$100 reward for Tek TDS500, 600, and 700 color CRT driver board schematic/layout - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 16, 2018, 02:01:04 pm
content: Got a pile of these and most are probably an easy repair. However, the schematic and parts layout in the TDS520B CLIP as well as the TDS544A do not match the later CRT driver boards. I'll pay the first taker $100 who can provide the schematics and parts layout. $75 for the schematic only.Pictures attached - one is a pile-o-driver boards that need repair, and the other a close-up of the board I'm talking about. Part # is 678-1402-XX where XX is the revision of the board. Somebody has to have these!

author: PrecisionAnalytic
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2018, 12:38:53 am
content: I did a quick search, and am awaiting to here back from Tektronix regarding this part number in particular, as I assume you have though will log the info I found for future reference since I am still early on in the learning curve:Here is a lead that may have and is new to me (note there is contact info under the May 2017 entry):http://wonghoi.humgar.com/blog/category/measurement-equipment/Info from same person on pots:https://forum.tek.com/viewtopic.php?t=137709Two other potential sources I've read before though never contacted:http://www.fetaudio.com/archives/1135https://www.qrz.com/db/VK2BLCHere is a compilation of links of images I found with different revision potential info:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/tds744a-('a'-is-for-adventure)/https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/need-help-repair-tektronix-tds520b/?allhttps://www.ebay.com/itm/Tektronix-Power-supplier-unit-for-TEKTRONIX-TDS-784D-TDS-784C-Working-/251222585433?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c4https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Tektronix-CRT-driver-board-678-1402-12-for-TDS-524A/260838720110?hash=item3cbb33026e:g:IvEAAOxyxpxQ7nZRhttps://www.ebay.com/itm/High-voltage-CRT-power-supply-678-1402-10-for-Tektronix-TDS724/142504440525?epid=1675346159&hash=item212ded32cd:g:EwsAAOSwNSxVT1vnhttps://www.ebay.ca/itm/High-voltage-CRT-power-supply-678-1402-10-for-Tektronix-TDS724/142504440525?hash=item212ded32cd:g:EwsAAOSwNSxVT1vnhttps://www.ebay.ca/itm/Tektronix-CRT-driver-board-678-1402-09-for-TDS-744A-Working/251407195447?hash=item3a89095d37:g:aosAAMXQRDxREjpUhttps://www.ebay.ca/itm/Tektronix-TDS-700-7xx-Series-Oscilloscope-Color-CRT-and-Display-Driver/152485736085?hash=item2380dbae95:g:GsgAAOSwCU1Y1vEb(678-1402-09)https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Tektronix-CRT-driver-board-678-1402-08-for-TDS-744A-Working/251206237099?hash=item3a7d0efbab:g:ExgAAOxyEdlQ3xaUhttps://www.ebay.ca/itm/Tektronix-CRT-driver-board-678-1402-07-for-TDS-684A/260810076922?hash=item3cb97df2fa:g:fagAAMXQUY1Q9vrShttps://www.ebay.ca/itm/High-voltage-CRT-Power-Supply-678-1402-06-for-Tektronix-TDS784A-671-2374-01/282696880877?hash=item41d20c12ed:g:Zu4AAOSwlmtZ5Ph4https://www.ebay.ca/itm/Tektronix-CRT-driver-board-672-1402-06-for-TDS-544A/261100646275?hash=item3ccacfaf83:m:mCXcmiNttjUfo2OjfVt6rkgThe link most everyone knows and a great source of information and inspiration (you to Jay et.al):http://www.hakanh.com/dl/kits.htmCould use feedback:https://forum.tek.com/viewtopic.php?f=568&t=137958Reply I received hunting down schematics from Tektronix before noting a previous reference to Artek Manuals:Some customers have had success using one or more of these contacts:--The Boat Anchor Manual Archivehttp://bama.sbc.edu/or The Boat Anchor Manual Archive Mirror:http://bama.edebris.com/manuals/--Bitsavers.orghttp://bitsavers.org/pdf/tektronix/--Manoman.sqhill.comhttp://manoman.sqhill.com/tek.php--Classic Tekhttp://classictek.org/--Instrumentation and Metrology LabsPhone: 877-357-5900 or 603-929-9990, Fax: 603-929-1329Email: sales@imltest.com Web:www.imltest.com-- Manual Merchant: Linda Kaplan, P.O. Box 927792, San Diego, CA 92192-7792Phone: 858 642-0785 Fax: 858 642-0885 FaxWeb:www.manualmerchant.comEmail: linda_p@ix.netcom.com-- W7FG Vintage Manuals, 3300 Wayside Dr., Bartlesville, OK 74006Phone: 800-807-6146,Web:www.w7fg.com-- Manuals Plus, P.O. Box 549, TAD #601, Tooele, Utah 84074, Fax,Phone: 1-800-345-4019 or 801-936-7000 Fax: 801-936-7004Webwww.manualsplus.com-- A G Tannenbaum, A. G. Tannenbaum P.O. Box 386 Ambler, PA 19002Phone: (215) 657-0106 Fax: (215) 657-0520Webwww.agtannenbaum.com-- J Dosher Manuals (in UK):Web:http://www.jdosher.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/email: jdosher@blueyonder.co.uk;-- Tom Gootee: email tomg@fullnet.comWeb:http://www.fullnet.com/u/tomg/manuals.htm--Bill & Stan's Tektronix Resource SiteEmail: w7ni@easystreet.comWeb:www.reprise.com/host/tektronix/home--Analog Services IncPhone: 270-276-5671 Fax: 270-276-5588Webhttp://www.logwell.com/index.html--Big-List.comhttp://www.big-list.com/usedmanu.html--Techrecovery used instrumentsPhone: 877-837-8872Web:http://www.techrecovery.com/-- Sphere Research Canadian Test EquipmentWeb:http://www.sphere.bc.ca/test/ecg.html-- Consolidated SurplusWeb:www.consolidatedsurplus.com

author: casinada
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2018, 05:47:04 pm
content: Could be also pulls from TDS 5xx, 6xx, 7xx scopes converted to LCD

