Re: Tektronix P6015A probe with a P6015 compensation box?
Patrick, Wed Dec 28 2016, 03:09AM

Thats going to be ugly. And Im not sure you can. Do you have pics ?

Search my name here on the forum, should be a bunch of HV measurement threads. Im working new 10 hour day shifts and my website isnt fully functional yet, but ill put up what i can here on 4HV.

Re: Tektronix P6015A probe with a P6015 compensation box?
Mads Barnkob, Wed Dec 28 2016, 06:56AM

I never bought one, because I found out it was a gas insulated probe, did not want to deal with having gas available etc.

Re: Tektronix P6015A probe with a P6015 compensation box?
Sulaiman, Wed Dec 28 2016, 10:28AM

I have a P6015, I use butane as the dielectric fluid/gas,
no butane leakage after several years.
I think that the P6015A has solid dielectric.
I have not opened the compensation box for my P6015
so I don't know what is involved,

Re: Tektronix P6015A probe with a P6015 compensation box?
Physikfan, Wed Dec 28 2016, 10:20PM

Hi Patrick, Mads Barnkob and Sulaiman

Her are details of the P6015:







Details of the P6015A will follow.

Re: Tektronix P6015A probe with a P6015 compensation box?
Patrick, Thu Dec 29 2016, 03:22AM

Why are you trying to mismatch the box and probe? you have the whole thing right ?

Re: Tektronix P6015A probe with a P6015 compensation box?
Physikfan, Thu Dec 29 2016, 01:38PM

Hi Patrick

I got a P6015A without a P6015A compensation box a long time ago.
Recently by chance I could get a P6015 compensation box without the probe.
I would like to investigate if such a combination can make sense.

Here is a Tektronix manual on oscilloscope probe circuits:

Re: Tektronix P6015A probe with a P6015 compensation box?
Patrick, Sat Dec 31 2016, 06:46AM


heres the P6013, P6014, P6015 probes i studied.


heres a thread of mine, ill post more, in the morning im tired at the moment.

Re: Tektronix P6015A probe with a P6015 compensation box?
Patrick, Sun Jan 01 2017, 08:59PM

Ive been thinking, the P6013 and P6015 use air and SF6 (or Sulaimans butane) but the p6015A uses silicone oil. I doubt the range of compensation for one will be compatible with the other.

Re: Tektronix P6015A probe with a P6015 compensation box?
Sulaiman, Mon Jan 02 2017, 03:53AM

I'm fairly certain that the P6015A used a CFC 'freon' which came under the ozone depleting category, so was discontinued.

Re: Tektronix P6015A probe with a P6015 compensation box?
Patrick, Mon Jan 02 2017, 05:52AM

Maybe that was it instead of SF6, but as you and I have discussed they got rid of it, and rolled out the P6015A. with the only difference seeming to be the oil.

Re: Tektronix P6015A probe with a P6015 compensation box?
Physikfan, Mon Jan 09 2017, 01:56PM

Hallo Patrick, Sulaiman and Mads Barnkob

The two compensating boxes are different:

P6015


P6015A


Please, are there some comments?

Experiments with the following combinations
1. P6015 probe with a P6015 box
2. P6015A probe with a P6015A box
3. P6015A probe with a P6015 box
measuring a 100V square-wave pulse are in preparation.

Re: Tektronix P6015A probe with a P6015 compensation box?
Sulaiman, Mon Jan 09 2017, 06:33PM

As the waveforms from my P6015 look about right, I've never twiddled the compensation controls
so the following is guesswork;

. a lot of the compensation network is to nullify the effect of the low impedance cable between the high impedance probe and scope
. have you noticed how a 100 MOhm resistor into a 1 MOhm 'scope gives 1000:1 ratio ?

I would do exactly what you are doing, use the probe and box that you have and hope for the best,
if you can eliminate slow rise- and fall-time, ringing, sag ... etc. when compared to a known good 'scope probe
the exact division ratio is not so important, you can just scale the reading by a constant factor,
at least you will be able to see the actual waveforms.

Re: Tektronix P6015A probe with a P6015 compensation box?
Physikfan, Mon Jan 09 2017, 08:12PM

Hi Sulaiman

A quick answer:

For the P6015 the R4 (100k) and
for the P6015A the R8 (100k)
are determining the 1000:1 ratio
with the R100 (100M).

Re: Tektronix P6015A probe with a P6015 compensation box?
Patrick, Mon Jan 09 2017, 09:27PM

I think you'll find my threads here on the forum will give you the answers you want, and a better device. Then look at the NorthStar HV probes.

Also, what are you wanting to measure ? You may not need a super high band width, I found my flybacks have a surprisingly easy to measure output.

The only reason you need to understand their compensation circuit is because of how they choose to build the HV section. If you figure out your own HV "top-end", its much simpler. My compensation circuit only has a single variable capacitor. I have that circuit posted too.

Re: Tektronix P6015A probe with a P6015 compensation box?
Physikfan, Tue Jan 17 2017, 03:08PM

Hi Patrick, Sulaiman and Mads Barnkob

For these experiments with the combinations

1. P6015 probe with P6015 box
2. P6015A probe with P6015A box
3. P6015A probe with P6015 box

I would like to use either the Tektronix pulse generator 106 with 120 V amplitude and rise times of 100 ns
or the Tektronix PG 506 with 60 V amplitude and rise times of also 100ns.

Does anyone have any better suggestions?

Ad. Patrick

I have read your very interesting stuff of 2010 and 2011.

Re: Tektronix P6015A probe with a P6015 compensation box?
Patrick, Tue Jan 17 2017, 05:10PM

I didnt know such pulse generators existed, but yes use them see what happens. Next ill see if i can find more info from those years I didnt publish. honestly i think you can build better probes with HV resistors for your purposes depending on your application and need.

Re: Tektronix P6015A probe with a P6015 compensation box?
Physikfan, Wed Jan 25 2017, 03:59PM

Hi Patrick, Sulaiman and Mads Barnkob

Here are the first measurements with a 40 V square wave, 1 kHz, 1,5 us rise time, Tek calibration output of
Oscilloscope Tek 7904, 2 x 7A11

1. P6015 probe with P6015 box:


2. P6015A probe with P6015A box


3. P6015A probe with P6015 box



I am looking forward to your comments.

Re: Tektronix P6015A probe with a P6015 compensation box?
johnf, Wed Jan 25 2017, 06:13PM

Yes but did you adjust the presets when you changed the probe box arrangements

Re: Tektronix P6015A probe with a P6015 compensation box?
Physikfan, Wed Jan 25 2017, 06:52PM

Hi Patrick, Sulaiman, Mads Barnkob and johnf

No, I have checked three different combinations:

1. a pure P6015 probe and box
2. a pure P6015A probe and box
and
3. a separate P6015A probe with a separate P6015 compensating box.

It is important for me to be able to use these combinations at different locations.

Here are other measurements with a 60 V square wave, 300ns rise time, Tek PG506
calibration unit, oscilloscope Tek 7904, 2 x 7A11.

1. P6015 probe with P6015 box:


2. P6015A probe with P6015A box


3. P6015A probe with P6015 box


I think that according to the fast rise time of these square pulses you cannot get the ratio of 1000:1.
My next step will be to try to raise the voltage dividing ratio.


I am looking forward to your comments.

Re: Tektronix P6015A probe with a P6015 compensation box?
Patrick, Fri Jan 27 2017, 11:21AM

wow youve helped me out, gone past even my work !