Plan to deep cleaning my gear
Hi,
I am thinking of deep cleaning of my gear. 8566 SA, 8510 VNA, 8515A S-parameter test set, 8350/83592 sweeper.
I think I am going to remove all PCBs, soak them into clean water, brush them and dry them with hair dryer as soon as I can.
For delicate microwave assemblies like DC, YIG, YTFM, mixer and ovenized crystal, and CRT display, I will just brush dirt off the surface and leave them alone.
For sticky keys, soak the keyboard assembly into IPA, rinse them and dry them as quickly as I could.
Sounds like a plan?
Thank you!
Calvin
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Re: YIG device failure modes
I have tested several hundred YIG devices over my career. (Have drawers
full of them, its a sickness)听 I have seen more misaligned YIG support rods
or bad oscillator semiconductors than I have seen bad coils.
听
Sometimes the coil connection fails at the solder point due to wire
wrap/crimp failure and current heating the joint, eventually it opens, have
fixed three like this. Some model YIGs have high coil current and if poorly
cooled/heatsunk, the enamel insulation seems to fail and create a sorted coil.
Only have seen one like this, but opened it up and figured out the
failure.
听
Other times, the polystyrene rod that holds the YIG sphere warps &
twists over time from heat听& general plasticizer failure听and
misaligns the magnetic axis of the sphere with the field, pretty tough to fix
this, major cause of holes and high end tailing off.
And, of course, when the semiconductor device fails (Gunn diode in older X
band and up, Bipolar thru 12 GHz for old ones, FET now), you are done.
听
It is possible to re-fit different YIGs into various pieces of gear, but
re-scaling the drivers to the right coil sensitivities can be
challenging/time-consuming.
听
The worst thing to deal with is the wideband听 YIG tuned multipliers.
Never had much luck bringing these back to life once they go south.
听
YMMV
Jeff Kruth
WA3ZKR
听
In a message dated 10/15/2017 1:40:13 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
hp_agilent_equipment@... writes:
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Show quoted text
听
Hi guys. Over the years I have read a lot about yigs going
bad specifically their coils seem to go bad. Is there anything that can be
done pre-emptively to secure their longevity? And what exactly happens? Do the
coils open due to excessive current (like a fuse?) I know there is an issue
where the sphere sometimes moves and gets located incorrectly IIRC. I don鈥檛
know what causes that, perhaps excessive force? But I am interested in the
coil issue. I have no yig issues at the moment, which seems like a good time
to try to prevent it?
Eugene W2HX
|
Re: 3585B Spectrum Analyzer
Good tip Peter. I'll keep that in mind.
Thanks, Peter
ve3poa
|
On my 8566b, if the span is greater than certain MHz, the sweep source is operate in 鈥淟ock and Roll鈥� mode - locks to the sweep start frequency then applies a ramp to roll. Calvin
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On Oct 15, 2017, at 11:34 AM, edbreya@... [hp_agilent_equipment] < hp_agilent_equipment@...> wrote:
听
I don't know about the screen flickering, but I do think the YTO loop behavior is normal. At wider spans it is not constantly phase-locked - it is driven open-loop with fairly accurate sweep current, and I think possibly re-phase-locked just at the beginning of the sweep each time around. For wide spans, you can't resolve the small frequency error on-screen anyway, but for narrow ones, more stability is needed, so the LO is locked. It's also possible that the narrow spans instead fix the first LO and use the second LO for sweeping - I can't recall for sure, but it should be one of those two schemes.
Definitely get the manual if you haven't already.
Ed
|
Re: HP 60鈥檚 Front Panel Color
For myself, I use Sherwin Williams. 听You need a small sample of the color. 听Roughly an inch and a half square and they will match it exactly. 听They will mix an industrial enamel in batches as small as a quart and can supply it as gloss, semi-gloss, satin, or flat. 听I have produced absolutely invisible small spot touch ups. 听I would think there would be an equivalent supplier in the UK.
George
Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device
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-------- Original message -------- From: "Adrian Nicol fenland787a@... [hp_agilent_equipment]" <hp_agilent_equipment@...> Date: 10/15/17 1:50 PM (GMT-05:00) To: hp_agilent_equipment@... Subject: Re: [hp_agilent_equipment] HP 60鈥檚 Front Panel Color
Hi, I'm not sure there is an exact match in the RAL pallet. The nearest I have found for instruments of that vintage is RAL7042. That looks ok for panels that I wanted to 'tone in' with the HP equipment but it is probably not close enough to invisibly touch-up parts of an existing original panel. I have not explored it yet, but I gather there are now companies around who will colour (or color!) match from a sample and then mix an exact match for you. Some will do this in modest volume and for a reasonable cost, or so I am told!
