[time-nuts] Broken Ovenaire OSC 85-50 - crystal failure ?
Kit Scally
kitscally at iprimus.com.au
Sat Jul 4 08:21:44 UTC 2009
G'day Joe,
My call on <this> question is: "very seldom with a properly designed
circuit and crystal" (NO flames please on these descriptions !)
Having said that, I have a couple of broken crystals from once-working
HP E1938A oscillators. All appear to have some form of physical
fracture or electrical disconnect within the copper crystal capsule. A
careful shake makes a re-connection but fails if the capsule is moved
even slightly.
I've not attempted to butcher a capsule open to determine the cause -
this to my mind is bordering on the sacrilegious but if given absolution
from another TimeNut, I may attempt it and photograph the results ...
Regards,
Kit
VK2LL
*************
Do XTAL's fail often? If so, by what mechanism? Slowly fade away?
Sudden death? I am not experienced enough to know this answer but in
all my years with various HAM gear, I do not recall the failure of a
single XTAL. However, none of these were in an oven.
Thanks again for all the useful information.
Joe
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