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Electronics Forum => Test Equipment => Topic started by: The Radio Shop on November 24, 2018, 08:39:29 AM

Title: Curve tracer project.
Post by: The Radio Shop on November 24, 2018, 08:39:29 AM
This is the latest project I have been working on in the shop.
For those that have been following Mr Carlson Lab on Patreon you then will have the plans for this.
I will not release the schematic since this is Pauls creation.
The idea of this is to do some testing using the curve tracer.
And use this thread to document the project

Title: Re: Curve tracer project.
Post by: The Radio Shop on November 24, 2018, 10:40:38 AM
I have the tracer board installed and doing some testing.
The oblong circle is a capacitor and looks about right.
The "L" shape wave form is a diode.  Looks close as it should.

There are however two problems I have to iron out.
1- way to much gain in this scope. When checking a zener the trace goes completely off screen.
2- as you can see there is a double trace. ( Last picture)  This could be from having so much gain, or there is a problem with the scope.
I have not recapped the scope yet but will do so when the parts arrive. Then I can build the dual 15 volt supply and re-cap the scope.
Title: Re: Curve tracer project.
Post by: Paul M0BSW on November 24, 2018, 01:14:30 PM
Hi Buddy, I to am a pateron  on Paul's site and building this, I just bought a CRO, not had one for years, I think  I may actually buy another, they have more character than the DSO's in my humble opinion and I'm enjoying them again.
Title: Re: Curve tracer project.
Post by: The Radio Shop on November 24, 2018, 01:26:35 PM
Hi Buddy, I to am a pateron  on Paul's site and building this, I just bought a CRO, not had one for years, I think  I may actually buy another, they have more character than the DSO's in my humble opinion and I'm enjoying them again.

Hi Paul, good to see you here again.
 I agree, an old cro just looks better than a digital unit. I did not give but 10 bucks for this old HP. It only has 500KHz of band width so it was basically useless like it was. So re purposing it to a curve tracer was a plus.  Plus I really like the graticule display of the scope.

I saw you post on his Patreon page and have been meaning to speak to you there.  Just been so darn busy here.
Thanks for stopping in.
Title: Re: Curve tracer project.
Post by: The Radio Shop on November 25, 2018, 11:17:36 AM
I decided I need to trouble shoot the scope to see why I can not lower the volts per division.
From .005 to .2 signal passes.
From .5 to 20 no signal passes.

I have attached the schematic of channel A .
Title: Re: Curve tracer project.
Post by: KE4EST on November 26, 2018, 05:32:07 PM
Buddy, I built mine in an external enclosure and run two BNC jumpers to the scope.  Kind of aggravating though, so in the future will be putting it inside an old scope.
Funny I see there is an RCA WO-33 just like Paul used on eBay.  I been watching the price go up to crazy levels for that scope.  It would probably have no bids if it weren't for Mr. Carlson.  ;D
Title: Re: Curve tracer project.
Post by: The Radio Shop on November 27, 2018, 10:33:36 AM
Buddy, I built mine in an external enclosure and run two BNC jumpers to the scope.  Kind of aggravating though, so in the future will be putting it inside an old scope.
Funny I see there is an RCA WO-33 just like Paul used on eBay.  I been watching the price go up to crazy levels for that scope.  It would probably have no bids if it weren't for Mr. Carlson.  ;D

I was thinking of building a stand alone unit also.  Could come in handy.

Yes, that RCA scope on eBay suffers what we call the "Carlson effect" lol. Seems what ever Paul works on the price goes up!.
The Heathkit IT-11/28 have gone through the roof.
Title: Re: Curve tracer project.
Post by: KE4EST on November 27, 2018, 09:24:01 PM
I know the Carlson effect and yep it hit the IT-11 and 28 bad!!!!  I noticed they are coming back down now, but have not gotten back to what they were.