Re: [time-nuts] PRS-45A is alive!
One zero-effort way to do this: a portable GFCI. I have several GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) designed for portable use. They may be in the form of an extension cord with the GFI electronics in the male plug, or a short cord with the electronics in the middle of the length, or a small block that plugs into an outlet, with a female outlet that a device plugs into. All of these portable GFCIs require line power to remain in the on position. If the AC is interrupted briefly, the GFCI drops out and stays off until manually reset. This must be by design, because it is different from the behaviour of GFCI outlets, and GFCI circuit breakers. It mimics the behaviour of latching magnetic contactors (relays) used on large AC-powered tools. I use the portable GFCIs to get the same shut-off-and-stay-off feature for small shop tools that are equipped only with an ordinary switch. A portable GFCI should work just as well for electronics that you want to stay off until manually reset. - Dave On Tue, Dec 9, 2014 at 1:24 AM, wb6bnq wb6...@cox.net wrote: Hi Bob, I think using a latching relay is a very good idea and prudent. Besides while it is reacquiring lock you would probably be busy resetting VCR's and so forth. BillWB6BNQ Bob Stewart wrote: Hi Pete, I don't have any way of knowing. I've asked the seller if he has a copy of the control software, and I don't like to go back with a bunch of petty questions like that. The next issue is adapting some serial port software i wrote to the protocol in the manual Magnus sent to see if I can pull the status codes out. That would probably tell me something. I have some tests I want to run immediately on my GPSDO and the KS to settle the question of which one can't keep time. After that, I'll power it down, lift its skirts and take some pics. It's pretty simple on the surface: a Cs Beam Tube, a main board, a microwave package with MTI 5Mhz OCXO, and the HV and LV power supplies. I don't intend to keep this thing running 24/7, but I have a question: Here in Houston, we have the occasional large thunderstorm and resulting short power outages. So, should I put a latching relay in the power stream to keep it off if I lose power? The budget is now officially busted, and a UPS is not going to happen for awhile. Santa's sleigh is now officially out of gas. Bob From: Pete Lancashire p...@petelancashire.com To: Bob Stewart b...@evoria.net; Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement time-nuts@febo.com Sent: Monday, December 8, 2014 11:46 PM Subject: Re: [time-nuts] PRS-45A is alive! Love to have known how long it was off, and how much of that 16 minutes was getting the tube degassed. -pete On Mon, Dec 8, 2014 at 7:11 PM, Bob Stewart b...@evoria.net wrote: Well, it's alive, and I even have 10MHz coming from it. It took about 16 minutes to go to lock. Is that good, or doesn't matter? Now I've got to put together a serial cable and see if I can talk to it and find out how it thinks it's doing. But, this is good! www.evoria.net/AE6RV/PRS-45A/2014-12-08%2020.51.33.jpg Hope you enjoy the wall decorations. =) Bob - AE6RV ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/ mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/ mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/ mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [time-nuts] PRS-45A is alive!
Bob That is one nice looking unit. Most Cs's that we get have had there days. This one looks really good physically. The fact that it warmed and locked in 16 minutes means it did not need to pump down very much. Heck a small RB takes 15 minutes to hit lock and it has a much smaller mass to heat up. Congratulations on a great buy. Regards Paul WB8TSL On Tue, Dec 9, 2014 at 8:29 AM, Dave Martindale dave.martind...@gmail.com wrote: One zero-effort way to do this: a portable GFCI. I have several GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) designed for portable use. They may be in the form of an extension cord with the GFI electronics in the male plug, or a short cord with the electronics in the middle of the length, or a small block that plugs into an outlet, with a female outlet that a device plugs into. All of these portable GFCIs require line power to remain in the on position. If the AC is interrupted briefly, the GFCI drops out and stays off until manually reset. This must be by design, because it is different from the behaviour of GFCI outlets, and GFCI circuit breakers. It mimics the behaviour of latching magnetic contactors (relays) used on large AC-powered tools. I use the portable GFCIs to get the same shut-off-and-stay-off feature for small shop tools that are equipped only with an ordinary switch. A portable GFCI should work just as well for electronics that you want to stay off until manually reset. - Dave On Tue, Dec 9, 2014 at 1:24 AM, wb6bnq wb6...