Lecroy DDA-5005 DSO Teardown - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2019, 02:37:17 pm
content: fwiw...

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 19, 2019, 02:37:58 pm
content: next...

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2019, 06:31:08 pm
content: does anyone know where is the XXL memory (hardware) option located? or likely is? i want to compare STD and XXL memory difference. and also does anyone know where the eeprom storing licenses code is? or likely is? so maybe i can make backup of it in case it is corrupted. thanks.

author: nsrmagazin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2019, 09:58:40 pm
content: Perhaps the service manual can help you. Otherwise you need to check the numbers of the chips or guess if you know from where the information comes and then check the numbers.Long:https://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/research-centres-and-groups/centre-for-bio-inspired-technology/7293023.PDFShort:http://cdn.teledynelecroy.com/files/manuals/wsxs_om_revc.pdfOther:http://www.libertytest.com/assetmanager/uploaded/pdf-20081215-111511-dda5005a_ds.pdf

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2019, 10:53:58 pm
content: Acquisition memory is right on the ADC module boards, so it's either additional or larger chips on there (under the individual heatsinks), though and whatever kind of firmware switches are needed. There may be a configuration chip on the acquisition board, but the options are on an EEPROM on the PCI interface card, if I remember right. It's been found and analyzed to some degree in other threads, since this is the same general architecture as the 7x00a series.Looks nearly identical to the 7200s and 7300a I've seen, with the exception of the timing distribution board in back and the frontend boards. The lower spec scopes have a smaller heatsink, a cage (where the thermal pad is), and mate straight to the front panel, and the timing board on your DDA looks like it's thermally/RF isolated with the can, whereas the other scopes I've seen have a low loss PCB with individual cans over things. Well, while the ADC boards are similar, they may be larger for the XXL memory option, I don't think the ones I've run into have had 6 heatsunk memory chips on them.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2019, 11:41:08 pm
content: Quote from: nsrmagazin on January 20, 2019, 09:58:40 pmthere is no service manual available for xtream scope. what you linked are user manual and i dont think they have internal details of the scope, i read few of them ie for 5005 and 6000 scope. thanks anyway.Quote from: DaJMasta on January 20, 2019, 10:53:58 pmyeah i also think so. i guess the ADC module is the left side in this picture...since no RAM visible on top, i guess it should be on the bottom. i think dismantling that module (that thick metal bar) will affect calibration, no? thats what i'm afraid of and dont want to touch anything near it. i saw some people selling this module in ebay but they dont show underside of it. i guess this is not an easy hack, like simply adding more RAM IC easy and adding the license?btw i PMed some member here who i guess succesfully helped another guy to recover a lecroy scope from corrupted eeprom (where all licenses reside) inhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/need-help-with-restoring-license-eeprom-lecroy-7200a-wavepro/?topicscreenbut he hasnt reply yet, maybe all LeCroyUser are busy probing

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2019, 11:45:43 pm
content: Didn't see the update with my edit, but those individual heatsinks on the leftmost side are the RAM chips. I would not remove the bar, it would assuredly void any stored calibration. That bar holds the interface from the ADC board's input to the yellow distribution board (handles routing of signals to two ADCs for 20GS/s mode two channel mode), and probably also holds on the frontend interface part. These are going to be very tight tolerance and very susceptible to contamination, so while it may be possible to do it safely at home, just disassembling or tightening it down the wrong way could cause irreversible damage or require a full calibration.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2019, 01:20:08 am
content: ok, i didnt know RAM needs heatsink. if that is the case, then trying to upgrade it at home is as good as impossible. here is picture from seller selling the 5005 adc module... i guess its "NOT" the XXL module since it only got 3 heatsinks (instead of 6 on XXL). there's no pad at all to make an upgrade! dough...https://www.ebay.com/itm/Lecroy-AD-module-for-Wavepro-7300-wavemaster-8500-DDA5005-etc/163457630065?hash=item260ed57f71:g:vocAAOSw3wVajckN:rk:6:pf:0

author: DaJMasta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 21, 2019, 02:17:33 am
content: I think that's a fair assumption. I also wouldn't put in an ADC like that into the unit you've torn down, the PCB does not match and yours could also be a different revision.... who knows whether compatibility would match with a mismatched set, and since this layout was used for a large number of scopes (7000, 7000a, 8000 series), there are probably a few revisions of modules that need different configuration settings or require other specific module revisions.

author: sixtimesseven
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2019, 08:25:47 am
content: Do you know which mainboard is in your unti?The manufacturing date would be interesting to me as well since they might changed it over time.Thank you!

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 27, 2019, 10:23:22 am
content: checking my pictures record, the backside sticker showed its a 2008 unit (11th Jan). if you know which part on the pcb showing pcb revision, please point it to me i can check my pictures record, this unit is not with me anymore, it was just for a brief moment.

author: sixtimesseven
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2019, 11:00:53 am
content: Do you still have pictures of the pc section of the unit with the pc mainboards?

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2019, 12:00:31 pm
content: the motherboard is D865GLC... not much and not too detailed the pictures i took... you can check this thread for PC side upgrade and OS restoration...https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/upgrading-mainboard-in-lecroy-dda-3000-(aka-wavepro-7300a)/?topicscreenbtw did you get your 5005 for about $1500? i was watching one of it (no HDD) besides another SDA6000, both about $1500, and both are sold... another 5005 from Singapore for about the same price earlier with one channel broken also gone.

author: sixtimesseven
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2019, 12:37:54 pm
content: I got this one:https://www.ebay.de/itm/LeCroy-DDA-5005A-XL-5GHz-20GS-s-Disk-Drive-Analyzer-Oscilloscope-Need-hard-drive/372815886312?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649I bid 900USD and he accepted... Fingers crossed that it is not completely fried...

author: sixtimesseven
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2019, 12:40:47 pm
content: Quote from: Mechatrommer on November 28, 2019, 12:00:31 pmHa so they did not update it. My device was build in 04. Nice, yes I want to upgrade to ssd and maybe mod the cpu etc as well if the channels work. I saw the upgrade thread but I was worried since the wavepro there is both another series (7000 vs 8000) and older as far as I could see.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2019, 01:40:24 pm
content: yes thats the one. i offered him $500 just to test my luck, i cant offer much as shipping alone is expensive already. he made counter offer $1400. so your offer is a steal... congratulations its good to know a member here grabbed it, i hope the SDA6000 as well..

author: sixtimesseven
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 28, 2019, 02:23:19 pm
content: Quote from: Mechatrommer on November 28, 2019, 01:40:24 pmI guess I have to thank you for wearing him downShipping was 170 + 230 for taxes. Wish we would have offers like this in Europe.

author: MadTux
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2025, 04:45:01 pm
content: Love the modular construction here. A bit like in the old days/scopesGuess, you aren't as screwed with these if something releases the smoke, compared to i.e. Tektronix TDS5000/6000/7000, DPO7000... because it's mostly plug and play/pray here, instead of ripping donor boards to pieces and questionable BGA rework.Also nice to know, XXL memory is true hardware ;-)

author: petemate
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2025, 09:23:49 pm
content: What the purpose of the large brass box at the top left? The one with 6 sma connectors. Clock distribution or something? Why so big?

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2025, 02:43:59 pm
content: Quote from: petemate on July 31, 2025, 09:23:49 pmyes... the inside looks like attached (SDA6000A clock dist unit), 100MHz clock to 10GHz PLL and then length matched splitters etc. fwiw...