
sc
501
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
Page
SECTION 1
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
Introduction
Description
1-1
Installation and Removal
1-1
Controls
& Connectors
1-2
Operating Considerations
1-3
Deflection Factors
1-3
Applying Signals
1-3
Input
Coupling
1-3
Sweep
Triggering
1-3
Rear Interface
1-4
Table
1-1
Rear Connector Pin Assignments
1-4
Input
Assignments
1-4
Output Assignments
1-5
Electrical Characteristics
1-5
Table
1-2
Vertical Deflection
System
1-5
Table
1-3
Horizontal Deflection System
1-6
Table
1-4
Triggering
1-6
Table
1-5
Display
1-7
Table
1-6
Environmental
1-7
SECTION
2 SERVICING
INFORMATION
Introduction
2-1
Contents
2-1
Maintenance
2-1
Cathode-Ray Tube
Replacement
2-1
Test Equipment Required
2-2
Diagrams and Parts Lists
2-3
Electrical Parts List
2-4
Calibration
Adjustments
Component Locations (reverse side of foldout)
Block Diagram
Input &
Vertical
Amplifier
(Circuit Description)
Sweep
&
Horizontal Amplifier (Circuit Description)
Z-Axis & CRT Circuit (Circuit Description)
Low Voltage Supplies
(Circuit Description)
Mechanical
Parts List
Fig. 1 Exploded
View
Fig. 2 Accessories &
Repackaging
CHANGE
INFORMATION

Section 1—SC 501
OPERATING
INSTRUCTIONS
INTRODUCTION
DESCRIPTION
The SC
501
general
purpose oscilloscop)e is
designed
to
operate
in
a
TM 500
Series Power
Module. The
SC
501 has
a
bandwidth of
at
least
5
MHz
and
a
calibrated
vertical
deflection range
from
10 mV/DIV
to
1 V/DIV,
selectable
in
decade steps.
An uncalibrated
VARIABLE control
extends
this
range
to at
least 10
volts/division.
Calibrated sweep
rates are selected by
pushbutton-
controlled
logic in decade steps
from
1
ms/DIV
to
lOOms/DIV
(millisecond
range)
and
in decade steps
from
1
ms/DIV
to 100 ms/DIV
(microsecond
range). A
VARIABLE
control
extends
the
slowest calibrated sweep
rate
to
at
least 1
second/division and
a
X5
Magnifier
extends
the fastest
calibrated
sweep
rate
to
at
least
200
nanoseconds/division.
The
triggering circuits
allow stable
triggering from either
internal or external sources. An AUTO
triggering mode and
manual LEVEL/SLOPE
selection
is
combined in
a
single
control. With no
input signal,
automatic
triggering provides
a
bright baseline
at
all
sweep rates.
An internal switch
converts the
horizontal deflection
system
of the
SC
501 to
an External Horizontal
Amplifier
mode
of operation.
INSTALLATION AND
REMOVAL
The
SC
501
is calibrated and ready
for use as
received.
Referring to
Fig. 1-1,
install the
SC
501
and turn on
the
Power
Module. Check
that the POWER
indicator on
the
SC
501 front panel comes
on.
NOTE
It
is
recommended
that the
Power Module be
turned
off before
inserting or removing
the
SC
501. Arcing
at
the
rear connector terminals
can reduce
connector
life. However,
no internal
damage will
result
if
the
SC
501 is
inserted in
a
live Power
Module.
Refer
to
CONTROLS &
CONNECTORS
(Fig.
1-2)
for
description
of front panel
controls, connectors
and
indicators.
©
1-1

Operating
Instructions—SC 501
OPERATING
CONSIDERATIONS
DEFLECTION FACTORS
The
amount of
vertical
deflection
produced
by
a
signal is
determined
by the signal amplitude,
the attenuation factor
(if
any)
of the probe, the setting of the
Volts/Div
pushbuttons,
and
the setting
of
the associated
VARIABLE
control.
Use
the
largest deflection factor
.(1
V/DIV)
when first
connecting
the
SC
501 to an
unknown voltage source.
If
the
deflection is too
small
to
make the measurement,
switch
to a
lower
deflection factor.
