tube biasing question ..help!!!

[Petro85]

ok i have a decent multimeter, and a pair of amps that has what looks like a 1/4" guitar type of plug on the back and the bias screw right next to it. of course my multimeter just has 2 probes. so i also play guitar and have a guitar cord here, even though i will go buy a shorter one just for this. and i also have banana clips. now im assuming there is a way to make this all work together. i spoke with cary and he told me go on their website and buy their meter, but that is $100 and a cheap analog meter but it goes to a 1/4" lead, but is probably worth $6.95 not $100. lol..
so if i plug the 1/4" lead in the back of the amp and connect the red wire from multimeter to the other end with an alligator clip, and ground the black multimeter probe to the unit, i should get the correct readings??? right???? lol. i hope. of course i cant test this right now because my tubes for the new amps arrived mashed up like potatoes. the 300b's which are what i need to bias are in great shape but i dont want to turn these on with no rectifiers and missing a 6sn7 too. anyone know if im on the right track here??

 

[A/V Solutions]

Why not go to rat shack and pick up 1/4" jack and solder to a pair of multi-meter leads.....should be able to get a spare set of leads and connector for about $10.

 

[Petro85]

haha great idea, i just ordered some guitar pedal connectors from amazon, and i have a new solder gun i been dying to use. see Jeff thats why we love having you around.lol. full of great ideas , thanks.

 

[ohbythebay]

See.you are already on the right track !

 

[Petro85]

See.you are already on the right track !

yes thanks. i was sitting in radio shack scratching my head, looking for a meter that had a 1/4 jack on it. then went to home depot. then finally it hit me, a connection is a connection. doesnt need to be the exact one. but i was just checking to make sure i wasnt being stupid and thinking the wrong way.lol. im a good electrician, but very poor with electronics. i think im gonna order some books and learn some about tubes, and diodes and resistors and thos type of things. couldnt hurt.

 

[MikeCh]

Steve,

If you are going to DIY a multimeter 1/4" jack (amp end) + bananas (meter end) you'll want to get a mono 1/4" plug....aka TS (tip / sleeve) plug. Stereo, or TRS (tip / ring / sleeve) not necessary but will work just fine. The mono plug makes things easiest.

View attachment 4895

 

[Petro85]

Steve,

If you are going to DIY a multimeter 1/4" jack (amp end) + bananas (meter end) you'll want to get a mono 1/4" plug....aka TS (tip / sleeve) plug. Stereo, or TRS (tip / ring / sleeve) not necessary but will work just fine. The mono plug makes things easiest.

View attachment 4895

i got this from amazon today, actually got 2 for $2.95 each. im not sure if it is mono, but i think i read the word mono on it today. if not it might have been another i was looking at.
its very tight in there with the fuse cover right on top, so all the ones i saw were right angle plugs which wouldnt work for this.but work great on guitar pedals. so this was the only straight one i saw, that wasnt 6ft long. so i got some alligator clips, (i said banana clips above, i meant alligator)and ill make it all work together.
thanks.