I just launched another video on Patreon, and plan on having a video here, not to long from now. Also, I have been working on the second Lab (day and night) This new Lab will be part of the up-coming news letter on Patreon.
Incredibility awesome, Kind Sir Paul. In my 91 yrs of age; I have NEVER known; any one that can teach electronics; as easy as you can. And I say this; because I was an electronic Instructor for RCA, for 33 yrs; and then I subbed for 12 yrs; to Electronic Technical Co's all over America.. Also, I had many teachers. But NONE could care your case. I wish I had an instructor like you. Thanks Paul. You are truly a "Cut-Above". Oh yes. Keep it up. May Jesus bless you and yours always.❤
Dr. Carlson, outstanding explanation of how an oscope works. Awaiting your restoration of the other scope. Fantastic video. Thank you for your time and sharing. Joel
Still one of the best videos ever on the explanation of tube circuits, just a ton of info. I have watched this video at least 3 or 4 times and still pick up something new each time. Absolutely great stuff!! Thank You.
Wonderful explanation of how an analog oscilloscope works! I really enjoyed the part in which you explained the schematic. Can't believe how far you brought me in this short time so I was able to understand your explanation of the circuit! I already work on part 2 of my little CLT project which I will upload to the community section soon. Thank you Paul, great work and thanks for all the effort!
Every time I see your videos, I wonder how much time you put in them. You must be efficient because I guessed more than you mentioned in the video description. Thanks for your work!
Just got one of these. in the manual there is an errata note clipped in that states that 6CL8A is used instead of a 6BR8A/6FV8A for the Vert. amp they then state that the 6BR8A is interchangeable with the 6CL8A in this application. Mine also has the nice poly caps.
It should be noted, for our viewers just starting out in electronics, that tubes and solid-state electronics each have their pluses and minuses. Tubes are physically fragile; the glass envelope is very thin, and the filament lead wires are also thin. Drop one on a hard floor and you’ll be sweeping up glass fragments. BUT, they’re much more robust and can withstand higher voltages (and spikes) that’ll destroy modern semiconductors. Semiconductors, OTOH, are physically robust; they’re mostly metal and plastic. A drop onto a hard floor might bend a pin, but they’ll generally survive, but they don’t like high voltage (static electricity) at all (There are exceptions, such as MOVs, though.)
This brought back many fond memories. The WO-33A was my first scope when I was a young lad starting out in electronics back in the early 1970's. It was kindly given to me by a local TV repair shop owner that I helped out after school and on the weekends. They claimed a bandwidth of 5 MHZ or so and for TV and radio service work at the time that was good enough. It sold for $129 back in 1960 or you could save some money and buy the kit for $79.99. Many of the kits were built by students at the then RCA Institutes electronics schools as part of their course of study. It wasn't a cheap scope when you consider that $129 is about $1100 in todays money and at the time was about the weekly wage of the average working man. Thanks for the look see Paul, great as always. 73 Doug.
Fantastic video, as usual, Paul. Very clear explanations. I'd be most interested in seeing you do both; build your curve tracer out of one scope and restore the other to like new condition. I'm now kinda sorry I sold my two Tektronix scopes (a 465 and a 475) two years ago on eBay. Fixed power supply issues in both but they were still showing their age in scratchy pots and inconsistent alignment. I was not confident I could rebuild them so replaced them while they were still working with an entry level DSO that I'm now not entirely happy with. Wish I'd known about you then, I'd have two gloriously rebuilt top-notch analog scopes by now...
Check out the beginning scene inside the interior of the spaceship in the 1955 movie World Without End. You might show clips from old movies or ads of old equipment your segments! I wouldn’t have known what these were if I hadn’t been watching you on RU-vid! thanks for all you do!
I agree with Aryon and would like to see a restoration of the older RCA oscilloscope. I thoroughly enjoy your restorations and always learn something new.
@@ibsoarin , So would I, but with one caveat... please compare the two. If you fully restore the two, the only differences should be the tubes used and the actual CRTs installed.
