Tektronix 543B User manual

INSTRUCTION
MANUAL
Serial Number ________
scanned by matt from wellenkino.de
Tekfronix, Inc.
S.W. Millikan Way • P. 0. Box 500 ® Beaverton, Oregon Ä Phone Ml -0161 • Cables: Tektronix
070- 29 6
TYPE
OSCILLOSCOPE

WARRANTY
All Tektronix instruments are warranted
against defective materials and workman 
ship for one year, Tektronix transformers,
manufactured in our own plant, are war 
ranted for the life of the instrument.
Any questions with respect to the war 
ranty mentioned above should be taken up
with your Tektronix Field Engineer.
Tektronix repair and replacement-part
service is geared directly 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 your
area. This procedure will assure you the
fastest possible service. Please include the
instrument Type and Serial number with all
requests for parts or service.
Specifications and price change priv 
ileges reserved.
Copyright © 196 by Tektronix, Inc.,
Beaverton, Oregon. Printed in the United
States of America. Ail rights reserved.
Contents of this publication may not be re 
produced in any form without permission
of the copyright owner.

CONTENTS
Warranty
Section 1
Characteristics
Section 2
Operating Instructions
Section 3 Circuit Description
Section
Maintenance
Section 5
Calibration
Section 6 Parts List and Diagrams
A list of abbreviations and symbols used in
this manual will be found on page 6-1. Change
information, if any, is located at the rear of the
manual.

The Type 543B Oscilloscope

SECTION 1
CHARACTERISTICS
Introduction
The Type 5 3B Oscilloscope is a versatile laboratory
instrument designed for use with all Tektronix lettered- or
1 -series plug-in units.
VERTICAL DEFLECTION SYSTEM
Refer to Table 1-1 for the characteristics.
Trigger Source
Selection
Trigger Mode
Selection
Trigger Signal
Requirements
SWEEP GENERATOR
Sweep Rates
0.1 µsec/cm to 5 sec/cm in 2 calibrated
steps. Displayed sweep-r a te accuracy is
± 3%. An unc a libraied variable sweep 
rate control permits the sweep to be
slowed to at least 0. of the indicated
rate.
Sweep
Magnification
Any sweep rate can be increased 2, 5, 10,
20, 50 or 100 times by expanding the
center portion of the display horizontally.
Sweep-rate accuracy is within ~5% in the
magnified positions until the sweep rate
exceeds 0.02 µsec/cm.
Internal, external, and fine.
Automatic, d c , ac, and ac low-frequency
rejection.
Internal (ac): Minimum deflection is 2 mm,
from 150 cps to 10 m c , rising to 1 cm at
30 me with less than 1 mm of horizontal
jitter at a sweep rate of 20 nsec/cm.
Internal (de): Minimum deflection is 6 mm
to 10 m c .
Internal (ac low-frequency rejection): Mini 
mum deflection is 2 mm, from 30 kc to
10 m c , rising to 1 cm at 30 m c with less
than 1 mm of horizontal jitter at a sweep
rate of 20 nsec/cm.
Internal (automatic): 5 mm deflection at
150 cps. Will trigger from 50 cps to 10 m c
with increased deflection.
External (ac): Minimum amplitude is 0.2
volt, from 150 cps to 10 m c , rising to 1
volt at 30 m c with less thon 1 mm of hori 
zontal jitter at a sweep rate of 20 nsec/cm.
Plug-In Characteristics for the Ty e 543B Oscillosco e
TABLE 1-1
Plug-In
Unit
Calibrated
Deflection Factor
Minimum
Bandpass
Risetime Input
Capacitance
Type 1A1* 50 mv/cm to 20 v/cm
5 mv/cm
dc to 33 m c
d c to 23 m c
10.6 nsec
15.2 nsec
15 pf
Type 1A2*
50 mv/cm to 20 v/cm
d c to 33 m c
10.6 nsec 15 pf
Type B 0.005 v/cm to 20 v/cm
0.05 v/cm to 20 v/cm
2 cps to 12 m c
d c to 20 m c
30 nsec
18 nsec
7 pf
Type CA* 0.05 v/cm to 20 v/cm d c io 2 m c 15 nsec
20 pf
Type D 1 mv/cm to 50 v/cm d c to 300 kc-2 m c
0.18 ,u.sec
7 pf
Type E 50  v/cm to 10 mv/cm
0.06 cps to 20 kc-
60 kc
6 /xsec
50 pf
Type G 0.05 v/cm to 20 v/cm d c to 20 m c
18 nsec
7 pf
Type H 5 mv/cm to 20 v/cm
d c to 15 m c 23 nsec
7 pf
Type K 0.05 v/cm to 20 v/cm d c to 30 m c 12 nsec
20 pf
Type L 5 mv/cm to 2 v/cm
0.05 v/cm to 20 v/cm
3 cps to 2 m c
d c to 30 m c
15 nsec
12 nsec
20 pf
Type M*
0.02 v/cm to 10 v/cm
d c to 20 m c
17 nsec
7 pf
Type N** 10 mv/cm ac to 600 m c 0.6 nsec
50 input Z
Type O x *
0.05 v/cm to 20 v/cm d c to 25 m c
1 nsec
7 pf
Type Q**
10  Strain/cm to
10,000  Strain/cm
d c to 6 kc 60 «sec
Adjustable
Type R** 0.5 ma/cm to 100 ma/cm
Type S** 0.05 v/cm to 0.5 v/cm
Type Z**
0.05 v/cm to 25 v/cm
d c to 13 m c
27 nsec
2 pf
* Multiple-trace plug-in units.
** Special feature plug-in units. See your Tektronix catalog for more information on any of these plug-in units.
1-1

