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Is it advisable to turn intensity down when scope is idle (but displaying a signal) to preserve CRT?
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ransom peek
While writing code for a PIC microcontroller, I have the PIC circuit
connected to the scope to see the waveform (sine wave, not changing position for example). I will leave the circuit connected to the scope, showing the sine wave while I modify the software, anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour. Then I download the modified software to the circuit and see what, if any change occurs on the scope (Tek 2235A). Should the scope intensity be turned down to some degree or all the way during this programming time to avoid phosphor degradation, or perhaps should the scope be turned off during these intervals? I understand that replacement CRTs are not easy or impossible to come by, and want this puppy to last! Any thoughts? Ransom Peek Fort Collins CO |
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Craig Sawyers
Should the scope intensity be turned down to some degree or all the wayI usually turn down the intensity on the scope right down if I'm doing something else for a while. But then again, I usually run at a fairly low brightness anyway - there simply doesn't seem to be the need to crank it up too far; you just need a clear trace, not a retina burning event. Craig |
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Denis Cobley
Hi Ransom
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It's all a matter of opinion. The 2235A has an aluminised backing on the phosphor to eliminate most phosphor burn risks. However, any type op phosphor will degrade over time (even those very expensive new plasma displays). You can just reposition the trace a little ever now and then. If you left it for 5 years 24 x 7 then you might have a problem but in my opinion it's not going to be a problem. If you want to even out the wear on the screen, fill the screen with a 100Mhz sine wave while the timebase is set to 1ms/div and turn up the intensity to near maximum for a few hours - that should help make the intensity more even. The real problems are with the old screen storage scopes - they don't have the aluminium backing so they can burn more easily. As for CRT's - you can buy another scope on ebay for less than $200 so you can always get parts. Regards Denis Cobley ----- Original Message -----
From: "ransom peek" <ransom.peek@...> To: <tekscopes@...> Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2004 10:24 AM Subject: [TekScopes] Is it advisable to turn intensity down when scope is idle (but displaying a signal) to preserve CRT? While writing code for a PIC microcontroller, I have the PIC circuit |
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That seems to be a matter of taste. For some people, if it is not retina
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burning, it is not on. I had hell of a time with test department at the last company. They knew that intensity should not be set high and that I will yell when I see the setting and still it was always set high and when I enter test, they would reach for intensity knob, whether scope was on or off; kind of Pavlovian reflex. Regards Miroslav Pokorni ----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig Sawyers" <c.sawyers@...> To: <tekscopes@...> Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2004 3:47 PM Subject: RE: [TekScopes] Is it advisable to turn intensity down when scope is idle (but displaying a signal) to preserve CRT? upShould the scope intensity be turned down to some degree or all the wayI usually turn down the intensity on the scope right down if I'm doing too far; you just need a clear trace, not a retina burning event. |
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I generally turn down the intensity quite a bit when not viewing the trace. I watch for that on some of the older tube scopes..because if stops sweeping trace could end up as a dot.
Mark Anton, Owner Heights TV & VCR Service 3946 Central Ave. NE Columbia Heights MN, 55421 Phone is 763-789-1767 (area code formerly 612) ----Original Message Follows---- From: "Craig Sawyers" <c.sawyers@...> To: <tekscopes@...> Subject: RE: [TekScopes] Is it advisable to turn intensity down when scope is idle (but displaying a signal) to preserve CRT? Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2004 23:47:51 -0000 Should the scope intensity be turned down to some degree or all the wayI usually turn down the intensity on the scope right down if I'm doing something else for a while. But then again, I usually run at a fairly low brightness anyway - there simply doesn't seem to be the need to crank it up too far; you just need a clear trace, not a retina burning event. Craig _________________________________________________________________ Store more e-mails with MSN Hotmail Extra Storage ? 4 plans to choose from! |
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