Adrian
On Sunday, October 15, 2017 5:41 PM, "mmaseda@... [hp_agilent_equipment]" <hp_agilent_equipment@...> wrote:
听
Can some please share with me the paint code used by HP for front panels in the 60鈥檚? 听I have a very early 410C I鈥檓 trying to redo. 听The color is more dark than the RAL7044 used on the later 410C meters.
|
Re: Restoring HP 1740A scope, strange waveforms seen, assistance please?
Hi everyone, many thanks for the tips and pointers, especially the one from Dave. I checked the switch contact, 1D is the only extra switch being used on all ranges from 0.5V upto and including 20V per div and this checked out just fine.听
Further investigation on the input for Channel A showed that R3 should be 990k but was reading 11M so there was the culprit. Problem being this resistor sits in what appears to be a metal shield which soldered to the ground plane and is also shown on the component map as MP1? This resistor sits across a isolation slot so I'm guessing that is meant to be providing extra protection against stuffing over voltage into the channel via the probe and the shield is contain any flash, is that right?
Anyway, purely as a test I have soldered a 1M resistor across it and tested it and it works fine so I'll need to replace it with the correct rating and stuff it back into the shield?
The other issue I have is that the delay timebase knob has broken up and left the brass boss on the shaft which I cannot get off as the grub screw just chews up the allen key head all the time. So does anyone know where I can get new knobs for the time base (both knobs) and both of the shafts as I see thats the best solution to the boss problem and there are missing grub screws so a set of knobs with them fitted seems the best option if possible.
|
Hi Frank,
I抦 interested in the 3400A depending upon the serial number prefix. If you could be so kind as to let me know.
Thanks,
Dave W6TE
Sent from Mail<> for Windows 10
From: Frank Hughes hp_ciscovss@... [hp_agilent_equipment]<mailto:hp_agilent_equipment@...>
Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2017 1:27 PM
To: Yahoo! Inc.<mailto:hp_agilent_equipment@...>
Subject: [hp_agilent_equipment] HP items for sale
Hi,
I'm having trouble lifting heavy things now (surgery on both rotator cuffs), and the son will soon complete his Computer Engineering degree, move away, and then I'll try to move these and be scolded (again) by the surgeon.
Let me know if you want photos. All work, unless noted.
I realize the shipping costs for the heavy things make them less attractive, but trying here first.
Located in central Fla. Bring a chain saw.....
Thanks and 73
Frank Hughes
KJ4OLL
HP 6521A 0-1kv DC, 0-200ma, 110vac input $100 plus shipping
HP 6268B 0-40vdc, 0-30A, 240vac input $250 plus shipping
Harrison 6267A, 0-36vdc, 0-10A, 110 vac input, amp meter does not work. $50 plus shipping
Harrison 6367A 0-36vdc, 0-10A, 110 vac input, $50 plus shipping
HP 6434B 0-40vdc, 0-25A, 110 vac input $150 plus shipping
HP 6237B, +18vdc @ 1A, + 20 VDC @ .5A, -20VDC @ .5A, 110vac input, $50 plus shipping
HP 6289A, 0-40vdc, 1.5A, 110vac input $50 plus shipping
HP 230B RF power amplifier, 10mhz-500mhz, 110vac input $150 plus shipping
HP 334A Distortion Analyzer, 110vac input, $125.00, plus shipping
HP 3400A RMS voltmeter, 110vac input, $50 plus shipping
HP 11710B Down Converter, 110vac input, $100 plus shipping
Fluke 313A Voltage Calibrator, 0-50vcd, 0-2A, 110vac input, needs calibration, $75, plus shipping
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
|
Hi, I'm having trouble lifting heavy things now (surgery on both rotator cuffs), and the son will soon complete his Computer Engineering degree, move away, and then I'll try to move these and be scolded (again) by the surgeon. Let me know if you want photos. All work, unless noted.
I realize the shipping costs for the heavy things make them less attractive, but trying here first. Located in central Fla.听 Bring a chain saw.....
