Repairing a Tektronix 465 (power supply, z

axis amplifier, vertical pre amplifier

issues)
Here are some pics of my new Tektronix 465 and how I had repaired it. It was bought at
ebay and did not work. There have been several issues to solve but finally I got a working
465.
I found problems in these units!
power supply
" axis amplifier
vertical pre amplifier #channel $%
&roken kobs
'olts()I' *amps(&ulbs are broken(do not work
Aout Tektronix 465
The 465 is a legendary product from Tektronix. Tektronix is said to be the company who
invented the oscilloscope #in +,46 with model 5++%. -s you can see in the image they had
a oscilloscope beam tube and a scope sinus signal display as part of their trademark.
-s far as I know the 465 came to the market in the early +,./0ties. It was a general0
purpose analogue scope with a #for that time% large bandwidth of +//1h" and two time
bases for a price at that time of 235//4. Tektronix sold the 465 very well and it is also said
to be the most fre5uent scope in the world.
There are different models starting with 466!
465! The original one +//1h" bandwidth. Implemented mostly using transistors
only a few I7s are used in the design.
465&! - version that came up some years later specs were the same as for the 465
but the technology used inside the scope was newer. It uses e.g. I7s in the pre amps.
4651! version with a digital multimeter #named )144% mounted on top.
468! - scope with digital storage based on the 465& design. The digital scope part
is based heavily on I70technology. It has only $51s(s.
#also 4.5 with $//1h" bandwidth 4.5- with $5/1h" bandwidth 485 with
35/1h" bandwidth ...%
&ecause the 465 uses only very few integrated circuits it can be repaired relatively easy. It
is said that the 465 was the last of the tektronix devices based #nearly% completely on
discrete components. There is a big load of documentation in the internet including service
manual and complete schematics. In many cases it is possible to replace tektronix parts #for
example tektronix transistors% with todays standard transistors if the original ones break.
)evices that use many I7s often sold only by tektronix itself can be repaired only if you
know from where to get replacements for the I7s if they are broken. Today9s scopes are of
course all built using heavily I7s.
!tate "ow # receive$ it
These are some pictures of the state of the device as I received it from ebay seller.
1y Tek 465 was manufactured in :etherlands. ;7&s are stamped with year +,.+ but I
believe its newer #serial number is .+//,/%.
Hint! you can click on all images below to enlarge them<
=rontplate 7heck!
'olts()iv >nob at 7hannel $ is broken.
?omeone replaced it with an own solution. The red @'-A@0part
is still there and the scale is also there.
- Trigger *evel >nob is also broken but still there and usable.
If there were lights at 'olts()iv >nobs they do not work anymore.
)evice came dirty.
?witched it on and hooked on some sinus signal at 7hannel +.
In the back my Tek $43$ shows how the signal really looks like.
The Tek 465 does display something but very different from actual waveform.
That9s left from 7H$ 'olts()iv >nob.
#nternals
-t first some some random pictures from the inside of the Tek 465.
)elay *ine can be seen below the display tube.
7hannel + Input -ttentuators
Interface &oard #&ottom of deviceB H' cover removed.The big black cap at the lower right
is not original and located there for testing%
Cith the scope came this probe.
It9s a ;6//6 #+/x 351h"% ;robe e5uipped with a banana tip.
1ore Info in this ;robe can be found here.
Trying to repair it
-t first I fixed one small problem at input of channel +. - resistor0pin was detached from
its target. This did not improve the overall result.
-fter opening the case and pressing around at ;7&s and components I got sometimes an
improved display #see below%. &ut it was not stable in any way. I noticed that hitting the big
cap #55//D=% at the E+5' voltage leads to big changes in display.
?o I decided to change this cap. Infos about the 465 show that these caps are often failing
after 3/ oder 4/ years...
I got this after pressing around at the ;7&s and hitting on the big
poser supply cups...
7hannel + Input. Fne Aesistor pin is detached from input line. I solder it
to the input line.
-fter 7ap replacement I switched on the device. Immediately the fuse =+4+, broke. I
replaced the fuse with an -mpere meter and measured a large current #+/5 -mpere%.
)espite switching the device on for only some seconds the main fuse broke. ?omething
smelled bad because it was getting hot but I could not find that thing.
1y conclusion from that was! Chen replacing the cap some solder fell into the Tek 465
and created a shortcut on the interface board. I did not notice that and when switching the
device on the fuses broke #this conclusion was wrong because another cap had a shortcut
I found out this later...see below%.
I removed the interface board and cleaned the backside because I thought there is solder
that produces shortcuts. I re0inserted the interface ;7& afterwards.
Cithout =+4+, the device could be switched on. I checked the power supply.
I found several issues here!
G+556 #5' regulating transistor% was broken
H+554 #Fp0-mp for 55' regulation% was broken.
I replaced both parts.
G+556 #a 1?;?34+4% was broken #no connectivity between the three pins%.
I replaced it with a &)6...
