What did you buy today? Post your latest purchase!

[Ground_Loop]

After long thought on build or buy I broke down and bought one, the 5200volt version. Nice addition to the stable.

[MosherIV]

Another bargain.

Pair of used dmm probes.

Robin branded. These ones are gold plated and have 4mm banana plug adapters.

[shakalnokturn]

Are those threaded locking rings before the banana to attach crocodile clips?

[MosherIV]

Nope. The spring for 4mm banana plug is fixed. No thread.

[shakalnokturn]

I meant the plastic piece with oval indents before tha banana, it made it look as if it was free to rotate (at least it looks designed to give extra grip for some reason) and may be threaded on the inside.

[Calambres]

Just got this guy:



It works fairly well and quite cheap!.

[mansaxel]

Just got this guy:



It works fairly well and quite cheap!.

I was given the same model, albeit rebranded, as a Christmas gift last year and I concur. I've become a much more competent PCB worker since. It is a repair force multiplier for a very competitive price.

[vk6zgo]

Another bargain.

Pair of used dmm probes.

Robin branded. These ones are gold plated and have 4mm banana plug adapters.

The banana plug part, if not removable, makes the probe unuseable for much work.

I bought a similar set of leads, as they were the only ones available at the time, & found that the thick "banana" part prevented using the probe for such things as checking continuity on flexible cables with connectors/sockets attached, such as microphone cables.

They were also troublesome when looking at the pins on some edge connectors.
I eventually became heartily sick of them, & finally found some normal probes at another supplier.

[rsjsouza]

The banana plug part, if not removable, makes the probe unuseable for much work.

Although I like the concept, it surely can't be your only probe set. Here in the US they are not useable if you need to probe outlets.

[rakanishu]

The Pro'sKit SS-331H is terrific. I've been using it for a year, and boy does it save time compared to even excellent manual desoldering pumps such as the Engineer SS-02. A total godsend if you desolder high effort stuff such as keyboard PCBs.

The only problem is finding spare tips and consumables. I haven't had much luck finding replacements on AliExpress, so I just bit the bullet and bought the replacment gun for $28.

[IDEngineer]

Now that I have a formal desoldering gun (with integrated vacuum pump), I'm angry that I waited so long to get one. I have the Hakko FR-300, and it's expensive for a reason: It's WORTH IT.

My 18YO son, going to university for his EE, is already hooked. He correctly calls it the most valuable tool on our soldering bench.

[Calambres]

The only problem is finding spare tips and consumables. I haven't had much luck finding replacements on AliExpress, so I just bit the bullet and bought the replacment gun for $28.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000348820784.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.85d34f08Vef2W2&algo_pvid=9ff34642-ad15-4da7-814d-b171ed530e1e&algo_expid=9ff34642-ad15-4da7-814d-b171ed530e1e-6&btsid=2100bdf116053783229924576e575c&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_,searchweb201603_

[McBryce]

The only problem is finding spare tips and consumables. I haven't had much luck finding replacements on AliExpress, so I just bit the bullet and bought the replacment gun for $28.

I think all the relabelled desoldering guns use the same parts. I have a ZD-915 and the tips for those are easy to find:

https://www.amazon.de/Zus%C3%A4tzliche-Spitzen-f%C3%BCr-L%C3%B6tstation-ZD-915/dp/B01AIIF2UG/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/257-4590955-9801130?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01AIIF2UG&pd_rd_r=da72be71-8072-4a63-bcb9-6297519b847d&pd_rd_w=3R1Fh&pd_rd_wg=aiHt3&pf_rd_p=4490d326-3239-499b-8c8a-0dd8d6ad582a&pf_rd_r=Q3SYH732H3YCYP7FGHDG&psc=1&refRID=Q3SYH732H3YCYP7FGHDG

McBryce.

[rakanishu]

Thank you for the links. Unfortunately, none of them deliver to India. The problem stems from the sheer number of sellers who can't ship to my country due to the pandemic. Hopefully, 2021 would be kinder on us.

[jmh]

Circuit Specialists soldering iron - a treat from some spare cash lumbering in Paypal... I recently moved all my test gear in from the workshop due to humidity and this iron is more 'shack / study i.e. little bedroom' friendly than my reflow station, and it's blue!

[Microdoser]

Heatsinks, fans, highlighter pens, switches, standoffs, self-amalgamating tape, desoldering braid, 6TB hard drive, enamelled magnet winding wire, solder paste.

And a bottle of Plantation Xo 20th Anniversary Rum.

[_Wim_]

And a bottle of Plantation Xo 20th Anniversary Rum.

For flux removal ?   

[basinstreetdesign]

And a bottle of Plantation Xo 20th Anniversary Rum.

For flux removal ?   

Flux removal??  Oh, ...  Yeah, Yeah, that's it.  FLUX REMOVAL!   

[Mr.B]

And a bottle of Plantation Xo 20th Anniversary Rum.

For flux removal ?   

Flux removal??  Oh, ...  Yeah, Yeah, that's it.  FLUX REMOVAL!   

Best for the gentle removal of internal flux.

[Zorc]

Handheld Precision Digital Voltage Source - PDVS2mini

[mansaxel]

A mains cable for my -hp- 400H (Valve AC volt meter made for Europe in then Western Germany, so better connector than that little oval shite they had from the US before everybody went IEC C14).



Finally, I could check it out, and yes, it needs work, but all ranges are there, the movement is free and all valves work.

[Microdoser]

And a bottle of Plantation Xo 20th Anniversary Rum.

For flux removal ?   

Flux removal??  Oh, ...  Yeah, Yeah, that's it.  FLUX REMOVAL!   

Best for the gentle removal of internal flux.

It does a good job of cleaning out the old cobwebs on your internals, that's for sure

[Miyuki]

 
It is old and dirty
But it was really cheap and I am a super cheapskate 

[basinstreetdesign]

Just a bunch of odds and sods that I have been missing for a while: some RG-174, soldering sponges, Y2 caps, switches and a few 0805 R's to help fill out the inventory binder.  I had to place an order for a single $15 chip with DK anyway having smoked the only one I had for my current project.  But SWMBO can't resist getting free shipping so it had to be expanded to $100.   


The original inspiration for the buy?? An AD9833 DDS chip here...

[Calambres]

An early '70s VTVM, the RetexKit VV-1. In fact a clone of the HeathKit V7-A or EM-11E (E for Export).

It was sold as a kit in Spain under license from HeathKit. It is in very good external condition albeit with no probes. I had to make one for DC out of a malfunctioning chinese oscilloscope probe. Some resistors have drifted in value and I'm replacing them to get accuracy in all scales. Also had to tame a bit the power supply circuit as it was designed for 125V / 220V. There's nearly 240V at home and plate voltages are out of spec. I'm having a lot of fun restoring this thing...


[EDIT]: corrected typo.