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2018, 05:54:29 pm
content: I can't be much help with the schematic, but I will say those NuColor displays are fantastic. Nice sharp color image from a monochrome CRT, it's a fascinating technology, I wish it had seen more widespread use.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2018, 06:23:16 pm
content: Quote from: james_s on March 26, 2018, 05:54:29 pmI disagree. The Nucolor display gives me an instant headache because of the alternating RGB images. The problem is that the posphor has to decay quickly otherwise the colors will blur into eachother. Your eyes have to do all the filtering and if you move your head a little the colors litterally fall apart. I've converted every TDS500/600/700 series scope I owned to TFT. Except for the TDS544A I restored and sold again.Regarding the display board repairs: I can't imagine the schematics vary wildly between the various versions. It is a rather traditional monochrome CRT setup and AFAIK in most of these the HV transformer gives up.

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 12:03:59 am
content: The flicker does bother me a bit sometimes if I'm very tired, however in most cases I find I don't notice it. The uniqueness of the display appeals to me, nothing else looks quite like it.

author: EE-digger
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 04:07:44 am
content: No headaches here from the Nucolor displays and I have to say, I prefer a good Nucolor due to the inherent dithering (or anti-aliasing) of traces. When you're observing signals with a fast rise or fall time on a timebase where they are near vertical, you'll get two vertical line segments displaced by one pixel in the x direction on an LCD. Very annoying. The phosphor at last smoothed this out.That said, I converted two scopes, one TDS784D and one TDS694C and I would not give up their brightness, in spite of the "jaggies". Plus you're running around 40 -50W (guess-timate) cooler and never have to worry about burn-in.

author: PrecisionAnalytic
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2018, 08:53:02 pm
content: Quote from: PrecisionAnalytic on March 26, 2018, 12:38:53 amLatest reply from Tek support: "Repair on the TDSXXX family was limited to board exchange only. As such schematics and parts layout was never published to the public.?"Wondering if the Vintage Tek Museum has in their private microfiche collection they're working on scanning as I notice they have a TDS300 on their sitehttps://vintagetek.org/:https://www.youcaring.com/vintagetekmuseum-1085244

author: PrecisionAnalytic
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2018, 08:24:47 pm
content: Received a reply from the museum:"We have "where used" information that tells what instruments most part numbers are used in, but I was not able to find any 678- numbers in it. What instrument is this board from?Also, I've searched our microfiche and we have information on all TDS instruments EXCEPT the TDS700 series. We have four copies of the TDS-series in our fiche collection. The absence of the TDS700-series suggests that Tek did not produce fiche for that instrument family. If someone had pulled the TDS700 fiche before we received it, you would expect they would have pulled only one copy, not all four.I did not check our paper manuals collection. I will do that when the Museum is open tomorrow."They have for the TDS800 series also.I replied back that:"The instruments where this CRT color driver boards are from looks like the following TDS models: 694C (678-1402-16), 524A (678-1402-12) , 724 (678-1402-10) , 744A (678-1402-9 or 678-1402-8), 684A (678-1402-7), 784A &544A (678-1402-6) I can't say for certain for each model those are the original... though I assume they are Nu Color boards I'm guessing."Looks like once the funds are raised... there will be more schematics and documents available for the TDS family.https://vintagetek.org/vintagetek-microfiche-scanner-fundraiser/

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 31, 2018, 10:07:23 am
content: Quote from: PrecisionAnalytic on March 30, 2018, 08:24:47 pmI'm surprised that a TDS524A would have that part number, as the TDS544A CRT driver schematic is marked 671-2373-00.The TDS524A is just the two channel variant of the TDS544A.I have 10 defective ones in all from various TDS700x and one from a TDS694C. There are four different part numbers on them: 678-1402-07, 678-1402-09, 678-1402-10, and 678-1402-16. I would imagine that anything higher than 678-1402-07 would be fine for me (lower might work as well). The parts layout appears to be identical when comparing the -07 to the -16 revisions. A good way to tell if the schematic and layout are correct would be to note the 3 electrolytic capacitors in a row near the edge of the board and the horizontal output connector. I took a screen shot of the 544A layout so you can see the difference.

author: TAMHAN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2018, 03:50:13 pm
content: Jay: AFAIK, the TDS754D I sent you, only had a fucked up CRT but the driver planar itself worked. Please, feel free to reuse that driver board!!!!!!Tam, who REALLY is happy about that LCD upgrade!!!!

author: Jwalling
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 01, 2018, 09:59:52 am
content: Quote from: TAMHAN on March 31, 2018, 03:50:13 pmI think I already used it!I was wondering what you'd think of the LCD. Glad you like it.

author: TAMHAN
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2018, 04:22:47 am
content: I am really happy. OK, the contrast curve is a bit odd which makes the graticula a bit hard to see. But this is nothing, especially as the DPO is not my goto scope.I only power it on like once a month or so...Tam

author: PrecisionAnalytic
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2018, 09:19:27 am
content: Quote from: Jwalling on March 31, 2018, 10:07:23 amThe information I gleaned from a seller in China off eBay for that part number noted "never repaired" and "for" a TDS-524A.Quote from: Jwalling on March 31, 2018, 10:07:23 amThanks for the info. I'll communicate more specifically to see what is available now.