Characteristics — Ty e 543B/RM543B
External (ac low-frequency rejection): Mini 
mum deflection is 0.2 volt from 30 kc to
10 m c , rising to 1 volt at 30 m c with less
than 1 mm of horizontal jitter at a sweep
rate of 20 nsec/cm.
External (d c ): Minimum amplitude is 0.2
volt to 10 m c , rising to 1 volt at 30 m c
with less than 1 mm of horizontal jitter
at a sweep rate of 20nsec/cm.
External (automatic): 0.5 v ot 150 cps. Will
trigger from 50 cps to 10 m c with increased
signal.
Accelerating 10 kv.
Potential
Usable Viewing
Area
Focus
6-cm high by 10-cm wide.
Vertical: 2 horizontal lines/mm distinguish 
able over the center cm. 1.5 horizontal
lines/mm distinguishable in the top and
bottom 1 cm.
HORIZONTAL DEFLECTION SYSTEM
The following characteristics apply when the HORIZONTAL
DISPLAY switch is set to the EXT position.
Phosphor
Graticule
Deflection Factor A calibrated deflection of 0.1, 1 or 10
volts/cm with the VARIABLE 10-1 control
set fully clockwise. The VARIABLE 10-1
control provides at least a 10:1 attenua 
tion of the input signal when it is turned
Frequency
Response
Input
Characteristics
fully counterclockwise.
D c to 500 kc at maximum gain (30%
down).
1 megohm paralleled by approximately
3 pf.
AMPLITUDE CALIBRATOR
Output Voltage 0.2 mvolts to 100 volts peak-to-peak in 18
steps.
Frequency Approximately a 1-kc square wave.
Amplitude
Accuracy
Peak-to-peak amplitude accuracy is ±3%
of indicated value. The special output
from the .1 V I NTO 50  connector is
accurate to within ±3% of the indicated
value.
Horizontal: 2 time markers./mm distinguish 
able over the middle 8 cm. 1.5 time
markers/mm distinguishable in the first
and tenth cm.
Type 31 phosphor is normally supplied.
Other phosphors are available.
6 X 10 cm with vertical and horizontal
1-cm divisions with 2-mm markings on the
centerlines. Markings for measuring rise 
time have been provided a t the 2.5 cm
points above and below the graticule
center line.
Line Voltage
Line Frequency
Power
Consumption
POWER SUPPLIES
108, 115, 122, 216, 230 or 2 volts. Will
regulate within ±10% of design-center
voltage.
50 to 60 and 00 cps.*
535 wa t ts maximum.
“ ith a line frequency of 400 cycles, a special fan modification
is required; contact your local Tektronix Field Representative.
MECHANICAL
Construction
Net Weight
Front panel is anodized. Chassis is alumi 
num alloy.
81 pounds.
FRONT-PANEL OUTPUT SIGNALS
SAWTOOTH OUT Approximately a 130-volt, peak-to-peak
sawtooth voltage having the same dura 
tion as the sweep. Minimum allowable
load resistance is 100 k.
-GATE OUT Approximately a 20-volt peak-to-peak
square-wave pulse having the same dura 
tion as the sweep. Minimum dc load resis 
tance is 5 k.
VERT SIG OUT Vertical signal output connector. Output
amplitude is at least 1.2 vo l ts/cm of de 
flection on the crt. Output is ac coupled.
CATHODE-RAY TUBE
Type T5 70-31-2.
Unblanking De coupled.
ACCESSORIES INCLUDED
Tektronix
Part No.
2 Instruction Manuals 070- 37
2 P6006 Probes with BNC connectors 010-127
2 Adapters, BNC to Binding Post 103-033
1 Test Lead 012-031
1 Crt Protector Plate 387-918
1 50-ohm Cable, BNC to BNC, 18 inches long 012-076
1 3-wire Power Cord 161-010
1 3- to 2-wire Adapter 103-013
1 Adapter, BNC to UHF 103-015
12 10-2 x 5 / 16 THS Screws 212-533
12 10-32 x 5 / 16 THS Screws 212-535
1-2

