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#1
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B&K 1460 O-scope troubles
This is my go-to scope for all my actual work-related needs. It's a good runner but I'm afraid it's starting to have troubles. While monitoring a serial data stream on a Cadillac with communication issues, everything was fine, and the data 'on's or '1's were about 1 grid unit high. I left it on for about 10 or 15 minutes (the car and the scope) and when I came back, it was about 1/2 a grid unit high.
I'd never seen this on data before, but I have seen this several times on crank sensor signals - in fact, I've watched analog crank sensors lose their height (voltage) on the scope slowly until the car shuts off from lack of input. Nice way to confirm a bad crank sensor. So for a while I was fairly certain the scope was doing its job. What I did this time was, I left the car on so the data kept on streaming, and turned the scope off for 15 minutes, then turned it on and sure enough, 1 grid unit high. I'm eyeing the electrolytics. They're made by 'Elna' but none are visibly swollen or anything. There's also a very large square metal high voltage can capacitor near the power supply, made by Nichicon. I can't find a manufacture date but I'd venture it's in the 70s somewhere. TLDR: My scope is partially losing it's vertical... amplification or deflection or something like that, when it warms up. What do? |
#2
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Do you have a schematic?
http://bama.edebris.com/manuals/b&k/1460/ I would check supply voltages to see if anything drops as the scope fails. If the scope is connected to its internal calibrator, does that voltage appear to drop? jr |
#3
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Agree: check supply voltages.
Is it changing sweep width or brightness? I gather only vertical? Also, can you determine if it drops suddenly or gradually? If suddenly, could be something intermittent in the vertical sensitivity adjustment. 2:1 change sounds suspicious. |
#4
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Another vote for checking the power supplies. The unit is old enough to consider a "shotgun" replacement of electrolytics, especially if you rely on the unit for income generating work.
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#5
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In light of N2IXK's statement above , if this is a needed part of your day to day employment I think I'd **(blasphemous suggestion warning)** get one of those apps that make your cellphone display the scope images and leave the antique stuff to be used working on the other antique stuff in your collection .
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Audiokarma |
#6
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Quote:
Quote:
Also, yes it is a 2:1 change, but not perfectly - when it's failing, you can observe the vertical slowly fluctuating bigger and smaller, just a little. Quote:
lol 'antique.' You funny guy. My 1950s Simpson O-scope is my antique, this BK is my 'daily driver.' So to speak, I probably only use it once a month, but yes, for actual income generating work. Also - I've yet to see any professional smartphone o-scope thingies. They all seem to be project-type crap for fun and screwing around... when I use an O-scope, it's a tool. I'm not saying they won't work, I'm just saying I've yet to see one that's not just an exposed circuit board, or isn't way more than the $70 I spent on this scope. :/ |
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