Maintenance 
TROUBLESHOOTING 
c 
Figure 
6-20. 
Option 
-09 
Service 
Position 
Test  the  mid-frequency  response  of  the  VAC  function 
around 
1 
kHz. If 
an 
accurate reading can be obtained on at 
least  one  range,  the  rms  converter  (U802) 
is 
working 
properly.  Test  the  high-frequency  response  around  100 
kHz.  If,  after  calibration,  an  accurate  reading 
can 
be 
obtained  on  at  least  one  range,  the  digitally  controlled 
filter (U801, U808, R832, and C826-829) is 
OK. 
If  some 
ranges  are good  and others  are  bad,  the  defective stage 
may 
be 
isolated using Table 
6-26. 
If  this table is used, the 
bad ranges must correspond exactly to the ranges listed in 
the  first  column  and  all  other  ranges  must 
be 
good. 
Most ac troubleshooting 
can 
be 
performed with the shields 
removed.  To remove both  shields,  unscrew  the  Phillips 
screw on the back  of the True 
RMS 
AC PCA. The only 
time it should 
be 
necessary to work on the 
PC.A 
with the 
shields  in  place  is  when  there  is subtle  high-frequency 
(>20 
kHz) 
or low-level 
(<I0 
mV) 
error. In that  case, the 
PCA should 
be 
left  in its operating position, and the test 
points probed from  the foil side of  the PCA. Test points 
are labeled on 
both 
sides to facilitate such troubleshooting. 
If no  ranges work, the signal should 
be 
traced from input 
to output. At  any  point where the signal 
disappears, 
the 
precedmg  stage should be  searched thoroughly. To trace 
the signal, lock the instrument into one range 
(200 
mV is 
usually  a good  choice) and apply the  appropriate voltage 
shown in Table 6-27 to the HI  and 
LO 
INPUT terminals. 
Table 
6-26. 
Isolating 
a 
Defective AC  Stage 
DEFECTIVE RANGES 
I 
DEFECTIVE STAGE 
1 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
U806B 
R804,  R805 
U806A 
Input 
(Q806, K802, 2801) 
lnput 
(Q806, K802,2801) 
The input voltage should appear unchanged at pin 2801-1, 
and should appear at TE'801  and TP802 as shown in Table 
6-27. 
If 
no  ranges work,  it  is  likely that  the  rest 
of 
the 
scaling  circuitry (U806B)  is functional. 
If  the signal 
at 
the  input  to  U801A  (pin  5) is incorrect, 
U804  may 
be 
defective,  or  the  switch  codes  may 
be 
wrong.  If  the  latter problem  is suspected, refer  to Table 
6-28 
and test the control lines to U804 (U804-1,8,9,16).  if 
a logic error is found, it may  be due to excessive loading 
or  a  faulty  data latch (U803),  or other  cabling or  main-. 
board  digital problems.  High-frequency  oscillation prob- 
lems are usually 
caused 
by  switches being on when they 
should 
be 
off,  resulting in positive feedback loops being 
closed  around  portions  of  the  scaling  circuitry. 
If  the signal at TP802 is incorrect, but U801-5 is 
OK, 
the 
digitally  controlled  filter  section  (U801A  and  U808)  is 
probably  defective. 
If  the  signal  at 
TP802  is 
correct 
but  the  output  signal 
(TP803)  is  incorrect,  the 
rms 
converter  is probably  the 
source  of  the  problem.  Problems  with  U802  generally 
show up as 
an 
identical number of  counts displayed in all 
ranges or 
as 
an 
overrange in all ranges. First isolate faults 
in the buffer  amplifier (U802A)  by  ascertaining that  the 
signal at U802-13 is the same as that at TP802 when each 
is observed with an ac-coupled oscilloscope, and that  the 
dc offset at 
U802-13 is less than 
4 
mV. It is possible that a 
component  in  the loop filter (U809A and  associated pas- 
sive components) or the post-filter 
(U809B 
and associated 
passive  components)  is  defective.  The  dc  voltage  at 
U802-6 should be the same as that at TP803 for frequen- 
cies above 
500 
Hz, 
and should 
be 
equal to the rms value of 
the  input  signal. 
6-74. 
MORE 
OBSCURE 
PROBLEMS 
Slow  settling time 
or 
excessive jitter  far low-frequency 
inputs is caused by  rms converter loop errors. The cause 
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