SECTION 2
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
FUNCTION OF CONTROLS AND CONNECTORS
HORIZONTAL
DISPLAY
Selects the amplitude point on the trigger 
ing signal where sweep-triggering occurs.
Adjusts the oscilloscope for a stable dis 
played waveform. The STABILITY corrrol
can be set to the PRESET position and
left there. This position provides for con 
venient triggering since only the TRIGGER 
ING LEVEL control needs to be adjusted
to obtain a stable display.
TRIGGERING MODE
AUTO: Permits normal triggering or simple
waveforms with repetition rates higher
than about 50 cps. With no trigger signai,
or with a lower repetition rate, the trigger
circuit free runs at approximately 0 cps
and triggers t he time base at this rate, pro 
providing a reference trace.
MAGNIFIER
Lamps
AC LF REJ: Attenuates trigger-signal fre 
quencies below about 17 kc, allowing the
trigger circuit to respond only to higher
frequencies.
AC: Blocks the dc component of the trig 
gering signal and allows triggering to take
place only on the changing portion of the
signal. With frequencies below about 30
cps, use the DC position.
EXTERNAL
HORIZONTAL
VOLTS /CM
VARIABLE
SINGLE SWEEP
For best triggering at high frequencies,
use an ac coupling position of the TRIG 
GERING MODE switch.
DC: Permits triggering on both high- and
low-frequency (to d c ) signals.
TRIGGER SLOPE Determines whether the time base is trig 
gered on the negative- { — ) or positive-
(+) going slope of the signal.
LINE: Uses a line-frequency signal as a
trigger.
INT: Uses a portion of the signal applied
to the vertical deflection plates of the
c rt as a trigger signal.
EXT: Provides external triggering on a
signal applied to the TRIGGER INPUT
connector.
TIME,/CM Selects the time-base sweep rate.
READY Lamp
HORIZONTAL
POSITION and
VERNIER
AMPLITUDE
CALIBRATOR
POWER ON
INTENSITY
FOCUS
ASTIGMATISM
TIME/CM
VARIABLE
Provides an uncalibrated sweep rate ad 
justment. The sweep rate can be slowed
to at least 0. X any setting of the TIME/
CM switch. An UNCALIBRATED lamp
lights when the VARIABLE control is not
in the CALIBRATED position.
TRACE
ROTATION
NORMAL (X 1 ) and SWEEP MAGNIFIED
positions expand the display horizontally
by the amount indicated. Sweep-rate ac 
curacy is ±:5% in the magnified posi 
tions.
EXT position allows an external signal
to drive the horizontal deflection system.
The horizontal deflection factor is set by
the EXTERNAL HORIZONTAL VOLTS/CM
switch and variable.
The MAGNIFIER ON lamp lights when 
ever the HORIZONTAL DISPLAY switch is
in any of the SWEEP MAGNIFIED posi 
tions. The MAGNIFIER UNCALIBRATED
lamp is connected to light whenver the
sweep rate exceeds the maximum cali 
brated rate of 0.02 usec/cm. This lamp
will not light as long as the setting of
the TIME/CM switch, divided by the mag 
nification factor is not faster than 0.02
 se c .
Selects the horizontal deflection factor
when the HORIZONTAL DISPLAY switch
is set to EXT. The VARIABLE control must
be fully clockwise when using the cali 
brated horizontal deflection factors.
Permits single sweep operation at ail
settings of the HORIZONTAL DISPLAY
switch except EXT.
Lights when time-base circuit is ready for
triggering after being reset.
Positions the display along he horizontal
axis of the crt .
Determines the peak-to-peak voltage avail 
able at the CAL OUT connector.
Toggle switch for turning the instrument
power on and off.
Controls brightness of the display.
Used in conjunction with the INTENSITY
and ASTIGMATISM controls for obtaining
a well-defined display.
Used in conjunction with the INTENSITY
and FOCUS controls for obtaining a well-
defined display.
Permits horizontal alignment of the trace
with respect to the horizontal lines of
the graticule. The TRACE ROTATION con 
trol is a screwdriver adjustment concentric
with the ASTIGMATISM control.
®L
2-1
TRIGGERING LEVEL
STABILITY