The
deflection factors
indicated
by the
Volts/Div push-
buttons
are calibrated
only when the
VARIABLE
control is
rotated
fully clockwise.
The range
of the VARIABLE
control is
at
least 10:1.
It
provides
uncalibrated
deflection factors covering the full
range
between
the fixed settings of Volts/Div pushbuttons.
The
VARIABLE
control extends the maximum deflection
factor to at
least 1
0
volts/division.
APPLYING SIGNALS
While most
connections
to
the
SC
501
will probably be
made
using coaxial
cables, probes offer
another convenient
method
of
applying a'
signal
to
the input of the
SC
501.
Tektronix
probes are
shielded
to
prevent
pickup
of
electro-
static
interference.
A 10X
attenuator
probe offers a
high
input
impredance and
allows the circuit under test to
perform
very close to
normal operating conditions. The
SC
501
is
compatible with probes
such as Tektronix P6006
and
P6028
Passive
Probes. When probe
attenuation is not
desired,
a
Tektronix P6011
Passive Probe
is recommended.
NOTE
Probe
compensation should be
checked with a
known
signal
(risetime of 700
nanoseconds or
less) before
using
the
SC
501.
Input
time constant is
normalized
for
each
attenuator step.
Unshielded test leads
can sometimes
be used to
connect
a
signal
source
to
the
SC
501,
particularly
when
a
high-level,
low-frequency signal is monitored at a
low
impedance
point. However, when any
of these
factors are missing, it
becomes
increasingly important to use
shielded cables. In
all cases, the signal
transporting leads should
be kept as
short
as
practical.
Be
certain that
a
common ground
connection is established
between the device under test
and
the
SC
501
.
The shield of a
coaxial cable or ground strap of
a
signal
probe
provides
an adequate
common
ground
connection.
INPUT COUPLING
The
AC COUPL
pushbutton switch allows
a
choice of
input coupling. The type of
display desired
determines the
method of coupling used.
Dc
coupling
(button out)
can be used for most
applica-
tions. However,
if
the dc compronent of
the applied
signal
is
much larger than the
ac
component, ac
coupling (button in)
will probably provide
a
better display.
Dc
coupling
should
be used to
display an
ac
signal below
ebout 3
hertz.
In
the
ac
coupling position, the dc
component
is blocked
by a
series capacitor
in the input circuit. The
low-frequency
response in the
ac
position is about
3 hertz
(—3
dB
point);
therefore, some
low-frequency attenuation
and
phase shift
can
be
expected
near this
frequency limit. Distortion
will
also appear
in square waves that
have
low-frequency
components.
SWEEP TRIGGERING
When the source
switch isinthe I NT
position,
the
sweep
is triggered by a
sample of the
signal applied to
the VERT
INPUT connector.
The display
is stable
for either Normal
or AUTO
triggering modes
as
long as
the signal frequency
is
above 10 Hz. Below
10 Hz, it may be
desirable
to
use
Normal mode
triggering (LEVEL/SLOPE
control
pushed
in). The
AUTO
triggering mode
(LEVEL/SLOPE
control
pulled
out)
reduces operator
adjustments
and provides a
bright
baseline in the absence
of an input
signal.
When
the
source
switch
is
in the
EXT
position,
the
sweep is
triggered
by
the
signal
applied
to
the
EXT
TRIG
pin jack.
The
signal applied
to
the
EXT
TRIG pin jack must
be
time-related
to
the signal appliedtothe
VERT
INPUT
connector in order
to
prevent drift in the display.

Operating
Instructions—SC
501
REAR INTERFACE
TABLE
1-1
REAR
CONNECTOR
PIN
ASSIGNMENTS
(REAR
VIEW)
Pin No.
