The Official 2015 Christmas Pressies Thread

[liquibyte]

Well, I've done good this year.  We got news that we'll be closing on our new house a week from today.  Incurring debt is not much of a gift so I'll add that this is a cash sale and will be paid in full on the 18th, no more landlords, rent or payments.  The house sits on a full acre to boot.

I know this isn't techy or electronics so I'll also add that it has that nice garage that probably won't see the car very much but will be wired for doing geeky things to electrons.  First thing I've got to do is take it from 100A to 200A service because I'll be installing central air.

[nctnico]

Nice. Consider yourself lucky to be in a country with lots of space!

[SeanB]

Add to that a country where high fences are not considered odd, even with palisade fence, razor wire, electric fencing and access control.

[miguelvp]

Add to that a country where high fences are not considered odd, even with palisade fence, razor wire, electric fencing and access control.

Yeah, in Spain they used to just put large pieces of broken glass on cement to keep people out, not those fancy new techs.
But that was a while ago, now they do have palisade fences, razor wire and access control (no electric fencing that I'm aware)

Nice. Consider yourself lucky to be in a country with lots of space!

Rural Spain is pretty sparse and cheap (I've heard you could buy a full town for just $250K) Not sure how rural France is but it looks way better than the density of say, Germany.

Edit: Apologies, didn't look at your flag in detail at first glance I thought it was French, but wrong orientation.

Edit: I was wrong, towns go for less:
http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2015/08/23/433228503/in-spain-entire-villages-are-up-for-sale-and-theyre-going-cheap

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2576711/Buy-ghost-village-50-000-Thousands-abandoned-Spanish-hamlets-sale-price-London-garage.html

http://www.theguardian.com/world/shortcuts/2014/mar/10/for-sale-spanish-village-free-right-owner

hundreds of them available.

[Shock]

Well, I've done good this year.

Congrats, plenty of shed/bunker space.

[Shock]

Next package has arrived with the Micro Ohmmeter, Tektronix HV differential probes and the Fluke 27/FMs.

Really pleased to get my Micro Ohmmeter in to play with over Christmas. Robrenz made a thread on the 510A a while back. Highvoltage has the same model as well, I've got no kelvin clips with mine and am yet to make a pair.

I got some Flukes last year as well so brings the count to around a dozen, they have leads etc. The differential probes are for the repair heap.

[NiHaoMike]

Just got a FLIR One a few days ago. It was only about $110 as it's the version that is designed to work only with iPhone 5, but a simple mechanical modification was all it took to make it work on an iPad Air.

[128er]

My presents have been passed to Santa for delivery, so I'll get the ball rolling...

4 Tektronix P5205 100MHz High Voltage Differential Probes (for repair)

What's wrong with the P5205's? Or do you use them for repair, instead of repairing them?

[Shock]

What's wrong with the P5205's? Or do you use them for repair, instead of repairing them?

Unknown condition, but look to be unopened with recent calibration. They need new cables as they were removed before selling (obviously a safety thing), so that's about $20. I don't own a Tektronix scope so having a plain BNC and external power is good enough for me. I hope to get 3-4 working units back out of them.

[128er]

What's wrong with the P5205's? Or do you use them for repair, instead of repairing them?

Unknown condition, but look to be unopened with recent calibration. They need new cables as they were removed before selling (obviously a safety thing), so that's about $20. I don't own a Tektronix scope so having a plain BNC and external power is good enough for me. I hope to get 3-4 working units back out of them.

D'oh . . .

Didn't noticed the missing cables in the picture 

When the cables are already cut off, it is a good occasion to build in a separate power connector. Instead of this Tekprobe rubbish

[Shock]

Didn't noticed the missing cables in the picture When the cables are already cut off, it is a good occasion to build in a separate power connector. Instead of this Tekprobe rubbish

Yeah that is exactly what I have planned, in fact I'm hoping to open them up hook some power and a small test voltage (at least before I install some silicon leads) then connect my scope probe and cross my fingers. It will be very cool if they have all had cable failures, less hassle for me.

[Shock]

The second Keithley 179 bench multimeter arrived today, shown in the photo with it's friend.

