What did you buy today? Post your latest purchase!

[SeanB]

Avo I made a replacement 15V battery pack, using stacked Cr1216 cells in a block, made from some scrap PTFE I had around. Low leakage, flat voltage curve, and very cheap to replace the cells,  only $5 for the pack of 5, which will probably last 15 years plus here.

[Neepa]

A pair of new 8.75" rack handles for my HP4145A. Ordered all the way from the USA. Wasn't cheap but worth it imo.

My snipe from last Saturday: a HP7225B flatbed plotter. Tested today and promptly blew the mains input filter after a couple of minutes of playing around. It moves, is in rough cosmetic condition and the GPIB isn't tested yet. Some Refurb required all in all.

Also it really is the "budget" plotter of the lineup. The Plastic case is largely non structural and not the most durable thing as mine is cracked on the top half in one corner. However an 9872C or similar is even more rare so I'm glad I got this one for relatively cheap.

Can't wait to have it automatically plot graphs from the 4145A once I got some pens!

[jonovid]

Being a bit of a vintage test gear nerd, I scored these beauties which arrived today!!

For new players and those that are not familiar with UK test gear brands, these are the legendary Avo 8, possibly the best analogue multimeter ever made.

First pic is the Mk4, dated 1972, in mint condition, I doubt it has ever been used!  Complete with leather case, leads, probes and destructions!

Second pic is the Mk5, dated 1973, same condition and accessories.

I've been after both versions, in this condition, for years!  They weren't cheap, but then again not expensive considering what they cost new!
The Mk5 was £500 in it's day!  So my Avo collection nears completion, I need a model 9, which is extremely rare, a Mk6 and a Mk7, those not so rare but difficult to find as new. The 7 was the last Model 8 made when production ceased in 2011, list price then was just shy of £800! According to Megger, the company that produced Avo meters then, production only stopped because certain parts could no longer be produced, demand was actually still there!! They didn't have the extra high voltage range though, evident by the lack of extra terminals at the top of the front panel. The Mk5 could read upto 3KV!! One of my favourite things about these meters is the test leads, thick, flexible, heavy duty, and very high quality!  Even though they have never been silicone they have always been so flexible, even in cold conditions!

my father had an older twin knob Avo type model but a whole lot more beat up then this unit,

[unknownparticle]

Avo I made a replacement 15V battery pack, using stacked Cr1216 cells in a block, made from some scrap PTFE I had around. Low leakage, flat voltage curve, and very cheap to replace the cells,  only $5 for the pack of 5, which will probably last 15 years plus here.

There are a few of this type of thing on ebay these days, I got a 3D printed version with a nice authentic looking Eveready label!  It has a screw attached end so that a new stack of cells can be inserted.  Once upon a time Avo supplied a voltage converter powered by an internal 1.5 volt battery, it was the same size as the original 15 volt battery. 

[unknownparticle]

Being a bit of a vintage test gear nerd, I scored these beauties which arrived today!!

For new players and those that are not familiar with UK test gear brands, these are the legendary Avo 8, possibly the best analogue multimeter ever made.

First pic is the Mk4, dated 1972, in mint condition, I doubt it has ever been used!  Complete with leather case, leads, probes and destructions!

Second pic is the Mk5, dated 1973, same condition and accessories.

I've been after both versions, in this condition, for years!  They weren't cheap, but then again not expensive considering what they cost new!
The Mk5 was £500 in it's day!  So my Avo collection nears completion, I need a model 9, which is extremely rare, a Mk6 and a Mk7, those not so rare but difficult to find as new. The 7 was the last Model 8 made when production ceased in 2011, list price then was just shy of £800! According to Megger, the company that produced Avo meters then, production only stopped because certain parts could no longer be produced, demand was actually still there!! They didn't have the extra high voltage range though, evident by the lack of extra terminals at the top of the front panel. The Mk5 could read upto 3KV!! One of my favourite things about these meters is the test leads, thick, flexible, heavy duty, and very high quality!  Even though they have never been silicone they have always been so flexible, even in cold conditions!

my father had an older twin knob Avo type model but a whole lot more beat up then this unit,

Yeah, Avo made tens of thousands of various models, most of which had hard lives in industry and servicing, so although fully working many were very beaten up!  I have quite a few spares or repairs units to salvage spare parts, some are blown to hell on the inside!

A fun fact of Avo's, they all had a smudge of grease on the inside of the bottom case.  This causes head scratching with those new to the cult!
It's there to catch any dust, debris or small parts that may have found it's way inside!  So when the meters next went for servicing and cal, the tech could see any tell tale evidence.

[vk6zgo]

Avo I made a replacement 15V battery pack, using stacked Cr1216 cells in a block, made from some scrap PTFE I had around. Low leakage, flat voltage curve, and very cheap to replace the cells,  only $5 for the pack of 5, which will probably last 15 years plus here.

I've always liked PTFE, although it is the fashion these days to go about it because it apparently releases some nasty stuff when burnt---I certainly remember some stinking fumes that made my throat catch, but it was just momentary, & we never thought it a big deal.

