Wavetek 23 croaks, anyone know of "notorious" falure areas?
in [Design]
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From: miso on 4 May 2010 22:32 On May 4, 2:22 pm, Joerg <inva...(a)invalid.invalid> wrote: > So here I am, doing variable line frequency test and ... phssss ... PHUT > ... *BAM* ... followed by a stench wafting about. I looked at what was > supposed to be 265V/50Hz sine and found a totally distorted 1Hz, plus > lots of heat in my amp which luckily survived. > > Turns out the Wavetek 23 function generator became totally "loose" in > frequency. Have to wrap up some stuff today so I tried and was able to > goose it to 50Hz by cranking it to 995Hz (above 1kHz it completely loses > it). But that's a white-knuckle ride because the test runs mostly > unattended. > > Does anyone know whether these things have a typical pathology that can > be fixed? Like this or that cable always comes loose, etc.? I have > re-seated the EPROM, battery is fine, re-seated connectors, nada. I do > have the manual but diagnosing it from synthesizer to the end will take > hours because it's a uC driven instrument. > > -- > Regards, Joerg > > http://www.analogconsultants.com/ > > "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam. > Use another domain or send PM. Hey, it's Livermore Swap meet this Sunday. To say I'm not a fan of Wavetek puts it mildly. Their stuff breaks often.
From: Michael A. Terrell on 4 May 2010 22:55 Joerg wrote: > > So here I am, doing variable line frequency test and ... phssss ... PHUT > ... *BAM* ... followed by a stench wafting about. I looked at what was > supposed to be 265V/50Hz sine and found a totally distorted 1Hz, plus > lots of heat in my amp which luckily survived. > > Turns out the Wavetek 23 function generator became totally "loose" in > frequency. Have to wrap up some stuff today so I tried and was able to > goose it to 50Hz by cranking it to 995Hz (above 1kHz it completely loses > it). But that's a white-knuckle ride because the test runs mostly > unattended. > > Does anyone know whether these things have a typical pathology that can > be fixed? Like this or that cable always comes loose, etc.? I have > re-seated the EPROM, battery is fine, re-seated connectors, nada. I do > have the manual but diagnosing it from synthesizer to the end will take > hours because it's a uC driven instrument. The first problem is that it was made by Wavetek. About 90% of the junked test equipment at Microdyne was Wavetek. Luckily, I had a HP 3325B on my benches. -- Anyone wanting to run for any political office in the US should have to have a DD214, and a honorable discharge.
From: Joerg on 5 May 2010 12:09 miso(a)sushi.com wrote: > On May 4, 2:22 pm, Joerg <inva...(a)invalid.invalid> wrote: >> So here I am, doing variable line frequency test and ... phssss ... PHUT >> ... *BAM* ... followed by a stench wafting about. I looked at what was >> supposed to be 265V/50Hz sine and found a totally distorted 1Hz, plus >> lots of heat in my amp which luckily survived. >> >> Turns out the Wavetek 23 function generator became totally "loose" in >> frequency. Have to wrap up some stuff today so I tried and was able to >> goose it to 50Hz by cranking it to 995Hz (above 1kHz it completely loses >> it). But that's a white-knuckle ride because the test runs mostly >> unattended. >> >> Does anyone know whether these things have a typical pathology that can >> be fixed? Like this or that cable always comes loose, etc.? I have >> re-seated the EPROM, battery is fine, re-seated connectors, nada. I do >> have the manual but diagnosing it from synthesizer to the end will take >> hours because it's a uC driven instrument. >> >> -- >> Regards, Joerg >> >> http://www.analogconsultants.com/ >> >> "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam. >> Use another domain or send PM. > > Hey, it's Livermore Swap meet this Sunday. > > To say I'm not a fan of Wavetek puts it mildly. Their stuff breaks > often. Well, mechanically the units do not make a very good impression. Electrically they are usually ok. Ok, was, for this one :-( -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/ "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam. Use another domain or send PM.
From: Joerg on 5 May 2010 12:13 Michael A. Terrell wrote: > Joerg wrote: >> So here I am, doing variable line frequency test and ... phssss ... PHUT >> ... *BAM* ... followed by a stench wafting about. I looked at what was >> supposed to be 265V/50Hz sine and found a totally distorted 1Hz, plus >> lots of heat in my amp which luckily survived. >> >> Turns out the Wavetek 23 function generator became totally "loose" in >> frequency. Have to wrap up some stuff today so I tried and was able to >> goose it to 50Hz by cranking it to 995Hz (above 1kHz it completely loses >> it). But that's a white-knuckle ride because the test runs mostly >> unattended. >> >> Does anyone know whether these things have a typical pathology that can >> be fixed? Like this or that cable always comes loose, etc.? I have >> re-seated the EPROM, battery is fine, re-seated connectors, nada. I do >> have the manual but diagnosing it from synthesizer to the end will take >> hours because it's a uC driven instrument. > > > The first problem is that it was made by Wavetek. About 90% of the > junked test equipment at Microdyne was Wavetek. > > Luckily, I had a HP 3325B on my benches. > Maybe time to look for something better soon. A PC-driven "faceless" box would be just fine for the lab here. All I use it for is as a signal source, no need for fancy external triggering and stuff. -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/ "gmail" domain blocked because of excessive spam. Use another domain or send PM.
From: Michael A. Terrell on 5 May 2010 15:37
Joerg wrote: > > Michael A. Terrell wrote: > > Joerg wrote: > >> So here I am, doing variable line frequency test and ... phssss ... PHUT > >> ... *BAM* ... followed by a stench wafting about. I looked at what was > >> supposed to be 265V/50Hz sine and found a totally distorted 1Hz, plus > >> lots of heat in my amp which luckily survived. > >> > >> Turns out the Wavetek 23 function generator became totally "loose" in > >> frequency. Have to wrap up some stuff today so I tried and was able to > >> goose it to 50Hz by cranking it to 995Hz (above 1kHz it completely loses > >> it). But that's a white-knuckle ride because the test runs mostly > >> unattended. > >> > >> Does anyone know whether these things have a typical pathology that can > >> be fixed? Like this or that cable always comes loose, etc.? I have > >> re-seated the EPROM, battery is fine, re-seated connectors, nada. I do > >> have the manual but diagnosing it from synthesizer to the end will take > >> hours because it's a uC driven instrument. > > > > > > The first problem is that it was made by Wavetek. About 90% of the > > junked test equipment at Microdyne was Wavetek. > > > > Luckily, I had a HP 3325B on my benches. > > > > Maybe time to look for something better soon. A PC-driven "faceless" box > would be just fine for the lab here. All I use it for is as a signal > source, no need for fancy external triggering and stuff. I first used Wavetek equipment almost 30 years ago. I used it once, and shoved it to the corner of the workbench. It was a so called alignment system for CATV equipment. I could do a better job by watching the output on a good TV. :( -- Anyone wanting to run for any political office in the US should have to have a DD214, and a honorable discharge. |