I no one thing now that I have a knight kg 670 capacitor tester ,I haven't seen any modern tester can do what the vintage one can ,like leakage testing ,mine I just got still learning how to use it the man I got it from made a nice video on his restore and how to use it .,I holding to get thing like a tube tester ,and a few other vintage equipment ,being a disabled vet I on a fix income ,but I trust the vintage equipment better ,I seen a digital tube tester it was very pricey and very unreliable.thank you for your videos
I have several vacuum tube operated oscopes.I will often use one of those for testing things like vacuum tube amplifiers and other things capable of high voltage and/or high current when I don't want to risk one of my more modern dual channel scopes.
I noticed that all the tube sockets, tie strips and circuit board were mounted with screws and nuts, not riveted. It looks like those scopes were kit built, or they didn't care about saving time and money by using rivets. Of course it was around 1959! Nice video, keep them coming.
I would definitely like to see an oscilloscope restoration video. I would like to know what type of caps you would use to replace the big can style caps. Thank you as always for your dedication and effort.
Pretty sure my Father didn't know this stuff, otherwise he would have shown me. I wished I had something to give back, tough times at present. My old man was in the business with one of the "Ma Bells", but, knowing theory and having time in the trenches doing board repairs are two very different things. This stuff applies to automotive computer systems, no decent tech can get by without knowing this stuff, Thanks again....
Love your videos.... most excellent... love the idea of turning old scopes into curve tracers... for tubes? for tansistors? diodes?.. looking forward to watching and maybe even doing.. best
Some friends asked me why I like the older tube type gear so much. I just feel it's my duty to tease 'em. They say..."That's stuff's so old and outdated, the Amish could use it!" I say something like..."Yeah, this piece right here's over 50 years old. Give me just a few hours and dollars and it'll last another 50 years." I really laid it on thick for one friend of mine. I told him..."You spend your kids' inheritance restoring that late 40s pickup truck...you could have bought a new one by now. I've spent 50 bucks so far on this one piece and it may climb all the way to 60 bucks by the time I'm done..."
What are the chances of doing a Heathkit 10-14 laboratory scope. Also caps cheap? The high voltage style seem very pricey making restorations almost not worth it. Where do you source good and reasonable priced caps? For a tech tips Tues maybe go over common values to stock ?? Or your thoughts on sticking any caps. Thanks for the great well explained vids!! You rock Paul!!!
Thank you so much for all your videos and in particular these about oscilloscopes and other pieces of equipment. I have a concern and a question regarding the vacuum tube 1V2 used as a high voltage rectifier in the EICO 460 Oscilloscope (and others), while using the equipment on lower mains voltage, or just at 50 Hz (in Europe), which would provide less output voltages from the power transformer. My concern, precisely, is about the filament voltage of the 1V2, which could go easily below 0.525 V, which in the tube datasheet is reported as the absolute minimum value that could be used. My question is: why the 1V2 cannot operate below that filament voltage? Maybe because with insufficient filament emission it would emit X-rays? I would like to know what do you think about it, also considering that on the EICO 460 the high voltage is just about 1000 V, which probably would not be enough for developing X-rays in the 1V2 tube. Thank you for your attention. Regards, Daniele
When I sell my crypto in May, I'm going to buy as many old broken scopes as I can find, repair then and give them to students. I had that done for me and now I do what Mr. Carlson does...FIX THINGS.
Good for you! You’ve got a big heart and that’s a great idea… it really does help out folks who are starting. Someone did that for me, I had an ad on craigslist asking to buy old test equipment and some guy gave me an entire truckload of his test equipment that he used in his TV repair shop for 30 years. I couldn’t believe it it was wonderful! I’ve also tried to give away a lot of my surplus test equipment. I had mountains of the stuff at one time… But sadly was too busy to repair most of it before giving it away. But still new tax and students were glad to get the chance just to have some of the stuff and troubleshoot it themselves.
@@hullinstruments I have now started a company SG Test I am designing a range of high accuracy budget test equipment. I am currently testing a 200MHz differential oscilloscope probe I designed. I'm up to 150Mhz with a laser flat response all the way to that number. Retail should be around $160 many a little more but deffo less than. 200. The next is a revolutionary milliohm / millivolt meter for use in fault-finding, it has a function none other has. Again same target price. All designs will use the same housings for a brand identity.