O erating Instructions — Ty e 543B/RM543B
SCALE ILLUM Varies illumination of the graticule grid
lines.
Beam Position Four neon lamps with accompanying
arrows indicate the direction when the
display is deflected out of the viewing
area.
TRIGGER INPUT Connector for applying an external trigger
signal to the time base when TRIGGER
SLOPE switch is set to the EXT position.
+ GATE OUT Supplies approximately a 20-volt square 
wave pulse when the time base is oper-
a'ing. Pulse dur a tion is approximately
10. 5X the setting of the TIME/CM switch.
NORMAL SWEEP
Power Connections
Unless otherwise indicated, the Type 5 3B is shipped
with rhe power transformer and fan wired for 1 15-volt ac
input. A connection diagram on the side of the trans 
former and Fig. 2-1 shows alternative connections for other
input voltages to the power transformer. When the trans 
former is changed from a 108, 115, or 122 volts to 216, 230,
or 2 volts connection, the fan wiring must be changed.
Fig. 2-2 shows the fan connections for each voltage range.
SAWTOOTH OUTSupplies the sawtooth voltage of the time
base. Peak amplitude is about — 130 volts.
EXTERNAL
HORIZ INPUT
Jack for applyin g external horizontal sig
nal when the 'HORIZONTAL DISPLAY
switch is set to EXT.
VERT SIG OUT
CRT CATHODE
SELECTOR
(rear panel)
EXTERNAL CRT
CATHODE
Vertical signal output connector. Output
amplitude is approximately 1.2 volts/cm
of deflection.
Provides blanking of between-channe!
switching transients (in the CHOPPED
BLANKING position) when using multi 
channel plug-in units in the chopped mode.
With the ground strap disconnected, this
connector applies Z-axis modulation sig 
nals to the crt cathode. The Z-axis signa's
should be at leas ’ 20 volts in amplitude
to cause intensity modulation.
Always have the ground strap connected
except when applying Z-axis modulating
signals.
Fig. 2-2. Fan connections for 100-124 volts and 220-248 volts.
See the label on the side of T601 for the placement of jumper leads.
Fig. 2-1. Transformer connections for 108 to 244 volt, 50 Io 60 cps
and 400 cps operation.
Sweep Triggering
Proper sweep triggering is essentia' for a stable presenta 
tion of an input signal. For a stable display, the sweep must
be triggered at the same time relative to the displayed
signal. Thus, the sweep must be triggered by the input
signal or by some external signal that has a fixed time
relationship with the displayed signal. The external trigger
signal must be the same frequency or a multiple of the
input signal.
Selecting the Trigger Source
The TRIGGER SLOPE switch selects one of a variety of
possible triggering signcis. For most applications, T he sweep
can be triggered internally from the clisp ayed signal. This
occurs with the TRIGGER-SLOPE switch set at either + or
- INT.
The LINE positions of the TRIGGER SLOPE switch connect
a line-frequency signal to the triggering input. Line trigger 
ing is useful whenever the input signal is frequency-related
to the line frequency.
To trigger the t i me base from an external signal, set the
TRIGGER SLOPE switch to an EXT position and connect the
2-2

O erating Instructions — Ty e 543B/RM543B
TRIGGER SLOPE
TRIGGER SLOPE
Fig. 2-3. Effects of the TRIGGERING LEVEL ond SLOPE controls.
2-3