Thanks and 73 Frank Hughes KJ4OLL
HP 6521A 0-1kv DC, 0-200ma, 110vac input $100 plus shipping HP 6268B 0-40vdc, 0-30A, 240vac input $250 plus shipping Harrison 6267A, 0-36vdc, 0-10A, 110 vac input, amp meter does not work. $50 plus shipping Harrison 6367A听听0-36vdc, 0-10A, 110 vac input, $50 plus shipping HP 6434B 0-40vdc, 0-25A, 110 vac input $150 plus shipping HP 6237B, +18vdc @ 1A, + 20 VDC @ .5A, -20VDC @ .5A, 110vac input, $50 plus shipping HP 6289A, 0-40vdc, 1.5A, 110vac input $50 plus shipping HP 230B RF power amplifier, 10mhz-500mhz, 110vac input $150 plus shipping HP 334A Distortion Analyzer, 110vac input, $125.00, plus shipping HP 3400A RMS voltmeter, 110vac input, $50 plus shipping HP 11710B Down Converter, 110vac input, $100 plus shipping Fluke 313A Voltage Calibrator, 0-50vcd, 0-2A, 110vac input, needs calibration, $75, plus shipping
听
|
I don't know about the screen flickering, but I do think the YTO loop behavior is normal. At wider spans it is not constantly phase-locked - it is driven open-loop with fairly accurate sweep current, and I think possibly re-phase-locked just at the beginning of the sweep each time around. For wide spans, you can't resolve the small frequency error on-screen anyway, but for narrow ones, more stability is needed, so the LO is locked. It's also possible that the narrow spans instead fix the first LO and use the second LO for sweeping - I can't recall for sure, but it should be one of those two schemes.
Definitely get the manual if you haven't already.
Ed
|
Re: HP 8341A sucessfully FIXED!
Hi Tobias,
Great job and a great write-up to go with it, thanks for sharing your work.
Your story reminded me of something I learned from my first ever boss after I left school (over 50 years ago now - yikes!) he was an electronics engineer in the Radio Astronomy group at Cambridge and whenever we had to fix things that looked like they were 'no user serviceable parts inside' he would pick up a screwdriver, wrench or whatever and say "Well now, it didn't grow like that did it?" and would start taking it apart and more often than not he would fix it! I have followed that approach myself over the years and generally succeeded more often than failed too - and even when I fail I learn something!
Congratulations again on that fix!
Regards, Adrian
On Sunday, October 15, 2017 2:30 PM, "Tobias Pluess tobias.pluess@... [hp_agilent_equipment]" wrote:
听
Hi all,
probably some of you have seen that I had some problems with a 8341A. It was indeed the YTO which failed! But, I was incredibly lucky to fix the YTO.
I also did a front panel RF output retrofit on my machine.
Some pics of the YTO and stuff can be found on my page, if someone is interested :-)
Now I can proceed to my next project, a 5342A frequency counter (hopefully not a blown sampler) and a 8568B spectrum analyzer with blurry focus on the graticule.
Best
Tobias, HB9FSX
|
Re: HP 60鈥檚 Front Panel Color
Hi, I'm not sure there is an exact match in the RAL pallet. The nearest I have found for instruments of that vintage is RAL7042. That looks ok for panels that I wanted to 'tone in' with the HP equipment but it is probably not close enough to invisibly touch-up parts of an existing original panel. I have not explored it yet, but I gather there are now companies around who will colour (or color!) match from a sample and then mix an exact match for you. Some will do this in modest volume and for a reasonable cost, or so I am told!
Adrian
On Sunday, October 15, 2017 5:41 PM, "mmaseda@... [hp_agilent_equipment]" wrote:
听
Can some please share with me the paint code used by HP for front panels in the 60鈥檚? 听I have a very early 410C I鈥檓 trying to redo. 听The color is more dark than the RAL7044 used on the later 410C meters.
|
Hi guys. Over the years I have read a lot about yigs going bad specifically their coils seem to go bad. Is there anything that can be done pre-emptively to secure their longevity? And what exactly happens? Do the coils open due to excessive
current (like a fuse?) I know there is an issue where the sphere sometimes moves and gets located incorrectly IIRC. I don鈥檛 know what causes that, perhaps excessive force? But I am interested in the coil issue. I have no yig issues at the moment, which seems
like a good time to try to prevent it?
听
Eugene W2HX
听
|
Re: Restoring HP 1740A scope, strange waveforms seen, assistance please?
