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Electronics => Beginners => Topic started by: giosif on September 07, 2020, 07:38:16 am

Title: Is it safe to turn on power supply?
Post by: giosif on September 07, 2020, 07:38:16 am
Hi,

I am troubleshooting a Tektronix 2710 spectrum analyzer and I suspect there is a fault in the power supply section.
However, the board in question is also responsible for generating the high voltage for the CRT (please see large PCB in the below picture, courtesy of PA4TIM - www.pa4tim.nl (http://www.pa4tim.nl)).
Is it safe (for the power supply itself) to power it while disconnected from the CRT and all other boards in the spectrum analyzer?
For my safety, I will take extra-precautions, but I'm mainly interested in the power supply itself, if it is ok to turn on.

Thanks!

(https://www.pa4tim.nl/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Tek2710_1.jpg)
Title: Re: Is it safe to turn on power supply?
Post by: Vovk_Z on September 07, 2020, 07:03:16 pm
Good question. I don't know a right answer, but I know that there is a non-zero possibility to make things worse, because some power supplies don't like an absence of load.
So we definitely have to hear from somebody who knows this device.
Title: Re: Is it safe to turn on power supply?
Post by: giosif on September 07, 2020, 07:28:13 pm
Thank you for confirming my concern!
Let's see if someone can give us the more definite answer.
Title: Re: Is it safe to turn on power supply?
Post by: ledtester on September 07, 2020, 07:33:01 pm
You might find some info in the service manual.

Tektronics service manuals are usually available on-line from tek.com. There are also other sites offering them for free -- e.g.:

https://elektrotanya.com/tektronix_2710_spectrum_analyzer_sm.pdf/download.html#dl

Title: Re: Is it safe to turn on power supply?
Post by: srb1954 on September 07, 2020, 10:02:02 pm
Join the TekScopes forum on groups.io

There is a huge wealth of information available from the group members for repairing Tektronix equipment.
Title: Re: Is it safe to turn on power supply?
Post by: giosif on September 07, 2020, 11:08:53 pm
Thank you both!

I do have the service manual.
I've also joined the discussion group and have started a thread on the repair of this unit.
Let's see how it goes.