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Re: TDS460A Will not turn on?
On Mon, Aug 19, 2019 at 04:19 PM, Stephen Hanselman wrote:
Other folks, Monsanto, LiteOn, etc, all seemed more stable and reliable.Steve, These optocouplers in the supply have a Small circle made with a dashed line surrounding an "M". It is not a "Motorola M", different from their LOGO. I'll bet these are made by MONSANTO. Thanks for the information! Sincerely, -- Michael Lynch Dardanelle, AR |
Re: TDS460A Will not turn on?
Roy,
Excellent information! I am not an I.E.E.E member. I'm pretty sure that they don't take old hot rodders and motorcycle mechanics turned electronics hobbyist as members. I have followed a lot of rabbit holes, so this would be no different. I get the gist of what you are saying. The optocouplers can degrade to the point that they cease to turn the device on, but still may test as "good". Sounds like I need to replace these with new ones and mark this off the list of potential failure points. After all, it is less than $2 to replace both of them. Much Appreciated! -- Michael Lynch Dardanelle, AR |
Re: TDS460A Will not turn on?
Where I used to work, we used optocouplers to Isolate TELCO ring from our circuit and detect ring.
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We found that as the opto aged the ability of the photo device to see the emitter decreased. We replaced a lot of these because of this. It got to the point that when a board came in for repair and was shown to be faulty in the test set, the first thing replaced was the opto. This fixed about 90% of the field returns. It may be that we used optos close to their low limits? Glenn On 8/19/2019 5:08 PM, Chuck Harris wrote:
Steve, --
----------------------------------------------------------------------- Glenn Little ARRL Technical Specialist QCWA LM 28417 Amateur Callsign: WB4UIV wb4uiv@... AMSAT LM 2178 QTH: Goose Creek, SC USA (EM92xx) USSVI LM NRA LM SBE ARRL TAPR "It is not the class of license that the Amateur holds but the class of the Amateur that holds the license" |
Re: TDS460A Will not turn on?
On Mon, Aug 19, 2019 at 04:21 PM, Chuck Harris wrote:
Chuck, Since I cannot tell what the original Zener or avalanche voltage was on this part, I am calling it a Zener. I understand that these diodes over a certain voltage (about 6V) are not truely Zeners, but are actually avalanche diodes, This is something that I just learned regarding what is popularly called a "zener" Diode. It is possible to clearly see the difference in the curve tracer. As you say, Zener is the name they have been given, i suppose in the same way we call all facial tissues "Kleenex"? Strange that they used the same schematic symbol for both. Thank you so much! -- Michael Lynch Dardanelle, AR |
Re: TDS460A Will not turn on?
Glenn,
I realize all of what you have very clearly stated. However, All of the diodes on this board are marked as "CRxxx". I am not a complete stranger as to how TEKTRONIX schematics have been marked in the past. There are Zener Diodes in clear, red tinted glass packages as well, they look just like the Fast switching diodes (e.g.1N4148, etc.), It may take a curve tracer to tell them apart (thankfully, I have one). While yes, they are all technically "crystal rectifiers", there is no delineation on this board as to which is a Zener, Schotky, High Speed switching, Standard Rectifier or anything else. All of this could have been avoided if they had just seen fit to release a schematic. They wanted to sell complete replacement boards, new scopes and not encourage board level repairs. This really handicaps those of us who need a schematic to follow. I am not one who can look at the loaded board and figure out how it works without a schematic, i wish that I was. I appreciate your comments and insights! Sincerely, -- Michael Lynch Dardanelle, AR |
Re: TDS460A Will not turn on?
On Mon, Aug 19, 2019 at 01:55 PM, Stephen Hanselman wrote:
Hi All: I.E.E.E., NASA, and the U.S. Navy, et. al., have published papers citing the significant "failure" of these "critical" components in causing SMPSs not to operate. The authors are claiming that there are "aging" processes that take place in an optocoupler's packaging, and an optocouplers LED. As far as I can tell, the claims are mostly that the performance of some optocouplers degrades enough to prevent the optocoupler from accomplishing its intended purpose, in the design. (They don't seem to imply the aging process causes the optocoupler to fail completely; before the SMPS stops operating.) If you are interested in going down that particular rabbit hole, and you are an I.E.E.E. member too, there are papers on Xplore. Best regards and wishes. Roy |
Re: TDS460A Will not turn on?
Chuck Harris
Steve,
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As a life long EE, I would not have put up with that for a minute. Either the circuit would get redesigned, or the vendor of defective parts get banned. But, I have always been a bit of a hard-ass about stuff like that. -Chuck Harris Stephen Hanselman wrote: Chuck, |
Re: TDS460A Will not turn on?
