[volt-nuts] Fluke 5200A repair
Charles Steinmetz
csteinmetz at yandex.com
Mon Jul 14 04:24:31 EDT 2014
Ken wrote:
>Yes R6 changes the output of the op amp by about 15 mv..
>During further investigation I found the input to Q1 was sitting at -400 mv
>when it should be at 0 +/- 100uv.
Suggest lifting one end of R3 to isolate U1/Q1 from the oscillator.
>Using the transistor tester I first tested all the socketed transistors
>I then tested all the soldered in transistors and found a number that give
>incorrect readings, so I will have to dismantle the board again and remove
>these transistors to properly test them.
You need to apply more analytical thinking and less doing. A very
valuable technique I often use to teach troubleshooting is to have
someone troubleshoot a device that they can't put their hands
on. The student has a schematic and an initial description of
symptoms (and usually a few measurements and observations of mine)
that I give him/her. The student asks me for measurements by phone
or e-mail. I will measure anything the student want measured (I'll
generally ask why they want it measured, to keep them focused, but
I'll always measure it if they ask). This reduces troubleshooting to
its essence -- thinking and making logical deductions -- and tends to
prevent the bad habits we so often fall into, to tear into the
equipment before we have fully digested the information we already
collected. Anyone can duplicate this method without actually being
separated from the equipment -- it just takes discipline.
I strongly recommend against using any sort of transistor
tester. The best transistor tester is the circuit you are
troubleshooting. Think about the circuit, then measure DC voltages,
then think about what those voltages mean. Think until you can
explain why ALL of the voltages are as you measured, looking only at
the schematic. When you can, you will generally have a few potential
culprits. Sometimes your thinking will lead to other measurements
you need to make. Make them, then continue thinking, looking only at
the schematic, until you can explain why ALL of the voltages are as
you measured. Don't remove any parts if you don't know why you're
removing them. ("To check them on the transistor tester" does not
count as knowing why.)
I understand that you are limited by not having a card extender. But
that is no excuse for doing ineffectual things just because it seems
that's all you can do, like the drunk looking for his lost keys under
a streetlight -- "Did you lose them here?" "No, I lost them over
there, but it's dark over there and here I can see where I'm
looking." Make an extender, or bring out pigtails from the important
nodes until you have the measurements you need.
You may have finally put your finger on the fundamental problem --
leakage current into the Q1 gate node, possibly through C24 or CR29
(and possibly due to excess DC offset in the oscillator amplifier --
see schematics p. 8-27/8-28 and 8-33). If so, lifting one end of R3
should give you a good clue.
Best regards,
Charles
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