@cox.net wrote: Hi Bob, I think using a latching relay is a very good idea and prudent. Besides while it is reacquiring lock you would probably be busy resetting VCR's and so forth. BillWB6BNQ Bob Stewart wrote: Hi Pete, I don't have any way of knowing. I've asked the seller if he has a copy of the control software, and I don't like to go back with a bunch of petty questions like that. The next issue is adapting some serial port software i wrote to the protocol in the manual Magnus sent to see if I can pull the status codes out. That would probably tell me something. I have some tests I want to run immediately on my GPSDO and the KS to settle the question of which one can't keep time. After that, I'll power it down, lift its skirts and take some pics. It's pretty simple on the surface: a Cs Beam Tube, a main board, a microwave package with MTI 5Mhz OCXO, and the HV and LV power supplies. I don't intend to keep this thing running 24/7, but I have a question: Here in Houston, we have the occasional large thunderstorm and resulting short power outages. So, should I put a latching relay in the power stream to keep it off if I lose power? The budget is now officially busted, and a UPS is not going to happen for awhile. Santa's sleigh is now officially out of gas. Bob From: Pete Lancashire p...@petelancashire.com To: Bob Stewart b...@evoria.net; Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement time-nuts@febo.com Sent: Monday, December 8, 2014 11:46 PM Subject: Re: [time-nuts] PRS-45A is alive! Love to have known how long it was off, and how much of that 16 minutes was getting the tube degassed. -pete On Mon, Dec 8, 2014 at 7:11 PM, Bob Stewart b...@evoria.net wrote: Well, it's alive, and I even have 10MHz coming from it. It took about 16 minutes to go to lock. Is that good, or doesn't matter? Now I've got to put together a serial cable and see if I can talk to it and find out how it thinks it's doing. But, this is good! www.evoria.net/AE6RV/PRS-45A/2014-12-08%2020.51.33.jpg Hope you enjoy the wall decorations. =) Bob - AE6RV ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/ mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/ mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/ mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [time-nuts] PRS-45A is alive!
16 Minutes is normal. First FTS tubes do not leak as much as the old HP tubes. Second the seller most likely did run a test which means the tube was pumped down. Unless there is software that tells beam current the only way I know to get some idea of health of tube is as I mentioned before measure the beam current. I have probably done it at least a hundred times, made a connector adapter. Bert Kehren In a message dated 12/8/2014 10:15:08 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, b...@evoria.net writes: Well, it's alive, and I even have 10MHz coming from it. It took about 16 minutes to go to lock. Is that good, or doesn't matter? Now I've got to put together a serial cable and see if I can talk to it and find out how it thinks it's doing. But, this is good! www.evoria.net/AE6RV/PRS-45A/2014-12-08%2020.51.33.jpg Hope you enjoy the wall decorations. =) Bob - AE6RV ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [time-nuts] PRS-45A is alive!
Hi Bert, Thanks for the comments. I did learn today that this was a recent pull, so that explains why it came up well. I hope you'll understand my reluctance to start making adapters and doing direct measurements on the thing. One of my next steps is to get it to talk to me. Unfortunately, I'm out of serial ports, so I've got to wait till this evening until I can rewire my GPSDO to accept a USB adapter to free up my RS-232. Bob From: Bert Kehren via time-nuts time-nuts@febo.com To: time-nuts@febo.com Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2014 8:20 AM Subject: Re: [time-nuts] PRS-45A is alive! 16 Minutes is normal. First FTS tubes do not leak as much as the old HP tubes. Second the seller most likely did run a test which means the tube was pumped down. Unless there is software that tells beam current the only way I know to get some idea of health of tube is as I mentioned before measure the beam current. I have probably done it at least a hundred times, made a connector adapter. Bert Kehren In a message dated 12/8/2014 10:15:08 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, b...@evoria.net writes: Well, it's alive, and I even have 10MHz coming from it. It took about 16 minutes to go to lock. Is that good, or doesn't matter? Now I've got to put together a serial cable and see if I can talk to it and find out how it thinks it's doing. But, this is good! www.evoria.net/AE6RV/PRS-45A/2014-12-08%2020.51.33.jpg Hope you enjoy the wall decorations. =) Bob - AE6RV ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [time-nuts] PRS-45A is alive!