Underneath that is one of my new 3.5kW 16 Ohm dummy loads (minus the heat dissipation).
These are Utilitech 240V Universal (water heating) Elements and will end up in my new 4/8/16 Ohm non reactive dummy load (with a spare). If your interested in some they are sold at lowes.com item #362342 for ~$9 each, see below for a video explaining usage.

[Flump]

Santa does not visit me so I will be hoping Christmas comes and goes ASAP
Still I am looking forward to seeing the Dr Who special.

[knarf180]

A coworker left this on my desk today.  I've yet to tear it down and check the output.  Might be a fun project to convert the display to digital

[crispy_tofu]

A coworker left this on my desk today.  I've yet to tear it down and check the output.  Might be a fun project to convert the display to digital

Mercedes-Benz?! 

[jmegar324]

I'm saving up for a Rigol DS1054Z already got $275  . Can't wait for Santa he hasn't been around for a while.

[nanofrog]

Not T&M related, but my phone decided to die.

Wanted this one instead of the newer S6 because it can be upgraded (user can add an SD card or swap batteries). I've also added a wireless charging back to it. Happens to be cheaper too.   

[knarf180]

Mercedes-Benz?! 

500mA max output.  Not sure what thats good for unless you are building usb 1.0 devices.  It goes up to 40 volts which is odd for so little amperage.  I'm not sure why you would want that.

[Brumby]

500mA max output.  Not sure what thats good for unless you are building usb 1.0 devices.  It goes up to 40 volts which is odd for so little amperage.  I'm not sure why you would want that.

Grid bias?

[ElectricGuy]

Hi Guys;

And so this is christmas......

Christmas arrived a few days earlier this year. Here are the gifts from Myself to Myself;
Youtube Vídeo https://youtu.be/uGSiunW_9SI

[Macbeth]

After being warned off from purchasing this fine flux dispensing device from ebay I decided to treat myself this Christmas. By getting it from Ali of course!

Why, even just a tantalising glimpse of a confirmed Shenzen despatch by boxing day will be enough to warm the cockles of my heart and restore my faith in fellow man. Raise a glass of Christmas Cheer! 



http://www.aliexpress.com/item/1pcs-7ML-BON-102-Soldering-Pen-PCB-Soldering-Solder-Tool-Brush-Head-Flux-Paste-Solder-Paste/32428118819.html

Tiny Tim will be chased by my dogs and get his crutch swiped if he dares to knock on the door before the postman delivers this of course.

Bah Humbug!     

[HackedFridgeMagnet]

Just got me one of dem Flir E4 with firmware version 2.3.0, hopefully I don't brick it.

[nanofrog]

After being warned off from purchasing this fine flux dispensing device from ebay I decided to treat myself this Christmas. By getting it from Ali of course!

Why, even just a tantalising glimpse of a confirmed Shenzen despatch by boxing day will be enough to warm the cockles of my heart and restore my faith in fellow man. Raise a glass of Christmas Cheer! 

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/1pcs-7ML-BON-102-Soldering-Pen-PCB-Soldering-Solder-Tool-Brush-Head-Flux-Paste-Solder-Paste/32428118819.html

Tiny Tim will be chased by my dogs and get his crutch swiped if he dares to knock on the door before the postman delivers this of course.

Bah Humbug!     

   

On a bit of a serious note, if it doesn't work properly remove the guts (valve) and use it that way.  You won't have as much fine control, but it's still usable and an improvement over a needle bottle IME (I don't want to swap needles all the time to get the right drop size).

That said, you will notice the difference if you get your hands on a genuine one. 

[Shock]

After being warned off from purchasing this fine flux dispensing device from ebay I decided to treat myself this Christmas. By getting it from Ali of course!

Just like when I helped out buying US made when the dollar was at an all time low.
Doing your bit for the Chinese economic downturn and counterfeiting trade is the gift that goes on giving.

[Muttley Snickers]

I just got home from work, pulled up in the driveway to unlock the gates and the lady over the road came bolting over with a present, a completely unexpected surprise, I think she likes me....

I'm a bit worried that her indoors might ask where it came from and I have no clue what's inside....

What do we do guys ?, wait for the day or open it up ?.