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Cdoose
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Joined: 01 Jan 1970
Posts: 765
Location: Hinsdale, IL, USA
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| Posted: Nov Sat 07, 2009 3:38 pm |
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Was browse the bay and came across this.
http://cgi.ebay.com/TEKTRONIX- ... 3ef9ce5532
Since I'll probably never get one of these I scarfed the images.
Gives me ideas for making my 577 better for tube curves.
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Chuck D. KB9UMF |
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Peter Bertini
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Joined: 01 Jan 1970
Posts: 4803
Location: Somers, CT
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Cdoose
Member
Joined: 01 Jan 1970
Posts: 765
Location: Hinsdale, IL, USA
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| Posted: Nov Sat 07, 2009 4:06 pm |
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Jeez Peter,
It's got a $49.99 BIN why haven't you already bought it? I'd jump on that if I were you.... You can't make it any worse.
I about S#&t my pants when I opened that link. 
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Chuck D. KB9UMF |
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Dean Huster
Member
Joined: 01 Jan 1970
Posts: 2306
Location: Harviell MO USA 63945 (12 miles S of Poplar Bluff)
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| Posted: Nov Sat 07, 2009 9:34 pm |
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I had a Tektronix TM503 power module come into the Service Center for repair that had been run over by a fork lift. If it was sheet metal, it was mangled and the customer wanted it REPAIRED, not replaced with a new one even though the new one would have been less expensive. I suppose the company's budget had plenty of money for repair but nothing available for capital equipment purchase.
The 570: My gosh, did they just take it out of its original shipping carton? The only flaw I can see is on one of the DUT tube sockets. What a beautiful instrument! It might well be worth the exorbitant reserve if it works as well as it looks. Still, I think it would be far cheaper to make an add-on plug-in for a 576 curve tracer for use with tubes.
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Dean, Electronics Curmudgeon
Contributing editor emeritus of the "Q&A" column in Poptronics magazine, R.I.P. |
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Tubetechie105
Member
Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Posts: 74
Location: Kennesaw Gerogia
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| Posted: Nov Sun 08, 2009 3:41 am |
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| Dean Huster wrote: | I had a Tektronix TM503 power module come into the Service Center for repair that had been run over by a fork lift. If it was sheet metal, it was mangled and the customer wanted it REPAIRED, not replaced with a new one even though the new one would have been less expensive. I suppose the company's budget had plenty of money for repair but nothing available for capital equipment purchase.
The 570: My gosh, did they just take it out of its original shipping carton? The only flaw I can see is on one of the DUT tube sockets. What a beautiful instrument! It might well be worth the exorbitant reserve if it works as well as it looks. Still, I think it would be far cheaper to make an add-on plug-in for a 576 curve tracer for use with tubes. |
I just have to say this: If only I was smart enough to make one of those things you just described...Alas I am self taught and that method of learning is time consuming. But rest assured that comment has got me thing how to do the same with my 545. |
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Dean Huster
Member
Joined: 01 Jan 1970
Posts: 2306
Location: Harviell MO USA 63945 (12 miles S of Poplar Bluff)
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| Posted: Nov Sun 08, 2009 11:08 pm |
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Thing is, the 545 would only be the X-Y display for the tube tester "module", something that could be accomplished with just about any low-end scope. It's all the electronics to generate the swept plate voltages, grid voltage steps, calibrated vertical and horizontal display output, plate load resistances, heater supplies .... in other words, it wouldn't be a simple plug-in for the 545. It would be one of the blank 500-series plug-ins they used to sell with a connector on the front and maybe a little interface electronics inside and a whole other box at least half the size of the 545 to house all the actual tube tester circuitry. Maybe a fun project, but probably 'way out of hand financially.
It would be far, far easier to simply make a plug-in for a 576 semiconductor curve tracer (it's capable of 1000v and some really sensitive measurement ranges) to handle little more than selected heater voltages for the prospective vacuum tubes to test. The 576 itself could do the rest. It isn't even in the same category as the 575 curve tracer as it's solid state and it a lot more sophisticated.
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Dean, Electronics Curmudgeon
Contributing editor emeritus of the "Q&A" column in Poptronics magazine, R.I.P. |
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Chas
Member
Joined: 01 Jan 1970
Posts: 1500
Location: S. Dartmouth MA 02748 USA
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| Posted: Nov Mon 09, 2009 12:50 am |
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As Dean already knows I have a Tek 576.
| Quote: | | It would be far, far easier to simply make a plug-in for a 576 semiconductor curve tracer |
Give me a heads up when someone develops the plug-in. I haven't the time to design it but certainly could copy it...
Chas
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"The one who dies with the most toys wins" |
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gmcjetpilot
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Joined: 22 Jul 2009
Posts: 433
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| Posted: Nov Sun 15, 2009 6:49 pm |
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What is it good for......
Seriously......
What would you really do with it?
What would you need it for?
(trust me I know it does not matter, it is cool, but.....)
I see it makes traces of the tubes, I assume transconductance v grid voltage for a given plate voltage. Neat, but is it better than say this for $2550 will do test and tube curve plots (with a laptop).
http://www.amplitrex.com/index.html
I really would like to know, I am curious. It is a beautifully built peice of gear. However $3500, really.... they must be going for the gold. However in the news a Rare Atari game sold for over $5,000, so may be it's not a bad price. |
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Cdoose
Member
Joined: 01 Jan 1970
Posts: 765
Location: Hinsdale, IL, USA
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| Posted: Nov Sun 15, 2009 9:02 pm |
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A curve tracer can be used to characterize all kinds of components, tube, semiconductors, resistors, capacitors, inductors, bulbs, basically anything that draws current or that is a current or voltage controlled device.
Look at any tube spec sheet with characteristic curves. such as on pgs 4 and 5 here: http://www.mif.pg.gda.pl/homep ... SN7GTB.pdf
Those curves can be displayed on a curve tracer and the three most importand parameters can be calculated by studing the curves. i.e. transconductance, plate resistance, and mu at any operating point. The parameters quoted in the tube spec sheet are valid only for the operating point listed. If you want to operate the tube at some other point you need the curves to determine that point.
When designing a circuit the curves are needed to determing the other circuit elements. Usually the published curves will be fine.
If your just going to test tubes to see if they are useable or not, or if you're not going to be designing circuits then a curve tracer is not going to be your cup of tea.
Using a curve tracer for a newbie would be like putting me in a 777 10 miles from the OM in IMC.
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Chuck D. KB9UMF |
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gmcjetpilot
Member
Joined: 22 Jul 2009
Posts: 433
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| Posted: Nov Tue 17, 2009 12:55 am |
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| Cdoose wrote: | | Using a curve tracer for a newbie would be like putting me in a 777 10 miles from the OM in IMC. |
Thanks that explains it, I don't need it but I want one.
PS the 777 will land by it self if the FMC is programmed, auto pilots (three) engaged, auto brakes, auto spoilers are set. It will fly the approach, flair, align with runways for cross wind, land and stop automatically! (You still need to put the gear down and set landing flaps and taxi to the gate) |
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