Repair of  TDS540 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: mwbarth36
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2022, 06:02:52 pm
content: I have several Tektronix TDS540 scopes, all have had the leaky capacitors replaced, washed, and checked for defective connections. The remaining problems are varied and I have located on-line the following Tektronix document: Tektronix part number 070-8313-00, THE TDS520 DIGITIZING OSCILLOSCOPE, Component Level Repair Manual, Volume 2. This document contains complete schematics for all circuits, and a large number of trouble shooting flow charts that refer to diagnostic tests. For example, one flow chart starts with "Run the cpuBusCtrlReg diagnostic". Does anyone know................1-. Is Volume 1 of this document available?2.- How does one perform these diagnostic tests? Are they part of some testing software that one runs when connected to the Console Port? If so, is this test software available?The information given in Volume 2 is of limited value without access to the diagnostic test software, or some way to invoke the tests? Any further information will be greatly appreciated.................Thanks

author: vaualbus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 13, 2022, 01:01:27 am
content: First the TDS540 are avaible to download on the web (that is volume 3) of the service volumes for the TDS540. The TDS520 manual existed apparently. I did speak with tek trying to find them but they weren't able to find it anywhere (they linked me to a store site that was not working than the link die).So you should start from the TDS540 schematics (https://w140.com/tekwiki/images/c/c9/TDS540_Schematics.pdf) that is volume 3 of the set. Vol 2 is component listing and diagrams vol 1 is an extended service manual.If you ended up asking tekmeasum for a scan I would enjoy vol1 as it have some decoding table for the CPU board that are different from the TDS540A that I have.So back to your question:1) It is avaible you should ask tekmuseam for a scan and paid like 50 bucks. They scanned me the 540A version of it than I realized the the 5402) Those tests are run from a tek utility that download firmware on the fly on the scope via the debug console port (or GPIB more probably).Of course such tool is no where to be seenSo yeah you basically have to follow the diagnostic diagrams but you won't be able to run tests, that sucks because it is impossible basiccaly to debug the CPU without such tests that is why I almost give up on the unit I found in a bin at my university the other year.

author: simba15
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2022, 02:34:28 pm
content: Just stumbled into this thread, I have some old tek Floppys that are marked DIAG, don't get your hopes up but I will try and post the contents here.

author: vaualbus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2022, 09:25:06 pm
content: Finger crossed! Even if those are not for TDS scope still If they was never been dumped would still be a good find

author: simba15
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 18, 2022, 03:47:51 pm
content: So turns out the disks are Tek Prism 3000 Diag disks.Sorry to get your hopes up.