Tek 310A sillyscope

From: Gary Hildebrand <ghldbrd_at_ccp.com>
Date: Tue Nov 26 05:47:00 2002

I'd check the diodes for shorts too. What might work here is a variac
with a 100W lightbulb in series. Ease up on the voltage, and the
lightbulb will limit the current to a safe value and give you a visual
warning.

If all else fails, you might have a heater-cathode short across one of
the tubes putting a load on the B+. They loved to have all sorts of
positive and negative voltages to make those tubes work as DC amps.

A book here would be invaluable, and some serious head-scratching time.

Gary Hildebrand
St. Joseph, MO

John Allain wrote:
>
> Hi,
> I happened upon one of these beauts through one of those
> 'oh, you collect old computers, come back next week and
> I'll have something' type deals. This is a Tektronix 310A
> portable tube scope and just too well made to ever scrap,
> IMHO. For example it opens up like a car hood to give
> access to the entire centerline of the box, with components
> on both sides of the hinge. The reason Why I opened it is
> that it reliably blows fuses on power-on. All looks perfect,
> no burn marks or damage anywhere, just a little dust.
>
> My thinking is that its the old electrolytic capacitor thing.
> There are about 5 large (2"x3") and more smaller ones
> present. Do I just cut the leads and test-form them to see
> if they hold a charge or is there some other obvious thing
> to start with?
>
> I probably shouldn't ask before the holidays,
> but it might be worth a try.
>
> John A.
Received on Tue Nov 26 2002 - 05:47:00 GMT