O erating Instructions — Ty e 543B/RM543B
trigger signal to the TRIGGER INPUT connector. External
triggering is often used when signal tracing in amplifiers,
phase-shift networks, and wave-shaping circuits. The signal
from a single point in the circuit can be used as an external
trigger signal. With this arrangement, it is possible to
observe the polarity, shaping and/or amplification of a
signal at various points through the circuit without resetting
the triggering controls for each new display.
Selecting Triggering Mode
Four means of trigger coupling are available with the
TRIGGERING MODE switch. The different coupling posi 
tions permit you to accept or reject certain frequency com 
ponents of the triggering signal.
With the switch set at AC, the time base can be triggered
with all frequency components of the triggering signal
within the trigger amplifier bandpass, including dc levels.
With the switch set at AC LF REJ, dc and low-frequency
signals (below about 17 kc) arc rejected or attenuated. Thus,
the trigger circuit will respond best to the higher-frequency
components of the triggering signal.
With the switch set to AUTO, proper triggering auto 
matically takes place providing that rhe signal waveform is
comparatively simple and approximately symmetrical. With
no trigger signal, or with a lower repetition rate, the trigger
circuit free runs at approximately 40 cps and triggers the
time base at this rate, providing a reference trace.
In general, use AC coupling. However, it will be necessary
to use DC coupling for very low-frequency signals. When
line-frequency hum is mixed with the triggering signal, it is
best to use AC LF REJ coupling so that triggering takes
place only on the signa! of interest (if the signal of interest
contains frequency components above about 17 kc).
The AC LF REJ position is also useful when triggering
internally from multitrace plug-in units operated in the
alternate dual-trace mode. AC LF REJ coupling has a faster
recovery time when subjected to the alternate d c levels
from the multitrace plug-in unit.
Selecting Trigger Slope
The TRIGGER SLOPE switch determines whether the trigger 
ing circuit responds on the rising ( + setting) or the falling
( — setting) portion of the triggering signal. When several
cycles of a signal appear in the display, the setting of the
TRIGGER SLOPE switch will probably be unimportant. How 
ever, if you wish to look at only a certain portion of a cycle,
the TRIGGER SLOPE switch will help start the display on the
desired slope of the input signal. Fig. 2-3 illustrates the
effect of both the TRIGGER SLOPE and TRIGGERING LEVEL
controls.
Setting Stability Control
In nearly all triggering applications, satisfactory opera 
tion can be obtained with the STABILITY control in the
PRESET (fully counterclockwise) position. The PRESET posi 
tion has the advantage of requiring no further adjustment of
the STABILITY control when switching from one triggering
signal to another. However, if stable triggering becomes
difficult with the STABILITY control at PRESET, it will be
necessary to adjust the control for proper triggering. To
adjust the STABILITY control, place the TRIGGERING LEVEL
control in the fully counterclockwise position, then turn the
STABILITY control slowly clockwise until a trace appears on
the crt. The correct setting is obtained by turning the control
counterclockwise three to five degrees from the point where
the trace appears.
Setting Triggering Level
The TRIGGERING LEVEL control determines the amplitude
point on the signal where triggering occurs.
The trigger circuit is most sensitive to ac triggering signals
with the TRIGGERING LEVEL control set near zero. Moving
the TRIGGERING LEVEL control in the + (plus) direction
causes the trigger circuit to respond at some higher positive
amplitude on rhe triggering signal. Moving the TRIGGERING
LEVEL control in the — (minus) direction causes the trigger
circuit to respond at some higher negative amplitude on
the triggering signal.
Selecting Time/Cm (Sweep Rate)
The TIME/CM and HORIZONTAL DISPLAY switches con
trol sweep rate.
The TIME/CM and HORIZONTAL DISPLAY switches allow
you to view an applied signal at a wide variety of cali 
brated sweep rates. When making time measurements from
the crt, be sure the VARIABLE control is set to CALIBRATED.
When the HORIZONTAL DISPLAY switch is set to
NORMAL (X 1 ), the TIME/CM switch indicates the true
sweep rate. However, with the HORIZONTAL DISPLAY
switch set to a sweep magnified position, the setting of the
TIME/CM switch must be divided by the magnified amount
to determine the true sweep rate. For example, assume
that the TIME/CM switch is set at 1 mSEC and the HORI 
ZONTAL DISPLAY switch is set to X5. In this case, the
true sweep rate would be 1 (msec) divided by 5 (magnified
amount); resulting in a displayed sweep ra t e of 0.2 msec/
div. Fig. 2- illustrates how to make time measurements
from the graticule.
2-