[time-nuts] HP 5370B low frequency modulation

[Magnus Danielson]

From: "Mike Feher" <mfeher at eozinc.com>
Subject: Re: [time-nuts] HP 5370B low frequency modulation
Date: Sun, 22 Jul 2007 22:58:00 -0400
Message-ID: <00b101c7ccd5$490ae6a0$0201a8c0 at gsmacdq14es>

Mike,

> Highly unlikely, but, possible, especially if it was in a corrosive
> atmosphere. Of course then I would expect to see evidence of corrosion on
> other components. When we do not know the answer we can come up with so many
> possibilities and not have one of them correct. I have run across a lot of
> those defective fuses over the years as HP has been using them forever.
> There was no real evidence as to why they opened, and that is why before I
> guessed at just plain ageing and the wax eventually getting soft. I just
> checked the current flow within the oscillator where the fuse used to be
> plugged in, which was at least nice of them, and always found it to be
> normal. I just took a piece of buss wire and plugged it into the same two
> pins were the fuse used to be and never had a problem again. The situation
> Magnus describes of course is very unusual, and, in reality would only be
> found by a time nut as it is so miniscule. There is also some periodicity to
> it, which does suggest some control loop problem, but, I would hate to even
> take a guess. - Mike 

May I also point out that there may be as low as short low period per 1000 s or
about 3-8 (rought estimate).

I am considering all kinds of possible reasons for it. The group certainly has
more experience shared among them than I have on these, so I concentrate on
observations.

I wonder if it may be some form of initial shock burnout that I am witnessing.
I have no idea how they are suppposed to look. It is not like you want to toss
your 10811s to the floor just to see how they behave as a result, now is there?
If I where making them I would, but with a thad more of science attached to it.

Cheers,
Magnus