What did you buy today? Post your latest purchase!

[bitseeker]

I'm really going to be the MeterMeister if I ever get all of the damned things up and running!

Just don't turn 'em all on at once or the electricity meter will be the new master of your pocketbook.

[Kjelt]

Scored a NOS weapon grade keyboard from local computer warehouse for $10, the legendary buckling spring keyboard.

The seller let it go since he claimed its no longer can be used at today's laptop anymore  , but at that price as it's "branded". 

PS : Anyone know how to clean the heavily tarnished 5 pins of the DIN connector without destroying the plastic housing ? (photo attached)

I thought you could attach a different cable with ps2 connector (purple small din) that should still work with an adapter on usb. Have to search but i thought i still have such a keyboard somewhere.

[BU508A]

PS : Anyone know how to clean the heavily tarnished 5 pins of the DIN connector without destroying the plastic housing ? (photo attached)

Have you considered this?
http://thesignalpath.com/blogs/2017/02/01/deoxit-challenge-restoration-of-a-precision-decade-resistor-box/

[VK5RC]

Scored a NOS weapon grade keyboard from local computer warehouse for $10, the legendary buckling spring keyboard.

The seller let it go since he claimed its no longer can be used at today's laptop anymore  , but at that price as it's "branded". 

PS : Anyone know how to clean the heavily tarnished 5 pins of the DIN connector without destroying the plastic housing ? (photo attached)

I would probably go with a very lightly abrasive paste like Simchrome or Brasso or toothpaste perhaps inside a piece of just slightly larger insulation - placed over the pin (one at a time)  and spun by hand - then a really good clean with IPA.

[Messtechniker]

And after that, I would verify the cleaning action by running a 4 wire milliOhms measurement across all pins of socket/plug connection. For this solder the leads from the DMM to the respective solder tabs on the plug, respectively socket. Then compare your measurement with the data sheet - which does not give any mOhms contact info.   
Therefore some of my measurement results on an old and well stored 5 pin DIN connector:
Contact resistance after years of storage (slight oxidation is visible): 35 mOhm
Contact resistance after cleaning with "Kontakt 60" (a popular deoxit fluid in Germany): 7.6 mOhm.

There you go.

Yours - Messtechniker

[technix]

I have bought a lot of odd chips the past week:

* AT91SAM9260B-QU 180MHz ARM926EJ-S MPU in QFP-208
* MT48F32M16? 64MB x16 PC-133 SDR SDRAM in TSOP-56
* K9F2G?? 256MB x8 SLC NAND in TSOP-48
* K9F4G?? 512MB x8 SLC NAND in TSOP-48
* V3s 1.2GHz ARMCortex-A7 MPU with built-in 64MB DDR2 SDRAM in QFP-128
* AXP203 system power management IC for V3s in QFN-48
* LM3671MF-1.8 1.8V synchronous buck converter in SOT23-5
* M80C88 16-bit MPU, along with the full IBM PC XT chipset, in DIP
* IS61C256AH-12 SRAM in TSOP-28, a lot of them
* SN74HC138 decoder in TSOP-16

So I basically bought parts for three SBC: an ARM926EJ-S one with 64MB RAM and 512MB NAND and 4MB NOR, a Cortex-A7 one with 64MB RAM and 16MB NOR, as well as an IBM PC XT clone with 1MB of fully static RAM

[BravoV]

I would probably go with a very lightly abrasive paste like Simchrome or Brasso or toothpaste perhaps inside a piece of just slightly larger insulation - placed over the pin (one at a time)  and spun by hand - then a really good clean with IPA.

Really good idea, never thought of using larger cylindrical shape plastic to clean it abrasively, thank you ! 

And after that, I would verify the cleaning action by running a 4 wire milliOhms measurement across all pins of socket/plug connection. For this solder the leads from the DMM to the respective solder tabs on the plug, respectively socket. Then compare your measurement with the data sheet - which does not give any mOhms contact info.   
Therefore some of my measurement results on an old and well stored 5 pin DIN connector:
Contact resistance after years of storage (slight oxidation is visible): 35 mOhm
Contact resistance after cleaning with "Kontakt 60" (a popular deoxit fluid in Germany): 7.6 mOhm.

There you go.

Yours - Messtechniker

Damn, how did you know I measure those pins with 4 wires at sub miliohms resolution ? 

