A while back a couple of members were looking for nice B+ supplies. One of my personal favorites - the HP 6209B - a solid state unit from the 70's is listed on eBay right now (260060974571). I have absolutely no affiliation with the seller and simply thought I might let anyone who is looking know. It needs repair but that means that it will sell for cheap. I have fixed 4 HP power supplies recently and it is not really that hard - usually just a bad transistor or capacitor. I have the service manual if anyone needs it.
Thanks,
Matthew D'Asaro
HP 6209B on eBay
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Usually Lurking
Matthew,
Thanks for the heads-up. I picked up a couple of these at Dayton this year. They are nice units.
The HP 6209B is a metered test bench style DC power supply. The single output is highly filtered and regulated. It is adjustable from 0 to 320 VDC and 0 to 100 mA.
The single analog meter can be switched to read either volts or amps.
If you have a couple of these, they can be connected in series or parallel to get more voltage or current.
The voltage regulation circuit uses a phase fired SCR to produce a DC voltage a bit higher than the output voltage. A linear regulator then applies the final finish to the output.
These are fairly complex supplies, and may possibly challenge the troubleshooting talents of some of us. Depending on what might be wrong, of course. They definitely employ circuit boards and those new-fangled transistor thingies.
These are old enough that they may need a bit of re-capping. Note that HP used much better parts than what you find in the usual consumer radio. But even industrial grade parts may not last quite forever. I expect it might be wise to use a variac to bring up the line voltage slowly the first time, then make sure the electrolytics are behaving. I haven't really looked, but I think there are no paper caps in these.
I found a PDF of the manual on the Agilent web page, in the legacy products area. The manual is very complete, with specifications, operation, theory, and maintenance information. There is a schematic and BOM. They even give crosses for the house-numbered parts. You could build one from scratch using the manual.
Unfortunately, the downloadable manual file lacked an image of Fig. 7-1, the PCB Component Location Diagram.
If your manual includes this figure, I would love to have a copy, and perhaps the Agilent guys might also be able to use yours to complete the copy they have available online. ( If you can do this for us, after Christmas is plenty soon enough!)
Thanks again.
Thanks for the heads-up. I picked up a couple of these at Dayton this year. They are nice units.
The HP 6209B is a metered test bench style DC power supply. The single output is highly filtered and regulated. It is adjustable from 0 to 320 VDC and 0 to 100 mA.
The single analog meter can be switched to read either volts or amps.
If you have a couple of these, they can be connected in series or parallel to get more voltage or current.
The voltage regulation circuit uses a phase fired SCR to produce a DC voltage a bit higher than the output voltage. A linear regulator then applies the final finish to the output.
These are fairly complex supplies, and may possibly challenge the troubleshooting talents of some of us. Depending on what might be wrong, of course. They definitely employ circuit boards and those new-fangled transistor thingies.
These are old enough that they may need a bit of re-capping. Note that HP used much better parts than what you find in the usual consumer radio. But even industrial grade parts may not last quite forever. I expect it might be wise to use a variac to bring up the line voltage slowly the first time, then make sure the electrolytics are behaving. I haven't really looked, but I think there are no paper caps in these.
I found a PDF of the manual on the Agilent web page, in the legacy products area. The manual is very complete, with specifications, operation, theory, and maintenance information. There is a schematic and BOM. They even give crosses for the house-numbered parts. You could build one from scratch using the manual.
Unfortunately, the downloadable manual file lacked an image of Fig. 7-1, the PCB Component Location Diagram.
If your manual includes this figure, I would love to have a copy, and perhaps the Agilent guys might also be able to use yours to complete the copy they have available online. ( If you can do this for us, after Christmas is plenty soon enough!)
Thanks again.
Usually Lurking,
Nice overview. As for the figure, I got the manual from the same place you did, but never noticed it missing until you pointed it out. My unit needed all new caps - one was oozing badly and read OC, the rest had an ESR that was unacceptable. Odd, as none of the other five HP power supplies I have fixed had bad caps. The potentiometer for the current control also had problems, but a little cleaning fixed that.
All of the components in the thing have NTE or generic cross references if one is willing to do a little hunting, so these units really are very fixable. For example, the common transistor in all of these supplies, the 1854-0071, can easily be replaced by an NTE123AP. NTE has it in their database. The series reg. is a little trickier. In this case it is an 1854-0225, and HP provides no cross-reference in the manual. However, if one looks in the manual for the 6214B series, one finds that it is merely a selected 2n3055. Similar tricks work for all of them. Though I do forget that, unlike me, most of us here are more familiar with hollow-state than solid-state.
Thanks again,
Matthew D'Asaro
Nice overview. As for the figure, I got the manual from the same place you did, but never noticed it missing until you pointed it out. My unit needed all new caps - one was oozing badly and read OC, the rest had an ESR that was unacceptable. Odd, as none of the other five HP power supplies I have fixed had bad caps. The potentiometer for the current control also had problems, but a little cleaning fixed that.
