What TV Tubes Do I Salvage?

TomD

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I know there's a lot of info out there on doing tube swaps using old tube TVs. Maybe someone can sum up for me: what size TVs should I be looking out for when I see something getting chucked? I know 19" non-Trinitron. Are 13" TVs commonly compatible with cocktail monitors? Any other sizes important for arcade games?
 
I know there's a lot of info out there on doing tube swaps using old tube TVs. Maybe someone can sum up for me: what size TVs should I be looking out for when I see something getting chucked? I know 19" non-Trinitron. Are 13" TVs commonly compatible with cocktail monitors? Any other sizes important for arcade games?

Mostly A48XXXXXXX tubes with 8 pin CR31 or 10 pin CR23 configurations.
 
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Thanks for the responses! However, I think my question is a bit more naive than you suspected. Let me put it this way: if I see some TVs on the curb with different size tubes, which sizes do I put in my trunk?

I sometimes see smaller TVs, I think 13", would it be worth it to grab those? I don't see much info online about doing cocktail swaps.
 
Thanks for the responses! However, I think my question is a bit more naive than you suspected. Let me put it this way: if I see some TVs on the curb with different size tubes, which sizes do I put in my trunk?

I sometimes see smaller TVs, I think 13", would it be worth it to grab those? I don't see much info online about doing cocktail swaps.

13" is often found in cabarets. Not sure about cocktails. 13" and 19" are the most common sizes for games.

Edited to add, 13" / 19" for classic games. Lots of 1990s stuff used 25".
 
Grab first, ask questions later...assuming that you have no issue getting rid of it if it doesn't work. I've picked up 2 19" in the past few months from church and the curb, but they didn't work out swapping. Our dump/transit station won't take them, and I have to wait for a yearly electronics waste day to pay $10 for someone else to take them..that was until I found out my dad can get rid of them for free at his dump! ;)
 
13, 19 and 25 will cover the vast majority of what you'll see in classic arcade games.

Some things to watch out for in 19" tubes:


  • ears should be mounted backwards, not forward
  • Yoke cannot be bonded (pain in the ass)
  • neck needs to be pin compatible with your monitor (I use B&K setup guides)
 
13, 19 and 25 will cover the vast majority of what you'll see in classic arcade games.

Some things to watch out for in 19" tubes:


  • ears should be mounted backwards, not forward
  • Yoke cannot be bonded (pain in the ass)
  • neck needs to be pin compatible with your monitor (I use B&K setup guides)

ears should be mounted backwards, not forward
-I picked up what I thought was a perfect tube.. mounted it in the 7000 frame, and took a bit for me to figure out why the tube went so far back and the chassis wouldn't fit under it..

Yoke cannot be bonded (pain in the ass)
-again, seemed like a great tube until I saw that. I tried chipped some of the epoxy away, but realized I'd rather throw it away than break it while messing with it.. into the dumpster it went
 
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