Time to put some science on the mythology surrounding vintage tube oscilloscopes and those deadly X-Rays! Enjoy..... and learn!
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17 thoughts on “Tube scope x-rays??”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Eragonyoung says:

    How about a random Hungarian scope from the 70s? I'm gonna get myself a Geiger counter.

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Tested to Destruction says:

    Frantastic Fran,, if you want to see a crt emit xrays check out my crt emits xrays vid,,,

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Seyed Marashi says:

    hello, this is an amazing video. one personal question, is that possible to change your hair color to blonde? you gonna be much more better. Thanks

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Seth Green says:

    I've been using the very same O scope for over 25 years and I have never heard of radiation emissions from it. My unit is battle scared, but has never let me down. I would even dare to say that it performs better at times than my Aeroflex 3920 service monitor. True the Aeroflex is much more than an O scope, but there shouldn't be any different in the scope function. Now my handheld Aeroflex 3500 sucks big time when it comes to the O scope. The delay is so horrible!!!! In fact about the only thing that the 3500 is good for is so I don't have to take the heavy 3920 out of the car if all I need is a quick look.

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars georgio jansen says:

    check some seafood, fukushima

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars jlucasound says:

    Silly Mythology. Almost as strange as the unknown. That statement makes no sense at all.
    My Love to Fran and Fran Fans and Fran Lab and Fantasticness and Frantic FranPlan and all the rest.
    You Will Prevail!! 🙂

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Lazarus Long says:

    I wish I had a handy Geiger-counter, all I have is a handy survey meter which is nowhere near as much fun since all it can really tell you is "If the needle moves more than a twinge, get the hell out of there". The only piece of electronics kit I know of to make hazardous quantities of X-rays when in intended use (besides X-ray machines, dur) were the very first model of Night-Vision Goggles fielded by the USSR, which do put out a worrying amount of X-rays for something worn right up on your eyeballs, they are a particular model intended to be plugged into a tank's electrical system. If you really want to fire up a set, I have seen for sale what appear to be conventional eyeglasses that actually are protective against ionizing radiation, these could likely mitigate the hazard entirely and would certainly greatly reduce it.

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Merritt Derr says:

    In spite of all the trouble you've been immersed in, it's good to see you back at the real stuff with your engineer hat on!

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Lejf Diecks says:

    Funny, did the same two days ago with my 1985 HAMEG scope. Same result. Two things come to my mind: 1) I think the front of the CRT is made from lead glass 2) The acceleration voltage of scopes is much lower than on a TV, for example my HAMEG runs on 1800 volts while a CRT TV uses up to 27 kV.

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Rohn KD4HCT says:

    don't think it would be much higher on "Cheap" scopes.

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Joseph Cote says:

    Might be interesting to hook the scope up to the counter and watch the pulses too.

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Nick Clark says:

    The adverts are working !

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars KozmykJ says:

    The early colour TVs with rectifier tubes gave off X-Rays from both those tubes and the CRT.
    Very quickly the makers shielded the Rectifiers with metal cans.
    The back end of the electon guns of the CRTs continued to emit however.
    The front end, where the X-Rays were actually produced had enough thick lead glass to make the front safe/safer.
    The back end remained a zone in which not to place your vital organs for too long a time.
    IIRC it was the higher anode voltage, around 25kV, which was the problem.
    Earlier black and white tellys were not known for it. The 5kV or 6kV anose voltage wasn't really enough to set the x-Rays a flyin' and there was no mask at the frotn for the electrons to hit anyway.

    I used to work in TV manufacture and also repair, at different times. These things were covered in the classroom.
    I'm rockin an old Tektronix storage scope too but it's a 465M so no rectifier valves in mine …

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars dan b says:

    shockingly not shocking! not nearly enough acceleration from such a small EHT section as in that tek scope to form x-rays!!

  15. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Hola! David Perkins says:

    How about an analog TV set!? we used to call it the 'radiation box' when we were kids 🙂

  16. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Fireship1 says:

    Eh, you’ll get more radiation sitting out in the sun. That’s a nice old scope BTW.

  17. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Chuck Addison says:

    Hmmm first I've heard of possible radiation issues with monochrome CRTs. The first warnings I recall hearing about were for color CRTs. specifically televisions. I would think that the aquadag coating sufficient shielding for any angle except the front. The bombardment of the front phosphors by the electron beam(s) may produce secondary radiation. Never saw or heard any other warning for any 'scope or other CRT for that matter, at least not with all the covers on.

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