Tektronix AM503 Current Probe Amplifier

 Back to Tek TM500 Series Summary Page

BAMA AM503 Free Manual Download Site

Quick Specifications / Photos
Detailed Specifications
Operating Instructions
Misc. Part Numbers

Samples of e-Bay Prices
Tektronix Catalog CostLow BidHigh Bidaverage
$640 (no probe) (1977)
$875 (no probe) (1982)
$1115 (no probe) (1985) 		43510132
$202.50 7/25/01 #161811189 imagicdesign
$56.00 7/25/01 #1618306137 jtsele
$49.00 7/28/01 #1619195311 30for30s
$131.02 8/2/01 #1622214871 jbarkley
$120.00 8.2.01 #1620946593 riversone
$76.00 8/6/01 #1622411026 bargainprospectors
no sale ($102.50 < reserve) 8/7/01 #1622556507 imagicdesign
$165.50 8/11/01 #1624684718 starblues (w/ TM502A)
$200.00 8/25/01 #1627939960 doreen101 (w/ TM502A)
$66.00 9/5/01 #1632766782 jtsele
$86.00 9/8/01 #1632670875 darbo
$202.50 9/9/01 #1634332772 cinevision (w/ TM501)
$465.00 9/11/01 #1635814622 sales (w/ probe)
$69.79 9/12/01 #1635492329 jtsele $232.50 9/16/01 #1637023730 alanvs (in TM501)
no sale ($255 < reserve) 10/5/01 #1643785497 antec (in TM502)
$217.50 10/7/01 #1643561803 wonit (in TM502)
$90.00 10/7/01 #1644743822 goldenrubi (nothing else)
$91.00 10/8/01 #1645907134 parkerfive (nothing else)
$91.00 10/8/01 #1644936018 rhinoenter (nothing else)
$281.00 10/8/01 #1645037557 sales(astglobal) (w/ probe)
$89.88 10/15/01 #1647960229 rhinoenter (nothing else)
$449.99 10/15/01 #1647771640 antec (w/ TM502A, no probes)
$84.00 10/16/01 #1648340429 xplorer2080 (nothing else)
$500.00 (buy it now) 10/17/01 #1651111163 sales(a-comm) (w/A6302, 50ohm load)
$34.33 10/19/01 #1648506333 iknopf
no buy ($222 < reserve) 10/22/01 #1650738192 antec (w/TM502A, no probe)
no buy (asked $100) 10/23/01 #1651140170 rkdarwin13 (nothing else)
$104.50 10/23/01 #1651321035 parkerfive (nothing else)
no buy ($300 < reserve) 10/24/01 #1652443025 jbarkley (w/A6302 100MHz)
$210.27 10/25/01 #1652164923 gafnd (pic shows probe & TM503 ?)
no buy (#112 < reserve) 10/29/01 #1653765504 antec (w/ TM502)
$53.00 10/29/01 #1653631079 rhinoenter
$85.56 10/30/01 #1654159132 rkdarwin13 (nothing else)
$139.50 11/7/01 #1658332596 junkyardwillie (w/TM5003)
no buy ($162.50 < reserve) 11/7/01 #1657557011 antec (w/TM502)
$450.00 11/9/01 #1658392203 jbarkley (2/A6302 probe)
no buy ($87 < reserve) 11/10/01 #1657715918 ebay@eshamas (w/TM501) $50.00 11/12/01 #1659702743 rhinoenter
no buy ($23.50 < reserve) 11/13/01 #1660365852 circuit88
$133.50 1/21/03 #3108004444 jtsele (tested) (9 bids $10 start)
$390.00 1/29/03 #3307953199 collegemuney (w/probe & manual) (14 bids $10 start)
$112.50 7/20/04 #3827707243 microwavetechnology (4 bids $80 start) (untested - no probe)
$511.00 8/23/04 #3834224705 tapent (7 bids $200 start) (w/A6302 probe - untested)
$77.00 3/14/06 #7598608053 surplussupplytx (8 bids $10 start) (Powers Up - no probe)
$32.00 (+$15 ship) 6/1/09 #220423240235 solanotraders (4 bids $9.99 start) (untested-guaranteed non DOA)
$42.00 (+$15 ship) 6/6/09 #170338770972 themainline (7 bids $9.99 start) ("working"-no elaboration)

QUICK SPECS / PHOTOS
  		• Bandwidth - Amplifier Only : DC to > 100MHz
  		• Bandwidth - with P6303 : DC to > 15MHz
  		• Bandwidth - with P6302 : DC to > 50MHz
  		• Deflection Factor - with P6303 : 10mA to 50 A/div
  		• Deflection Factor - with P6302 : 1 mA to 5 A/div


    SPECIFICATIONS

    The AM 503 is a plug-in modular current-probe amplifier that operates in TM 500 Mainframes. It allows display of current/division on any oscilloscope with 10 mV/div sensitivity, 50 ohm or 1 megohm input, and (for performance to full specifications) at least 100 MHz bandpass. The amplifier attenuator is calibrated in 12 steps with a 1, 2, 5 sequence, and the knob-skirt is illuminated to indicate current per division. The current range, maximum current rating, and bandwidth are determined by the particular probe in use. Bandwidth can be set to FULL (where it is limited by the probe in use) or to 5 MHz. Coupling may be switch selected to ac or dc. Ac coupling offers a convenient means of measuring low-amplitude ac signals on a high-level dc current. A front-panel indicator warns of input current overload.

    When a P6302 Current Probe is used with the AM 503 Current-Probe Amplifier, the current range is from 1 mA/div to 5 A/div. Maximum current is 20 A peak (dc + peak ac). Peak pulse maximum is 50 A not to exceed a product of 100 A μs. And bandwidth is dc to 50 MHz. The probe operates through inductive coupling with no electrical contact. A flick of your forefinger operates the sliding jaw in the insulated probe tip. Just put the probe tip around the conductor under test for immediate current readings.
    SPECIFICATION

    ELECTRICAL CHARACTERISTICS
    CharacteristicsPerformance CharacteristicsSupplemental Information
    Bandwidth (-3 dB)
    Full
    Amplifier Only


    DC to at least 100 MHz    		OUTPUT terminated into 50 Ω, DC function

    above excerpts from 1977 TM 500 brochure and AM 503 CURRENT PROBE AMPLIFIER Instruction Manual

    OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

    MISC PART NUMBERS
    Knobs
    1-15366-1669-00Knob : Gray (w/Clear Skirt) (0.189 ID x 0.72 OD x 0.79 H (Current/Division)
    1-17366-0215-05Knob : Gray , for Lever, 0.375 w/ Retainer Spring (AC/CAL/DC)
    1-18366-0494-05Knob : Gray 0.127 ID x 0.5 OD x 0.531 H (DC Level)
    1-19366-1559-00Push Button : Silver Gra 0.18 SQ x 0.43 (Degauss)
    Pots/Switches
    1-22 (R302-older)311-0546-00Res, Var, Nonww : Trmr, 10K Ohm, 0.5 W (A-B M-8154A) (DC Level)
    1-22 (R302-newer)311-0429-00Res, Var, Nonww : Pnl, 100K x 10K Ohm, 0.5 W (Clarostat CM33098) (DC Level)
    1-35 (R120)311-0580-00Res, Var, Nonww : Pnl, 50K ohm, 0.5W (A-B M8155) (Balance)
    1-81 (S125)260-1421-00Switch, Push 1 Btn, 2 Pole (Centralab by Spec) (Degauss)