Vintage Tek Restoration pictures by Martin

[HighVoltage]

Actually I still have two of these P6015, both with the original Freon filling inside.
Getting the actual original bottle of Freon (Fluorcarbon114) was in fact an amazing bonus to a P6015

BTW, you can use the much smaller compensation box of the P6015A on the P6013/14/15
It works very well. I have my two P6015 hooked up to the compensation box of the P6015A.

And you are correct, you just need as much Freon in the probe to have the little red plastic ring floating.
The insulation is done through the vapor of the Freon.
 

[PartialDischarge]

I've recently had to debug several scope's 2kV-3kV HV supply and the CRT's Z-axis waveforms at 2.5kV. So far I've got away with using a homemade 1000:1 voltage divider and a multimeter. Since that is crude and not particularly safe, I'm not going to mention the details in order to avoid someone apeing me and hurting themselves.

Then, at a recent auction mentioned elsewhere in this forum, I managed to pick up:

• a 40kV meter for measuring 17kV anode voltages, but which barely registers 2kV
• a Tek P6013A 12kV 1000:1 100kHz scope probe

Those probes are a must for HV measurements. Just a word of caution, be careful where you connect the probe 'ground' (for the well know ground loop through the scope). If you decide to isolate the scope ground be very wary, the isolation provided by the scope is not to be trusted.

Thats why I ended buying a Fluke 123, just to make isolated and floating measurements. I have a setup in which a foot pedal energizes a relay that provides 220V to the system under test (running at between 3 and 10kVrms). Before pressing the pedal I back one meter or so from the stand.

[tggzzz]

I've recently had to debug several scope's 2kV-3kV HV supply and the CRT's Z-axis waveforms at 2.5kV. So far I've got away with using a homemade 1000:1 voltage divider and a multimeter. Since that is crude and not particularly safe, I'm not going to mention the details in order to avoid someone apeing me and hurting themselves.

Then, at a recent auction mentioned elsewhere in this forum, I managed to pick up:

• a 40kV meter for measuring 17kV anode voltages, but which barely registers 2kV
• a Tek P6013A 12kV 1000:1 100kHz scope probe

Those probes are a must for HV measurements. Just a word of caution, be careful where you connect the probe 'ground' (for the well know ground loop through the scope). If you decide to isolate the scope ground be very wary, the isolation provided by the scope is not to be trusted.

Thanks for the warning and thinking of my safety, but in this case it is unnecessary. There are even other threads on this topic where I (and others) have had to repeatedly tell someone that they shouldn't "float the scope". It can be remarkably difficult to "get through" to some people, especially those that think if they don't understand a problem then there isn't a problem. Mind you, I suppose in some useless way, they are right

I do have a proper isolated differential probe, which is fine for mains voltages (plus a bit), but nowhere near sufficient for a CRT HV supply.

Thats why I ended buying a Fluke 123, just to make isolated and floating measurements. I have a setup in which a foot pedal energizes a relay that provides 220V to the system under test (running at between 3 and 10kVrms). Before pressing the pedal I back one meter or so from the stand.

Mine's a Fluke 21, but otherwise I'm not that careful. Since my daughter has grown up I don't have any dependants! But it does sound like a good idea for the 17kV, if/when I have to go there.

[Martin.M]

I have rebuild the 7k with counting warm 

This is my 556, the Nixiecounter is connected to the frontal Trig Out from the 1A1 plugin,
delivering a direct frequency readout
100 pounds and near 900W but very good working. 

greetings
Martin

[AF6LJ]

That looks really nice.

[blitzaxt]

I hear that you are the guy to ask when it comes to repairing old Tektronix scopes.

There's a good thread about restoration of these old Tek classics, I suggest you place a post there with a link back to this one.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/vintage-tek-restoration-pictures-by-martin/

Martin will then hopefully come to your rescue.

I have an old 535a and 561b I am trying to repair see my post here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/tektronix-535a-561b-help-needed-for-repair/

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Martin.M]

yesterday arrived: Tek 515A 

[Cubdriver]

I've no doubt that you'll shortly have it looking and operating better than it did when it left the factory who knows how many years ago.

 

I look forward to pictures of its innards.

-Pat

[1audio]

Brings back memories. I had at one time 2 547's and a 556. A 549 also at one point.
I have some manuals to pass along: 1A2, 1A5, 434, 556, cal fixture for 5 series scopes, 1L5, 422, 3a(, 3L1 and a Tek vectorscope.

I also have a collection of 7K plugins and 3 7854's.

In the '80s Tek was offering some services including the multicolor anodize and PCB fab. I used them for some audio products but they shut it all down by the end of the '80s.

[Martin.M]

the little Tek213 got a problem:  not charging the batteries.

