[time-nuts] 5061's on ebay

Fri Feb 24 01:29:43 UTC 2012

Hello to the group.
I have to agree with Joe on the addiction. I was the one asking strange
questions about 8 months ago as I glued together the Frankenstein of 5061s.
It used a tube that was given to me by a fellow time-nut that was bad that
however actually had a few more fumes of CS then my 004 tube. I home brewed
a new oven controller to allow me to bake the remaining Cs off. The crazy
thing actually worked kind of barely.
But a great lesson in the actual physics and other wonders. So it still
works but I have to say I now understand why they left them on all of the
time.
Maybe a real tube with 15-20 ua would be a far different story. I suspect
so.
But what are you going to do for a hobby.
Let me know if I can help.
Regards
Paul
WB8TSL

On Thu, Feb 23, 2012 at 8:30 AM, J. L. Trantham <jltran at att.net> wrote:

> The Ion Pump I is measured as a voltage across a resistor in the +3500 VDC
> supply in the return path from ground.  This supply is capable of providing
> only a small amount of current and will collapse to zero volts if
> overloaded.  Likewise, it can fail for a number of reasons, due primarily
> to
> it's age.  It can be repaired by opening it using a 'torch' to melt the
> solder seal at the bottom.  Keep the heat low, along the bottom.  The 'lip'
> is only about 1/8th of an inch or so.
>
> I have had issues as you are referring to for a number of reasons:
>
> 1.  A CS tube with a short from the +3500 to ground.  Fixed by using the
> +3500 VDC supply to charge a 4 uF 4 KV capacitor then 'discharging' the
> capacitor through the CS tube's +3500 connection to ground (be careful if
> you wind up trying this).
> 2.  Failed +3500 VDC supplies for a number of reasons including an internal
> 'shunt' (not quite a 'short' but becomes as much at high voltage) of the HV
> lead to ground, shorted internal electrolytic on the +18 VDC supply
> Line, and open HV diodes.
>
> The unit I recently purchased has an FTS tube, known to, typically, have a
> very good 'vacuum' and low Ion Pump I.  It is functioning because, when the
> CS Oven turns on, the Beam I goes up, slowly, as it should.  In addition,
> at
> initial turn on, the Ion Pump I went off scale, as it typically does when
> first turned on after a long period of inactivity, then fairly promptly (30
> to 60 minutes) 'pumped down'.
>
> These units are fun to play with but are terribly addicting.  Be careful.
> You might wind up with several.
>
> Joe
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com] On
> Behalf Of Azelio Boriani
> Sent: Thursday, February 23, 2012 4:57 AM
> To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
> Subject: Re: [time-nuts] 5061's on ebay
>
>
> The ion pump current at 0 is not good. At work they bought an FTS4065B
> without telling me before: instead of a very old FTS4065, there is an
> already working PRS50. Anyway if the ion currect is 0 check the HV
> generator
> first. Check this http://www.ke5fx.com/cs.htm on how to try to reactivate
> the ion pump using an external HV power supply.
>
> On Thu, Feb 23, 2012 at 5:28 AM, J. L. Trantham <jltran at att.net> wrote:
>
> > I think so. But time will tell.
> >
> > I also have some units with bad tubes and this looks promising.
> >
> > Joe
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com]
> > On Behalf Of Tom Knox
> > Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 10:20 PM
> > To: time-nuts at febo.com
> > Subject: Re: [time-nuts] 5061's on ebay
> >
> >
> > It sounds like you hit a home run Joe. If the tube is good the rest
> > should be easy. There are quite a few clean clocks with only a bad
> > tube.
> >
> > Thomas Knox
> >
> >
> >
> > > From: jltran at att.net
> > > To: time-nuts at febo.com
> > > Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:15:59 -0600
> > > Subject: Re: [time-nuts] 5061's on ebay
> > >
> > > I purchased a 5061A with all parts installed and with the FTS tube.
> > > The 5061B with the FTS tube was listed later and sold.
> > >
> > > The unit seems to operate with good Beam I, good 2nd Harmonic, and
> > > almost zero Ion Pump I but it will not 'lock'.  I have not had a
> > > chance to look into it yet but I suspect an issue with the A7 or the
> > > A8 assemblies.
> > >
> > > If anyone is interested, I'll keep you informed.
> > >
> > > Joe
> > >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: time-nuts-bounces at febo.com [mailto:time-nuts-bounces at febo.com]
> > > On Behalf Of Dave Welch
> > > Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2012 9:09 PM
> > > To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement
> > > Subject: Re: [time-nuts] 5061's on ebay
> > >
> > > Hi all.
> > > I PURCHASED THE FTS UNITS AND ONE OF THE HP5061a. Havent had time to
> > > look at them but one of the fts powers up but i dont have any docs
> > > to figure
> > out
> > > what os wrong..it says ion current is 0.
> > > Should this be that low??
> > > On Feb 22, 2012 3:21 PM, "Tom Knox" <actast at hotmail.com> wrote:
> > >
> > > >
> > > > The same seller also had some 5061B's and FTS 4065A's as well, all
> > > > were untested or in various states of disrepair. I was tempted on
> > > > a few the
> > had
> > > > missing parts not related to the Tube. Did anyone purchase any of
> > these?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Thomas Knox
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:17:42 -0500
> > > > > From: bownes at gmail.com
> > > > > To: time-nuts at febo.com
> > > > > Subject: [time-nuts] 5061's on ebay
> > > > >
> > > > > There are 3 5061's listed on ebay at the moment. Anyone know
> > > > > anything
> > > > about
> > > > > them?
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