Tektronix P6136 User manual

Instruction Manual
P6136
10X Passive Probe
for 2400 Series Oscilloscopes
070-6025-04
*P070602504*
070602504
Warning
The servicing instructions are for use by qualified
personnel only. To avoid personal injury, do not
perform any servicing unless you are qualified to
do so. Refer to all safety summaries prior to
performing service.
www.tektronix.com

Copyright ©Tektronix, Inc. All rights reserved.
Tektronix products are covered by U.S. and foreign patents, issued and pending. Information in this publication supercedes
that in all previously published material. Specifications and price change privileges reserved.
Tektronix, Inc., P.O. Box 500, Beaverton, OR 97077-1000
TEKTRONIX and TEK are registered trademarks of Tektronix, Inc.

WARRANTY
Tektronix warrants that the products that it manufactures and sells will be free from defects in materials and workmanship
for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase from an authorized Tektronix distributor. If any such product proves
defective during this warranty period, Tektronix, at its option, either will repair the defective product without charge for
parts and labor, or will provide a replacement in exchange for the defective product. Batteries are excluded from this
warranty.
In order to obtain service under this warranty, Customer must notify Tektronix of the defect before the expiration of the
warranty period and make suitable arrangements for the performance of service. Customer shall be responsible for
packaging and shipping the defective product to the service center designated by Tektronix, shipping charges prepaid, and
with a copy of customer proof of purchase. Tektronix shall pay for the return of the product to Customer if the shipment is
to a location within the country in which the Tektronix service center is located. Customer shall be responsible for paying
all shipping charges, duties, taxes, and any other charges for products returned to any other locations.
This warranty shall not apply to any defect, failure or damage caused by improper use or improper or inadequate
maintenance and care. Tektronix shall not be obligated to furnish service under this warranty a) to repair damage resulting
from attempts by personnel other than Tektronix representatives to install, repair or service the product; b) to repair
damage resulting from improper use or connection to incompatible equipment; c) to repair any damage or malfunction
caused by the use of non-Tektronix supplies; or d) to service a product that has been modified or integrated with other
products when the effect of such modification or integration increases the time or difficulty of servicing the product.
THIS WARRANTY IS GIVEN BY TEKTRONIX WITH RESPECT TO THE LISTED PRODUCTS IN LIEU OF
ANY OTHER WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. TEKTRONIX AND ITS VENDORS DISCLAIM ANY
IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
TEKTRONIX’ RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR OR REPLACE DEFECTIVE PRODUCTS IS THE SOLE AND
EXCLUSIVE REMEDY PROVIDED TO THE CUSTOMER FOR BREACH OF THIS WARRANTY. TEKTRONIX
AND ITS VENDORS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR
CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER TEKTRONIX OR THE VENDOR HAS
ADVANCE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Contacting Tektronix
Product
support For questions about using Tektronix measurement products, call toll free in North America:
1-800-833–9200
6:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Pacific time
Or contact us by e-mail:
[email protected]
For product support outside of North America, contact your local Tektronix distributor
or sales office.
Service
support Tektronix offers extended warranty and calibration programs as options on many products. Contact your local Tektronix distributor or sales office.
For a listing of worldwide service centers, visit our web site.
For other
information In North America: 1-800–833–9200
An operator can direct your call.
To write us
Web site
Tektronix, Inc.
P.O. Box 500
Beaverton, OR 97077-1000
USA
www.tektronix.com

P6136 Instruction Manual i
General Safety Summary
Review the following safety precautions to avoid injury and prevent damage to
this product or any products connected to it. To avoid potential hazards, use this
product only as specified.
Only qualified personnel should perform service procedures.
Connect and Disconnect Properly. Do not connect or disconnect probes or test
leads while they are connected to a voltage source.
Observe All Terminal Ratings. To avoid fire or shock hazard, observe all ratings
and markings on the product. Consult the product manual for further ratings
information before making connections to the product.
The common terminal is at ground potential. Do not connect the common
terminal to elevated voltages.
Do not apply a potential to any terminal, including the common terminal, that
exceeds the maximum rating of that terminal.
Do Not Operate with Suspected Failures. If you suspect there is damage to this
product, have it inspected by qualified service personnel.
Do Not Operate in Wet/DampConditions.
Do Not Operate in an Explosive Atmosphere.
Keep Product Surfaces Clean and Dry.
Terms in this Manual. The following terms may appear in this manual:
WARNING. Warning statements identify conditions or practices that could result
in injury or loss of life.
To Avoid Fire or
Personal Injury
Symbols and Terms

ii P6136 Instruction Manual
Service Safety Summary
Only qualified personnel should perform service procedures. Read this Service
Safety Summary and the General Safety Summary before performing any service
procedures.
Do Not Service Alone. Do not perform internal service or adjustments to this
product unless another person capable of rendering first aid and resuscitation is
present.