Left (B)
Right
(A)
28 Unassigned
Unassigned
27
*
-t-
Gate
Out
‘EXT TRIG signal
26 Unassigned
‘
EXT TRIG common
23-25
Unassigned
Unassigned
22
Unassigned
Unassigned
18-21
Unassigned
Unassigned
17
‘VERT INPUT
signal
‘
EXT HORIZ common
16
‘VERT INPUT common
‘EXT
HORIZ signal
14
Unassigned
Unassigned
15 Unassigned
Ramp Out
13
Not used
Not used
12 +33.5
V
Filtered
dc
+33.5
V Filtered dc
11
Collector PNP Series-Pass
Transistor
Base
PNP
Series-Pass Transistor
10
Not used
Emitter
PNP
Series-Pass Transistor
9 ±33.5
Vdc common
±33.5
Vdc common
8 —33.5
V
Filtered
dc
—33.5
V Filtered
dc
7
Collector NPN
Series-Pass
Transistor
Emitter NPN Series-Pass Transistor
-6
No Connection
Base
NPN Series-Pass Transistor
1-5
Not used
Not used
*
Instrument not supplied
with these connections.
See INPUT
and OUTPUT
ASSIGNMENT.
NOTE
Refer
to
Power
Module instruction
manual for
information concerning pins labeled
Not
used.
INPUT ASSIGNMENTS
The VERT INPUT signal,
EXT TRIG signal
and
EXT
HORIZ signal
can be applied
through
the rear
interface
connectors if
the
SC 501 is modified
as
follows:
A. VERT INPUT signal.
1. Unsolder the 200 ohm resistor
attached
to
the
VERT
INPUT connector.
Connect tl\e center conductor
of a coaxial cable
to
the 200 ohm
resistor. Connect the
coaxial cable shield
to ground.
2. Connect the other end
of the coaxial cable: center
conductor
to
pin
17B
and
shield
to
pin
16B
(common).
NOTE
Parallel operation
may
be
obtained if
another
200 ohm
resistor
is
connected in series
with
the
center conductor of
a
coaxial cable to the
junction
of
R100 and the main circuit board. The
addition
of
any
coaxial cable
to
input circuits affects
the input
impedance.
B. EXT TRIG
signal.
1 .
Connect the center conductor of
a
coaxial
cable
to
the EXT TRIG pin jack. Ground the
coaxial
cable
shield.
2.
Connect the other end of the
coaxial
cable:
center
conductor to pin 27A
and
shield
to
pin 26A
(common).
1-4
REV. B,
AUG.
1974

Operating
Instructions—
SC 501
3. Set
the trigger
source switch to
the
EXT
position
to
trigger
the
sweep from
pin
27A.
C. EXT
HORIZ signal.
1 .
Connect
the center conductor of a
coaxial cable
to
the
EXT
HORIZ pin jack.
Ground the coaxial
cable
shield.
2. Connect
the other end of the
coaxial cable: center
conductor to pin 16A
and
shield
to
pin
17A (common).
OUTPUT
ASSIGNMENTS
A
+
Gate Out
signal can
be routed to
the rear
interface
connector via
the
center conductor
of
a
coaxial
cable to
pin
27B.
Shield ground may be any
convenient
location. A
Ramp Out Signal is
factory
wired to
pin
15A
.
Other
pins
(unassigned)
are
available
at
the rear
interface
connector
for
routing signals to
and from the
SC
501 for
specialized
applications. One or more
compartments
of
a
multi-plug-in
Power Module can
be wired
with
barriers installed to
provide specific
functions
between
compartments.
See
Power Module
instruction
manual
for
additional
information.
ELECTRICAL
CHARACTERISTICS
PERFORMANCE
CONDITIONS
The
electrical
characteristics
are valid
only if the SC 501
has
been
calibrated at an
ambient
temperature
between
-h
20°C
and
-t-30°C
and is
operating at
an
ambient
temperature
between
0°C
and
-h
50°C
unless
otherwise
noted.
TABLE
1-2
VERTICAL DEFLECTION
SYSTEM
CHARACTERISTICS
Characteristics
Performance
Requirements
Supplemental
Information
Bandwidth
Dc to
at
least 5 MHz.
Deflection
Factors
10
mV/div,
100
mV/div, and 1 V/div.
Accuracy
Within 3%
of indicated deflection.
VARIABLE in XI
(fully cw)
position:
gain
correctly
set at 10
mV/div.
Uncalibrated
(Variable)
Range
Continuously variable
between steps.
