I was given an old IO-12 oscilloscope by Heathkit. It seemed to work but :
- The crazy thing runs at 400 to 1500 VDC (tube oscilloscope) and comes... with a two prongs main plug. Checking inside, the enclosure isn't connected to anything anywhere either.
- They used a rotary on-off switch integrated onto a potentiometer as power switch, to switch thus 220VAC. After powering the unit a few times, it started to create crazy sparks at start up to finally end up in fire (tripping my home fuses of course).
What should I do ?
- Strip it for parts ? It has a nice transformer, plenty of switches, some good tubes, etc..
- Try to make it safe ? I'd have to replace the power cord, find a way to earth it, replace the power switch, replace some old electrolytic caps.
- Sell it on ebay for spares ?
- The crazy thing runs at 400 to 1500 VDC (tube oscilloscope) and comes... with a two prongs main plug. Checking inside, the enclosure isn't connected to anything anywhere either.
- They used a rotary on-off switch integrated onto a potentiometer as power switch, to switch thus 220VAC. After powering the unit a few times, it started to create crazy sparks at start up to finally end up in fire (tripping my home fuses of course).
What should I do ?
- Strip it for parts ? It has a nice transformer, plenty of switches, some good tubes, etc..
- Try to make it safe ? I'd have to replace the power cord, find a way to earth it, replace the power switch, replace some old electrolytic caps.
- Sell it on ebay for spares ?
Making any Heathkit scope safe is a chore. A lot had bum transformers, leaky caps and junk switches.
IMO, fleabay it.
Cheers!
IMO, fleabay it.
Cheers!
I'd say sell it on ebay, inform the buyers of its problems and let someone else have the fun of restoring it. I used to have one, and aside from a horizontal amplitude problem (I didn't know anything at the time) it was OK. Certainly didn't have any sparks and it well assembled. Looked great too. too bad I trashed it. I hate myself for that.
Sell it on ebay. or should I say "fleabay" like geek! lol
Sell it on ebay. or should I say "fleabay" like geek! lol
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