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G8MNY > TECH 09.12.13 11:42l 142 Lines 6662 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 47524_GB7CIP
Read: GUEST
Subj: Marconi Counter Type 2432A
Path: IZ3LSV<I0OJJ<GB7CIP
Sent: 131209/1025Z @:GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EU #:47524 [Caterham Surrey GBR] $:47524_GB
From: G8MNY@GB7CIP.#32.GBR.EU
To : TECH@WW
By G8MNY (New Jun 13)
(8 Bit ASCII graphics use code page 437 or 850, Terminal Font)
I have just repaired one of these old Marconi Instruments 560MHz Precision
Frequency Counters, Model No.52432-313Z.
Not working, as no -12V, caused by a shorted tantalum capacitor had taken out
the T05 pass transistor. The +12V +5V rails were both dangerously high, due to
no negative rail on their control 741 op-amps!
ÚÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿ >1 50MHz-560MHz, 50mV-5V max, 50ê BNC
³ _ __________________ ³ Burst Mode, holds reading on carrier loss
³ (_) ³ø8.8.8.8.8.8.8.8.:³ ³ >2 10Hz-200MHz 25mV-5V (250V 50Hz) 1Mê BNC
ɵ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ Æ» AF filter, <200kHz
̵ _ _ ƹ LF Multiplier, Res 0.01Hz to 13kHz (1Sec)
º³ (_) Ý Ü Ý (_) Û Û Û Û ± ³º Gate times 10S, 1S, 10mS, 1mS
º³ 1 2 ³º Resolution 0.1Hz,1Hz, 10Hz, 100Hz ñ1 count
º ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ º Oven Ref Output & Ext 1MHz 1V BNCs
ÈÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍÍͼ Supply 110/120/220/240V AC IEC.
A simple fault, if none of the chips were fried with the over voltage, it
should work now? But life is never that simple, as that was not the only fault!
The 1S gate range read 10x too low & other ranges occasionally read 0.6x low.
I could not find a diagram for this "A" version, the board layout & circuit is
different to the 2432 diagram I did get. The 3 power suplies are all different,
but the counter ICs are the same, so a starting point.
Sequence
Drivers Timers 40pin IC TOP PCB Up End Out Rigger
=============================================== Connection
FRONT Ý7seg JoiningÀÂÂÂÂÂÂÙ Hing out
Ý PCB|||||| /~~~~~~~~~~\ [ MAINS IEC
ÝLEDs ÚÄ||||||Ä¿ ³ Mains ³ [ & Volts
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ XTAL³ |||||| ³ ³ Toroid ³ Ä¿ REAR
BNCs Screened OVEN³ |||||| ³ \__________/ ÄÙRef BNCs
IN ÚÄÜÜ Pre-amps UNIT³ÚÁÁÁÁÁÁ¿³ metal frame oCal
& SWÀÄßß=============================================
- - - - - - - Pre-scalers * PSUs BOTTOM PCB
Pressing hard on the top PCB did change the faults, but a good solder up over
the 2 PCBs, did nothing! All these faults eventually proved to the large main
special counter IC, with it's 40 gold plated pins & socket on the top PCB.
Re-seating it MANY TIMES initialy cleared all the faults, so no blown chips,
but they did not stay away for long! Looking inside the IC holder there was
several broken socket fingers. So I soldered the IC directly in. (well you
would never get a replacement IC)
HOW IT WORKS
The 2 inputs both see pre-amps with a common AGC (90dB LF, 54dB UHF) are relay
selected, to feed a special gated UHF ö10 pre-scaler IC, then to an HF ö10 pre-
scaler, & to a ö2. The resultant ö200 feeds the slower special main 5.5 digit
counter IC. The pre-scalers also feed 9 BCD data lines read during gate reset,
for the additional (LSD) 2.5 digit information to make 8 digits in all.
TB Gate Gate time select
ÚÄÄÄ<ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄ¿10m100m1S10S LF
³ Resets ³ v v v v v
VHF-UHF ³ ÚÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄ<Ä¿³ |..|..|..|..|......DP......