Where do you find this stuff? I have seen you mention old $5.00 (cheap) Oscilloscopes several times. When I look on E-bay or Google I see those identical $5.00 Scopes selling for $100.00 ~ $150.00. Are you getting these things in states of disrepair/nonfunctional at Amateur Swap meets? I have attended the Orlando Swap Meet several times and yet have I to see real bargains with vintage working equipment. What do you know that I have not yet discovered? I am running out of time Paul, I have a very bad and heart with artery disease and am so close to 70 which is a few years after what a doctor expressed as my life expectancy. I hope there are swap meets in the afterlife. :-D Sorry, but I needed that rant. It is what old people on fixed incomes do when they live off Social Security. Take it in fun please... :-D
Dear mr Carlson I have a oscilloscope and it does not sweep it’s green dot stay in one side, unless I operate the shift control. It does no longer goes by it self. The printed circuit board smells in one corner. In is corner there in resistor and capacitor, is this where forte lie Yours sincerely John Pinner
Hey Mr. Carlson, I need help identifying a diode I need. It doesn't seem to follow the standard diode labeling? The car was made in 1985, so its a 32 year old diode lol. Numbers on it say B1245, but I have not found anything online close to this. Possibly Ba124? Its a 12v circuit that controls the headlights in my car lol. Also, if you could point me in the direction of the best place to purchase such a component online, I'd be much obliged. Thank you for all the wonderful videos, I love watching them and learning.
I shall do this. Would you mind if I emailed you the schematic once i'm done? it appears this part of the circuit takes 12v power from the headlight switch and passes though the missing diode and feeds the bases of two transistors and a capacitor.
Where can I find the replacement for the large capacitor 0.5 mf 1000 Volts which is in the back of the CRT? I have a very vintage Oscilloscope with a similar big capacitor in there and I can't find the replacement!
Wire three 2.2uF 400V capacitors in series - Very cheap on ebay. If they are electrolytics wire a 2.2 Megohm resistor across each to balance out the voltage. Get the polarity connection correct.
The guitarist in me still thinks there is some magic mojo in tubes. Is there any truth to this alleged mojo behind tubes? or can a fet with the proper circuit sound and react the same way a tube circuit can? did i fall for the snake oil? we also claim that old caps sound better, haha but maybe an old cap does sound better, sometimes.
Seeing the title and just starting to watch the video the first thing that comes to mind is quality. Most modern "stuff" is so much lower in build quality. We call old stuff boat anchors for a reason. I have HP high voltage power supplies built in the 1940's that are still 100% original to include the massive sized electrolytic capacitors. Doubt I will ever see a modern power supply last half as long. Now back to the video.
@@ProgNoizesB actually, older equipments like that are several times expensive or even costs house and lots those days. but you could argue how long they last makes them worth it. but no, products today are so cheap, you can't begin to compare it. it's not even proportional. there are super high quality expensive products these days that will compete with multiple times costly old products.
@@omniyambot9876 Very few expensive products will ever last as long as their counterparts from the 40's and 50's. Those machines were made to be maintained forever. With the exception of luxury watches that use ancient technology, name one super high quality product that doesn't have built in obsolescence?
The most relaxing videos on RU-vid to watch. Who needs whale noises when this makes me feel warm, comfortable and a tiny bit sleepy (but in a good way). It's like watching a Bob Ross video, just seeing someone at the top of their game helping the rest of us along with such tranquillity. We just need Mr Carlson to come up with a few catch phrases now. Happy Little Tubes.
This is an outstanding video with a very clear and basic explanation of how analog oscilloscopes and vacuum tubes work. I would very much enjoy seeing you restore the 2nd (older) RCA oscilloscope. Thank you. -Dave
Mr. Carlson, just seeing that I have a video from you is such a nice thing. Your videos are all so informative and fun to watch. Thanks so much for all your time and expertise. Really enjoyed this. Oh, Here is your big thumbs up 👍🏼 😀
Another great, very informative video. Thank you and yes, I would definitely like to see a full restoration of the second scope. I would also like to see videos on using the older test gear on real trouble shooting applications.
Another genius video. People, where do you get quality information like this on RU-vid without bloated AU egos? $2/month Patreon is incredible. Sign up. I've been doing this since before the 8080. I am still learning from Mr. Carlson.
