[time-nuts] HP-53132A Faded and flickering display

[John Lofgren]

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Two possibilities: Cathode poisoning or bad tantalum caps.  I'm not sure if "cathode poisoning" is really the correct term for this effect, but it's similar.  There have been a number of tutorials out there about rejuvenating VF displays.

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It appears that the military parts system has the EL displays listed for replacement purposes.
http://www.wbparts.com/rfq/5980-01-396-4645.html
http://www.iso-group.com/Public/PartDetail/CP3033A/12619547/12619547.aspx

Should the display prove to be beyond recovery it might be possible to buy a new one.  Now, the cost may be another matter ...

These are made by Noritake-Itron.  The generic part number is CP3033A, but it does not show up in their product line on their web site.  It might be worth contacting them to see if there's any possibility of still getting them.
http://www.noritake-elec.com/contact_us.htm

Searching for Itron CP3033A turns up some parts brokers that claim to have access to 251 of them.

-John