Extends
deflection factor
to a
maximum
of 10
V/div.
10:1 range
for
all attenuator settings.
Low
Frequency
Linearity
0.1
division or
less
compression or
expansion of
a
two
division (at
center
screen)
signal when p>ositioned to
the
top
and bottom of
the graticule area.
Input
Coupling
Ac or dc.
Lower
bandwidth
limit when
ac-coupled
is approximately
3 Hz.
Input
Impedance
1 MJ7
paralleled by 47
pF.
Input time constant
is
normalized for
each attenuator step.
Maximum
Safe Input Voltage
350 V (dc +
peak ac).
REV.
B, AUG.
1974
1-5

operating
Instructions—SC
501
TABLE
1-3
HORIZONTAL
DEFLECTION
SYSTEM
CHARACTERISTICS
Characteristics Performance
Requirements
Supplemental
Information
Time
Base
Calibrated Sweep Rates
1 ms/div,
10
ms/div, 100 ms/div,
1
ps/div,
10
ps/div, 100
/is/div.
Uncalibrated
(Variable) Range
Extends slowest
calibrated rate to at
least
1 sec/div.
10:1
range for all
calibrated
rates.
Zero to
10 V ramp
output
available at
rear
interface
connector for
all sweep
rates
(excluding
X5
magnification).
X5
Magnifier (fixed)
Extends
fastest
calibrated sweep rate to
at
least 200
ns/div.
Accuracy (Over
8
div)
Within 5%
for all
sweep
rates.
Disregard
first
0.5
ps
of total sweep
length.
Linearity (any two
division
fxartion
within center
eight divisions)
Within 5%.
Disregard
first
0.5
/is of total sweep
length.
External Horizontal
Amplifier
Internal
switch
must
be
set
to
X-Y
position.
Bandwidth
Dcto
100 kHz.
Internally
calibrated
for
100 mV/div.
Input lmF>edance
Approximately 100
kJ2
paralleled by
25
pF.
Maximum
Input Voltage
±3
V.
TABLE
1-4
TRIGGERING
CHARACTERISTICS
Characteristics
Performance
Requirements
Supplemental
Information
Normal Trigger
Sensitivity (Trigger
LEVEL/SLOPE control
pushed in)
Internal: Dc-coupled
0.4 major
division of
deflection at dc
increasing to 1.0
major
division of
deflection at
5
MHz.
External: Dc-coupled
1 V
minimum
to 5
V
maximum
from dc
to 5 MHz.
Input
Impedance
22 Kfi
paralleled by
approximately
150
pF.
AUTO
triggering
(Trigger LEVEL/
SLOPE
control
pulled to out
position)
Sweep
free-runs in
absence of
trigger
signal or for
trigger repetition
rates
below
10 Hz.

Operating
Instructions—
SC
501
TABLE
1-5
DISPLAY
CHARACTERISTICS
Characteristics
Performance Requirements
Supplemental
Information
Graticule
Type Internal black line, nonilluminated.
Area
Six divisions vertical
by 10
divisions
horizontal.
Each division
equals
0.203 inch.
Phosphor P31
standard.
TABLE
1-6
ENVIRONMENTAL
CHARACTERISTICS
Characteristics
Performance
Requirements Supplemental
Information
Temperature
Operating
0°C to
-t50°C.
Storage
-40°C to +75‘’C.
Altitude
Operating To
15,000
feet.
Storage To 50,000
feet.
Vibration
Operating
and Non-operating
With the instrument complete
and
operating, vibration frequency swept
from 10
to
50 to
10 Hz
at
1 minute per
sweep. Vibrate 15 minutes in each
of
the
three major axes at 0.015 inch total
displacement.
Hold 3 minutes at
any
major
resonance,
or
in
none,
at
50 Hz.
Tot^l time,
54 minutes.
Shock
Operating and Non-operating
30
g's, 1/2
sine,
1 1 ms duration, 2 shocks
in
each direction along
3 major
axes, for
a
total of
12
shocks.
