferred to use a couple of DMM to bias amps. You need a DMM anyway so it is less stuff to buy... but i certainly understand the attraction of a "Bias Meter" for somebody who simply wants to be able to change power tubes and check bias.
Does it really show plate voltage and plate current at the same time.?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Anyone tried the Eurotubes "Pro One" bias meter?

Yep. That's its only purpose in life.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Anyone tried the Eurotubes "Pro One" bias meter?

Tubemeister is cathode biased/self biasing.

But congrats on the new toy.

Kill-joy Amp Manufacturer's Award:

"Tube Safety Control (TSC)
TSC adjusts bias to improve the amp’s tonal and technical stability and extend power tubes’ life. It does this automatically and continuously, so there is nothing for you to do.
Swapping tubes is more easily, quickly, and safely done than with a conventional amp. This is a big help not only in case of a defect, but also when you want to compare different brands of replacement tubes.
CAUTION: Replacing tubes is a job for qualified professionals! TSC merely spares the technician the biasing effort."

 

[JeffB]

Re: Anyone tried the Eurotubes "Pro One" bias meter?

Many el84 based anps today are Cathode bias. My or15 is too and my class 5.

Its really convenient, but I feel (from experience) it's tough on power tubes.

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Anyone tried the Eurotubes "Pro One" bias meter?

Many el84 based anps today are Cathode bias. My or15 is too and my class 5.

Its really convenient, but I feel (from experience) it's tough on power tubes.

Why is it so hard on power tubes? Does it bias them hot or something?