CRT Tester Question

[bonanzaman]

OK, I've read numerous posts with guys gushing about how great the Beltrons are as CRT rejuvenators, but how do they perform as testers? Seems many are using the Sencore CR70 for testing purposes....do I really need 2 pieces of test equipment to deal with CRT's?
(I don't anticipate restoring any color sets)

[bandersen]

I've read that about Beltrons too, but I really question it. Take a look inside one and you'll see there's almost nothing to them. Looks like just a brute force rejuvinator while the CR-70 uses regulated, controlled voltage and current pulses.

[zeno]

Originally Posted by bandersen

I've read that about Beltrons too, but I really question it. Take a look inside one and you'll see there's almost nothing to them. Looks like just a brute force rejuvinator while the CR-70 uses regulated, controlled voltage and current pulses.

Seconded.,........
The CR70 is a great checker, we had 2 of them & a few
B&K's, a Beltron and something else I dont remember.
Always went to the CR70. Only bad thing was the cables needed replacement
every few yrs BUT they got a real work out. The B&K's were as good but
not quite as easy to use.
I would NOT use a beltron on any CRT until it was a lost cause.
SRY that will piss some off but the Beltron was more of a marketing
tool than a serious checker / rejuvenator.
Bottom line IMHO is if you buy a CRT tester the CR70 is as good as
you can do.

73 Zeno

[Jon A.]

Unfortunately the price of the CR70 is usually through the roof.

For me, one of those will have to wait until I can get a little ahead again.

[DavGoodlin]

I use a B&K 445 for testing monochrome CRTs, it seems to predict a good picture consistently, but I disconnected the rejuvenate (dynamic intensifier) button due to its brute-force method.

Before I got the B&K, I always used my Heathkit IT-5320 to rejuvenate and never had a problem but it is not the most accurate tester.
The Heathkit limits current (and potential damage) using incandescent S-7 120v lamps and has a clean function that is much milder than the Rejuvenate.

For both "restore" functions, you start out with a cold filament and ramp it up slowly until a steady current is drawn. It takes practice, but with a CR70, rejuvenation is much more foolproof, hence the value.