Great explanation of the circuit operation! How about a simple retrace blanking circuit for these old type of scopes as a future project. Just an Idea :-) Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us!
Great video! Two thumbs up! would like to see restoration video of the RCA WO-33A. Looked up some info on this scope - it appears it was offered as a kit as well as factory assembled circa 1960. Good little scope for what it was intended for in those days. Keep up the great work, Paul. 73 de KA2EMI
I really would love to see the older oscilloscope rebuilt on RU-vid! Videos like yours keeps building my knowledge and confidence in rebuilding my on the shelf projects!
Paul, ALL your restoration projects are educational. Yes I would love to see that 2nd scope rebuilt along with any Ham and/or shortwave radios or audio gear. If I could only talk you into doing a 90 minute video on my Kenwood R-5000. Fix the infamous key bounce....the memory battery.....the PLL "goop" problem so many R-5000s have, etc. :-)
Your simple example using batteries, is just awesome. If a person can't learn from you, they can NOT learn at all! You are a "cut-above" kind Sir. (Bit of trivia in reference to "induction and capacitance" in oscilloscope CRT's; even though there are no discrete coils or capacitors in there; reminds me of huge transmitting tubes designed for ultra high frequency Radio/TV stations. IE: Even a bolt (Yes bolt) can be an inductor and/or a capacitor. Strange as it sounds it is true. Thus, it takes careful designs to get around these maladies. In other words, it drives engineers crazy.)
Thanks for the very informative video. These RCA WO-33A scopes were available either factory assembled or as kits. I bought the kit version when I was in 7th grade (1963) from Allied Electronics with my summer lawn mowing money (with some additional help from Dad). My 1968 Allied catalog has a list price of $99 for the kit, and $139 for the assembled model. Allied states the bandwidth is 20 Hz to 150 kHz.
I think so, too. "Interesting" doesn't necessarily mean better, just more fun. Like an auto transmission is much easier and more convenient, but a manual is more fun. To take it a step further: Back in the 60's when I was a ham, and built my own gear, we homebrewers called anyone who used store-bought gear "appliance operators." 0bviously anyone who ran a Collins S-Line would be justifiably amused at our arrogance, but we were just expressing pride in our DIY skills.
Wow, great video Mr. Carlson! I'm still trying to take the "magic" out of vacuum tubes myself and your explanation of exactly what's going on in there helps a lot. Well built equipment to still be working like that. I recently picked up an ancient Heathkit scope from a second hand store. They sold it as "not working", paid $20 for it. Got it home and opened it up and yep, tons of paper caps. Took a chance and powered it up. The reason it was "not working" was because the brightness was turned all the way down and the trace was off screen. I vote for the restoration video, but I always do. :) I enjoy them all. Look forward to it and the curve tracer project over at Patreon. Thanks as always! -Niles
awesome paul. thanks heaps for your explanation on valves, looking forward to more details on the different types. i've not seen anything as remotely awesome as valve based oscilloscopes here in Australia ; that said probably not looking in the right places.
do the build :-) i have come to enjoy the restomods you do with some of this equipment. i am sure that the work....as usual....will be well executed and logical as always. still dealing with capacitor octopuses(or would that be octopi?) and the customers that own them.... =dok=
Enjoying your videos. Great Audio. I fancy learning a bit more about valves. Any chance you did a video about your "Mr Carlson vacuum tube condenser mic"?
Just an excellent video. Your explanations are very good. I love the older equipment. I have an older (1980) ham transceiver that I do repairs on. Keep on making videos on older gear!
6:49 400 W V D C LOL Working Volts Direct Current LOL How bloody old is that who see's WV these days , let alone WV DC as if we needed to be told that a cap would output DC LOL oh god... you gotta love it
Some capacitors that couple the front end in these older scopes had AC rated capacitors. WV and SV are still used, but often not printed. ** as if we needed to be told that a cap would output DC * WV is an input rating, not an output rating. You are correct, these are old caps. They were way more descriptive back then.
