WTB - HP 545A Probe, 546A Pulser, 547A Tracer, 548A Logic Clip, Logic Dart - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: deanclaxton
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 23, 2020, 10:17:52 pm
content: Hi all,I'm chasing some vintage diagnostic tools from HP including HP 545A Probe, HP 546A Pulser, HP 547A Tracer, and HP 548A Logic Clip. I'm also intested in the HP E2310A Logic Dart.Does anyone have anything available?cheers,Dean

author: Teichhermelin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2020, 06:22:28 pm
content: Here are some Pics

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2020, 09:27:15 pm
content: My advice is to skip the Logic Dart. I have one but I've never been impressed with it. Regarding the others, 10 to 20 years ago no one wanted them and you could pick them up for next to nothing but now suddenly they're inhighdemand!

author: deanclaxton
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2020, 10:04:32 pm
content: Nice kit. The comparator would be cool to have. Those are the older style probe/pulser I believe?

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2020, 04:51:14 am
content: People are reviving all the vintage computers and arcade boards they can find so they have a new lease of life.I've got a few sets of them now with clips and a comparator kit. I have either a spare probe or pulser I can trade (forget which one). Not selling it though so that won't be much use but might work if you get a double up, it's happened to me a couple of times now which explains how I got two sets.

author: deanclaxton
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2020, 03:24:58 am
content: Well, so far I've found a pristine 5011 T Logic Troubleshooting Kit - I dont think its ever been used. Has the 10 blank comparator boards, the BNC->Test clips plus ground clips, test board, the other universal board thingo plus probe and pulser with their caps, along with the logic clip. Oh - and a drill bit.The only thing I think is missing is a manual for the probe and pulser - has manuals for clip and comparator plus supplement for comparator. Question is though, did the kit originally have ll the manuals? I'm not sure how they would have all fitted in the pocket in the case as its quite full now.I'd like to get the later model pulser and probe plus the tracer next. Mainly the tracer I think.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2020, 05:21:39 am
content: I don't think all the manuals fit in that compartment as it's so tight, not sure what they did. I got my comparitor with the newer tools for some reason.You can tell if the comparitor been used by looking at the boards. If they have ICs soldered in and tracks drilled out it's been used.There are also two different model logic clips, the HP 548A is the newer one and the HP 10528A is the original one.

author: deanclaxton
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 07, 2020, 06:14:16 am
content: Ok cool - yes it has the earlier logic clip - adapter boards all look totally untouched.

author: luossa14
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 23, 2021, 01:28:19 pm
content: Hihave set of 3 probes in Leather case HP orig'HP545A logic probe,HP546A logic pulser,HP547 current tracer .No manual All like new for saleregds Hans Sweden

author: artag
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2021, 01:02:52 am
content: Quote from: Shock on April 26, 2020, 04:51:14 amI understand collecting these things for their own sake, but just because they're what was available for fixing those boards way back when, doesn't mean they were any good at it. They were just affordable tools when logic analysers and storage scopes were anything but.If you want to debug those boards, get a nice fast digital scope that can make a glitch visible, and a cheap logic analyser to track the execution path. They didn't exist back then, but they'll do a great job now and will cost less than those pretty antiques.Watch Curious Marc's youtube videos on repairing a 9825. He did try with the logic probe set, but his best tool has been the 16600 family logic analyser.The exception is possibly the current tracer. Better units are available today but they're pricy. It only helps find a very specific sort of fault, though.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2021, 09:20:47 am
content: I understand what you are trying to say but whether or not you need or use a certain tool is entirely circumstantial. Sometimes it's not the tools capabilities but quick and easy usage. As well as logic/pulser probes in general are cheap and easy to acquire or build. The HP ones are obviously more expensive.In that video he detected the rom was running hot while probing with the current tracer. No logic analyzer or current probe required for that one. Please start a new thread for off topic discussions.

author: woodchips
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2021, 09:02:23 am
content: Don't understand why people have to denigrate how others want to work. For fault finding on random logic PCBs the HP logic probe etc is brilliant. No idea about modern ASIC designs but for up to 90's designs with logic can't be beat.In 1984 I got my employer to buy a logic set, cost £750, and I bought my own set, secondhand, as soon as I could when started on my own. As mentioned, they did fall out of favour and could be picked up for very little, possibly why I still have several sets of them.The crucial thing they do is say, is there a pulse there or not, and if I toggle that D type what happens. The current tracer is used far less often, when needed there is no replacement. What else will detect the latching pulse on a 374? They require brains to use, not capture 50 channels and then work out what is happening, but capture one channel after thought has been put into where to probe. This is random logic, almost all the nodes are available, not buried inside an ASIC, even PALs are pretty open.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2021, 12:46:14 pm
content: The thread on this subject is herehttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/usefulness-of-a-logic-probe/

author: artag
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2021, 03:02:07 pm
content: Quote from: woodchips on May 28, 2021, 09:02:23 amNo, of course not. I'm not denigrating the use as such, I'm suggesting that they might not be as useful as you hope (so don't spend too much!). Apologies if you found it critical.And in the other thread (which has turned out quite interesting - thanks, Shock for suggesting) I'm asking how people's experience differs from mine.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2021, 05:00:59 pm
content: Indeed, it deserves a thread.