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| HP 5335A Timer / Counter - Anything i should know? |
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| max_torque:
After messing around with various projects that require accurate (or at least repeatable) timing, i've finally bitten the bullet and brought a "proper" timer counter, the classic (very classic.... ;-) HP 5335A. Unfortunately it doesn't have the high precision oscillator option, but i was wondering if there are any tweaks / tips / or things i should be aware of with this meter? It seems quite a popular meter, so i immagine there are quite a few in hobbiest / Amature hands etc! It ran out of calibration at the end of last year, but i guess now that it's nearly 28 years old it'll be fairly stable?? |
| Vgkid:
Nothing really bad with them, unless you fry the input assy. The only issue (mine will refuse to read input if chanels are switched during use,yet passes self check for both :o). The opt 10 can be found on ebay if you want one. Also you have the front display cover plastic grrrr. Mine doesnt. |
| babysitter:
Having serviced its little brother 5334A just today: Look for burned resistors at the input, that is the main thing. Mine had a burned 50 Ohm Termination on Channel A, which I didnt realize that the only time I used the internal termination I was using channel B. Also, the first series Resistor in the Arming path was burned, too, but it works again. The termination was fixed before, the original ckt is 2 100 Ohm in parallel which were dark burned, and another pair of new 100 Ohm resistors was stacked on top without removing the first ones |O,I fixed it by replacing the stacks with a 56 Ohm and a 402 Ohm O0 The Arm path was a 619 Ohm resistor, replaced with a 620 Ohm type measuring 619 - not that I expect any effect. All working well now. ^-^ Mine was without Option 010 also, now wonder as the price was below a 10811 which is the thing you might want for the 5335 also. But a cheap OCXO from ebay went in with ugly connections, doing a good job, too. |
| max_torque:
Yeah, i noticed the 5v max input limit in the manual when 50Ohm termination is selected, irrespective of frequency or attenuation. Could imagine that it would be pretty easy to accidentally smoke that, especially as otherwise you've got 250V to play with!! Mines Ex-MIL, must have been de-mobbed quite recently as the cal sticker says DEC13 for recal, so only about 6 months ago. Will probably pop the lid off for a look around (check those 50Ohmers!) and perhaps any caps etc that are looking crispy (build date on mine is WK26 1986, so it's getting on a bit). I suspect it's been rack mounted in a fixed system assy, because it's in excellent condition, with few scratches, all it's buttons, and ALL the BNC's are undamaged with little wear. THE HPIB connector also looks immaculate and dust/dirt free, so i suspect it's been remote controlled for a lot of it's life (which would also explain why it's only just been de-mobbed if it's been part of an active system, and hence difficult to just 'upgrade' unlike a unit used for bench test etc. Will have to keep an eye out for the Oven Oscillator on ebay, and i'd love to find a cheap HPIB -> USB adaptor (or knock one up with a suitable micro controller ;-) |
| babysitter:
I employ a Prologix USB Adapter for my GPIB Stuff. Into my counter went a C-MAC STP2390C OCXO, free-wired to the Option 010 Connector (Not 10811 Layout); looking ugly but seems to work fine, tonight it is busy with a TIC Measurement Rb against its own reference output. The 5334 both A and B have a quite unsatisfying internal oscillator. Counter plus OCXO were ebay for less than a single 10811 or 10544 (Which i think will fit yours directly. Take care, several different versions of the 10811 exist, some with relaxed specs.) Next intermediate goal: Hack together a C channel option... |
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