Tektronix 515 User manual

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S. W. Millikan Way • P.O. Box 500 • Beaverton, Oregon • Phone MI 4-0161 • Ca les: Tektronix
070-247

WARRANTY
All Tektronix instruments are warranted
against defective materials and workman 
ship for one ear. Tektronix transformers,
manufactured in our own plant, are war 
ranted for the life of the instrument.
An questions with respect to the war 
rant mentioned above should be taken up
with our Tektronix Field Engineer.
Tektronix repair and replacement-part
service is geared directl to the field, there 
fore all requests for repairs and replace 
ment parts should be directed to the Tek 
tronix Field Office or Representative in our
area. This procedure will assure ou the
fastest possible service. Please include the
instrument T pe and Serial number with all
requests for parts or service.
Specifications and price change priv 
ileges reserved.
Cop right © 1960 b Tektronix, Inc.,
Beaverton, Oregon. Printed in the United
States of America. All rights reserved. Con 
tents of this publication ma not be repro 
duced in an form without permission of
the cop right owner.
Type 515/515A
AA

CONTENTS
Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4
Section 5
Warranty
Specifications
Operating Instructions
Circuit Description
Maintenance
Recali ration Procedure
Section 6 Parts List and Schematic Diagrams
Section 7
Accessories
AA
Type 515/515A
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INTtNSITY
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Type 515/5 ISA
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ON 1
IFICATIONS
The Type 515/515A Oscilloscope is a compact, porta le,
general purpose oscilloscope. The dc-coupled amplifier and
wide range of sweep rates, com ined with reduced size, make
the Type 515/515A a versatile field or la oratory instrument.
ertical-Deflection System
Deflection Factor-. 05 volt/cm ac or de. (.1
volt/cm ac or de S/N 101-1000)
Frequency Response-dc to 15 me, 2 cycles
to 15 me ac. (Down not more than 3 d
at a ove limits.)
Rise Time-. 023 microseconds.
Linear Deflection-6 cm.
Step Attenuator-Nine positions, cali rated,
from .05 v/cm (.1 v/cm S/N 101-1000)
to 20 v/cm, (50 v/cm S/N 101-1000) accurate
within 3% when set on any one step.
Maximum Allowa le Com ined DC and Peak
AC Voltage Input -600 v.
Input Impedance- 1 megohm, 30 ggf; with
P410 pro e-10 megohm, 10.5 ggf. With
P6000 pro e, 10 megohm, 11.5 ggf.
Horizontal-Deflection System
Time Base Range
Twenty-two cali rated time ases from .2
gsec/cm to 2 sec/cm.
Accuracy-3 per cent.
Continuously varia le, uncali rated etween
ranges and to 6 sec/cm.
Magnifier
Expands sweep 5 times to right and left
of screen center. Extends fastest sweep
rate to .04 gsec/cm.
Accuracy-5 per cent.
Un lanking-DC coupled.
Trigger Requirements
Internal-2 mm of deflection.
External-. 2 volts to 20 volts.
Frequency Range-dc to 15 me.
Horizontal Input
Deflection Factor-1.4 v/cm.
Frequency Response-DC to 500 kc , 3 d down.
Other Characteristics
Cathode-Ray Tu e
Type T55P2.
Pl, P7, and Pll phosphors optional.
Accelerating Potential-4, 000 volts.
Deflection Factor at Plates
Vertical-5 v/cm.
Horizontal-20 v/cm.
Voltage Cali rator
Eleven fixed voltages from .05 volts to
100 volts, peak to peak.
Accuracy-3 per cent.
Waveform-square wave at a out 1 kc.
Output Waveforms Availa le
Positive gate of same duration as sweep,
approx. 20 volts. Positive going sweep saw 
tooth, 150 volts.
Power Supply
Electronic Regulation.
Power Requirements- 105 to 125, or 210
to 250 v, 50-60 cycles, 275 watts.
A A
Specifications - Type 515/515A
1-1