I am not familiar with that model (I have a 1727A) but if it is anything close to the Tektronix 465, there are attenuator switches operated from the panel control that may be making poor contact.
I must get into my 465 to make such a repair.听 I have a spare 465B and hope that one has the parts I need.
Bob
On Sunday, October 15, 2017 6:05 AM, "dadhills@... [hp_agilent_equipment]" <hp_agilent_equipment@...> wrote:
The signal is being differentiated, as if it is being coupled
through a small value capacitor.听 I would first look at the
attenuator switch contacts on those particular v/div settings for an
open or high resistance.听 In other words dirty switch contacts.
Dave
Hi all, I've been a member for a while but lurking in the
background while working on the scope and looking out for any
discussions about a 1740A taking place.
I now have the scope in a running condition after
replacing 2 faulty transistors and now while testing the scope
with the 1V test connection I discover that channel B works as
expected but channel A works OK up to 0.2V on the volts/div
switch, moving to 0.5V and upwards the trace goes odd.听
I was wondering if anyone could point me to the area that
I need to be looking at on channel A to cure the problem. I
have uploaded photos of听 both channels with the settings on
0.5V and 1V so you can see the problem听
[url=][img][/img][/url][url=]B
channel 1V dc[/url] by
[url=]Graham
Butcher[/url], on Flickr
[url=][img][/img][/url][url=]B
channel 0.5V DC[/url] by
[url=]Graham
Butcher[/url], on Flickr
[url=][img][/img][/url][url=]A
channel 1V DC[/url] by
[url=]Graham
Butcher[/url], on Flickr
[url=][img][/img][/url][url=]A
channel 0.5V DC[/url] by
[url=]Graham
Butcher[/url], on Flickr
Thanks in advance for any help you can offer me.
Graham
|
HP 60鈥檚 Front Panel Color
Can some please share with me the paint code used by HP for front panels in the 60鈥檚? 听I have a very early 410C I鈥檓 trying to redo. 听The color is more dark than the RAL7044 used on the later 410C meters.
|
Re: HP 8341A sucessfully FIXED!
Hi Ed
many thanks! Yes, I was really lucky with my YTO. However, I am a bit afraid that the YTO could definitely fail some day and I would like to have a spare, but there's none :-( I even thought whether it would be possible to construct a semiconductor-based,
compatible replacement, but this would be a really large and complex project. I have some ideas, though :-)
Of course my web page will be kept online. I have several projects I am working on, including a 5342A microwave counter and a 8568B spectrum analyzer, both waiting for repair. I will also present these on my page.
I would like to upload my the pics of the YTO, however, I forgot how that works; I probably even have an account here, but I have no idea what credentials I used. This is because posting to the group also works even if you forgot your account details :-)
I will try to figure things out and upload the pictures!
Best
Tobias
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
-------- Original message --------
From: "edbreya@... [hp_agilent_equipment]"
Date: 10/15/17 17:19 (GMT+01:00)
To: hp_agilent_equipment@...
Subject: [hp_agilent_equipment] Re: HP 8341A sucessfully FIXED!
听
Wow. Nice work, Tobias. Sometimes we learn the most when things seem hopeless. Your reasoning was right that there was nothing to lose by taking a chance on opening the YTO, and you came up with a great alternative to get around the problem.
I hope you plan to keep that web-page available - it's a good story and resource with good pix of the YTO innards, for future reference. I'd recommend you also post the images to the photos department here.
Ed
|
Hi all
I have a 8568B spectrum analyzer which has some strange flickering traces sometimes. I found out that the traces do not flicker if the frequency span is narrow, for instance 1 MHz. As soon as I use a wider span, the traces are kind of unstable.
I then opened the RF section and found following behaviour: with a large span, the YTO unlocked LED flashes sometimes, however, I get no YTO warning on the screen.
If I lower the span to 1 MHz or less, the YTO unlocked LED is off all the time and the traces on the screen are nice and stable.
Is it normal that, when larger spans are used, the YTO unlocks from time to time? If not, why don't I get the YTO unlock message on the screen?
Tobias, HB9FSX
|
I too expected that electronics
professionals and hobbyists would be above that sort of nonsense
and would refrain not only from indulging in conspiracy theories
and political rants, but also from posting them in electronics
groups/forums.
Unfortunately I was unpleasantly surprised by the postings in
sci.electronics.design, and it appears some people would like that
to spread to here.
