Let's check out this newly acquired Agilent 6812B AC power source. Basic theory of operation with a block diagram is discussed plus testing using a Fluke 199C Scopemeter. #testequipment #learnelectronics #agilent
Thanks for watching! The power source was manufactured in 2011 so the RIFA are the newer version. I inspected them but did not find the telltale hairline cracks older units develop that lead to failure.
Perfect! (I suspect that somebody like you cannot miss something like that). You are absolutely right. Excuse me. And please, keep on doing your excellent and extremely clear and clean videos. TIA!
Nice one! One has to be really careful with "DC coupling"/DC offset too. Would be a great way to destroy a transformer. I found the CC on my 6811B to be really slow and wasn't sure if it was meant to be *that* slow, but it surely looks like it. In my light bulb tests the control loop also seemed a bit unstable depending on the use case - the slow control loop plus the negative tempco of the filament might have something to do with it... Mine also shows a certain offset. Funny thing: They recommend a 3458A for the calibration/adjustment. I guess the poor man's 3458A - the trusty 34401A - will have to suffice when I get around to the calibration. If you do the procedure on your unit, I'd be interested in that video ;)
Yes the DC offset with AC would be destructive to transformers and other devices. This instrument has to be used with caution for sure. You can shut off the AC and have only DC up to 425 volts at a few hundred watts which makes a nice DC power supply too. The user manual mentions that the CC mode may be slow (I read that after filming the video) at lower voltages, and other situations, which certainly seems to be the case. Interesting on the 8.5 digit 3458A.. that seems overkill for the accuracy of this power source. Maybe an excuse to get the 3458A :) Thanks for watching!
@@InssiAjaton yes, you are right. What I wanted to say was: Source limits current (due to newly set lower current limit), voltage drops, now the resistance decreases (because of the positive tempco), hence the controller has to reduce current further, voltage drops further, … until the source basically shuts down.
Hi from Norway! From your first name, are you of Scandinavian origin? That is a very versatile, and complicated power source, must have been very expensive new. Nice!
Very interesting PSU I never heard of before. I have a 6632B with the exact same VFD display and wondered what all those unused segments are for that light up in the self test. In particular the phase displays on the left. I notice yours does a display of Φ1 (phi or theta). Now it makes sense that the VFD could also be purposed for 3 phase AC as there are 3 of them. I can also see why there are AC+DC display annunciators on the right of the display.
Yes the display has the extra phase indicators for other applications that involved a 3 phase setup. The AC and DC for the voltmeter are for reading or blocking AC, DC, or AC + DC. The Output AC and DC indicators tell you if the output allows DC offset with AC or only AC (DC nulled to zero even if offset is entered).
The RIFA caps in older equipment definitely have problems. I have done videos about that. They get hairline cracks and eventually fail. I inspected the caps in this unit and they are all ok. This unit was made in 2011 and RIFA caps that fail are older 80's/90's vintage.
You might want to consider replacing the RIFA capacitors on the AC section. They have a history of going up in smoke, and are usually placed in the AC circuit before the power switch so always energized when plugged in.
The RIFA caps in older equipment definitely have problems. I have done videos about that. They get hairline cracks and eventually fail. I inspected the caps in this unit and they are all ok. This unit was made in 2011 and RIFA caps that fail are older 80's/90's vintage. Yes, some RIFA caps are connected before the power switch.
Calibration procedure is basically taking various readings on the output such as voltage and current with a known accurate DMM and entering those values into the instrument. That creates calibration constants (or offsets) that the instrument uses to make the output and displayed values accurate.
Hi! Have you back-up the firmware in EPROMs? I have this one but unfortunately it could not power up and only can display shift if I pressed the shift button. I'd like to repair it. I suspect the program is corrupted.
Sorry I do not have a firmware backup to offer. The service manual actually lists your fault symptom of only the shift indicator turning on. It may not be the firmware. There are some test and troubleshooting procedures listed. The service manual is available free at www.keysight.com/th/en/product/6812B/performance-ac-power-source-750-va-300-v-65-a.html#resources
Thank you. I have seen the service manual. I checked the signals followed the instruction and found that there was no UART signal from the DSP. I tried to switch on and off many times and there was only one time the display segments were all lit up. More situations were either the shift could light up or the keyboard had no response.
It can generate any AC voltage up to 300 volts so think of it as an electronic version of a variac. Any frequency DC (0 Hz) to 1 KHz so you can test 50 Hz and 400 Hz equipment or check how frequency variation affects a device's performance. Measuring abilities built in so you can monitor performance of a device being tested. Isolated output from main AC line which helps add safety during testing. Clean and stable output waveform for testing sensitive devices that you want to isolate from line fluctuations.
@@kevinedwards5719 Used checked working $1500 and up. Parts (complete boards) can run into the many hundreds or another thousand if you are trying to repair a unit. Non working or "unknown condition" units can be around $500 which is the description my unit had.