Chuck Harris
My point was most switching supplies have optocouplers that
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send signals in both directions. Typically, one will send a feedback signal from the low voltage side to the high voltage side, to regulate the output voltage, and another will send a power good signal (or other signal) from the hot side to the low voltage side to help with orderly shutdowns, etc.. You seem to be recognizing optocoupler orientation just fine. The power resistor is typically almost 1/4" diameter, and 3/4 inch long. Often there are two in series, standing up on the board (in a "U" shape), and covered with a piece of braided insulating tubing. The power resistor is supposed to burn out safely to protect the supply when a bootstrap failure occurs. It is operating way over its safe power rating for just a fraction of a second. As to being a bother, that is what the group is for. -Chuck Harris Michael W. Lynch via Groups.Io wrote: Chuck, |
Re: TDS460A Will not turn on?
Chuck Harris
A properly functioning colloquially named zener diode will
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have a forward conducting knee of 0.5-0.7 volts, and a reverse conducting knee at the published zener voltage. Any voltage below the conduction knee will result in little or no current flow. I think you are describing a bad zener, which could easily stop your supply from bootstrapping. -Chuck Harris Mlynch001 wrote: Chuck, |
Re: TDS460A Will not turn on?
Chuck,
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He would change them 3 or 4 at a time. Now we see two or three over 5 or 6 units. The 6130C uses 22 (or so) and the OEM HP ones were unstable. HP got better, but at the time (1979) they broke at the drop of a hat. Other folks, Monsanto, LiteOn, etc, all seemed more stable and reliable. steve -----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Chuck Harris Sent: Monday, August 19, 2019 2:09 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [TekScopes] TDS460A Will not turn on? Steve, I have been repairing switching supplies since the mid 1980's, and I have yet to have to replace an optocoupler. Not one. That is very odd, given your statement. Perhaps, whatever a 6130 is, it uses the optocouplers in a most severe way? I must be the luckiest guy on Earth... -Chuck Harris Stephen Hanselman wrote: Chuck, |
Re: TDS460A Will not turn on?
Chuck Harris
Steve,
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I have been repairing switching supplies since the mid 1980's, and I have yet to have to replace an optocoupler. Not one. That is very odd, given your statement. Perhaps, whatever a 6130 is, it uses the optocouplers in a most severe way? I must be the luckiest guy on Earth... -Chuck Harris Stephen Hanselman wrote: Chuck, |
Re: TDS460A Will not turn on?
Chuck,
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If the opto-couplers are "HP" I'd have to argue with you. My boss (late '70's) at Opto Elec Div used to do the 6130C's and 6131C's and before he started he poured a little pile of couplers on his bench, and we were the div that made them. We (our company) still see regular failures of these today. steve -----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Glenn Little Sent: Monday, August 19, 2019 1:48 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [TekScopes] TDS460A Will not turn on? CRxx indicates "Crystal Rectifier" with a sequence number. Crystal Rectifiers are diodes. CR17 would be the seventeenth diode inserted into the schematic. Due to revisions and other reasons all the sequence numbers may not be used in a schematic. Zener diodes may be marked ZDxx. Zener diodes are usually in a light tight case, either black painted glass or plastic resin. This is because semiconductor devices are light sensitive and light will change the characteristics. Hope this helps on schematic reading and part identification. Glenn On 8/19/2019 3:18 PM, Mlynch001 wrote: --I would put the odds that the Opto isolators are bad at under 1%.Chuck, ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Glenn Little ARRL Technical Specialist QCWA LM 28417 Amateur Callsign: WB4UIV wb4uiv@... AMSAT LM 2178 QTH: Goose Creek, SC USA (EM92xx) USSVI LM NRA LM SBE ARRL TAPR "It is not the class of license that the Amateur holds but the class of the Amateur that holds the license" |
Re: TDS460A Will not turn on?
CRxx indicates "Crystal Rectifier" with a sequence number.
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Crystal Rectifiers are diodes. CR17 would be the seventeenth diode inserted into the schematic. Due to revisions and other reasons all the sequence numbers may not be used in a schematic. Zener diodes may be marked ZDxx. Zener diodes are usually in a light tight case, either black painted glass or plastic resin. This is because semiconductor devices are light sensitive and light will change the characteristics. Hope this helps on schematic reading and part identification. Glenn On 8/19/2019 3:18 PM, Mlynch001 wrote:
I would put the odds that the Opto isolators are badChuck, --
----------------------------------------------------------------------- Glenn Little ARRL Technical Specialist QCWA LM 28417 Amateur Callsign: WB4UIV wb4uiv@... AMSAT LM 2178 QTH: Goose Creek, SC USA (EM92xx) USSVI LM NRA LM SBE ARRL TAPR "It is not the class of license that the Amateur holds but the class of the Amateur that holds the license" |
Re: TDS460A Will not turn on?
