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Products => Test Equipment => Topic started by: rludlamjr on January 02, 2025, 08:23:35 pm

Title: HP / Agilent 8015a pulse generator / does not power up, accessing internals
Post by: rludlamjr on January 02, 2025, 08:23:35 pm
Hi, I recently acquired an HP 8015a pulse generator.  It seems maybe it was knocked around during shipping and it is not powering up.  I can hear something rattling around inside so I'm interested in opening it up just to see if something came loose or is disconnected.  But I cannot for the life of me figure out how to open the case up to access and don't want to damage it (I know, I know, this is embarrassing).  There are no obvious screws to remove.  Would greatly appreciate some advice.  I was able to loosen the front panel, but ideally would like to remove the top / bottom panels if possible.  Thanks!
Title: Re: HP / Agilent 8015a pulse generator / does not power up, accessing internals
Post by: factory on January 02, 2025, 08:30:41 pm
There should be one screw at the back of the unit, for each of the top & bottom covers, it's in the centre, once loosened the covers should slide off. The rear feet probably need removing too.

David
Title: Re: HP / Agilent 8015a pulse generator / does not power up, accessing internals
Post by: rludlamjr on January 02, 2025, 08:52:40 pm
Wow, thanks for the quick reply!  That did the trick - it was just really really stuck.  Unfortunately I don't see anything obviously wrong inside and this definitely looks like it's beyond my skill level to do anything to.  Unless there's a common issue you know of that would cause it to not power up (other than the fuse :), I may have to bail on this one and sell it for parts.  Thanks again!
Title: Re: HP / Agilent 8015a pulse generator / does not power up, accessing internals
Post by: rludlamjr on January 02, 2025, 11:22:51 pm
Ok, well amazingly enough I was able to fix it.  Turns out one of the large connectors on the back panel had pulled loose during shipping.  I was able to push it back in and it fired right up.  Thanks again for your help!
Title: Re: HP / Agilent 8015a pulse generator / does not power up, accessing internals
Post by: Dave Wise on January 04, 2025, 06:27:41 pm
Those are interesting instruments, I had one about ten years ago.  Pulsed current source in parallel with inductor-isolated DC source.  A couple of the HP-made transistor arrays were bad. I just wired in discrete transistors at the bad spots.  Sold it, should have kept because it made better edges than my Wavetek 145.