All of the components in the thing have NTE or generic cross references if one is willing to do a little hunting, so these units really are very fixable. For example, the common transistor in all of these supplies, the 1854-0071, can easily be replaced by an NTE123AP. NTE has it in their database. The series reg. is a little trickier. In this case it is an 1854-0225, and HP provides no cross-reference in the manual. However, if one looks in the manual for the 6214B series, one finds that it is merely a selected 2n3055. Similar tricks work for all of them. Though I do forget that, unlike me, most of us here are more familiar with hollow-state than solid-state.
Thanks again,
Matthew D'Asaro
If it ain't broken, you’re not trying hard enough...
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Usually Lurking
Matthew,
I guess I was wrong about the quality of the HP caps. I haven't gone through my units yet. Have only gone as far as finding the manual online and printing it out. Even found a light blue folder for it.
It's a shame that HP didn't maintain their manual files. Somewhere, someone, must have tossed a bunch of the older stuff. So now they are trying to locate material they once had on hand. I am grateful that they now do have many of the legacy manuals available for us.
When I have time, I guess I'll try an inquiry around the web to see if the missing figure can be found. If I have any luck, I'll post here on ARF. ( If the anti-spam/anti-flame measures don't make that too much trouble.)
I should add that the missing figure is a great convenience to have, but not essential, when working on the circuit board. The technology used in these power supplies makes it fairly easy to locate components without the drawing.
I guess I was wrong about the quality of the HP caps. I haven't gone through my units yet. Have only gone as far as finding the manual online and printing it out. Even found a light blue folder for it.
It's a shame that HP didn't maintain their manual files. Somewhere, someone, must have tossed a bunch of the older stuff. So now they are trying to locate material they once had on hand. I am grateful that they now do have many of the legacy manuals available for us.
When I have time, I guess I'll try an inquiry around the web to see if the missing figure can be found. If I have any luck, I'll post here on ARF. ( If the anti-spam/anti-flame measures don't make that too much trouble.)
I should add that the missing figure is a great convenience to have, but not essential, when working on the circuit board. The technology used in these power supplies makes it fairly easy to locate components without the drawing.
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Alan Douglas
- Silent Key
- 25381
- Jan Thu 01, 1970 12:00 am
- Pocasset, Cape Cod, MA
My 6209B manual has fig. 7-1. I could try scanning it, or what would probably work better, taking a digital photo.
I bought two of these supplies at a small ham flea market years ago, along with a boxful of HP spare parts. As I recall, I had a couple of bad semiconductors but I found the right spares in the box. That supply has worked fine ever since. I bought one more, later, for a total of three. I wish they'd used two meters instead of getting cheap, but otherwise I like the 6209s a lot.
I bought two of these supplies at a small ham flea market years ago, along with a boxful of HP spare parts. As I recall, I had a couple of bad semiconductors but I found the right spares in the box. That supply has worked fine ever since. I bought one more, later, for a total of three. I wish they'd used two meters instead of getting cheap, but otherwise I like the 6209s a lot.
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Usually Lurking
Alan,
That would be great! But let's wait until after the first of the year, if that's convenient. I know I'm swamped through the holidays, and sure won't be doing any equipment repair for a while, now.
I tried a digital camera on some schematics with poor results, but the component placement drawing might fare better.
I think the camera saved the image as a JPEG. This format evedently has the data compressed in a way that works well for color pictures, but not for line drawings. Later I thought of trying a non-compressed file setting in the camera, but I haven't tried this. The camera had 5MP resolution and the schemtic was 11 x 17. Seems as if the results should have been better than what I got.
That would be great! But let's wait until after the first of the year, if that's convenient. I know I'm swamped through the holidays, and sure won't be doing any equipment repair for a while, now.
I tried a digital camera on some schematics with poor results, but the component placement drawing might fare better.
I think the camera saved the image as a JPEG. This format evedently has the data compressed in a way that works well for color pictures, but not for line drawings. Later I thought of trying a non-compressed file setting in the camera, but I haven't tried this. The camera had 5MP resolution and the schemtic was 11 x 17. Seems as if the results should have been better than what I got.
-
Alan Douglas
- Silent Key
- 25381
- Jan Thu 01, 1970 12:00 am
- Pocasset, Cape Cod, MA
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Mikeinkcmo
- Member
- 8994
- Oct Sun 15, 2006 11:57 am
- Liberty, MO 64068
Just as an aside, the Lambda model 71 is also a very good HV power supply.
Supplies variable 0 - +500 dc, 0 - -200 bias, and a pair of hefty 6.3v ac outputs. All are isolated from chassis. Built like a tank and about as heavy. Can be had on ebay for a song now and then. I've got a pair of em. I also have documentation if somone needs a copy.
Mike
Supplies variable 0 - +500 dc, 0 - -200 bias, and a pair of hefty 6.3v ac outputs. All are isolated from chassis. Built like a tank and about as heavy. Can be had on ebay for a song now and then. I've got a pair of em. I also have documentation if somone needs a copy.
Mike