C'mon, that thingy probably is now considered an antique, and also collector's item. Cleaning that darken DIN pins is for aesthetically reason, not technical at all. Those dark/black coating on the brass pins will just conduct fine when inserted into the DIN socket.

[Messtechniker]

Damn, how did you know I measure those pins with 4 wires at sub miliohms resolution ? 

This is the situation where a KS 34465A shines.

[FrankBuss]

I couldn't resist and bought some Nixie tubes from Dalibor Farny to build my own Nixie clock. He creates gorgeous new Nixie tubes. The packet arrived today:



Bottom side:



and a quick test, it looks so beautiful

[Kjelt]

I couldn't resist and bought some Nixie tubes from Dalibor Farny to build my own Nixie clock. He creates gorgeous new Nixie tubes. The packet arrived today:

They cost $145 a piece ? 
Well as long as you enjoy them as art 

[djos]

I couldn't resist and bought some Nixie tubes from Dalibor Farny to build my own Nixie clock. He creates gorgeous new Nixie tubes. The packet arrived today:

They cost $145 a piece ? 
Well as long as you enjoy them as art 

OUCH!!!

They do look incredible tho. 

[FrankBuss]

Right, they are not cheap, but they are hand-made and I don't know any other supplier who creates such beautiful new tubes, and they come with a 10 year warranty. There are more expensive new-old-stock Nixie tubes on eBay, but you can't be sure of the quality.

[Kjelt]

Well at least that answers my first question, why not 6 tubes and display the seconds 
These tubes deserve a beautiful case, what are you planning, wood , stainless steel or perhaps a marble or granite pedestal ?

[FrankBuss]

Yeah, I thought about the seconds but then I don't really need it. I plan to use some antique big wooden clock (sold broken on eBay) to create a steampunk like clock, and two digits on each side fits perfectly.

[jonovid]

having way too many oscilloscopes seems to be an eevblog thing 

[razberik]

There are more expensive new-old-stock Nixie tubes on eBay, but you can't be sure of the quality.

Makes sense in terms of prices. And IN18 prices are ridiculous. But when you buy IN12 which are cheap and available in large numbers, these nixies are made with so damm long life time. 100 000 hours no exception. USSR made them with insane lifetime margin.

[technix]

Maybe. I have two flanking my work area (a hacked DS1054Z and a YB4325 20MHz CRO) and I mainly use the 1054Z now. However there is something about seeing the green traces on the CRO.

[alank2]

Those tubes are beautiful Frank - be sure to show us the final project picture with them!!

[RoGeorge]

PS : Anyone know how to clean the heavily tarnished 5 pins of the DIN connector without destroying the plastic housing ? (photo attached)

Try with pencil eraser: https://hackaday.io/project/7574-the-devil-is-in-the-details/log/26489-a-pencil-eraser-trick

[Kjelt]

That reminds me of my scavenger hunt last week on a fleamarket that is kept once a year and where leftovers are sold from a smt place business.
My score this year:

Panasonic SMD elco's:
330uF/16V
4u7/50V
10uF/50V
470uF/16V

TH Fujicon (is that a decent brand or should i scrap them?)
2200uF/63V

and some bags with RJ45's, Phoenix 8pin connectors, dc-dc converters,
8 pcs of AD734AN (no idea what to do with those, anyone have an idea?), DS1225, 7808s

Just to stock up for my projects the next 25 years    if the elco's survive that long , I already have quite a collection from past years hunts.
 

[AF6LJ]

I think you are stocked up.

[bitseeker]

I plan to use some antique big wooden clock (sold broken on eBay) to create a steampunk like clock, and two digits on each side fits perfectly.

That's a great idea, Frank. I like the analog and digital combination. That clock is perfect for it. Looking forward to seeing yours with those big Nixies.

[FrankBuss]

I plan to use some antique big wooden clock (sold broken on eBay) to create a steampunk like clock, and two digits on each side fits perfectly.

That's a great idea, Frank. I like the analog and digital combination. That clock is perfect for it. Looking forward to seeing yours with those big Nixies.

Thanks. I just opened the clock and it comes with a built-in audio device After all this years I still remember the sound, my grandparents had such a clock, too (each full hour: dong - dong - dong...). Will add some solenoids.

[bitseeker]

Cool. You should start a thread for this for all of us clock (analog or digital) fans.

[rrinker]

 A nixie clock that chimes the hour with real mechanical chimes - that is AWESOME. Can't wait to see this.