Hi Dave, I'll have to look into this. If it's a GFCI, I don't understand why it would dropout on power loss. But I'll take your word for it. Bob From: Dave Martindale dave.martind...@gmail.com To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement time-nuts@febo.com Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2014 7:29 AM Subject: Re: [time-nuts] PRS-45A is alive! One zero-effort way to do this: a portable GFCI. I have several GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) designed for portable use. They may be in the form of an extension cord with the GFI electronics in the male plug, or a short cord with the electronics in the middle of the length, or a small block that plugs into an outlet, with a female outlet that a device plugs into. All of these portable GFCIs require line power to remain in the on position. If the AC is interrupted briefly, the GFCI drops out and stays off until manually reset. This must be by design, because it is different from the behaviour of GFCI outlets, and GFCI circuit breakers. It mimics the behaviour of latching magnetic contactors (relays) used on large AC-powered tools. I use the portable GFCIs to get the same shut-off-and-stay-off feature for small shop tools that are equipped only with an ordinary switch. A portable GFCI should work just as well for electronics that you want to stay off until manually reset. - Dave On Tue, Dec 9, 2014 at 1:24 AM, wb6bnq wb6...@cox.net wrote: Hi Bob, I think using a latching relay is a very good idea and prudent. Besides while it is reacquiring lock you would probably be busy resetting VCR's and so forth. BillWB6BNQ Bob Stewart wrote: Hi Pete, I don't have any way of knowing. I've asked the seller if he has a copy of the control software, and I don't like to go back with a bunch of petty questions like that. The next issue is adapting some serial port software i wrote to the protocol in the manual Magnus sent to see if I can pull the status codes out. That would probably tell me something. I have some tests I want to run immediately on my GPSDO and the KS to settle the question of which one can't keep time. After that, I'll power it down, lift its skirts and take some pics. It's pretty simple on the surface: a Cs Beam Tube, a main board, a microwave package with MTI 5Mhz OCXO, and the HV and LV power supplies. I don't intend to keep this thing running 24/7, but I have a question: Here in Houston, we have the occasional large thunderstorm and resulting short power outages. So, should I put a latching relay in the power stream to keep it off if I lose power? The budget is now officially busted, and a UPS is not going to happen for awhile. Santa's sleigh is now officially out of gas. Bob From: Pete Lancashire p...@petelancashire.com To: Bob Stewart b...@evoria.net; Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement time-nuts@febo.com Sent: Monday, December 8, 2014 11:46 PM Subject: Re: [time-nuts] PRS-45A is alive! Love to have known how long it was off, and how much of that 16 minutes was getting the tube degassed. -pete On Mon, Dec 8, 2014 at 7:11 PM, Bob Stewart b...@evoria.net wrote: Well, it's alive, and I even have 10MHz coming from it. It took about 16 minutes to go to lock. Is that good, or doesn't matter? Now I've got to put together a serial cable and see if I can talk to it and find out how it thinks it's doing. But, this is good! www.evoria.net/AE6RV/PRS-45A/2014-12-08%2020.51.33.jpg Hope you enjoy the wall decorations. =) Bob - AE6RV ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/ mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/ mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/ mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [time-nuts] PRS-45A is alive!
Thanks Paul. It does seem too good to be true, and it certainly came at the right time in my GPSDO development effort. Bob From: paul swed paulsw...@gmail.com To: Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement time-nuts@febo.com Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2014 8:04 AM Subject: Re: [time-nuts] PRS-45A is alive! Bob That is one nice looking unit. Most Cs's that we get have had there days. This one looks really good physically. The fact that it warmed and locked in 16 minutes means it did not need to pump down very much. Heck a small RB takes 15 minutes to hit lock and it has a much smaller mass to heat up. Congratulations on a great buy. Regards Paul WB8TSL ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
[time-nuts] PRS-45A is alive!
Well, it's alive, and I even have 10MHz coming from it. It took about 16 minutes to go to lock. Is that good, or doesn't matter? Now I've got to put together a serial cable and see if I can talk to it and find out how it thinks it's doing. But, this is good! www.evoria.net/AE6RV/PRS-45A/2014-12-08%2020.51.33.jpg Hope you enjoy the wall decorations. =) Bob - AE6RV ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [time-nuts] PRS-45A is alive!
