Tektronix 547 high-voltage problem

Oct 20, 2006 2 Replies

My Tek 547 stopped working (no light on the screen). All voltages were OK except the CRT voltages. These are generated by a 6AU5 oscillator, which didn't oscillate. Measuring with a sine on the grid and a 1K resistor in the anode, I measured below 3mA/V . A replacement tube has 6.5 mA/V, and oscillates again, but at 800 kHz instead of 50 kHz (as per manual) and with much too low voltages produced. The 2nd grid was at 130V, should be 90 per manual. Dropping it with an additional resistor to 90V made the produced voltages even smaller. I think the high frequency could be the main cause of the low voltages. I believe frequency is determined mainly by the transformer and a 1 nF C between anode and 1st grid of the 6AU5. But soldering a 100 pF C over the 1n one made no difference in frequency, I would have expected a 10% drop. Using a larger parallel one like 1 nF stops the oscillation. Using another scope, I do see undistorted sines on the secondary windings. Because my 547 uses semiconductor diodes (BY711) for the high voltage (a mod), I do get secondary voltages, but much too low like 500V for the tube EHT instead of 8 kV .



What can cause this high oscillating frequency? What is wrong and how can I fix it? Could this be a faulty transformer (although I still see secondary voltages)?



Thanks, Mat Nieuwenhoven


It sounds like there is a short in the transformer. the loss of reflected inductance would raise the resonant frequency as you describe. I would disconnect all the secondaries to be sure that one of your diodes is not shorted. While the secondaries are disconnected check the primary inductance; it should be around 10 milliHenies.

According to my notes the plate of the 6AU5 should swing 340 volts peak to peak.

Found it at last, starting with your suggestion of disconnecting all secondaries to start with. The 6.3 V winding of the main transformer for the oscilloscope tube developed a short to ground, strangely enough only when measured one way with an ohmmeter; reversing the leads showed high impedance. I seem to missing one capacitor in the circuit, a 4 kV 10 nF flat C, which is supposed to go to the grid of the first triode in the high-voltage regulator. I am not able to locate it. Anyway, I think I'll put in another small transformer with high isolation (3kV minimum) to supply the 6.3 V - rewiring the big transformer is a big job (if do-able at all).

Thanks for the help.

Mat Nieuwenhoven

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