Accessories Included
Mechanical Specifications
Ventilation-Filtered, forced-air ventilation. 1-P6017 pro e.
Finish - Photo-etched, anodized panel, lue
wrinkle, perforated ca inet.
1-A510 Binding Post Adapter.
1-F510-5 green filter.
Dimensions-9 3/4" wide, 13 1/2" high, 211/2"
deep.
1 -Instruction manual.
Weight -40 pounds.
1-2
Specifications - Type 515/515A

EXPORT POWER TRANSFORMER
Transformer Primary
The instrument fur which this manual was prepared is equipped with a special transformer.
The transformer has eight primary terminals making possi le six different input connections.
The six primary connections are shown in Fig. 1.
POWER TRANSFORMER HAS TWO
NOMINAL PRIMARY OLTAGES OF
50 OR 60 a , OPERATION.
A
EXTRA WINDINGS PERMITTING
110, 117,
124, 220, 234, OR 248 ,
z 5 z 5
c
110 *
D
2
I
1
t
3
u
4
117 f
D
D A
/ /
2 3
B
1
* 124
B
1
t
1
t
o
c
4
t
A
4
t
4
220 t
B C
1
t 248
D
i >
D
A
4
A
B
A
2 3
BC
1
4
t 234 t
Fig.l. The power transformer has two extra windings permitting nominal primary voltages of 110,
117, 124, 220, 234, 248 volts, 50 or 60 cycle operation.
Fig. 2. When connecting the power transformer for operation with a supply voltage of 200 volts or
more, e sure that the fan is connected etween pins 1 and 3 of the primary. This is to insure that
the fan is supplied with no more than 125 volts. Fig. 2 shows a typical high-voltage fan connection,
using as an example the wiring for a 248 volt supply.

General Information
The Type 515/515A Oscilloscopes are
extremely versatile instruments, adapta le to
a great num er of applications. However, to
make use of the full potentialities of the instru 
ment, it is necessary that you understand com 
pletely the operation of each control. This
portion of the Operators Manual is intended
to provide you with the asic information that
you require. If you are familiar with other
Tektronix oscilloscopes, you should have very
little difficulty in understanding the operation
of the 515/515A, since the function of many
of the controls is the same as the function
of corresponding controls in other Tektronix
instruments.
Cooling
Unless tagged otherwise, this oscilloscope
is connected at the factory for 117 -volt operation.
For 234- volt operation, refer to the Maintenance
section of this manual for proper transformer
connections.
FIRST-TIME OPERATION
Control Settings
The following procedure will help you get
a trace on the screen and ecome familiar
with some of the controls.
Connect the line cord to a sorce of 117-
volt 50 to 60 cycle power, and set the front 
panel controls as follows:
A fan maintains safe operating temperature
in the Type 515/515A Oscilloscope y circulat 
ing air through a filter and over the rectifiers
and other components. The instrument must
therefore e placed so the air intake is not
locked. The air filter must e kept clean
to permit adequate air circulation. If the
interior temperature does rise too high lor
some reason, a thermal cutout switch will
disconnect the power and keep it disconnected
until the temperature drops to a safe value.
Power Requirements
The regulated power supplies in the Type
515/515A will operate with line voltages from
105 to 125 volts or from 210 to 250 volts.
For maximum dependa ility and long tu e life
the voltage should e near the center of this
range.
Voltages outside of these limits may cause
hum or jitter on the trace. Be sure the line
voltage is correct if indications such as these
are present.
FOCUS
Centered
INTENSITY
ASTIGMATISM
POWER
INPUT SELECTOR
VOLTS/CM
( lack kno )
Counterclockwise
(CCW)
Centered
ON
INPUT 1, DC
5
TRIGGER SELECTOR
lack kno + INT
red kno AUTO
TRIGGERING
LEVEL
STABILITY
(red kno )
HOR1Z. DISPLAY
Counterclockwise
PRESET (CCW S/N
101-1000)
NORM.
AA
Operating Instiuctions - Type 515/515A
2-1