At work, we had quite reasonable sized sheets of PTFE, but "scrap bits" is all I had in my private stuff, down to zilch today.

[tautech]

Being a bit of a vintage test gear nerd, I scored these beauties which arrived today!!

For new players and those that are not familiar with UK test gear brands, these are the legendary Avo 8, possibly the best analogue multimeter ever made.

First pic is the Mk4, dated 1972, in mint condition, I doubt it has ever been used!  Complete with leather case, leads, probes and destructions!

Second pic is the Mk5, dated 1973, same condition and accessories.

I've been after both versions, in this condition, for years!  They weren't cheap, but then again not expensive considering what they cost new!
The Mk5 was £500 in it's day!  So my Avo collection nears completion, I need a model 9, which is extremely rare, a Mk6 and a Mk7, those not so rare but difficult to find as new. The 7 was the last Model 8 made when production ceased in 2011, list price then was just shy of £800! According to Megger, the company that produced Avo meters then, production only stopped because certain parts could no longer be produced, demand was actually still there!! They didn't have the extra high voltage range though, evident by the lack of extra terminals at the top of the front panel. The Mk5 could read upto 3KV!! One of my favourite things about these meters is the test leads, thick, flexible, heavy duty, and very high quality!  Even though they have never been silicone they have always been so flexible, even in cold conditions!

The Mk3 that I have a few of was never quite enough until I got a tidy Mk5 especially for its 3kV range.
My solution to the 15V battery issue was a stack of LR44 with a little copper tube each end to pack out to the 15V battery length, all excepting the very ends covered in heatshrink which allowed for a neat fit into the OEM 15V battery holder. 

The lead set for yours looks in spectacular condition along with those darn hard to find hook grabbers of which I also have a pair.
Nice find, treasure them. 

[elex_enthusiast]

Nothing special. Bought a set of precision screwdriver and a heating mat to fix my broken phone screen. 

[Calambres]

Just received this:



https://www.amazon.es/Manual-Placa-soporte-tijeras-hojalatero/dp/B01MQP3131/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_es_ES=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=2NXIXCU4ILO1H&keywords=KATSU+Cortadora+de+Cizalla+de+Metal+Manual+180+mm%2C&qid=1679128025&s=tools&sprefix=katsu+cortadora+de+cizalla+de+metal+manual+180+mm+%2Cdiy%2C99&sr=1-1

In short: you get what you pay for (44€). Lesson learnt 

[PlainName]

Lesson learnt

Which was...?

[unknownparticle]

Being a bit of a vintage test gear nerd, I scored these beauties which arrived today!!

For new players and those that are not familiar with UK test gear brands, these are the legendary Avo 8, possibly the best analogue multimeter ever made.

First pic is the Mk4, dated 1972, in mint condition, I doubt it has ever been used!  Complete with leather case, leads, probes and destructions!

Second pic is the Mk5, dated 1973, same condition and accessories.

I've been after both versions, in this condition, for years!  They weren't cheap, but then again not expensive considering what they cost new!
The Mk5 was £500 in it's day!  So my Avo collection nears completion, I need a model 9, which is extremely rare, a Mk6 and a Mk7, those not so rare but difficult to find as new. The 7 was the last Model 8 made when production ceased in 2011, list price then was just shy of £800! According to Megger, the company that produced Avo meters then, production only stopped because certain parts could no longer be produced, demand was actually still there!! They didn't have the extra high voltage range though, evident by the lack of extra terminals at the top of the front panel. The Mk5 could read upto 3KV!! One of my favourite things about these meters is the test leads, thick, flexible, heavy duty, and very high quality!  Even though they have never been silicone they have always been so flexible, even in cold conditions!

The Mk3 that I have a few of was never quite enough until I got a tidy Mk5 especially for its 3kV range.
My solution to the 15V battery issue was a stack of LR44 with a little copper tube each end to pack out to the 15V battery length, all excepting the very ends covered in heatshrink which allowed for a neat fit into the OEM 15V battery holder. 

The lead set for yours looks in spectacular condition along with those darn hard to find hook grabbers of which I also have a pair.
Nice find, treasure them. 

They will be cherished, which sadly means they won't see alot of use, the penalty for having survived in such superb condition.  I do have some users though, which I like to use on vintage valve equipment, seems so appropriate! And of course indicated voltages on old service sheets were measured on Avo's, or 20K ohms/volt meters, so it's easier to compare readings.

I went through a phase some years back, of buying up every set of Avo leads, probes, clips etc in excellent to new condition I saw on ebay, so I now have a good stock!  This was before prices began to escalate.  I also bought loads of the shunts, voltage transformers etc.