P6136 Instruction Manual 1
Operating Basics
The P6136 probe is a 350 MHz, 10X, 1.3 meter, passive voltage probe designed
specifically for use with Tektronix 2400 Series oscilloscopes having bandwidths
greater than 150 MHz. The P6136 comes standard with the Tektronix subminia-
ture-size probe tip/hybrid assembly and is fully compatible with the Tektronix
Subminiature family of accessories. The Compact series probe tip/hybrid
assembly comes standard on the P6136 Option 25. The Compact probe
tip/hybrid assembly is slightly larger in diameter than the Subminiature series,
offering greater durability and ruggedness in those environments and applica-
tions where required. The compact tip is not compatible with the Subminiature
series except for the ground collar and the low-inductance (2.3 inch) ground lead.
The P6136 Option 25 is supplied with a complement of accessories; optional
accessories are available for both tip sizes.
You may convert both probe tip assemblies to Tektronix Miniature series probe
tips by using the subminiature/compact-to-miniature probe-tip adapter (See the
optional accessory lists for each probes in the Replaceable Parts section
beginning on page 14).
WARNING. To avoid electric shock when using the probe, do not touch the
metallic portions of the probe head while connected to a voltage source.
Probe Compensation
Due to variations in oscilloscope input characteristics, probe low-frequency
compensation should be checked and adjusted after moving the probe from one
oscilloscope input to another. To adjust the probe low-frequency compensation,
apply a 1 kHz square wave (such as an oscilloscope calibrator output) to the
probe tip. Using a nonconductive low-reactance alightment tool, adjust the probe
compensation capacitor through the hole in the compensation box to obtain the
squarest waveform at the front corner edge. See page 9 for complete low- and
high-frequency compensation adjustment procedures.

Operating Basics
2P6136 Instruction Manual
Inductive Effects of Probe Grounding
Ground lead inductance can significantly reduce the performance of a probe. As
shown in Figure 1, the ground lead inserts inductance into the signal path
forming a series-resonant circuit with the probe input capacitance Cin and
Rsource as damping. This forms a resonant circuit with f0+1B(2pLC
Ǹ).
Probe Cin
Typ. 10.8 pF
Probe Rin
10MW
Ground lead
inductance
Rsource
Vsource
Figure 1: Circuit model: test point and probe input
A six-inch ground lead has approximately 150 nH of inductance, which produces
an f0of approximately 130 MHz within the frequency range of the instrument.
This greatly degrades rise time, bandwidth, and transient accuracy as shown in
Figure 2.
Figure 2: Typical step response with six-inch ground lead
For best results, ensure that ground-lead inductance is at a minimum. Two
methods for doing so are the Low-Inductance Ground Lead and the Klipkit.

Operating Basics
P6136 Instruction Manual 3
The low-inductance ground lead provided with all Tektronix P6136 probes
allows for a substantial reduction in ground-lead inductance, approximately
32 nH instead of 150 nH.
To install the low-inductance ground lead, refer to Figure 3 and perform the
following steps:
1. Unscrew and remove the ribbed-tip shell and slide off the ground collar with
ground lead.
2. Slip on the low-inductance ground lead collar (1) and reinstall the ribbed
plastic tip cover.
3. Install the low-inductance lead (2) from the accessory pack.
1
2
Figure 3: Low-inductance ground lead
The optional Klipkit connector (see the optional accessory lists beginning on
page 14) provides a hands-free signal and ground connection to an integrated
circuit with up to 16 pins. The Klipkit ground is acquired by inserting a
connecting pin (included) into the Klipkit at the proper pin location. The probe
body (with ribbed-tip cover removed) then makes a signal connection when
inserted into other pin locations.
Screw-in probe tip
Ground lead
Klipkit
Subminiature only
Figure 4: Klipkit connector
Low-Inductance Ground
Lead
Klipkit Connector

Operating Basics
4P6136 Instruction Manual
Grounding the Probe
Connect the probe to the instrument and connect the ground lead to ground
before making any measurement. Ensure that no part of the ground lead contacts
voltage in the circuit under test. Except for the probe tip and BNC center
conductor, all accessible metal (including the ground clip) is connected to the
BNC shell.
WARNING. To avoid electric shock when using the probe, keep your fingers
behind the finger guard on the probe body. See Figure 5 below.
Hand contact area
Finger guard
Figure 5: Probe finger guard and hand contact area