160

The Tektronix 160 series is a modular oscilloscope made from the mid-1950s (schematics drawn in 1953) to the late 1960s (in 1969 catalog).

A 160 series system typically includes a Type 160 power supply, a Type 360 indicator unit, and one or more of the 161, 162, and 163 trigger and sweep modules. There is also a single-unit power supply, the 126.

Each module is the size of a small shoe box. Power connections are made behind the modules using Type W160 cables that have octal connectors. The power cables can be connected in a star topology (Type 160 in the center) or can be daisy-chained using the loop-through connection on the back of each module.

Signal connections are made on the front, typically with banana plugs.

In a typical setup, the input signal is fed through a splitter to the Y-input of the 360 and the trigger input of the 161. The 161 generates a trigger pulse that controls a 162, which generates the horizontal ramp for the sweep. This ramp signal is sent to the 360 horizontal input.

The signals on the front panel of the 160-series modules are all single-ended.

According to the May 1952 issue of Tek Talk (page 6), the 160 Series entered limited production in April of 1952.

Key Specifications

	— Type 160 Power Supply —
+300 V output	DC, unregulated, 170 mA max
+225 V output	DC, regulated, 125 mA max
+150 V output	DC, regulated, 5 mA max
−170 V output	DC, regulated, 125 mA max
6.3 V output	AC, unregulated, 10 A max
	— Type 160A Power Supply —
+300 V output	DC, unregulated, 250 mA max
+225 V output	DC, regulated, 175 mA max
+150 V output	DC, regulated, 15 mA max
+70 V output	DC, unregulated max load?
−170 V output	DC, regulated, 125 mA max
6.3 V output	AC, unregulated, 20 A max

Manuals

• Tektronix 160-series Manual (PDF)
• Tektronix 160-series Instrument Reference Book (PDF, OCR)
• Tektronix 160a Factory Calibration Procedure (PDF, OCR)

Internals

The 160, 161, 162, and 163 use the ceramic strip and silver solder construction style that is prevalent in other Tektronix equipment of the era, such as the 500-series scopes like the 545.

The Type 360 indicator unit contains the CRT HV power supply and the vertical amplifier and is constructed using a single-sided printed circuit board.

The 360 has a phase splitter to generate the differential drive for the horizontal deflection plates. The 360 uses a standard 3WP series 3-inch CRT. The cathode voltage is −1850 V. No post-deflection acceleration is used.

The 160 power supply was produced with serial numbers 101-619. For serial numbers 620 and up, it is slightly different and is called the 160A.

The 160 and 160A both use a 5V4 rectifier tube for the negative voltage and two 5V4 tubes in parallel for the positive voltage.

Both use 5651 87-volt reference tubes.

The 160 and 160A differ in their output regulator circuits. The 160 uses a 6AS7 dual-triode tube, one half to regulate the +225 V output and the other half to regulate the −170 V output. The 160A uses both halves of a 6080 dual-triode in parallel to regulate the +225 V output, and two parallel 12B4 triodes to regulate the −170 V output.

Pictures

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  photo courtesy of Dave Nicol

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  photo courtesy of Dave Nicol

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  160 schematic

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  160A schematic

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  160 system in operation.

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