Tektronix 2235 Scope High Voltage Problem

[Scibuff]

It looks like my faithful 2235 has bit ths dust! When powered on, the
power LED only pulses on/off about every second and the CRT has no
light. Using the Service manual, I got as far as restoring the power
LED operation by disconnecting the lead from T948-p23 to U975, which
I assume is the HV multplier, but have no details on it. The 2 5.1K
resistors off U975-p4 are good and disconnecting C975 and C976 one at
a time does not allow the Power LED to come on steady.

Help please!

 

[Jim Yanik]

[email protected] (Scibuff) wrote in

It looks like my faithful 2235 has bit ths dust! When powered on, the
power LED only pulses on/off about every second and the CRT has no
light. Using the Service manual, I got as far as restoring the power
LED operation by disconnecting the lead from T948-p23 to U975, which
I assume is the HV multplier, but have no details on it. The 2 5.1K
resistors off U975-p4 are good and disconnecting C975 and C976 one at
a time does not allow the Power LED to come on steady.

Help please!

The HV multiplier has a red lead that goes to the front of the CRT.
The multipliers do fail occasionally.
You will NOT be able to order one from TEK,they consider this model
obsolete.A parts scope will be your only source,I believe.

The HV mult develops the -2960 cathode V from the pin that feeds the 5.1K
resistors,the anode V comes from the pin that the red HV lead to the CRT is
connected to.


Are your low voltages proper when you disconnect the HV mult.?

 

[TekMan]

[email protected] (Scibuff) wrote in



The HV multiplier has a red lead that goes to the front of the CRT.
The multipliers do fail occasionally.
You will NOT be able to order one from TEK,they consider this model
obsolete.A parts scope will be your only source,I believe.

The HV mult develops the -2960 cathode V from the pin that feeds the 5.1K
resistors,the anode V comes from the pin that the red HV lead to the CRT is
connected to.


Are your low voltages proper when you disconnect the HV mult.?

The HV multiplier is a x6 type. Do as Jim proposed and try to get a
parts scope.

It is possible to build the the HV multiplier from discrete parts
(diodes, caps, etc), but is really a tedious task and requires HV
expereince. I did it a couple of times, but would recommend this only
to someone with a lot of repair experience. The HV is nasty, so
careful soldering and isolation technique is a must.

you're better of with a commercial build multiplier from a parts
scope.

hth,
Andreas

 

[Jim Yanik]

[email protected] (TekMan) wrote in

The HV multiplier is a x6 type. Do as Jim proposed and try to get a
parts scope.

It is possible to build the the HV multiplier from discrete parts
(diodes, caps, etc), but is really a tedious task and requires HV
expereince. I did it a couple of times, but would recommend this only
to someone with a lot of repair experience. The HV is nasty, so
careful soldering and isolation technique is a must.

And you have to build it to fit into the available space and not arc to
something else.

you're better of with a commercial build multiplier from a parts
scope.

hth,
Andreas

I believe the multiplier is a X-FOUR,not six. My 2215 schematic shows X4.
I also believe he could adapt a HV mult from a 1700 series TEK waveform
monitor,they're about the same size,but don't have the internal cathode
supply diode,no big deal. 152-0900-00,and probably still available from
TEK.

 

[TekMan]

[email protected] (TekMan) wrote in


And you have to build it to fit into the available space and not arc to
something else.

I believe the multiplier is a X-FOUR,not six. My 2215 schematic shows X4.
I also believe he could adapt a HV mult from a 1700 series TEK waveform
monitor,they're about the same size,but don't have the internal cathode
supply diode,no big deal. 152-0900-00,and probably still available from
TEK.

Special case was not necessary to prevent arcing. "Rounded" solder
blobs are much more important to prevent HV arcing due to corona
effects etc.
Insulation: A couple of spray paint named Plastik70 (a special brand
forHV, a german suppier manufactered this. Don't know if it is still
for sale).

Multiplier: It's a sixtupler ( x6 ) in the 2235, but a quadrupler ( x4
) in the 2215 - trust me


hth,
Andreas

 

[Scibuff]

Special case was not necessary to prevent arcing. "Rounded" solder
blobs are much more important to prevent HV arcing due to corona
effects etc.
Insulation: A couple of spray paint named Plastik70 (a special brand
forHV, a german suppier manufactered this. Don't know if it is still
for sale).

Multiplier: It's a sixtupler ( x6 ) in the 2235, but a quadrupler ( x4
) in the 2215 - trust me


hth,
Andreas

As requested yesterday, here is the results of further tests after the
top input wire to the X6 (says so on the schematic) U975 voltage
multiplier is disconnected:

The other voltages are within parameters, e.g. +100, +30, +8.6, -8.8,
+5.2 volts are all OK. Even the calibrator is working and the Uncal
lamps come on when knobs are turned.

I reconnected the top input to X6 after disconnecting one end of 5.1K
R976 (to isolate the circuit after that) and the power lamp will no
longer come on. It sounds like the HV oscillator is trying to come on,
as I hear it raising in pitch, then it fails. This repeats about every
second. Also I know that at least some HV was generated, as when I
went to reconnect R976, I got "bit" by it!

With an ohmmeter, I also verified all the resistors and diodes in the
X6/pin 4 circuit that supplies voltage (how much is this - not in my
manual) to the cathode, control and focus grids, etc. They are OK.

It is looking more and more like the X6 has bit the dust. And no parts
machines are on eBay now.:-( Maybe that is what mine will become, as
it was operating great until this HV problem happened.

BobD

 

[TekMan]

As requested yesterday, here is the results of further tests after the
top input wire to the X6 (says so on the schematic) U975 voltage
multiplier is disconnected:

The other voltages are within parameters, e.g. +100, +30, +8.6, -8.8,
+5.2 volts are all OK. Even the calibrator is working and the Uncal
lamps come on when knobs are turned.

I reconnected the top input to X6 after disconnecting one end of 5.1K
R976 (to isolate the circuit after that) and the power lamp will no
longer come on. It sounds like the HV oscillator is trying to come on,
as I hear it raising in pitch, then it fails. This repeats about every
second. Also I know that at least some HV was generated, as when I
went to reconnect R976, I got "bit" by it!

With an ohmmeter, I also verified all the resistors and diodes in the
X6/pin 4 circuit that supplies voltage (how much is this - not in my
manual) to the cathode, control and focus grids, etc. They are OK.

It is looking more and more like the X6 has bit the dust. And no parts
machines are on eBay now.:-( Maybe that is what mine will become, as
it was operating great until this HV problem happened.

BobD

To be more precise: The x6 HV multiplier IS DEFINETELY defectctive.
Sorry to say this so clear.

pin4 is approx. -2850V, as Jim already mentioned. But of course, with
a defective x6 multiplier, the HV is overloaded. So that's why you
will not measure the -2850V now.

If it is such urgent: Besides ebay you might try the usual Tektronix
suppliers for these older scopes, e.g. google for "tektronix parts". I
don't know if Tom Gootee is still selling parts, but if I would be in
your shoes: I'd google or wait on ebay.

Good luck!

hth,
Andreas