Introduction to the 5000-Series Oscilloscopes: Difference between revisions
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The mechanical aspects of the TM500 line of modular instrumentation and those of | The mechanical aspects of the TM500 line of modular instrumentation and those of | ||
the 5000-series are identical except for the interface connector keying. | the 5000-series are identical except for the interface connector keying, however, | ||
been an instance of a TM500 frequency counter installed in a 5000-series mainframe | '''TM500 instruments and 5000-series instruments are electrically totally incompatible | ||
With each other, and any attempt to operate one type of plug-in in the other type of mainframe | |||
may result in the destruction of the plug-in, mainframe or both.''' | |||
(There has been an instance of a TM500 frequency counter installed in a 5000-series mainframe | |||
with the LED display bright and presumably active, as the photo illustrated for | with the LED display bright and presumably active, as the photo illustrated for | ||
some items being sold on an on-line auction | some items being sold on an on-line auction, but it appears likely that this image | ||
was | was “photoshopped” by the unscrupulous seller.) | ||
In the 5000-series, all power supply voltages are developed | In the 5000-series, all power supply voltages are developed by the mainframe and | ||
by the mainframe and supplied to the plug-ins as regulated voltages | supplied to the plug-ins as regulated DC voltages of +5 V, ±15 V (5400-series) and ±30 V. | ||
(5400-series) and ±30 V. There are no power supply circuits other than supply | There are no power supply circuits other than supply decoupling and small zener regulators in the plug-ins. | ||
decoupling and small zener regulators in the plug-ins. | |||
On the other hand, the TM500-series power modules (the “mainframes”) supply AC and | On the other hand, the TM500-series power modules (the “mainframes”) supply AC and | ||
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are not supplied on similar interface connector pins as the 5000-series. All of | are not supplied on similar interface connector pins as the 5000-series. All of | ||
the power supply regulation control circuitry is inside the individual plug-in for | the power supply regulation control circuitry is inside the individual plug-in for | ||
customized voltages, since each plug-in instrument | customized voltages, since each plug-in instrument is a radical design departure | ||
from the other instruments. The power module also contains one NPN and one PNP | from the other instruments. The power module also contains one NPN and one PNP | ||
power transistor for each compartment for use by the instrument installed as a | power transistor for each compartment for use by the instrument installed as a | ||
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a 5A22N and selectively limit the upper frequency cutoff. | a 5A22N and selectively limit the upper frequency cutoff. | ||
Some may think that this low bandwidth makes the 5100-series worthless. In | Some may think that this low bandwidth makes the 5100-series worthless. | ||
reality, there are five things that make the 5100-series attractive: | In reality, there are five things that make the 5100-series attractive: | ||
# Those who work in the low-frequency arena of audio sound systems, LF and VLF radio, mechanical transducers, hearing aids, etc. will find the lack of HF noise in the 5100-series to be a blessing; | # Those who work in the low-frequency arena of audio sound systems, LF and VLF radio, mechanical transducers, hearing aids, etc. will find the lack of HF noise in the 5100-series to be a blessing; | ||
# The plug-in versatility of the 5100-series can be matched only by that of the 7000-series, and then at a far higher price in cost and complexity; | # The plug-in versatility of the 5100-series can be matched only by that of the 7000-series, and then at a far higher price in cost and complexity; | ||
# A large display screen, internal graticule and fine, sharp trace; | # A large display screen, internal graticule and fine, sharp trace; | ||
# Simple and easy troubleshooting and repair, usually involving no custom, complex and hard-to-find [[:Category:Tektronix-made integrated circuits|Tektronix-made custom ICs]]; | # Simple and easy troubleshooting and repair, usually involving no custom, complex and hard-to-find [[:Category:Tektronix-made integrated circuits|Tektronix-made custom ICs]]; | ||
# Three nice plug-ins, the [[5CT1N]] semiconductor curve tracer, the [[5L4N]] audio spectrum analyzer and the [[5S14N]] sampling system give the 5100-series power that you can't find in any of Tek's portable scopes. The [[ | # Three nice plug-ins, the [[5CT1N]] semiconductor curve tracer, the [[5L4N]] audio spectrum analyzer and the [[5S14N]] sampling system give the 5100-series power that you can't find in any of Tek's portable scopes. The [[5S14N]] increases the effective bandwidth of the system to around 1 GHz. | ||
== Some Interesting Notes == | == Some Interesting Notes == |