Chuck,
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I am trying to learn and NOT be a bother to anyone.? I appreciate your help, cannot say that enough. ? You are correct on both 1 and 2.? See my response, sent before I read this message.? BTW, I have ZERO fear of taking components out of circuit.? That seems to be the best and most accurate way to get good test results. These two couplers have the #1 pin on the "Low" side.? So both face the same direction?? That is if I am understanding you correctly. ? I learned long ago to take pictures and carefully not the orientation of the components.? I have messed up in this manner before. ?? I have posted pictures of the board in the "Photos" section, if you need to see the board lay out. Your Million$ Hint mentioned Zener Diodes, so I am starting to test the Zeners on this board. I do not see any "Large" power resistors, but it is entirely possible that I do not know what I am looking for. Sincerely, Michael Lynch?479-226-0126 Home Phone479-477-1115 Cell Phonemlynch001@[email protected]@... On Monday, August 19, 2019, 1:18:31 PM CDT, Chuck Harris <cfharris@...> wrote:
Hi? Michael, Two things to help further your education: 1) there are almost always multiple devices in parallel, or ? series with every device you may wish to test in circuit. 2) Sooner or later you have to test the courage of your convictions, ? by removing the suspected bad part and testing it out of circuit. ? That is the only sure way of not being fooled by the other parts ? that share its nodes. I find it more likely that you didn't notice that the optocouplers are usually faced in opposite directions... some sending signals to the high side, and others sending signals to the low side. I still put an optocoupler failure in a switching supply at less than 1% probability. -Chuck Harris Mlynch001 wrote: Chuck, |
Re: TDS460A Will not turn on?
Chuck, You are 100% correct about that optocoupler. I pulled that component out of circuit and it tests good. Don't know why I even trust "in circuit" tests? Moving back to your "million dollar hint". . . . I do have what the board shows as CR17 and this connects to PIN 1 of UC3844 (PCM Controller). Every diode on this board is labeled as CRxx. So the labels are no help in determining what the components actually are. That being said, CR17 looks like a classic glass package Zener Diode, so I lifted one end from circuit and then hooked it up to my TYPE 576 curve tracer to see what I had, expecting to see a typical ZENER curve. C17 tests as a Zener diode, but it acts in a VERY strange manner, unlike any Zener I have tested before. When I hook it up and increase the collector voltage control, the diode begins to conduct positive at the expected .6V and exhibits the other classic breakdown "knee" fairly quickly. For lack of a better explanation, it is acting like a "variable voltage" Zener. As I increase the collector sweep voltage, the breakdown voltage knee moves farther and farther left on the screen as the positive current increases and the positive current trace stays stationary at about .4V . A "known good" 5.1V Zener does not exhibit this strange characteristic. The known good ZENER knee appears and holds at the correct Zener voltage, regardless of the collector sweep voltage. I am fortunate enough to also have a 577 curve tracer as well, and it shows the same characteristic. Is this some sort of diode that I have never heard of? Or could this be the troublesome component? Sorry if my explanation is not technically correct or as clear as it could be. I am dealing with something that I have not experienced before. Any thoughts? Sincerely, -- Michael Lynch Dardanelle, AR |
Re: TDS460A Will not turn on?
Chuck Harris
Hi Michael,
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Two things to help further your education: 1) there are almost always multiple devices in parallel, or series with every device you may wish to test in circuit. 2) Sooner or later you have to test the courage of your convictions, by removing the suspected bad part and testing it out of circuit. That is the only sure way of not being fooled by the other parts that share its nodes. I find it more likely that you didn't notice that the optocouplers are usually faced in opposite directions... some sending signals to the high side, and others sending signals to the low side. I still put an optocoupler failure in a switching supply at less than 1% probability. -Chuck Harris Mlynch001 wrote: Chuck, |
Re: 2440 cal errors
Bob Albert
Am I still on the list for one of those 'scopes?
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Bob818 894-2887 On Monday, August 19, 2019, 10:46:17 AM PDT, Robert Simpson via Groups.Io <go_boating_fast@...> wrote:
Well I guess you get what you pay for. At $50 for a 2440 should have been a clue. So far the first 2440 I turned on has cal errors 4000 FPP? fail 7000 CCD fail 8000 PA? ? fail all others passed Maybe I should go through an external calibrate first? Bob |
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