H+554 was also broken. I replaced it with a *=353 #it will
be replaced with a :I553$ as soon as I have one%
-fter this I could insert =+4+, without shortcut and got back some beam traces like at the
start of my repair try.
&ut suddenly there was the shortcut again. :ow I saw whats happening because the H'0
shield was removed. - 7ap #4.D= 7+4+,% went very hot and even some smoke came out
of it. I took it out and measured a resistance of about 5/ Fhms. :o capacity. I replaced the
cap and for the first time the power voltages look good except the E+5'.
I also noticed that the fan board was using to much load and removed it from +5' supply.
+5' now got better but was not totally stable and still 2+' below it9s should0be value.
&ad 7ap 7+4+, #left% and its replacement #right%.
The bad cap still looks nice<
The beam traces were still not good.
- sinus signal very blurred and distorted at the right side
- rectangle signal looking very bad.
I checked the vertical preamps for both channels. -t channel + the signals are close to
these mentioned in the service manual. -t channel $ a large ripple voltage #+//H"% is
added to the test signal.
This image shows the test signal #2,.5H"%. To the test signal
another low fre5uency signal #ripple voltage% is added resulting in the diagonal baseline.
Here the ripple signal can be seen it has +//H". The ripple amplitude
is much larger then the test signal.
The ripple comes from E+5' supply. I checked the other power supplys
they have a very small ripple of some m'. The E+5' supply has ,,/m' ripple which is
more than 6J of +5'.
I wonder why the ripple is a triangle waveform #I expected sinus%
The signal displayed at Tek465 seems to be related to the ripple compare the next two
images!
This is what 465 displays on channel $. Input signal is a rectangle signal.
The rectangle signal result in two dashed parallel lines. Cithout rectangle signal there is
only one line and no dashes.
The ripple is added to the rectangle signal. &ecause the ripple is so large
the resulting signal crosses the whole screen.
This is the signal measured in the path of channel $. The big ripple signal
can be seen #2+./m'%. Fn top of it the test signal #very small maybe 5m'% is added.
#The smaller ripple curves in the middle seem not to carry the test signal%
The following pictures show that the signal is very blurry.
This is the test signal. ?inus +///H" and 5//m' amplitude.
Tek465! channel +! signal blurred but amplitude and fre5uency and look ok.
Tek465! channel $! signal blurred amplitude(fre5uency ok.
?ignal display is very unstable see next image...
Tek465! channel $! signal display Kumps fre5uently to something like this
Tek 465! displaying both channels with 7HF; mode. &lurred. &ecause the
intensity knob does not work I can not make it brighter than this.
-fter testing around and by Help of people from the Tek Lroup at Mahoo Lroups I
understood that something is still wrong with the E+5' power supply.
I checked the driver transistor #G+544% and the foldover detection transistor #G+548% and
found both defect. These are $:$$$$ I replaced them with &754.& which I had in my
component boxes and for the first time I got really +5' #+4,,8%. -nd the interesting thing
the ripple voltage completely disappeared.
Aeplacement of G+544(G+548
1eanwhile I had also replaced 7+$$/ #a large cap which went warm it still worked but to
be sure I replaced it%.
I could also replace the @Interim@0Fp0-mp *=353 #which replaced a 17+548% with a
:I553$. The other 17+548 #which is ok% was also replaced by the technically improved
:I553$.
I also checked the display illuminance section and found both lamps defective and also the
driving transistor 1?;?34+4. I replaced lamps and transistor #&)6.. as a replacement%.
:ow illuminance is ok again. #to be honest I tried first to replace the lamps with 3 *I)s
and a 4./ ohms resistor. &ut the result was not bright enough and I replaced that again with
real lamps%.
)isplay illuminace lamps are hidden in this white box.
This was the first time I tried to improve the look of the signals which looked very blurred.
I was able to make signals look much better. &oth channels seem to be display the
waveforms fully correct now.
%ixing t"e & axis amplifier
-t this state the following issues were left!
+. Intensity knob has no effect
$. &eam return is not hidden #I can see the beam returning%
3. 'olts()iv >nob at 7hannel $ is broken.
4. @- Trigger *evel@ >nob is broken
5. 'olts()I' *amps(&ulbs are broken(do not work
+. and $. were related to the N -xis section of the device so they seem to be related.
The beam return signal is not suppressed and can be seen on the screen. ?ee the two
following pictures.
)isplaying rectangle waveforms looking good on both channels.
The visible beam return can be seen on the following image!
?inus waveforms look good on both channels.
Here the visible beam return can be seen. Its the dashed line starting at the right end of the
screen and going to the left start of the screen #in fact left start is outside of the visible area
of the screen%. ?omething is wrong with beam return.
-fter searching for the problem for some days I identified a shortcut between the collector
and the emitter of a transistor in the " axis amplifier #at G+4.$% as the source of the
problem.
;7& " axis amplifier section G+4.$ is removed the pin holes
can be seen. Fn this side of the ;7& there is no shortcut.
It must be on the backside...
