[time-nuts] Ion pump power supply, Cs tube storage life
Tim Schulz
technoid_tim at comcast.net
Fri Dec 5 19:55:27 UTC 2008
Greetings again fellow listers - I have been trying to build a voltage
multiplier to replace what I believe to be a dead one in my 5062C ion
pump power supply. I downloaded the 5061service manual (thanks
Leapsecond!!), and it states that it is a doubler in that power supply.
I long ago got rid of my HV parts stock at a ham swap foolishly thinking
that I wouldn't be needing them, so I had to pay $6 each for a couple of
NTE 2Kv PIV diodes at the local parts house. I decided that HP might
have used Greinacher type doubler and put one together using some 2Kv
rated .01uf ceramic caps. What I got out of it when hooked up to the
ion pump ps was about 1.77Kv AC according to my Fluke 8060 and high
voltage divider probe. So I guess I am not quite there yet and would
appreciate more guidance in that area. I did get a Bertan 5Kv
adjustable PS off ebay as a plan "B" if I can't fix the original
supply. I also tried to dissolve the potting material on the defective
module, but sitting in xylol for 2 days hasn't done anything.
Also, I was wondering if Cs tubes could be stored for long periods (say
10-20 years) as long as the ion pump was kept active or at least at
regular intervals. I was wondering what the failure modes might be -
air leakage, or does the cesium sublimate over time out of the oven?
Also, is anybody able to rebuild Cs tubes? Again, I am wondering if I
would be able to find a replacement down the road for the compact tube
in the 5062.
Thanks again! tim
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