Love to have known how long it was off, and how much of that 16 minutes was getting the tube degassed. -pete On Mon, Dec 8, 2014 at 7:11 PM, Bob Stewart b...@evoria.net wrote: Well, it's alive, and I even have 10MHz coming from it. It took about 16 minutes to go to lock. Is that good, or doesn't matter? Now I've got to put together a serial cable and see if I can talk to it and find out how it thinks it's doing. But, this is good! www.evoria.net/AE6RV/PRS-45A/2014-12-08%2020.51.33.jpg Hope you enjoy the wall decorations. =) Bob - AE6RV ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [time-nuts] PRS-45A is alive!
Hi Pete, I don't have any way of knowing. I've asked the seller if he has a copy of the control software, and I don't like to go back with a bunch of petty questions like that. The next issue is adapting some serial port software i wrote to the protocol in the manual Magnus sent to see if I can pull the status codes out. That would probably tell me something. I have some tests I want to run immediately on my GPSDO and the KS to settle the question of which one can't keep time. After that, I'll power it down, lift its skirts and take some pics. It's pretty simple on the surface: a Cs Beam Tube, a main board, a microwave package with MTI 5Mhz OCXO, and the HV and LV power supplies. I don't intend to keep this thing running 24/7, but I have a question: Here in Houston, we have the occasional large thunderstorm and resulting short power outages. So, should I put a latching relay in the power stream to keep it off if I lose power? The budget is now officially busted, and a UPS is not going to happen for awhile. Santa's sleigh is now officially out of gas. Bob From: Pete Lancashire p...@petelancashire.com To: Bob Stewart b...@evoria.net; Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement time-nuts@febo.com Sent: Monday, December 8, 2014 11:46 PM Subject: Re: [time-nuts] PRS-45A is alive! Love to have known how long it was off, and how much of that 16 minutes was getting the tube degassed. -pete On Mon, Dec 8, 2014 at 7:11 PM, Bob Stewart b...@evoria.net wrote: Well, it's alive, and I even have 10MHz coming from it. It took about 16 minutes to go to lock. Is that good, or doesn't matter? Now I've got to put together a serial cable and see if I can talk to it and find out how it thinks it's doing. But, this is good! www.evoria.net/AE6RV/PRS-45A/2014-12-08%2020.51.33.jpg Hope you enjoy the wall decorations. =) Bob - AE6RV ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
Re: [time-nuts] PRS-45A is alive!
Hi Bob, I think using a latching relay is a very good idea and prudent. Besides while it is reacquiring lock you would probably be busy resetting VCR's and so forth. BillWB6BNQ Bob Stewart wrote: Hi Pete, I don't have any way of knowing. I've asked the seller if he has a copy of the control software, and I don't like to go back with a bunch of petty questions like that. The next issue is adapting some serial port software i wrote to the protocol in the manual Magnus sent to see if I can pull the status codes out. That would probably tell me something. I have some tests I want to run immediately on my GPSDO and the KS to settle the question of which one can't keep time. After that, I'll power it down, lift its skirts and take some pics. It's pretty simple on the surface: a Cs Beam Tube, a main board, a microwave package with MTI 5Mhz OCXO, and the HV and LV power supplies. I don't intend to keep this thing running 24/7, but I have a question: Here in Houston, we have the occasional large thunderstorm and resulting short power outages. So, should I put a latching relay in the power stream to keep it off if I lose power? The budget is now officially busted, and a UPS is not going to happen for awhile. Santa's sleigh is now officially out of gas. Bob From: Pete Lancashire p...@petelancashire.com To: Bob Stewart b...@evoria.net; Discussion of precise time and frequency measurement time-nuts@febo.com Sent: Monday, December 8, 2014 11:46 PM Subject: Re: [time-nuts] PRS-45A is alive! Love to have known how long it was off, and how much of that 16 minutes was getting the tube degassed. -pete On Mon, Dec 8, 2014 at 7:11 PM, Bob Stewart b...@evoria.net wrote: Well, it's alive, and I even have 10MHz coming from it. It took about 16 minutes to go to lock. Is that good, or doesn't matter? Now I've got to put together a serial cable and see if I can talk to it and find out how it thinks it's doing. But, this is good! www.evoria.net/AE6RV/PRS-45A/2014-12-08%2020.51.33.jpg Hope you enjoy the wall decorations. =) Bob - AE6RV ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there. ___ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
