19 Jun
2013
19 Jun
'13
12:39 a.m.
I'm working through repairing a Tektronix 31 calculator for my dad (late
father's day gift...). It seems to mostly be working now but all of the
display panels except for two are dead (as I understand is pretty
typical). The display consists of two SP-333s and four SP-332s. I've
found a source for the SP-332s (2digit 7-segment displays) but can't
find much for the SP-333s (3digit 7-segment display).
Here's the specs:
http://www.tube-tester.com/sites/nixie/data/SP-333/sp-333.htm
Found a couple of "request a quote!" type listings on the 'net but
that's about it.
I need two of these beasts to get things visible again...
Thanks in advance,
Josh
19 Jun
19 Jun
10:37 a.m.
Josh Dersch wrote:
I'm working through repairing a Tektronix 31
calculator for my dad
(late
father's day gift...). It seems to mostly be
working now but all of
the display
panels except for two are dead (as I understand is
pretty typical).
The display
consists of two SP-333s and four SP-332s. I've
found a source for the
SP-332s
(2digit 7-segment displays) but can't find much
for the SP-333s
(3digit 7-
segment display).
This is extremely typical of these devices. They tend to outgas over
time, and when the concentration of gas goes below a certain level, the
display simply stops working. The problem is that when this happens,
the special driver chips on the display board can fail because sometimes
arcing can occur in the display module, which causes current spikes that
take out the driver chips. The driver chips are extremely hard to find.
Unfortunately, these display modules are quite expensive and none of the
common electronics supply places stock them. I did some research a while
back and found that the display division of Babcock (now Microsemi,
though www.babcockinc has information on them on the site) was the only
one left making these. They do list the SP-333 in their online catalog.
They do have an online quote system, but not sure what minimum quantity
might be.
If you find a source for the displays, I'd appreciate knowing where you
found them and how much they cost. I might be in the market to grab a
stash of the displays for stock for the museum, as eventually, the
museum's machines will probably lose their displays to outgassing. It's
pretty much inevitable.
Rick Bensene
The Old Calculator Museum
http://oldcalculatormuseum.com
12:54 p.m.
On 6/19/2013 7:37 AM, Rick Bensene wrote:
Josh Dersch wrote:
Thanks for the info! I hope that the driver chips are OK (they do seem
to be OK for the 2-digit displays, since I can swap the two remaining
good SP-332s around and they work). I was doing a bit of digging this
morning and I found that the HB-333 (also made by Babcock) is apparently
electrically compatible with the SP-333, the only difference is that
it's quite a bit brighter. I found a place that has them:
http://www.bristolelectronics.com/hb-333-beckman?___SID=U
And at $4.39/ea in 5-lot quantities I figured I'd take a chance. Seems a
bit too good to be true, we'll see what shows up on my doorstep :). If
they exist and work when they arrive, we'll see how much the brightness
makes a difference...
(The SP-332s I found on surplusgizmos:
http://www.surplusgizmos.com/Beckman-Sperry-2-Digit-VFD-Segmented-Neon-Disp…,
$14/each, probably NOS so they may also have gone bad...)
Now to find a source for the broken off keycap (one of the generic
tektronix wider-than-it-is-tall keys typical on their terminals for
function keys, and not a calculator-specific key, fortunately...)
Thanks again,
Josh
I'm working through repairing a Tektronix 31
calculator for my dad
(late
father's day gift...). It seems to mostly be
working now but all of
the display
panels except for two are dead (as I understand
is pretty typical).
The display
consists of two SP-333s and four SP-332s.
I've found a source for the
SP-332s
(2digit 7-segment displays) but can't find
much for the SP-333s
(3digit 7-
segment display).
This is extremely typical of these devices. They tend to outgas over
time, and when the concentration of gas goes below a certain level, the
display simply stops working. The problem is that when this happens,
the special driver chips on the display board can fail because sometimes
arcing can occur in the display module, which causes current spikes that
take out the driver chips. The driver chips are extremely hard to find.
Unfortunately, these display modules are quite expensive and none of the
common electronics supply places stock them. I did some research a while
back and found that the display division of Babcock (now Microsemi,
though www.babcockinc has information on them on the site) was the only
one left making these. They do list the SP-333 in their online catalog.
They do have an online quote system, but not sure what minimum quantity
might be.
If you find a source for the displays, I'd appreciate knowing where you
found them and how much they cost. I might be in the market to grab a
stash of the displays for stock for the museum, as eventually, the
museum's machines will probably lose their displays to outgassing. It's
pretty much inevitable.
Rick Bensene
The Old Calculator Museum
http://oldcalculatormuseum.com
4:49 p.m.
I'm working through repairing a Tektronix 31 calculator for my dad (late
father's day gift...). It seems to mostly be working now but all of the
display panels except for two are dead (as I understand is pretty
typical). The display consists of two SP-333s and four SP-332s. I've
found a source for the SP-332s (2digit 7-segment displays) but can't
find much for the SP-333s (3digit 7-segment display).
I asume it's impossible ot make an adapter and fit 3 off 332s in place of
the 2 333s.
Here's the specs:
http://www.tube-tester.com/sites/nixie/data/SP-333/sp-333.htm
Found a couple of "request a quote!" type listings on the 'net but
that's about it.
I need two of these beasts to get things visible again...
What technology do these use? Gas discharge? I am thinking alound here,
but if they are gas discharge, could they be re-gassed, for example by
the sort of company that makes neon signs?
-tony
7:16 p.m.
On Wed, Jun 19, 2013 at 1:49 PM, Tony Duell <ard at p850ug1.demon.co.uk> wrote:
I think it probably would be, except that the two 333's are not actually
next to each other, they're
on opposite ends of the display, bookending the four 332's :).
They are gas discharge panels. I suppose that might be possible, I wonder
if they would have the right kind of tooling (or if it would be worthwhile
-- would the gas just leak right out again?)
At any rate, I did manage to find a possible replacement (see my reply to
Rick Bensene) and I'll let you guys know how it works...
Thanks,
- Josh
I'm working through repairing a Tektronix 31 calculator for my dad (late
father's day gift...). It seems to mostly be working now but all of the
display panels except for two are dead (as I understand is pretty
typical). The display consists of two SP-333s and four SP-332s. I've
found a source for the SP-332s (2digit 7-segment displays) but can't
find much for the SP-333s (3digit 7-segment display).
I asume it's impossible ot make an adapter and fit 3 off 332s in place of
the 2 333s.
Here's the specs:
http://www.tube-tester.com/sites/nixie/data/SP-333/sp-333.htm
Found a couple of "request a quote!" type listings on the 'net but
that's about it.
I need two of these beasts to get things visible again...
What technology do these use? Gas discharge? I am thinking alound here,
but if they are gas discharge, could they be re-gassed, for example by
the sort of company that makes neon signs?
-tony
4092
days inactive
4092
days old
4 comments
3 participants
participants (3)
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ard＠p850ug1.demon.co.uk -
derschjo＠gmail.com -
rickb＠bensene.com