.5 MILLISEC
TIME/CM
VERTICAL
POSITIONING
Center
HORIZONTAL
POSITIONING
Center
CALIBRATOR
10
Connect a lead from the CAL. OUT con
nector to the INPUT 1 connector. If the tu es
have had time to warm up, turn the INTENSITY
control clockwise until a trace is visi le on
the screen. Adjust the FOCUS, ASTIGMATISM
and INTENSITY controls to produce a sharp
trace of comforta le rightness.
The two POSITIONING controls will move
the trace vertically and horizontally as nec 
essary to position the display where you want
it on the crt screen.
Triggering Modes
If you have not had previous experience
with the type of trigger controls used on
this oscilloscope, the cali rator waveform is
a good one to practice with. A few minutes
spent on trying the triggering modes descri ed
elow will e time well spent in terms of
future operating convenience.
Auto
The triggering method used in the preceeding
example is the AUTO, (automatic) mode of
operation. It is the simplest mode of triggering.
There are no front-panel controls to e adjusted
when using this mode. If the signal is removed
from the input connector, the sweep will con 
tinue, ut at a reduced repetition rate. This
provides a visual indication that the signal
has een removed and the sweep and triggering
circuits are operating.
AC
Now try the AC mode of triggering. Turn
the red TRIGGER SELECTOR kno to AC.
Advance the TRIGGERING LEVEL control
clockwise until you get a sta le trace. There
may e a considera le range over which you
get a sta le trace. The start of the trace
will move up and down the edge of the square
wave over this range. Notice that the trace
starts on the up-going part of the cali rator
square wave.
Now turn the lack TRIGGER SELECTOR
switch to the -INT position and readjust the
TRIGGERING LEVEL control to get a sta le
trace again. Notice now that the trace starts
on the down-going portion of the square wave
and that the position of the start can again
e changed somewhat with the level control.
DC
Turn the red TRIGGER SELECTOR kno to
DC. If necessary adjust the TRIGGERING
LEVEL control for sta le triggering. Move
the trace vertically on the screen with the
VERTICAL POSITIONING control and note that
triggering occurs at a vertical level on the
screen selected y the LEVEL control, and
that the triggering point changes relative to
the waveform as the waveform is positioned
vertically. This effect will e more noticea le
if you look at a low-frequency sine wave.
H F Sync
The H F SYNC position of the TRIGGERING
SELECTOR switch is primarily for signals
having a repetition rate in excess of five
megacycles. In this position the time ase
will trigger poorly, if at all, on the cali rator
waveform. To sta ilize the display of a high-
frequency signal , simply advance the STABILITY
control clockwise until a sta le trace is o tained.
The LEVEL control is not used in the H F
SYNC mode.
FUNCTIONS OF CONTROLS AND CONNECTORS
CRT Controls
FOCUS
INTENSITY
Control to adjust the eam for maximum sharpness of the trace.
Control to vary the rightness of the trace.
2-2
Operating Instructions - Type 515/515A
AA

Fig. 2-2. Sweep controls in typical position for AC mode of triggering.
This mode is useful for general-purpose triggering over the range
from 60 cps to 5 me.
F ig. 2-1. Sweep controls in typical position for AUTO mode of trigger 
ing. This mode is the most convenient triggering method over the
frequency range from 60 cps to 2 me.
C TIME BASE A I
INPUT
TRIGGER
SELECTOR
( TIME BASE moote >
INPUT
AA
STABILITY
OK HOIIZ INFUT ATTIN
TRIGGERING LE EL
Fig. 2-3. Sweep controls in typical position for DC mode of triggering.
This mode is particularly useful for the frequency range elow 60 cps.
STABILITY
0* HOtll *rut ATTfN.
TRIGGERING LE EL
Fig. 2-4. Sweep controls in typical position for HF SYNC mode of
sweep synchronization. This mode is most effective a out 5 me.
Operating Instructions - Type 515/515A
2-3
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