[Paul Rako]’s teardown of his treasured P6042 current probe shows why Tektronix commands so much respect among the old hats of the electronics world.
Built in 1969, the P6042 is pretty sparse transistor-wise when compared a modern sensor. The user would clip the current probe, permanently attached to the case since the circuit was tuned for each one, over a wire and view the change in volts on an oscilloscope. When the voltage division on the oscilloscope was set properly the current in a circuit could be easily seen.
The teardown is of a working unit so it’s not completely disassembled, but it also sits as a nice guide on refurbishing your own P6043, if you manage to snag one from somewhere. Aside from capacitors and oxidized switch contacts there’s not much that can go wrong with this one.
As for how it compares, the linear power supply, analog circuit design, and general excellent engineering has the P6042 coming in with a cleaner signal than some newer models. Not bad for a relic! Do any of you have a favorite old bit of measurement kit?
My favorite old bit of measuring kit is my Hewlett-Packard 5245L electronic counter. It’s 50 years old and yet somehow still accurate to within +/- 2 Hz at 10 MHz. Not bad for something I picked up for $15 at a hamfest!
Wasn’t this about the 6042???
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but it also sits as a nice guide on refurbishing your own P6043
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Worked on several of the 6042s. As I recall most had problems with the probe itself. Has a custom op-amp in the slide open transformer assembly.
Have a once working Tektronix P6042 current probe anyone interested? Clearing out old stuff as retiring.
hello Stan Dixon
I’ ve read right now your post
Is the probe still available ?
How can I get it in Italy ?
please let me know the price including shipping fees
thank you
best regards
Ettore Piccirillo
ettore.piccirillo@alice.it
Hi Etore,
I have one available if you are still looking.
Located in the Netherlands.