What did you buy today? Post your latest purchase!

[u666sa]

I bought this thingy -- https://aliexpress.ru/item/1005002476393123.html?spm=a2g2w.orderdetail.0.0.1f6c4aa6UModUg&sku_id=12000021313841898

T7 transistor tester with fake chinese chip! These days you can not get a better one. Guys at 4pda said this version can be modified with real ATmega, so the next thing is to get ATmega chip and modify it. Obviously no transformer on board, so no way to test zeners above certain voltage, just have to deal with that. The thing lies left and right the way it is now. Gonna get ATmega and modify it according to these instructions -- https://mysku.club/blog/aliexpress/97109.html

[Messtechniker]

The difference might be attributed to the fact that the M-Tester uses a DC pulse and the Hantek uses 100 Hz AC to measure capacitace. A nice trap this. Note that the values stated on the capacitor only apply to a capacitace measurement with pure DC. So both your measurements will yield results which might not agree.

[tszaboo]

Resistor and capacitor sample books for the home lab. 0402, 0603, 0805, and 1206.

[zapta]

Resistor and capacitor sample books for the home lab. 0402, 0603, 0805, and 1206.

If you are like me, they will last you forever.

[shapirus]

Resistor and capacitor sample books for the home lab. 0402, 0603, 0805, and 1206.

time to learn BOM deconsolidation.

[beanflying]

It's almost Christmas and I promise not to play with my new toy until then when it arrives 

[tszaboo]

Resistor and capacitor sample books for the home lab. 0402, 0603, 0805, and 1206.

time to learn BOM deconsolidation.

I know how to do that. Most resistors are going to be 1K and 10K.
Now how do you design analog filters with certain cutoff frequency.
Or set up an output of a DC-DC converter to the right voltage.
In every design there is the odd value component.
This just unloads the mental task to keep track of whether or not I have the part.

Resistor and capacitor sample books for the home lab. 0402, 0603, 0805, and 1206.

If you are like me, they will last you forever.

That's the idea. It's either this or drawers upon drawers of resistors, I am hoping to avoid that.
I'm still missing 0402 and 0603 RF parts, but I don't think random aliexpress parts would be good for that.

[shapirus]

I know how to do that. Most resistors are going to be 1K and 10K.

No, no. Of course I wouldn't assume that someone wouldn't know how to consolidate BOMs.

I wrote "BOM deconsolidation" .

With part kits like this it makes sense to spread the values used, if you do the soldering yourself: e.g., if your schematic needs five 10k pull-up resistors, then use 8.2k, 9.1k, 10k, 12k, 15k to deplete the kit's resources more evenly across all the values.

[PlainName]

It's almost Christmas and I promise not to play with my new toy until then when it arrives 

I'm impressed by how you managed to make that look like it 10mm deep. Or did you just buy the front panel?

[Bud]

That is one ugly sucker 
Keysight hired a new industrial designer? 

[coppercone2]

honestly they should just put a 7 segment display on it

so long its like dimable then its actually good in a lab??

I still like my lambda seven segment displays ! prefer Hp analog dials but the seven segment is good! the LCD displays like that are not liked in commerical labs. the TFT or whatever modern displays increase cost too much and provide little utility.

[zapta]

I know how to do that. Most resistors are going to be 1K and 10K.
Now how do you design analog filters with certain cutoff frequency.
Or set up an output of a DC-DC converter to the right voltage.

The JLCPCB SMD assembly services has a small set of resistors and capacitors that are considered 'basic' and are almost free. Sometimes I use two resistors in series to achieve the value I need.

[zapta]

if your schematic needs five 10k pull-up resistors, then use 8.2k, 9.1k, 10k, 12k, 15k to deplete the kit's resources more evenly across all the values.

Or just add a cut tape resistor item to the next order from Digikey, for the depleted values.

[beanflying]

That is one ugly sucker 
Keysight hired a new industrial designer? 

It actually started in Agilent times. The odd thing is they still make the 36xx series as far as I know and they went this way 

[zapta]

Keysight hired a new industrial designer? 