Although my collection is nothing compared to a fellow collector I know, about 40 miles north of me, he has just about every Avo meter and accessory ever made, and, a huge stockpile of parts!  A whole room in his house is dedicated to their storage and display, shelves all around the room, about 5 or 6 high, it is truly incredible! And, he repairs and restores them! 
Sadly, Megger are just not interested in the meter that established their name and reputation, so have no company collections or archive document library.  So it's down to those like myself and above mentioned friend to preserve their history. 

[Messtechniker]

Although my collection is nothing compared to a fellow collector I know, about 40 miles north of me, he has just about every Avo meter and accessory ever made, and, a huge stockpile of parts!  A whole room in his house is dedicated to their storage and display, shelves all around the room, about 5 or 6 high, it is truly incredible! And, he repairs and restores them! 

Any chance of some picccies? Would make for great test equipment porn, I guess.

[jonpaul]

Used Sears compressor, to replace a smaller one.

Runs air tools, spray paint, for bowing out
...

Jon

[grumpydoc]

My MOD surplus Racal-Dana 1991 nanosecond Universal Counter has arrived ... promptly from Rays-Tek, thanks guys.

Missed your post previously, very nice.

Pity I didn't realise you wanted one, I have half a dozen in the garage I intended to sell at some point but never quite got round to doing so 

[Ground_Loop]

My SMD test fixture arrived today. Not a name brand, so required a bit of cradle adjustment. Otherwise it works great.

[unknownparticle]

My MOD surplus Racal-Dana 1991 nanosecond Universal Counter has arrived ... promptly from Rays-Tek, thanks guys.

Missed your post previously, very nice.

Pity I didn't realise you wanted one, I have half a dozen in the garage I intended to sell at some point but never quite got round to doing so 

I picked one of these up at an MOD clearance sale years ago.  The sale was mainly for workshop equipment, like machine tools etc, so no one knew what it was, I got it for peanuts!  Superbly made instrument for modern stuff.

[unknownparticle]

Although my collection is nothing compared to a fellow collector I know, about 40 miles north of me, he has just about every Avo meter and accessory ever made, and, a huge stockpile of parts!  A whole room in his house is dedicated to their storage and display, shelves all around the room, about 5 or 6 high, it is truly incredible! And, he repairs and restores them! 

Any chance of some picccies? Would make for great test equipment porn, I guess.

It would indeed but although I do have pictures I was made to promise that I wouldn't ever reveal them in public, so for my eyes only, sorry
He is a very private individual and doesn't like attention, I have to respect that.

[Calambres]

Lesson learnt

Which was...?

In the previous sentence: You get what you pay for.

Cheap shear, cheap results. Don't even think of cutting 1mm thick steel sheet with this.

[PlainName]

OK. You didn't say why they were useless - could have been the size of the mounting holes or anything

[jogri]

My SMD test fixture arrived today. Not a name brand, so required a bit of cradle adjustment. Otherwise it works great.

Where did you buy that? I'm currently looking for affordable fixtures for my impedance analyzers from the same HP "series"

[Calambres]

OK. You didn't say why they were useless - could have been the size of the mounting holes or anything

Well... they're not really useless, they're weak. OK for plastic, printed circuit boards, brass and aluminium (thin!), etc. Just forget about steel.

The shear blades tend to separate because the frame and the pivot stud are not strong enough. Also the blades themselves are of a very doubious quality. Wobbly and weak two part lever (thin wall tubes) with a loose fit. Also the bolts linking the lever mechanism are threaded along their length, that is, the threads are pressing against the bearing surface; a very poor and loose design. Had to provide some washers to mitigate some of the looseness without much success.

Again: cheap shears with cheap results. You get what you pay for. Only useable for very light jobs.

[gamalot]

I love banana plugs. 

[unknownparticle]

I seem to be on a bit of a mission with multimeters at the moment, but when a bargain like this appears it's difficult to pass up!

It's just a fairly basic DMM, 4000 count,  0.5% to 1% accuracy on DC volts, depending on range, other ranges between 1 to 3%, the 3% is on the AC 10amp range.
The best thing is build quality, very solid and robust and being Megger, components will be high quality, so long term reliability will be excellent.
£50 on ebay!  It's a discontinued model, this one is NOS dated 2006.  The original price was higher but I added to my watch list and a shorlty afterwards the seller offered it for £50, which didn't take me long to accept!  He has another 3 if anyone is interested but I can't be sure that he would offer that price again. Also, it is listed as a 300, but I noticed the box showed it to be a 310.

[gamalot]

An Agilent 11974-60028 power supply

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/agilent-11974-60028-mini-teardown

[RolandK]

My SMD test fixture arrived today. Not a name brand, so required a bit of cradle adjustment. Otherwise it works great.

Where did you buy that? I'm currently looking for affordable fixtures for my impedance analyzers from the same HP "series"

Manufacturer seems tonghui TH26008a https://v4.cecdn.yun300.cn/100001_2108055031/selection%20guide%20of%20tonghui%20accessories%2020181227.pdf

available as bk precision TL89-s1 or rhode schwarz / hameg hz-188 for people who want to spend more money. The hameg pops up used from time to time.

eg: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005110203974.html