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Just off the subject of the compatability of 5000 vs. TM500 plug-ins,
I can't remember if I mentioned my modification of a 5CT1N curve
tracer to work in a TM500 power module. After careful research and a
little design work, I made just such a beast, good for those who
don't have a 7K or 5K mainframe that can accept a 5CT1N or 7CT1N.

I added the necessary circuits on a perfboard mounted above the main
circuit board to provide the necessary supplies normally provided by
the 5K mainframe and to add the necessary output buffers to give a
decent 0.1v/div sensitivity for the attached scope. A 4-pin front
panel connector (I'm getting old and forgot the manufacturer -- the
same connector as used on the DM501 temperature/voltage probe)
provided the output for the scope. I replaced the neon lamps with
LEDs.

And if anyone has the real need to do such a modification (WHAT!!??!
SCREW UP A PRODUCT MADE BY TEKTRONIX??!!?), I think I still have all
the documentation needed to accomplish such a feat. Maybe I need to
start a Web site for all this weird junk I have floating around
that's useless except for just a few people.

Tek could have easily modified the layout for a 5CT1N to do just
that, but it's possible that they didn't because either they didn't
think of it or it would have cut into the sales of their other
semiconductor curve tracers. Same category as the 2-hole portable 7K
service scope.

Dean

I believe the manufacturer of the 4 pin plug Dean refers to is LEMO in
Switzerland. Beautifully machined metal parts (reminds me of a fine watch)
and gold contact pins. Pulling on the outer shell activated the latching
prongs. When Planar split off from Tek, I designed them into our flat panel
burn-in racks as the panel bulk drive connector. Expensive connector, but
very reliable. Another super example of why I was so wowed by the Tek
engineering stock. Couldn't find anything like that at any hobby electronics
store!

Don,

There is a Lemo USA Inc., somewhere in Santa Rosa, Ca. I do not think there
is any manufacturing there, that must be a Swiss variation on the theme of
Tekintag (Tektronix International AG). They have reps and you can buy those
connectors, not as cheaply as drawing them from engineering stock, but they
are available.

Ah, those days when there was access to engineering stock at a rich company.
When I was with Siemens, you just write down what you want, on any old piece
of paper and stock room will get it for you. If it is not a stock item, they
'll go out and get it; it was not theirs to ask why do you want it, theirs
was to get it. It was perfectly acceptable to lab management that you wanted
to see the part, on an outside chance that it might be used some day.

It is funny that the older version of connector for probe power supply was
also Swiss. Those 3 pin connectors were made by W.W. Fisher, which is also
incorporated and does manufacturing in Switzerland. I believe that by now
Lemo absorbed Fisher.

I have a wall plug power supply for a probe, +/- 12 V, that ends with 3 pin
Fisher connector and then there is an adapter, 3 pin Fisher to 4 pin Lemo.
By time I got that supply there was no probe to go with it, so I do not know
what it was for. I use it as a general purpose power supply.

Regards
Miroslav Pokorni

Thanks, guys. I was having a senior moment. "Lemo connector" used
to just roll off my lips when I worked for Tek. A very-finely
machined component that's a pleasure to use. And it's the 4-pin
version from the DM501 that I used on my Frankensteinian CT501 so
that I could get a lot of connector into a small space. The 2-pin
version was used for the temperature probe on the DM40/43/44
backpacks for the "new" 400-series portables and the DM502.

Dean