To remove the shortcut the interface board has to be removed again.
Oust to probe my suspection I isolated the shortcut by removing all components from the
;7& that were connected with Imitter of the transistor and wired everything together with
some wires. =or the first time I could vary intensity and the beam return signals were not
visible anymore. N axis amp worked again<
?ticking all components desoldered from the ;7& together in the air
using some wires for a test
Intensity knob works again and the beam return is suppressed on
the display as it should be< 1y 465 works<
-fter this I tried to calibrate the scope. 7alibration is described extensively in the service
manual.
)uring calibration I noticed that I could not calibrate the channel $ amplitude. =or 3//m'
in the +//m'0Aange I only get $ graticules amplitude on the display correct would have
been 3 graticules. ?o there was another error obviously in the channel $ vertical pre
amplifier.
I started exchanging transistors between both channels with no result. -ll were good. The
problem seems to be in a passive component around the second amplifier stage.
Transistors even pairs of them can be exchanged easily on the old teks
because they are not soldered but stick on the ;7&s
7lose to the solution! The interesting thing is the +5/ ohms resistor in the middle of the
picture.
It looks optically well. Fn its left pin I have a signal that I do not have on the same resistor
pin at the other channel.
1easurement at this resistor pins reveals a value of 2+$>Fhms. There is something wrong
with that resistor. I decided to desolder it for further checks.
Chen touching the resistor during desoldering I found that it was broken in
two parts that stayed close together looking as if its still ok but without electric function
anymore<
-fter repair nice looking signals on both channels. Hnit was also cleaned !0%
-nd these are all parts I replaced!
The big cap from the power supply another cap that went warm for no reason #black one%
the op0amp from the power supply the cap 7+4+, with an internal shortcut #blue one% two
small transistors and a bigger one from power supply and a bigger transistor from the
screen illumination section from there also two light bulbs. -t the bottom the broken
resistor from the
vertical pre amp.
Replacement of 'olt()#' * lamps(uls
The Tek 465 autodetects +x and +/x probes #if they provide a readout for that%. =or those
different probes two light bulbs behind the transparent 'olts()I'0>nob shows the valid
settings on both channels. -t my scope all four lamps were broken.
To replace the lamps the complete vertical pre amp has to be detached from the scope. The
removal is well described in the service manual but it lasts some time.
I replaced the lamps with *I)s because *I)s last much longer than ordinary bulbs.
Hint! I was informed by one of the readers of this document that simply replacing the bulbs
with *I)s did not work in all cases. 1y Tek 465 is a newer one that can handle without
changes the different #i.e. reduced% load from *I)s. Flder Tek 465 devices #below ?(:
&$5////% will not work as expected. It is possible to modify the scheme from the old
version to the new version by adding one resistor #A3,$(4.>% and by removing another one
#that connects base of G3,$ and 7ollector of G3,6%. I haven9t tested this.
The detached vertical preamp. Fn the left the two light bulb cabins
made of white plastics can be seen
Iach *I) gets a $$/ ohms resistor so I have a *I) current of about +5m-.
-fter removing the old bulbs I soldered *I)Eresistor together
adKusted the pins as good as possible and inserted the new lights into
the white cabins. There is very few space to solder.
The polarity of the *I)s has to be taken into account. E is always at the outer left and right
end of the cabin the two pins that are already soldered together are the 0 pin for the *I)s.
-fter putting everything together I noted that the 465 always thinks that it has a +/x probe
in channel $. - 5uick test shows that the driver transistor G3,$ was defect. I replaced it
with a &755/& and everything is fine now.
These are the lights after putting everything together again.
#:ote that the channel $ knob is not yet replaced with a new one.%
I like the green lights<
-fter all I have now a nice second scope on my work bench<
I was also able to buy a completely broken 465 in ebay for less than $/ Iuro and could
combine the best knobs and switches from both devices so I have no broken front knobs
anymore.
The completely broken 465 came in parts and as far as I could see it was complete except
the 7AT tube. ?o I keep the parts maybe I can get some cheap 7AT someday. The 465
7AT with Tek ;art :o. +540/6.60+/ comes from Tektroniks itself. I read from internet
sources that also the tek 7ATs +540/.3+0// #for 465&% and +540/86+0// #e.g. for Tek
$$35% can be used as an replacement #no guarantee for this%.
+inks
Mahoo Tek Lroup
Tektronix =orum at Tektronix
Tektronix ;arts ?hop
bluefeathertech.com 0 ?ite with )ocs for many old measure devices
amplifier.cd 0 #german% hints for repairing old tektronix devices #hints are for .///
mainframe series but usable anywhere%
&arrytech 0 ?ite with many infos and photos from Tektronix devices
Tek Lallery #amplifier.cd% 0 #german% :ice gallery of many tektronix devices
Aeprise Tek ?ite 0 1any infos on Tek devices by two tek employees
Helmut ?inger Ilektronik 0 #besides other trademarks% used tek devices in germany
7opyright spurtikus.de +,,,0$/+3