In the Tek Wiki is a manual page of the charging unit, there is to read from a Cap of 0.0033µF what is to check first when it will not charge.
Done, and true  I desoldet this Cap and put there another one, then the little scope was allready working 
2.68Volts = charging, there are 2 pcs of 1,22V NiCd inside.

greetings
Martin

[bitseeker]

Nice one, Martin. Every time I see one of these little Tek's, I want to get one. They're so cool.

[Martin.M]

hello friends,

I think the time has come to talk about an dust sucker  (home cleaner)

greetings
Martin

[Martin.M]

why I have postet that? See self.

The Design is very useful to build an oscilloscope. Tek have done...

the "T Class" , this is a T932A
cold 2 channels in dust sucker design 

The problem:  there is no HV, this will be interesting to restorate that apparatus.

greetings
Martin

[tautech]

Your T reminds me of my first scope, a Telequipment D83 that had a nice large display too. They were owned by Tek.
Mine had no HV when I got it and if the inverter layout is similar the NTC thermistor on the HV supply had crumbled with age. Still got some spares if you need them.

[dave_k]

the "T Class" , this is a T932A
cold 2 channels in dust sucker design 

Heh .. this made me chuckle. Then I think "any device with a fan inside it is a dust sucker design".

[T3sl4co1l]

the "T Class" , this is a T932A
cold 2 channels in dust sucker design 

Heh .. this made me chuckle. Then I think "any device with a fan inside it is a dust sucker design".

Though amazingly, my TDS460 has very little dust in it, despite my using it for several years in a dusty office environment.  Huge fan, open design, yet something about it seems to let dust settle, or float over surfaces rather than smacking into and sticking in place.

Tim

[bitseeker]

I think the time has come to talk about an dust sucker  (home cleaner)

Perfect. It looks about the right color, too.

[Vince]

MARTIN !!!!    Still around ?

First things first : thumbs up for your incredible collection of old Tek scopes ! 

I am posting in a desperate attempt that maybe you could help me with.... the restoration of my first tube scope, a Tektronix 317.

I have it pretty much sorted by now, but I am having a problem with something silly which drives me nuts : the motor for the cooling fan.. it's "lazy". It starts first time no worries, but it spins only very slowly. Sometimes, after a while, which can be anything between 5 seconds to 5 hours, suddenly it will decide to spin faster and actually move some air.

I did quite a lot of work on this motor, but I am running out of ideas now... I am about to give up but thought well, why not ask Martin about it ! Maybe it's a common problem and you can enlighten me in some way about it.... even if it's not fixable, just knowng what's wrong with it would make me kinda happy.

Here is the link to my topic on this scope, if you find the time some day :

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/vintage-tektronix-317-repair-and-restoration/msg1356218/#msg1356218

In the mean time, I will start cleaning the scope, using all the tips I read on here...

[Wolfgang]

Scope porn at its best. Icons of engineering instead of todays heaps of cheap plastic.
Anyway, dont get close to these. TEA is heavily contageous. 

[Vince]

Scope porn at its best. Icons of engineering instead of todays heaps of cheap plastic.
Anyway, dont get close to these. TEA is heavily contageous. 

Too late in my case I fear... now that I have just finished the restoration of my first classic, my little 317.... I just couldn't help but " harvest " all those that I could get me hands on, in the past few months !  Have 9 of them now... lots of trouble-shooting and restoration ahead now, will keep me busy during the long winter nights ! 

[Martin.M]

a Tek 5223 "Digitizing Scope"   

normally the 5k series is a low cost, but this one?
It`s talking on GPIB, and can drive a analog penplotter to paint a hardcopy of the screen (outputs at backside: X, Y and Pen lift.)
The speed is not enough to win a race.
greetings
Martin

[Vince]

A 5223 ?!

What a coincidence, there is one that appeared a few days ago in my neck of the woods, been contemplating it indeed... but it's priced at  260 Euros ?! 

Not for me.... 

https://www.leboncoin.fr/sports_hobbies/1546273137.htm/

[Martin.M]

there is some people who don`t know what is a scope, so they ask for too much money.

[Wolfgang]

Scope porn at its best. Icons of engineering instead of todays heaps of cheap plastic.
Anyway, dont get close to these. TEA is heavily contageous. 

Too late in my case I fear... now that I have just finished the restoration of my first classic, my little 317.... I just couldn't help but " harvest " all those that I could get me hands on, in the past few months !  Have 9 of them now... lots of trouble-shooting and restoration ahead now, will keep me busy during the long winter nights ! 

Poor soul ! You are gonna rot in TEA hell as all the others 

[Vince]

Oh no, not in hell ! I hate hot climates !   

I guess I will just have to buy air-conditioning for the lab then.... I will adapt !