[time-nuts] Looking for a HP-58503 display

Tim Shoppa tshoppa at gmail.com
Tue May 9 17:12:07 EDT 2017


If you're looking for a modern display screen that is easy to interface to and drop-dead beautiful, check out the OLED modules. But on-life is extremely limited, often after one or two years defects become visible - not for an always-on application.

Tim N3QE

Sent from my VAX-11/780
> On May 9, 2017, at 4:21 PM, Chris Albertson <albertson.chris at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I've read about people making a replacement using a large LCD graphic
> screen.   A micro controller reads the data lines going to the old display
> and draws characters on the modern screen.    Not total rocket science to
> implement but still  it would easier to buy try the easy fixes first (check
> cap, transistors and such or even buy a "for parts not working " unit from
> eBay.    But the only units do look nice with a new cell phone screen
> 
>> On Tue, May 9, 2017 at 12:42 PM, Gregory Beat <w9gb at icloud.com> wrote:
>> 
>> Mark -
>> 
>> Option 001 for the HP-5803B GPSDO
>> featured a 12-character (alphanumeric) Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD).
>> It appears to have been a custom VFD for HP / Agilent (Colons used in time
>> display).
>> http://www.leapsecond.com/museum/hp58503a/097-58503-13-iss-1.pdf
>> 
>> Noritake Itron Corp. (Ise Electronics Corp.) of Japan invented the VFD
>> technology in 1967.  Noritake, Newhaven, Futaba, Samsung, and a Chinese
>> mfg. are the 5 major mfg.
>> Three of these companies have their North American HQ offices here in
>> Chicago area.
>> 
>> Futaba in Schaumburg
>> http://www.futaba.co.jp/en/display/vfd/lineup.html
>> 
>> Noritake Itron Company in Arlington Heights
>> https://www.noritake-elec.com/
>> 
>> Newhaven Display in Elgin
>> Company is more of an East Asian importer, but handles custom runs.
>> http://www.newhavendisplay.com/vfd-c-586.html
>> 
>> VFD do have a finite life, and darken as they age.  Samsung states 30,000
>> hours to reach it 80% level (brightness).  You stated your unit has 83,000
>> hours.
>> DOUBLE CHECK DC Power and electrolytic capacitors associated with circuit,
>> this has been known issue with commercial consumer appliances with VFD.
>> The mfg. date on your unit may have been during "bad caps" decade.
>> 
>> greg
>> w9gb
>> ==
>>> I recently got in an HP-58503B GPSDO from a local equipment liquidation
>> auction.
>>> The unit has 83,000 hours of run time.  I think it was last powered up
>> in 2013.
>>> 
>>> The display (VFD) is a bit dim and blotchy.
>>> Does anybody have a replacement display that would look better?
>>> - Mark
>> --
>> Sent from iPad Air
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> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> 
> Chris Albertson
> Redondo Beach, California
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