1)fuse-Preamp__ ÚÄÁÄÄ¿ÚÄÁÄÄ¿ÚÁÄ¿ ÚÁÁÄÁÄÄÁÄÄÁÄÄÁÄÄÁ¿ \
ÃAGC \_³ö10 ôö10 ôö2ÃÄ>´ MAIN 5.5 DIGIT ÃÄ>DRIVERS->8x 7seg
2)ÄÄxÄÄPreamp__ ÀÂÂÂÂÙÀÂÂÂÂÙÀÄÂÙÚ>´ COUNTER IC ³ LED display
AF LF-VHF A\\\__B\\\__C\_³ ÀÄÄÄÄÄÄÂÄÄÄÄÄÄÂÄÂÙ
Filter BCD data ³ | |
³ | À---Overflow LED
Ref 10MHzÄÄ>Äö10ÄÂÄÄ\__ö10ÄÄ>ÄÄÙRef |
Osc Oven ³ Ú 100kHz À---------Gate LED
Int)<ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙ ³Ext Ref
1MHz ³Auto-------------------------Ext LED
Ext)>ÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÄÙSence
The main IC determines the TimeBase gate time & is feed with 100kHz reference.
This is derived from a very accurate & stable 10MHz Xtal in an electronic
controlled oven.
The fast reading LF multiplier range (a useful LF feature) gives resolution
down to 0.01Hz. It counts reference clock for 1 input cycle (100kHz Ref & Gate
swapped) & then the reciprical is calculated & displayed. But it only works up
to 13kHz!
TESTING & CALIBRATION
The +5V rail has a preset for setting it to +5.10V. The +12V rail follows, &
the -12V is independant.
Input 1 VHF-UHF, pre-amp tends to oscillate @ 400MHz with no input, & a lockout
preset (like a squelch) kills the erroneous reading. It managed >810MHz @ 1V
input (5V max=250mW).
Input 2 AF-VHF, pre-amp has a Schmitt trigger, & setting the bias preset (DC1)
well, is very important for best sensitivity, & good VHF. It managed >320MHz @
1V input.
Both pre-amps share the same AGC preset with 6V DC set testpoint (no signal).
Reference oscillator calibration is done after at least 15 min warm up with the
rear multi-turn preset. Compare the 1MHz output with an off air locked 1MHz on
dual beam scope (while counting something), or just count a reference source.
Overflow LED lights over 99999999 count, but the display is still accurate for
>8 digits.
OVEN STABILITY
Squale law Time-Hz plot of a 10MHz off air reference.
Hz _
+20´ Þ 'ú Fast Oven
+10´ Ý ' Heat Up Heater &
5.0´ Þ ' Overshoot Thermisitor
2.0´ Ý ' Delay Oven Cycle
1.0´ Ý ' .ú''''ú. .úúú.
0.5´ Þ ' ú' '''' 'ú...ú''ú. ..
0.2´_Þ_ _ _ _ú _ _ _.'_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ''_ 'ú''ú.ú'úúú..
-0.2´ Þ , .
-0.5´ Þ ú Longer term Oven & PCB warm up heat drift
-1.0´ Ý '_.ú'
-2.0´ Ý
-5.0´ Ý
-10´Þ
-20´Þ
-50´Ý
-100´Ý____________________________________________________________________
0 0.5 1 2 4 8 16 30 60 120Min
In use at room temperature it gives repeatable accuracy of < 2/10^7 ñ1, or
less than ñ2Hz in 10MHz after 1 min warm up! But 1 hr for 20x better stable
reading of < 1/10^8 ñ1, or less than ñ0.1Hz in 10MHz!
The internal reference is 10-100x more stable/accurate than a non-ovened Xtal
in a cheaper counter, or for that matter your rig !
See my other tech buls "Watson 'Hunter' Counter Mods", "PIC Freq Counter Mods",
"Old Venner Counter Type TSA3334", "198kHz Off Air Standard", "Off Air Lock for
Ref Osc" & "Calibrating Frequency".
Why Don't U send an interesting bul?
73 De John, G8MNY @ GB7CIP
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