Would everybody please discuss anything resembling politics and
conspiracy theories elsewhere.
Enough said, I fervently hope.
On 15/10/17 16:37, George Onufer amatec@...
[hp_agilent_equipment] wrote:
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
听
Dan, I
certainly agree that this is not the forum in any sense
for a political debate.听 Unfortunately you went on to
engage in exactly that.听
"The Media"
has destroyed its own worthiness and doesn't need
anyone's help.
George
On
Sunday, October 15, 2017 7:16 AM, "Dan Nelson
blaze_1024@... [hp_agilent_equipment]"
wrote:
听
I
have family听living in Sonoma as well
and don't really appreciate the
directing this conversation has
taken, As a retired LEO I have a
real issue with people who attack
the guardians of our first amendment
rights. The media has generally done
more to protect our first amendment
rights than all wars combined. And I
don't say that lightly as both my
son's are in the military. My oldest
is a Seal and my youngest just
graduated from Army Ranger school听at
Fort Benning.听
听Attacking the media has always been
a popular pastime for certain groups
especially conspiracy theorists,
Unfortunately, it has graduated to a
form of Alt-Right political
correctness.听 I never thought I
would see the day that a news
organization听would be relentlessly
attacked and labeled听"Fake News" for
directly quoting something someone
said on live听TV.听
I always thought electronics
professionals, as well as hobbyist,
were above that sort of nonsense, As
such the last place I expected to
see this sort of nonsense is here on
this forum.听
Best Regards听
D. Nelson听
|
>>> "The Media" has destroyed its own worthiness and doesn't need anyone's help.
It's a sad reflection on current circumstances that this is itself nearly a political statement.
Dan, I certainly agree that this is not the forum in any sense for a political debate.听 Unfortunately you went on to engage in exactly that.听
"The Media" has destroyed its own worthiness and doesn't need anyone's help.
George
听
I have family听living in Sonoma as well and don't really appreciate the directing this conversation has taken, As a retired LEO I have a real issue with people who attack the guardians of our first amendment rights. The media has generally done more to protect our first amendment rights than all wars combined. And I don't say that lightly as both my son's are in the military. My oldest is a Seal and my youngest just graduated from Army Ranger school听at Fort Benning.听
听Attacking the media has always been a popular pastime for certain groups especially conspiracy theorists, Unfortunately, it has graduated to a form of Alt-Right political correctness.听 I never thought I would see the day that a news organization听would be relentlessly attacked and labeled听"Fake News" for directly quoting something someone said on live听TV.听
I always thought electronics professionals, as well as hobbyist, were above that sort of nonsense, As such the last place I expected to see this sort of nonsense is here on this forum.听
Best Regards听
D. Nelson听听 听
|
Dan, I certainly agree that this is not the forum in any sense for a political debate.听 Unfortunately you went on to engage in exactly that.听
"The Media" has destroyed its own worthiness and doesn't need anyone's help.
George
On Sunday, October 15, 2017 7:16 AM, "Dan Nelson blaze_1024@... [hp_agilent_equipment]" wrote:
听
I have family听living in Sonoma as well and don't really appreciate the directing this conversation has taken, As a retired LEO I have a real issue with people who attack the guardians of our first amendment rights. The media has generally done more to protect our first amendment rights than all wars combined. And I don't say that lightly as both my son's are in the military. My oldest is a Seal and my youngest just graduated from Army Ranger school听at Fort Benning.听
听Attacking the media has always been a popular pastime for certain groups especially conspiracy theorists, Unfortunately, it has graduated to a form of Alt-Right political correctness.听 I never thought I would see the day that a news organization听would be relentlessly attacked and labeled听"Fake News" for directly quoting something someone said on live听TV.听
I always thought electronics professionals, as well as hobbyist, were above that sort of nonsense, As such the last place I expected to see this sort of nonsense is here on this forum.听
Best Regards听
D. Nelson听听 听
|
Re: HP 8341A sucessfully FIXED!
Wow. Nice work, Tobias. Sometimes we learn the most when things seem hopeless. Your reasoning was right that there was nothing to lose by taking a chance on opening the YTO, and you came up with a great alternative to get around the problem.
I hope you plan to keep that web-page available - it's a good story and resource with good pix of the YTO innards, for future reference. I'd recommend you also post the images to the photos department here.
Ed
|
Dave Smith