Tektronix P6009 1.5kV X100 probe

I picked up a used, untested Tek P6009 X100 probe to safely use my new 2465 scope with vintage electronics.
How is it different than stand scope probes and is it any good?
Suggested modern replacement probe is the Tek P5100
Tektronix discontinued probe guide: www.tek.com/en...
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[@f.k.burnham8491]

A times 100 probe is a necessity for checking the collector waveform on a solid state TV. It saved losing a hot of HO xistors and other damage with the jig I made to power up the H section of solid state sets to verify if the FBT or tripler was bad, or a fault elsewhere in the set. I did a post describing the test setup and procedures on another forum. It saved hundreds of hours of time and frustration. I built the unit into an old Tek scope cart I got at a ham fair where the plug in modules were stored and put my scope on the top of the cart. It even includes a totally isolated variable B+ supply to drive the set, plus everything I needed except the VA48 to generate the H drive signal.

[@bobweiss8682]

Great video on a very useful probe! I managed to get the X1000 version (P6015) in a bunch of random gear I dumpster dived a while back. MUCH chunkier than yours, so not much for "daily driver" use like the X100, but it lets you completely disregard those "Do Not Measure" warnings in the service data. You can clip the scope right onto the HV rectifier, damper cathode, or HOT plate if you wanted to. Measure the ripple on the anode voltage too! :)

[@bandersentv]

Holy cow! Now that's a probe! Looks like it needs to be recharged with fluorocarbon 114 😲

[@bobweiss8682]

@@bandersentv Yeah, mine still has a few drops rolling around in it, so it will run at full ratings. Derates to "only" 10 kV without a gas charge.

[@erin19030]

50 years in the business and I never needed one. What are you measuring ? We simply drew an arc to check DC 2nd anode. To measure High voltage Ac just coil a few turns , hook it to a probe and scan the field around the transformer. Yes, its nice to have equipment like that but not really necessary unless you are doing research and design.

[@bobweiss8682]

@@erin19030 Not "needed" for anything related to old TV's, but useful in work on high voltage pulse power, radar, X-ray, etc. I dumpster dived mine from a university physics lab, which worked with plasma chambers and stuff. Weird test gear becomes a hobby of itself, after a while...

[@bandersentv]

@@erin19030Nothing like that. It can only go up to 1.5kV. You would need a X1000 probe to measure 2nd anode. You probably never needed a X100 probe because you use older analog scopes. Many newer solid state scopes have limited voltage range even with a X10 probe. This allows me to measure waveforms that are 100 volts without damaging my scope. For example I'm working on an Admiral 19A11. The sawtooth waveform on the plates of the 6SL7 are 300 volts peak to peak.

[@mikefinn2101]

Great video nice to learn new stuff

[@hughgilbert390]

The probe coax cable normally has a nichrome center conductor with about 200-400 ohms resistance. The resistance damps internal reflections, allowing the probe to give a faithful response over a much broader frequency range.

[@stevent3450]

at least you don't have to worry about bad battery ram problems with that version 2465, I have a 2465BCT with counter timer option that I copied the old battery backup NVRAM just before it went totally dead and burned it to a new type of FRAM which needs NO battery backup, and after 3 yrs. still holds its calibration. Should be good for 50 yrs or more, these are great scopes even though I have more modern Agilent scope, but I always use this scope. Because it's just easier to use than scrolling thru menus to make a simple change

[@bandersentv]

Yeah that's why I focus on the early version even though it lacks some features

[@hughgilbert390]

Your probe has four adjustments in the box at the connector.There is also the main compensation adjustment at the probe body just behind the finger grip flange. it is a collar that rotates with a lock ring behind it.

[@bandersentv]

Thank you for the valuable information.

[@notimetolooz9655]

Looks like that probe is one where you need the manual.@@bandersentv

[@markseymour5558]

I was wondering, are you using your Tektronix 130 LC meter on these projects? I really enjoyed that video as well.

[@bandersentv]

I have it handy if I need it but haven't so far. Most of the caps and inductors I replace are too large for it to measure.

[@therealdjryan]

The Probemaster 4910-2 is reasonably priced 100x probe

[@johnsenchak]

Don't you have to put the scope above ground by using a isolation transformer when probing high voltage?

[@bandersentv]

Not if you use a high voltage probe. This one is good for up to 1,500 volts.

[@eDoc2020]

I'm not familiar with this Tek gear but I don't think it is identifying the probe correctly. I would expect the on-screen display to show pre-multiplied values, aka when probing the 6SN7 plate it should say 50v/div instead of 500mv/div.

[@bandersentv]

Correct. I think the probe might be too old for the scope to recognize. My newer 10X probe is detected properly