I've been working with Wild / Leica T2002 electronic theodolites and thought I'd share a few notes. They were eBay purchases to support a hobby project to establish some reference points for a GNSS antenna.
In general, these older electronic theodolites seem like a good fit for projects that can't justify a new instrument.
What I've found out so far:
Both the user's manual and the service manual are available from the wild-heerbrugg.com web site (may want to email the proprietor if a given document is not yet listed; I've no connection to the site other than as a customer). The service manual, in particular, is essential for recovering from a dead lithium cell. The instrument constants on the paper sticker in the battery compartment can just be typed in after the cell is replaced, assuming there were no problems with or adjustments to the optomechanical "physics package". One can also verify or re-derive these constants with a procedure described in the manual, but I haven't done that yet.
Since the instrument has a serial port, a data collector is straightforward. I'm using a small Raspberry Pi computer ($40) with an interface to the TTL (not RS-232!) levels on the Leica serial port. A smartphone or tablet can talk to the Pi over wifi. The protocol is documented.
I have a question about the T2002 internals. How exactly is the dual-axis compensator implemented? The service manual shows it as part of the vertical-circle system, and there is just a single photodiode that somehow gives both vertical and transverse compensator values. There are cryptic drawings in the service manual involving 45-45-90 triangles etched on the circle. Presumably it's something clever.
Also, does anyone have a copy of this document:
Katowski, O. and Salzmann, W. (1983) The angle measurement system in the Wild Theomat T-2000. Wild Heerbrugg, 10 pp.
Internet searches pull up plenty of references to this white paper, but not the paper itself. There was no response to my email to Leica requesting it.
Cheers,
Peter
ps: I'd like to thank Dave Ingram for his help in sorting out some of these issues.
Have u calibrated your unit
Hi Peter,
Looks like you know the secrets of the T3000s pretty well...
I'm a newcomer here and would like to hear your honest opinion regarding T3000(A), which I'm busy considering to buy.?ÿI have tried to do my homework well to get familiar with these beasts upfront by reading the User Manual, Service Manual and Spare Parts Catalogue + dozens of community discussions including the excellent ones you posted around the internal lithium battery replacement. ?????ÿ
At least in Finland the official support from Leica is more or less next to nothing. I know a guy from Leica Finland who has repaired these instruments, and would still give lightweight support, but getting spare parts or replacing something which needs jigs etc., might be difficult.
So back to my questions:
What is your opinion on the expected lifespan of the instrument assuming it has been used well and the battery is new and will be replaced when needed? I would like to have an instrument which can serve for years and not the one failing down after year or two.
Are there any?ÿAchilles heels components which are difficult / expensive to repair / replace? I occurred to me that HZ / V Motors with their Pully Assemplies might be such components? Hopefully I'm wrong... 🙂
Assuming that somebody calibrates and checks that everything is working smoothly, is T3000 a good bargain? I mean that it should work long a time without any big issues.
What would be your key concerns or recommendations when buying such an instrument? How to know whether they still are in good shape ?
Regards,
Tuomo?ÿ?ÿ
I am no expert, BUT the T2000/T3000 instruments are OLD, I think the first T2000 was around 1983, so 36 years ago and while there may have been incremental changes, I think basic architecture of the instruments is still 30 year old technology. In my opinion, they are a great piece for collecting and tinkering with BUT not really a reliable or usable instrument for surveying work in 2019. I think there is little if any support or parts left anyplace in the world. There may be a person or two and a few parts floating around someplace in the world, but I think you will be very frustrated trying to get one of these old (but good in their day) beasts up and running and keeping it running.
SHG
pmonta; If you are going to try to determine constants for your T2002/T3000 Theodolite you will have trouble
doing so because the manual is?ÿWRONG. If you and others are interested I might be able to find my notes and post them
here. Let me know.
?ÿ
JOHN NOLTON
Hi,
I have purchased T3000, T3000a and TC2002 - all three in a pretty good shape. I also have Service Manual + Spare Parts Manual, as well as Service Program, which I haven't used yet.
Could you kindly elaborate a little bit what parts are wrong in the manual?
Regards,
Tuomo?ÿ
@john-nolton?ÿ I'd be interested is seeing your notes.?ÿ I have a couple of T2000 units that I hope someday to find the time to resurrect, so any info on getting the constants right would be helpful.
@tuomo?ÿ ?ÿ ?ÿIf I find my notes(5 years ago) I will post for you and Jim.
JOHN NOLTON
@jim-frame?ÿ Jim?ÿ I will look later today and If I find my notes I will post for you and Tuomo.
?ÿ
JOHN NOLTON
Jim Frame?ÿ and?ÿ Tuomo
I found my notes from 5 years back (in 2 minutes). They have moved several times in my large garage but I do have them.
I will go over them and the manual and post all that I have on how to adjust the theodolite.
?ÿ
JOHN NOLTON
Hi John, If you still have a copy of those notes, would I be able to get a copy as well please. We are looking at replacing the Ram battery on a TC2002 we pulled out of storage, to see if we can get operational and in adjustment again, something to play with more than anything.
Thanks
Eric Kloosterman
@ekloost?ÿ Eric my notes are how to adjust the instruments constants. The manual is wrong in some places on how to do this.
There is at least one person on this board?ÿ that knows how to replace the internal battery. I have never done that.
?ÿ
JOHN NOLTON
Hi,
Sorry for a bit delayed response, but would be great if you could send me your notes on how to adjust the instruments constants w/ reference to the places where the Service Manual is wrong. my email is: tuomo_nupponen@yahoo.com
I'm not sure whether it was you who was wondering how the dual-axial liquid compensator in T3000 is really working..? I was interested, and I think I understand the mathematical concept pretty well now though there are still some open questions around the compensation on the temperature dependency of the silicone oil refraction index etc. I have some material describing the accuracy analysis of the WILD absolute-dynamic angle measuring system as well as the exact functional description of the bi-axis compensation concept used in T2002/T3000. If you are interested, I can share the documents with you. Just give me your email.
As for the document "Katowski, O. and Salzmann, W. (1983) The angle measurement system in the Wild Theomat T-2000. Wild Heerbrugg, 10 pp." , please contact Jurg Dedual (j.dedual@gmail.com).
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2022!
Tuomo
Hi John, We have four TC2002 with bad batteries. We were able to to replace the battery and input the constants using TMODE 19. Thankfully this cleared error code 86, but unfortunately we are still getting 83, 84 and 85. Is the the issue you discovered with the manual? If so, any guidance would be appreciated.
Chris
I just bought a T2000 clean but lifeless in its case with a dead battery after
being owned by the US govt then auctioned off yesterday. Any help appreciated resurrecting it.
John
electrical engineer good at trouble shooting, system design, microcontrollers...and a little surveying with an ancient Gurley transit.