1-7

Section
2—SC 501
SERVICING
INFORMATION
INTRODUCTION
CONTENTS
This
section of
the manual
contains
information neces-
sary to
service
the
SC
501
A
block
diagram
and
schematic
drawings are
provided as
an
aid
in
understanding the
theory
of
operation
of the
SC
501.
A circuit
description
for each
schematic
drawing
is
included on
the
associated
foldout page.
Adjustment and
calibration
procedures are
provided on
a
foldout
page
with supporting
illustrations that
show inter-
nal adjustment
locations and
measurement
check points.
Also included is
the
electrical parts list and a
component
location
grid
to
facilitate the location
of the components
on
the etched
circuit boards.
Mechanical
parts are
listed
in the
rear of
this
section
with an
exploded
view of
the
instrument. A
list of
standard
accessories and
a
carton assembly
drawing are
on
the back
of
the
exploded view foldout
page.
MAINTENANCE
General system
maintenance
procedures are
provided in
the Power Module instruction
manal,
i.e.,
preventive main-
tenance, troubleshooting aids, parts
removal
and
replace-
ment procedures, parts ordering information, etc.
Adjustment
of
the
SC
501 may be required after
a
repair
has been made, or after long time
intervals
in
which normal
aging of components may
affect instrument accuracy.
Before
complete calibration, thoroughly
clean and in-
sfject
this
instrument as
outlined in the service section of
the Power
Module
instruction manual.
Refer to
Fig.
2-1
as
an aid
in removing
or
replacing the
cathode-ray tube.
CRT
base
socket
NOTE
It
is
not necessary
to
remove the
crt shield
or
front
panel.
CRT shield
Use
care
when handling a
crt.
Protective
clothing and
safety
glasses
should
be
worn. Avoid
striking it
on
any object
whidi
might cause it to
crack or
implode.
When storing a crt,
place
it in a
protective car-
ton or set
it face down in a
protected
location on
a
smooth
surface with a soft mat under the
faceplate
to
protect it from
scratches.
Fig.
2-1. Replacing
the cathode-ray tube.
Replacing
the
crt
will require
partial
instrument readjostments. Refer
to
CALIBRATION
ADJUST-
MENTS
foldout
page.
2-1

Servicing
Information—SC 501
TEST
EQUIPMENT REQUIRED
The
following test equipment and accessories,
or its
equivalent, is
required
for
complete
calibration
of
the
SC
501.
Specifications
given
for
the test
equipment
are
the
minimum
necessary
for accurate
calibration
or
measure-
ment. All test
equipment
is assumed
to
be correctly
calibrated
and operating
with specifications.
If other
test
equipment
is substituted, control settings or
calibration setup may
need
to
be altered to meet
the
requirements of
the
equipment
used.
Detailed
operating
instructions
for the test
equipment used
are not given in
the
adjustment
or
calibration procedures.
Refer
to
the
instruc-
tion manual
for the test
equipment if more
information is
desired.
1. TM 500
Series Power
Module
2.
Plug-in
Extender.
Tektronix Part
No.
067-0645-01.
3.
Variable
Autotransformer.
Must be
capable of
supplying
sufficient wattage
over
a
range of
90
to
132 V or
180 to
264 V.
Autotransformer
must have an ac
voltmeter
to
indicate
output
voltage.
4. Dc
Voltmeter:
accuracy
within 0.1% and a
measure-
ment
range from
—1000
V to
-t-100
V.
For example,
a
DM
501
Digital
Multimeter, or any
high impjedance
dc
voltmeter
meeting the above
requirements.
5.
Amplitude
Calibrator:
accuracy
within 0.25%. Out-
put
amplitudes
from
50
mV
to
10 V.
Square-wave
repeti-
tion rate about
1 kHz. For example, Tektronix
Calibration
Generator
PG
506 or
Calibration Fixture
067-0502-01.
6. Test
Oscilloscop>e. Minimum bandpass
of
1
MHz
and
deflection
factor
of at
least 10 mV/div
with
a 10X
probe.
For
example, Tektronix 5103/D10
oscilloscope
with
5B10N
Time
Base/Amplifier,
5A23N
Amplifier
plug-in
and
a
P6006 probe, or any
oscilloscope that meets the
above
requirements.
7.
Leveled Sine-Wave
Generator.
