2001 film ><Tektronix probe  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 20, 2022, 03:25:01 pm
content: A walk down memory lane....In 1968....Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Oddssey" used a TEK P6006 x10 probe for checking the AE-35 unit per computer HAL-9000 fault detection.When the testing did not confirm HAL-9000 prediction of failure, Frank Poole went EVA to exchange AE-35 (comms dish feed LNA) and the rest is for you to recall.So the scene is central to the story line by Arthur C Clarke and Stanley Kubrick.Now, In my boxes of 100s of old probes, I just discovered two, P6006 (10X, 25 MHz!) with tips and clips!Your memories of old probes and 2001 A Space Odyssey are appreciated! Enjoy!Jon

author: Infraviolet
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2022, 05:01:41 am
content: A good film, but you don't get the proper experience unless you watch 2010 The Year We Make Contact straight afterwards.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2022, 05:59:00 pm
content: Yes thats the screw probe I have. When I got it in a ebay grab bag I thought it might be a special probe for threading into threaded connections. And it can be, if you make brass adapters for it. An end to screw terminal block bull shit?

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2022, 06:04:30 pm
content: Quote from: jonpaul on December 20, 2022, 03:25:01 pm"Well HAL ... I'll be damned if I can find anything wrong with it."

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2022, 06:30:04 pm
content: These 1960s probe P6006-9 are useful on big équipements with moving parts, high voltage, etc where our modern tiny probes are easily damagedThe large screw on tips are fine for industrial applications and the 600 V ration better than the 400 modern probes.Jon

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2022, 09:44:15 pm
content: Quote from: jonpaul on December 22, 2022, 06:30:04 pmPah! You thinkthat'sa robust Tektronix HV probe?!Here's a picture of arealTek HV probe, alongside a 500V probe for comparison. (Apologies to the screenwriters of Crocodile Dundee)Or, of course, areal realTek HV probe...

author: Benta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 22, 2022, 09:54:50 pm
content: “I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that."

author: xrunner
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2022, 02:36:06 am
content: I've watched that movie many many times - I love it. When they were probing the AE35 unit they didn't show what the probe was connected to. But I would assume it wasn't a stand-alone scope but an input to HAL (may have been a "scope" presentation to the men on one of the screens). He just analyzed the DC level or waveform the human put the probe on and then directed him via the PCB picture where to go next with the probe.

author: EPAIII
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2022, 07:45:42 am
content: Yes, I remember those. I may even have one or two laying around. Or some pieces thereof.And the Death Star used a GVG-300 (analog) video switcher to control it's planet busting weapon. I spent a whole week doing all the set-ups on one of those.Hollywood has no shame.

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2022, 01:13:22 pm
content: Ré HV probes, there's a x100 tektronix but yes P6013/6015 are tge industry standard for HV work.The P6015 uses a banned Freon as insulation, with no gas, the 40kV rating reduces to 15..20 kV.The current version ( $$$) 40 kV Tektronix is P6015A, no freon , much smaller compensation box,The main drawback of these enormous probes is indeed their size. We use tie wraps or tape to fix the probes on the DUT.Instead, for my work 400..600 V like tube amps, mains, SMPS offline these old P6006..6009 are ideal.Happy probing!Jon

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2022, 01:46:14 pm
content: Quote from: jonpaul on December 23, 2022, 01:13:22 pmAny 40kV probeneedsto be large. Even those that connect to voltmeters!For example, I have a Brandenburg 109m, and the probe is about the same length as the P6015. The Testec TT-HVP40 is longer.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2022, 02:00:47 pm
content: I remember going to see 2001 as a school field trip when it first came out. I didn't see it again for probably 20 years or more. I remembered it as being really long and having a weird ending, but I liked the space ships and the moon base parts.

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2022, 02:13:00 pm
content: Had worked on HV laser, arc lamp, avaionics, up to 70 kV.Have several of the TEK P6015 Freon, 40 kV old TEKa really excellent P6015A silicon insul 40 kVNot a scope probe but HV ....Danbridge Danish 30 kV insulation tester with RG6/U cable and huge probeBon Fetes!Jon

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 23, 2022, 02:25:20 pm
content: The Tektronix P6009 is a x100 probe with 10 megohm input resistance, so it includes an internal shunt resistance and can be used to safely make AC coupled measurements without applying high voltage to the oscilloscope's AC coupling capacitor.