Hi y'all
Yesterday, I attempted to test a HP 8566B spectrum analyzer that was stored for years. Upon starting the analyzer, the CRT display felt off, in fact the electron beam shows that the sweeping was pretty much dead. So I knew something was wrong with the CRT from the get go.
I put the unit on standby and took my phone to record myself starting it up again. While I was setting my phone to record, I heard arcs coming from the unit, I unplugged everything and very white smoke with a foul smell showed up.
I already had this issue with a tektronix 2455, CRT power supply grilled, had the same smell and smoke.
Now where is this issue coming from ?
Well... i'm not 100% sure but, this HP 8566 used to be at a casablanca factory, in morocco therefore, I suspect that the salty + eventual humidity collected into the CRT which created arcs and the PSU blew up. Oddly enough, my tektronix 2455 also came from the same place.
I will tear down this equipment and check whether it's worth it to repair or not.
What do you guys think ? Am I stretching the hell out of this theory ?