Tektronix
SG 503 or
191
Constant-Amplitude
Signal Generator.
8.
Time-Mark
Generator.
Tektronix
TG 501
or
2901.
9.
Input
Ndrmalizer
47
pF (BNC).
Tektronix Calibra-
tion Fixture
067-0541-00.
10. 50-ohm termination with BNC connectors.
Tektronix Part No. 01
1-0049-01.
11.
Coaxial cables. Impedance
50 ohms, RG 58/U,
maximum length
42 inches,
BNC
connectors.
Tektronix
Part No.
012-0057-01.
12. Adapter, BNC
to
pin
jack. Tektronix
Part
No.
1
75-1
1 78-00, or
equivalent.
13.
Screwdriver, three-inch
shaft, 3/32
bit. Xcelite
R-3323.
14.
Low-capacitance
screwdriver, one and
one-half inch
shaft.
Tektronix Part No.
003-0000-00.

Servicing
Information—
SC
501
DIAGRAMS
AND PARTS
LISTS
SYMBOLS
AND
REFERENCE
DESIGNATORS
Electrical
components
shown on the
diagrams are in
the following units
unless
noted otherwise:
Capacitors
=
Values one or
greater are
in picofarads (pF).
Values less
than one
are in microfarads
(pF).
Resistors
=
Ohms
Symbols
used
on
the
diagrams are based on
ANSI
Y32.2
—
1970.
Logic
symbology
is
based
on MIL-STD-806B
in
terms of positive logic. Logic
symbols
depict the logic function
performed
and
may
differ
from
the manufacturer's data.
The
following
special
symbols are used
on the
diagrams:
External Screwdriver adjustment.
External
control or connector.
Clockwise
control
rotation
in
direction of
arrow.
Refer
to
diagram
number indicated
in
diamond.
Refer
to
waveform
number indicated
in
hexagon.
Connection
soldered to
circuit board.
Connection made to
circuit
board
with interconnecting
pin.
Blue
tint
encloses
components
located on
circuit
board.
P/0
circuit
board

ELECTRICAL
REPLACEABLE
PARTS
LIST
PARTS ORDERING INFORMATION
Replacement parts are available from
or through your
local Tektronix,
Inc.
Field
Office or representative.
Char>ges
to Tektronix
instruments are
sometimes made
to accommodate
improved
components as they become available, and to give
you
the benefit
of the
latest
circuit
improvements developed in our engineering department.
It is
therefore
important,
when
ordering parts,
to
include the following
information
in your order:
Part number,
instrument type or number, serial number,
and modification
number if
applicable.
If
a f)art you
have
ordered
has been replaced with
a
new
or improved
part, your
local Tektronix, Inc.
Field
Office or representative will
contact
you concerning
any
chartge in
part
number.
Change information,
if
any, is located at
the
rear of this manual.
SPECIAL NOTES
AND SYMBOLS
XOOO Part first added
at
this serial number
OOX
Part removed after
this serial number
ITEM NAME
In the Parts List, an Item Name is
separated from
the description
by
a colon
(:).
Because
of
space limitations, an
Item Name may sometimes appear
as incomplete.
For
further Item Name
identification, the
U.S.
Federal
Cataloging Handbook
H6-1
can be
utilized
where
possible.
ABBREVIATIONS
ACTR ACTUATOR
PLSTC PLASTIC
ASSY ASSEMBLY QTZ
QUARTZ
CAP CAPACITOR, RECP
RECEPTACLE
CER CERAMIC
RES RESISTOR
CKT CIRCUIT
RF RADIO
FREQUENCY
COMP COMPOSITION
SEL SELECTED
CONN CONNECTOR SEMICOND
SEMICONDUCTOR
ELCTLT ELECTROLYTIC SENS
SENSITIVE
ELEC
ELECTRICAL SEP
SEPARATELY
FXD FIXED
VAR
VARIABLE
INC
AND
INCANDESCENT
WW
Wl
REWOUND
LED LIGHT
EMITTING DIODE
XFMR
TRANSFORMER
NONWIR
NON
Wl
REWOUND
XTAL
CRYSTAL