@@MrCarlsonsLab Hello Mr Carlson, it's your first time responding to me so i feel compelled to say a few things 1. I'ts fucking weird calling you MR Carlson since we seem to be of similar age LOL 2. Re the WV..... Really ??? Hmm, thanks , good to know 3. I suppose in summary iwas just getting nostalgic with the old caps, I'm from the old days of 70s electronics and black and white TV's and since i haven't seen these caps in a few decades i got a little excited (Electronicns Porn and all that) LOL I have an old BWD CRO last serviced, i think 1963 still works, but it doesn't have those type of caps but it's still cool I have a KIKUSUI approx !984 Vintage i have a Tek Digital scope approx 1994 Vintage and then i have 2 recent one's but i still prefer the old stuff to the new anyway ,finally , you're doing good work, Keep going with it mate You do the electronics industry and guys like us credit by keeping this alive I was actually thinking of starting up my own channel focusing not only on electronics but a few other things, computer, Networking, Satellite and a few other things. sometimes i sit here and say to myself , Even though i have respect (a lot of respect) for guys like You, Dave Jones, Fran, 8 bit Guy , electroboom etc etc i sometimes feel that some of you guys might hold animosity if someone else entered the space, it's not just that, it's also a consideration of time that i would need to involve, but sometimes i think that since i respect you guys , i wouldn't want to piss you guys off so yeah, keep doing what your'e doing mate, it's very cool Take care Wish you well
Jeez, $5 a piece.... 😯 A model just like this turned up at a local pawn shop, and they wanted a HUNDRED and FIFTY bucks for it, and they DIDN'T even know if it worked or not. I tried to explain to them that even if it DID work, it wouldn't be for very long, and it would basically need a complete rebuild to be functional. They wouldn't BUDGE on the price, so I then asked them how many they wanted to buy from me for $75 a piece... 🙄 I told them I'd give them as many as they wanted for that price, and they could double their money. No answer. Then I promptly walked right out the door.
I worked a Calibration van for some time and was surrounded by antiques and that was back in the 70's, tons of electronics literally. The Marine Corps gets what the Navy retires. But a Fluke meter calibration station replaced better than half of the hardware within a few weeks of testing the new procedures and results verse old. That was a lesson in change, miniaturization, and even more precision. Participating in the migration from tube to transistor to IC's was a career and quantum memory may not be far away or closer than we think. Metrology was and is still a fascinating endeavor for me, and the big data that comes with.
I learned something new about electronics from researching old O'scopes.... There was a sea change in circuit topology happened in 1961. Prior to then the amplifiers were Pentodes running as class A. After 1961 amplifiers were differentials /long tailed pairs and differential amplifiers continue to be used to this day. I had wondered how vintage American O'scopes could so readily be put to use with octopus and similar low voltage year circuits. I discovered that the American vintage O'scopes date later than 1961. The British "miniature" O'scopes predate 1961 - Cossors and Metropolitan Vickers were made during the 1950s. Anyways I am rewiring my collection of Cossor 1039M , 1099, CT52 to use dual triode diff amps, or in some cases use EF184 dual Pentodes as diff amps. Just so you know....
Those "polycaps' in my Hammarlund, were listed as Durapaper caps in the parts list. And most were leaky, so I replaced them all. When I first looked at them, I also thought they were films. Just sayin'.
I will put this comment on your patreon page as well: I have really enjoyed watching your content over the last year or so. I graduated in 2016 from a college in NC, USA for Electrical Engineering. Along the way I gained a love and appreciation for electronics and enjoyed all of the labs I had, even if I didn't fully understand them at the time. Sadly, being an engineer in practice doesn't always mean you get to do the "fun" stuff and realistically it means more paperwork and meetings than bench time. That being said, there is something very satisfying about zipping a project up and sending it off to manufacturing! Since I haven't had as much bench time as I would like, I have found myself extremely timid when it comes to jumping in and trying it out, always feeling like maybe I don't know what I am doing. Well, after watching your videos I learned that I do know what I am doing for the most part and your channel has given me the confidence to just jump on in and not worry about making mistakes! At least not the life altering (or ending) kind. So I wanted to thank you very much for keeping me interested in something that is highly fascinating and, whether you know it or not, for encouraging all of your viewers to take a chance on something cool! -73 KX4MA
