Tennelec TC 133/135

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Joe Gayo
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Tennelec TC 133/135

Post by Joe Gayo »

Does anyone have a manual for the TC 133 FET pre-amp? It has miniature gold coaxial connections on the back for "signal" and "test", and I'm trying to figure out what part number they are.

Thanks!
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Re: Tennelec TC 133/135

Post by Rex Allers »

I don't know anything about that device but can you post a pic of the connectors, maybe with approx dimensions (dia or whatever). Just in case it is something one of us might recognize.
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Re: Tennelec TC 133/135

Post by Joe Gayo »

Here is an ad from 1968 and a picture.
TC133-Ad1968.pdf
(183.78 KiB) Downloaded 226 times
TC 133 Back Picture.jpg
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Richard Hull
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Re: Tennelec TC 133/135

Post by Richard Hull »

They look like SMA connectors but could be a miniature version. That connector is found on some Canberra PIPS detectors. #$@!** Someone at Tennelec had a brother-in-law in the very tiny connector business that needed orders to stay afloat.

If they are expensive, should you find them, I would remove them and use the small, more normal, less expensive SMA female in both places, Might need to slightly bore a wee bit bigger hole.

Mind your power connections! For a time, Tennelec had some company non-standard 9 pin connector routings from preamps to the rear of their NIM shapers, amps, and spectro-amps

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Re: Tennelec TC 133/135

Post by Rex Allers »

They look like SMA but Richard may be right that they are a bit smaller.
Here's a pic I just took of SMA vs MHV for reference.

SMA vs MHV.jpg

On the SMA I measure:
thread OD ~ .245"
ID .182"
thread 36 TPI
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Re: Tennelec TC 133/135

Post by Rich Feldman »

From that old datasheet, looks like the 133 has taller connectors than 135.
For both HV and test/out.
I use SMA's every day, but never heard of a high voltage variant.
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Re: Tennelec TC 133/135

Post by Joe Gayo »

It's smaller than SMA, about 3.5mm OD. It's also a push to connect.

The small connectors are "Test" and "Signal" on both 133 and 135. The HV is MHV.
Last edited by Joe Gayo on Wed Mar 16, 2022 6:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Tennelec TC 133/135

Post by Rich Feldman »

Look up SMP, I also use those every day. And there are smaller push-to-connect RF connectors, e.g. SMPS. Some little coax connectors inside mobile phones are even smaller.
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Re: Tennelec TC 133/135

Post by Joe Gayo »

Unfortunately, not SMP.

Here is a random cable that I have (which I also don't know what it is) that seems to plug into it correctly.
PXL_20220316_220920091.jpg
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Re: Tennelec TC 133/135

Post by Richard Hester »

Maybe SMB - I use that connector all the time on experimental audio circuits to make changing out various projects easier. I used to use SMA, but I got tired of screwing on the connectors and providing room on the layout so I could get to them without wrecking adjacent components.
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Re: Tennelec TC 133/135

Post by Joe Gayo »

SMB might be right. Thank you Richard.
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Re: Tennelec TC 133/135

Post by Rex Allers »

Yes, I would say either SMB or SMC. Diameter is about right and the connector on the cable you showed looks to be SMB.

They are very similar, the difference being, SMB just slips on where SMC slips on but then has a few screw threads to secure it. One end of SMB has a groove ring around it that the mating connector clips onto.

Are the genders of the center connection correct to match these?

Here are pics.

SMB
SMB

SMC
SMC
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Re: Tennelec TC 133/135

Post by Joe Gayo »

Yes. SMB is probably correct. I'll report back once I've verified.
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Re: Tennelec TC 133/135

Post by John Futter »

use of the pasternack catalog will help https://www.pasternack.com/
their prices are better than Suhner
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Re: Tennelec TC 133/135

Post by Richard Hester »

Pasternack has outrageous prices IMHO. I was looking for pre-made cables so I could chop them up and use them as interconnects for my audio projects. I found what I needed on Ebay (nice PTFE coax, too) at a price where I wasn't afraid to sit down after the transaction...
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Re: Tennelec TC 133/135

Post by Richard Hull »

Just me... I would have instantly mounted pre-existing SMA chassis mount females I have on hand if it were mine. To each his own.

I consider Pasternak the absolute best place to find any needed connector on the planet as well as the best place to pay the absolute maximum amount out of pocket for same. (Especially on made up cables.)

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Progress may have been a good thing once, but it just went on too long. - Yogi Berra
Fusion is the energy of the future....and it always will be
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Re: Tennelec TC 133/135

Post by Richard Hester »

I fully agree that Pasternak has everything you need in one place, I just take issue with their pricing. I'm willing to put in the effort to find an alternate source at a better price.
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Re: Tennelec TC 133/135

Post by Dennis P Brown »

I needed some "high voltage coaxial" cables (only 2 kV - what goes for HV in coax and what we call HV are very different.) I simply could not believe the cost of just one connector adapter; on ebay, a company made the 'same' two adapters and a 3' cable with its female connector ends for 1/5 the price of the single connector at the established, big named company. If I was building for NASA or similar high tech and important device, I'd certainly consider the old saying of "You get what you pay for" but since it is my application I bought the Chinese ebay connector cable & adapters.

The issue is finding the specific connectors/cables - it isn't easy on ebay.
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Re: Tennelec TC 133/135

Post by Bob Reite »

Ditto on Pasternak having prices approaching the national debt! I only order from them if I can't get it elsewhere.
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