[SOLVED] Agilent E3631A problems.... I just keep getting lucky... NOT.

[Runco990]

Well, when I am not trying to make a fool of myself working on Agilent stuff, I restore Studer Reel to reels.

You would be surprised how often I have to replace one of the many DACS that do the level sets in those decks.
I keep a dozen on hand.  I would be the one that says that I have never had to change an op-amp in 25 years.

You just don't know.  I have also changed many DACS in CD players, in particular Philips.

So I don't rule it out.  But at $9 and 15 minutes, I'll try it.  If nothing else, I'll have a spare in stock.

The trouble is that I am working on moving and just do not have the time to sit there and REALLY study this to troubleshoot.
I want to shotgun fix it so I can pack it.

Honestly looking forward to the new "shop", no mortgage, and the time to really get down to business.  I have projects I really want to do.   

I wanna be like Paul Carlson and collect vintage scopes!   

[bd139]

You'll want to join the Test Equipment Anonymous thread (TEA thread then). We have a few folk over there who collect them. I like fixing them and have had over 30 Teks so far but get bored after they're working and bounce them on ebay

[Runco990]

I have the same problem.....  I like the challenge, but get bored once it's fixed. 

[bd139]

Well you can make a boat load of money turning trash into gold at least 

Then you can use that to buy more trash 

[Runco990]

Yes, Fecal Alchemy!   

[bd139]

Hahaha spot on 

[perieanuo]

i'm surprised dacs die so often. i repair lot of industrial pcbs, tv's and this kind of repairs are usually for friends and neighbours, 90% is dead smps, inverters. never thaught a dac in cd player may die that's a first for everything, learnt something today
but my 'point of view' remains the same, costs nothing to have the logic around the dac at hand. you saw lots of dac's dead, i saw lots of logic ic's dead in industrial environment, in control boards and interfacing boards, so i always keep logic is'c at hand, in smd case, they can be easily replace the dip ones also. i can't explain some industrial facility manager he will not use his machine the time some 1-2 USD devices wait to be sent from farnell

[Runco990]

Update:  It WAS the DAC!

Replaced and all is good.  Have to do the re-cal, only out a tiny smidge. 

Thanks for the help!  It really guided me in better understanding how this works!

YAYYY!!!!   

[bd139]

Nice one - glad to hear it's working 

[Runco990]

Yep, I'm happy AND learned a little about DACS.  It is now calibrated as well.