building a scoope. need info

[just-n-time]

has any one here ever built a scope out of an old monitor or television set? I am thinking of trying it but do not have the first clue of how to go about it. thanks for any help. JNT

[97 SL320]

This kind of thing has been done in the past,a web search should turn up some info.

The real question is , what do you want to use the scope for? If you want to view ignition spark almost no one does that anymore. If you want to view sensors and such, there are many low cost scopes out there.

There are even adapters that run on a PC offering data logging.

[JamesDean]

I've seen people use the line-in audio jack on their PC as a scope.

You can get an Arduino board and turn it into an oscilloscope:
https://code.google.com/p/xoscillo/wiki/arduino

https://code.google.com/p/xoscillo/

Arduino boards are fairly cheap too.

[TnBob]

I got a dual trace just out of cal off of ebay ... $15

[cth350]

Armed with a scope (a TV needs major hacking to turn it into a scope), you can build a pickup for the primary wire. The fancy stuff is a trigger off of cylinder 1. These were covered in a copy of the Star (MBCA magazine) like 10 years ago.

I will see if I have a copy of it around here some place. In theory, it's simple...

For the primary pickup, use a spring loaded clip. The plastic ones for sealing a bag of chips will do. Mount a small brass plate in the jaw so that it's pressed up against the primary plug wire and then solder a wire to the plate.

For the pick up of #1 to get the spark images to line up, you need the inductive clamp from a cheap timing light.

-CTH

[just-n-time]

Thank you all for the information, I wondered about an old tube from a computer for the scope rather than an old TV tube or even a newer flat screen system! any how I would like to have one like I had in the early sixties. perhaps one of my great grand children will play with it. thanks again for the info. Memory (JNT)

[JamesDean]

I dont think you could use a flat-panel in the same sense as the CRT.

The cheapest is probably the Arduino based scope that will be accessible via PC.

You could always surf ebay/craigslist and might have luck there, or possibly even a local university you never know if they might have some old tech they'd be willing to part with.

[just-n-time]

Good thought, I should have done that when the votech closed its doors to move to a new building. but I must ask what is the Arduino ? sorry just not up on all this.

[JamesDean]

An Arduino is a prototyping platform. Its a pretty cool piece of technology. It basically has a small microcontroller that runs C-code programs and has access to a host of digital, analog, PWM, and various communications ports.



There's all kinds of stuff you can do with them. Pretty much anything imaginable and they're pretty cheap too. I just bought an Arduino Uno, it was only $20.

A fellow member on here wants me to try to make a first gear start module for a few of his cars so we'll see how that goes maybe others might be interested as well.

[Ivanerrol]

Just buy a working second hand scope from ebay.
A T.V. tube doesn't have the resolution of a monitor - too much of a compromise.

[just-n-time]

I wish I had spent more time in the world of electronic I find all of this so very fascinating and great education. thank you for all this information.