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nuckolls.bob(at)cox.net
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 Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 7:23 am Post subject: Scope |
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At 06:52 AM 9/6/2008 -0500, you wrote:
| Quote: | Something like this?
<http://cgi.ebay.com/Tektronix-2230-100MHz-2ch-Digital-Storage-Oscilloscope_W0QQitemZ220277290907QQihZ012QQcategoryZ104247QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262>http://cgi.ebay.com/Tektronix-2230-100MHz-2ch-Digital-Storage-Oscilloscope_W0QQitemZ220277290907QQihZ012QQcategoryZ104247QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262
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That could be a very useful tool and if you can get it cheap,
I would not discourage you from grabbing it. The 'scope
I mentioned, the TDS 2012 is my current favorite. You can
see it and its siblings at:
http://www2.tek.com/cmswpt/psdetails.lotr?ct=PS&ci=13295&cs=psu&lc=EN
It's a direct descendant of the TDS 210 that I purchased
6-7 years ago. These tools are noteworthy for their digital
storage of data for stable display on an LCD screen combined
with the ability to connect to outside clients. In the case
of the 210, it offered a printer interface that put screen
prints out to paper. This tool was used to produce hundreds
of measurement records for storage, documentation and
teaching. Many images from the 210 appear on aeroelectric.com
like . . .
http://www.aeroelectric.com/Pictures/Curves/99_Saturn_SL1.jpg
http://www.aeroelectric.com/Pictures/Curves/CH10V.jpg
I had a chance to sell the 210 to a client and purchase
a younger cousin, the 2012 about a year ago. This
one gives us a USB thumbdrive port instead of a printer
connection. When you hit the 'print' button, it delivers
a .jpg screen print and columnar ascii data files to
the thumbdrive. I've published some of this output data
on aeroelectric.com too . . .
http://www.aeroelectric.com/Pictures/Curves/S704-1_D-E_Transition_Diode_Suppression.jpg
you can put the .jpg into any handy image editor to
add leaders and text. I've not yet had occasion to
use the raw data files other than to 'play' with them
in Excel . . . but this is a very powerful upgrade to
our measurement capabilities. It also offers a USB
interface to a computer for automated measrument and
data recording.
Now, used 210s and 220s can be had off ebay for about
$500 ($1300 new). I've not seen the 2012s yet, it's
a bit early. There's a nice 1012 up now starting at
$400. See item 250290654969
Now, having offered suggestions for 'scopes particularly
useful to us in the OBAM aircraft venue, know that
ANY functioning 'scope of ANY capability at ANY price
is better than no 'scope at all! There are things to
be observed and measured for which there is no substitute
for "electronic eyes". The 'scope you cited would be
a very good buy as a single channel 'scope (90% of
my scope usage is in the single channel mode). If you
could get it for the starting bid, it would be an
excellent buy. Given that it's 'crippled' may well let
it sell for the starting bid price.
For the purposes of evaluating the energy consumption of
your strobe system, it's limited in that you would have
to photograph the screen, blow it up and do a manual
piecemeal integration by parts to deduce current
consumption. No great sin . . . this is how we used
to do it 30 years ago with ink pen traces on chart
recorders.
For folks interested in expanding their ability to "see"
those electrons, my best recommendation is the Textronix
2200 series devices like item 260281843724 on ebay. Any
of the 2200 60 Mhz or better is fine. Don't get too
wrapped around that higher-frequence-is-better-axle.
99% of everything we want to measure happens slower
than 60 million times per second!
These are modern solid state, still CRT display, light
and Textronix-quality. I've purchased perhaps a dozen
of these for folks over the years as "starter" scopes.
You want to get them cheap, under $200. 'Cause if it
craps, you'll want to put it back on ebay "as-is-for-parts"
and buy another one. The economics of having any 'scope
professionally repaired are not good unless you make
a living with these tools.
Avoid the 400 and 500 series 'scopes at any price.
They're excellent professional tools but complex
electronically (more likely to need repair) and
more difficult to learn to use. Also avoid rack-mounted
or plug-in modular scopes. These are mechanically
complex and more likely to suffer performance issues
that you'll not want to have fixed.
Now, with respect to the question before us, it
might be easier for me to go get some current traces
of a production airplane. I think I can get a current
probe or breakout harness into the power line of
the strobes on a Bonanza and get some really nice
data.
However, if you're personally interested in adding
that 'scope to your workbench, go for it. If you do
get it, we'll discuss ways you can go after the data
we're looking for.
Bob . . .
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klehman(at)albedo.net
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| Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 9:14 am Post subject: Scope |
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Or currently $325. for the PDS5022. Mine seems to work fine off a little
12 volt cigarette lighter inverter.
http://saelig.com/
Ken
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nuckolls.bob(at)cox.net
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| Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 12:07 pm Post subject: Scope |
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At 01:07 PM 9/6/2008 -0400, you wrote:
| Quote: |
Or currently $325. for the PDS5022. Mine seems to work fine off a little
12 volt cigarette lighter inverter.
http://saelig.com/
Ken
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Yes, there ARE some attractive alternatives in Non-Tek
hardware. I bought a PDS5022 a couple of years ago and
my software guy has it. I don't know how much he uses
it. I've not taken the time to get familiar with it myself
but the short time that I played with it here in my
shop, it seemed quite capable for the investment.
There's another device from Saelig that's pretty interesting.
See:
http://www.saelig.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=PS042&Category_Code=
If I can ever get the fire-fights off my bench, I plan
to pick one of these up. I think it would be useful not
only as a low speed 'scope but the long term "chart recording"
looks attractive too.
Glad you mentioned the inverter thing. Yes, I velcroed
one of those little inverters to the top of a 17 a.h.
SVLA battery. When I was running the TDS 210 in the field,
my scope ran from the 115vac output and the Cannon bubble
jet printer ran directly from the 12v battery. Made for
a compact, self contained test tool. I used it a number
of times during my tenure at B/RAC/HB. The 'scope only needs
about 30 watts of snort as I recall. The itty-bitty inverter
works great.
Bob . . .
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