CA
The Tektronix Type CA is the most common plug-in for 500-series scopes – over 50,000 were produced. It was designed by John Kobbe and Bill Polits. The NORMAL/INVERT switch and algebraic add functions were suggested by Charlie Rhodes.
Type CA is an enhancement over its predecessor, Type 53/54C, adding ADDED mode to the A, B, CHOPPED, ALT repertoire. The "A" in "CA" stands not only for the fact that it is a modified, enhanced replacement, but also because the feature added was "ADDED".
Type CA was introduced in 1959 and discontinued in 1973, making it not only the most-produced but also one of the longest-lived.
Late versions have BNC connectors instead of UHF connectors.
Lavoie Laboratories produced an unauthorized clone, the Lavoie LA-265-CA.
Key Specifications
- please add
The risetime of a Type 545 oscilloscope with a Type CA plug-in is 15 nanoseconds, and the bandwidth is 24 MHz. Maximum vertical sensitivity is 50 mV/div.
Links
Documents referencing CA
| Document | Class | Title | Authors | Year | Links |
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| IBM 223-6725-2.pdf | Application Note | Tektronix oscilloscopes (IBM Customer Engineering Manual) | 1960 | 310 • 310A • 531 • 531A • 535 • 535A • 545A • B • C • CA • D • G | |
| Service Scope 12 Feb 1962.pdf | Article | Field Modification Kits | 1962 | 551 • 020-224 • 531 • 535 • 541 • 545 • 040-200 • 531A • 535A • 541A • 545A • 040-198 • 502 • 040-209 • Type 53C • Type 53/54C • C • CA |
Prices
| Year | Catalog price | In 2026 dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1959 | $250 | ~$2,800 |
Pictures
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Front view
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front view
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left view
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right view
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top view
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bottom view
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schematic
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Left side of Type CA plug in
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right side of Type CA plug in
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Type CA amplifier schematic from 070-014 (early manual)
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Type CA attenuator schematic from 070-014 (early manual)
Components
Some Parts Used in the CA
| Part | Part Number(s) | Class | Description | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12AT7 | 154-0039-00 | Vacuum Tube (Dual Triode) | dual high-gain triode | 161 • 180 • 310 • 310A • 315 • 316 • 360 • 502 • 502A • 511A • 512 • 513 • 513D • 514 • 514AD • 514D • 515 • 515A • 516 • 524 • 525 • 529 • RM529 • 544 • 546 • 547 • 556 • 565 • 570 • 3A2 • 75 • 3A75 • 1M1 • A • B • C • CA • G • H • K • L • ML • M • N • K • R • S • Z • Keithley 610B • Nelson-Ross PSA-021 • Pentrix L20 • Pentrix L30 |
| 12AU6 | 154-0040-00 | Vacuum Tube (Pentode) | RF pentode | 81 • 112 • 1L10 • 1L20 • 1L30 • 1L40 • 1L60 • 3L10 • 512 • 532 • 535A • RM35A • 544 • 546 • 545 • 547 • 549 • 556 • 575 • 581 • 585 • A • B • C • CA • G • K • H • L • ML • M • N • O • R • S • Z • Pentrix L20 • Pentrix L30 |
| 6AK5 | 154-0014-00 • 154-0206-00 • 154-0084-00 | Vacuum Tube (Pentode) | RF pentode | B • C • CA • G • K • L • ML • S • Z • 517 • 517A • 524 |
| 6AL5 | 154-016 • 154-0016-00 • 154-0038-00 | Vacuum Tube (Dual Diode) | high-perveance dual diode | 163 • 180 • 180A • 181 • 190 • 1M1 • 310 • 310A • 315 • 316 • 317 • 3B1 • 3B1S • 3B2 • 3B3 • 3B5 • 502 • 502A • 503 • 511 • 511A • 512 • 514 • 514D • 514AD • 515 • 515A • 516 • 517 • 517A • 524 • 525 • 526 • 531A • RM31A • 532 • 535 • 535A • RM35A • 545 • 545A • 549 • 551 • 565 • 570 • 581 • 581A • 585 • 585A • C • CA • T • Telequipment D52 • Telequipment D56 • Telequipment S52 |
| 6AU6 | 154-0022-00 • 157-0073-00 • 157-0059-00 • 154-0284-00 | Vacuum Tube (Pentode) | RF pentode | 107 • 129 • 160 • 180 • 180A • 181 • 190 • 60 • 2A60 • 72 • 3A72 • 3C66 • 310 • 310A • 316 • 317 • 360 • 502 • 502A • 506 • 511 • 511A • 512 • 513 • 514 • 514D • 514AD • 515 • 515A • 516 • 517 • 517A • 524 • 526 • 529 • RM529 • 531 • 531A • RM31A • 532 • 535 • 535A • RM35A • 536 • 544 • 545 • 545A • 546 • 547 • 549 • 555 • 561 • 561A • 561S • 564 • 565 • 567 • 570 • 575 • 581 • 581A • 585 • 585A • 80 • C • CA • Q • Nelson-Ross PSA-021 |