... it's the Shenzhen look.

[rsjsouza]

I like the white and orange layout, but one thing that drives me off from some of the HPAK models is the absence of a keypad. I've had run into too many power supplies with bad encoders, not to mention the annoyance to input the settings. Keithley's SMUs are the same.

[u666sa]

I bought this -- https://aliexpress.ru/item/4000297370828.html?spm=a2g2w.orderdetail.0.0.3a394aa6wcaNDO&sku_id=12000018547495099
New black, without cables.. I make my own cables.

This are auxiliary lights for microscope. Used to get rid of glare and to see thing better. You print this 3D adapter -- https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5124819
It's really cheap. Cost me $5 bucks with eye piece spacers -- https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4995024
Basically everyone these days have 3D printers, so I just went on free ads site and got a good deal.

Things to consider. Apparently there is a 9 watt model, well, you should look for that instead and get a 9 watt model. Because 3 watts are not awesome, they do their job, but I want a street light brightness. Also, do not get new black model, get a regular black. New black is shorter and not as bendy, though it looks better.

[zapta]

Can this replace the light ring?  Removing the light ring will allow me better access with the solder iron on my microscope.

[u666sa]

Can this replace the light ring?  Removing the light ring will allow me better access with the solder iron on my microscope.

Nah man. Can not replace your ring light. Can add to the ring light, 100%. To get better access you need barlow lens. Use 0.5 or 0.7x. On photos 0.5x


I also have 0.7x, and I get plenty of space with it, but my back hurts after using it for extended periods of time. After I get a better chair (I have a kitchen stool right now) I could use 0.7x. You should get both 0.5 and 0.7 at the same time. You will use them both.

[u666sa]

Can this replace the light ring?  Removing the light ring will allow me better access with the solder iron on my microscope.

If you want ring light, you should get his one -- https://aliexpress.ru/item/32848696958.html?sku_id=65221185264&spm=a2g2w.stores.search_results.4.16c63e66mwkG1g
It's the same one NorthridgeFix uses (youtube channel, California)

Or, do the same thing poor guys like me from Sochi do, buy a cheap 144 LED light and modify it. Give it 18 volts @ 750 milliamps, and then buy 5 mil LEDs and replace all 144 3 mils to 5 mil, and alright.

[tszaboo]

I know how to do that. Most resistors are going to be 1K and 10K.
Now how do you design analog filters with certain cutoff frequency.
Or set up an output of a DC-DC converter to the right voltage.

The JLCPCB SMD assembly services has a small set of resistors and capacitors that are considered 'basic' and are almost free. Sometimes I use two resistors in series to achieve the value I need.

I know. Five PCBs are PCB 4 EUR including shipping.
If you add a resistor to the assembly, the assembly cost they add is like 15 EUR, they upgrade your shipping method to DHL for another 15 EUR. Charge import duty on the assembly costs and the shipping costs for another 15 EUR. So that resistor is 45 EUR. This is like the cheapest you can order something from them.
(Why do we have to pay import duty on a service, nobody knows.)

[zapta]

I was talking about the second resistor, which is virtually free.  ;-)

It's annoying that the cheap shipping doesn't apply to the SMD assembly service. The import duty don't apply to the US, and sometimes on checkout they give a $10 discount, not sure why, but yes, the first resistor is very expensive.

[beanflying]

Jenga time 6632B is off to the rear rack and I now finally have an 'adequate' level of PSU options on the front bench 'for now'.

Quick and dirty load and voltage test and it looks good, fan seems constant but I might see about dropping a thermal switch on it. It is pushing close to 40C in the shack today so that could be it too.

Less fugly in person too

[armandine2]

.. a few switches came with my RS order today

I filtered to get the latching (not momentary) but alas one got through 

A variant model - the On-(On) switch - combines a standard click position with a spring-loaded one which will snap back if not held in position.

[wkb]

tinyPFA arrived this week. I fear a light form of frequency-nuttery has infected me.