3AX31C Germanium gain

[Stickman393]

Addendum: I also picked up some of the so-called "AC128s" from China.

These are interesting. Not so much in their usability: that seems unlikely. Best I've found out of the bunch this far has been a leakage of 570uA.

But, they're *really* shiny. Like, gleaming. Almost makes me wonder if somebody is trying to do new production.

If they are, they're either failing miserably, or shipping all the qc rejects to the states.

 

[Kroars]

I use a TC1 tester and it has served me well. The RG Keen method works better if you rig it up but I decided it wasn't worth it for all the junk parts I buy

The TC1 is a fantastic tester and not just because of the $20 price tag. I find myself using the TC1 way more often than my DCA75. It’s just quicker and I’ve not had any issues with accuracy over the past few years of using them. I’ve probably purchased four of them -still less than one DCA75.

 

[andare]

Addendum: I also picked up some of the so-called "AC128s" from China.

These are interesting. Not so much in their usability: that seems unlikely. Best I've found out of the bunch this far has been a leakage of 570uA.

But, they're *really* shiny. Like, gleaming. Almost makes me wonder if somebody is trying to do new production.

If they are, they're either failing miserably, or shipping all the qc rejects to the states.

And Poland

 

[Stickman393]

Tc-1 is a good investment.

But it's not good for testing germaniums.

They don't quite get the leakage values right past 100uA, and are absolutely worthless at measuring anything that takes a while to stabilize.

Which is to say: certain Russian transistors it does quite well with. The ones that you can pop into an RG keen tester and immediately get reliable values from.

But... We're less concerned with what a transistor does at the first "on" instance. More concerned with what a transistor does when it's powered and has had time to stabilize. Cause that's what we're gonna be doing with our pedals.

Right now: this is how I'm rigging it up. This was quickly cobbled hacked together as a means to go through a metric fuckton of germs that I've been accumulating.

 

[rossbalch]

Addendum: I also picked up some of the so-called "AC128s" from China.

These are interesting. Not so much in their usability: that seems unlikely. Best I've found out of the bunch this far has been a leakage of 570uA.

But, they're *really* shiny. Like, gleaming. Almost makes me wonder if somebody is trying to do new production.

If they are, they're either failing miserably, or shipping all the qc rejects to the states.

I would bet it's more likely they are polishing old germs in order to facilitate the relabeling process.

 

[jwin615]

Moto AC128s
Come on (stick)man...

Wow, I never knew
View attachment 97481

 

[Stickman393]

I mean, I knew they weren't actual AC128s!

Color me curious. And color me unwilling to take other people's word for it.

Also, color me out a few bucks with a bunch of useless germs. Nbd.

I kinda am hoarding all the germs right now.

 

[jwin615]

I mean, I knew they weren't actual AC128s!

Color me curious. And color me unwilling to take other people's word for it.

Also, color me out a few bucks with a bunch of useless germs. Nbd.

I kinda am hoarding all the germs right now.

Wait til you see the mailbox thread tomorrow.
Also, we probably shouldn't bid each other up on eBay.