Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Rerouter]

Yep, and now i have a tm503 and bits on the way, even shipping cost from america to australia cant stop some addictions,

[xrunner]

Of course, all the test instrumentation we used had to have gone to the cal lab. It was your responsibility as the test engineer, to make sure that the units were in cal or all the data you took would be invalid. Once a year was common. And, we know that to prove it was in cal it had to have that cal sticker. Now, a lot of bigger equipment has plenty of room on the front for a small sticker (it had to be visible on the front was the rule).

But, as I remember those little Tek TM plug-ins were so small - there was really no room for a sticker on the front. Yet, the cal lab put that damn sticker on the front come hell or high water. And it would sometimes be a real nuisance because it would inevitable cover up some of the important setting information for some switch or other information. That used to really annoy me. 

I also remember that, as a lot of labs may have, we had some really good test equipment and some that was - um, not so good, or not as new. You always wanted that new cool stuff when you went to get your test equipment for a test. Let the other poor schmuck get the old junk.  So it was always a bummer when the good HP 8566 Spectrum analyzer was in cal. Then you had to settle for the previous model. Same for other items - you know.  So sometimes in order to get the thing you wanted, you might devise a reason to do some work with the piece of gear you were going to need in a week or so, so nobody could come by and grab it.  Sneaky ...

[AF6LJ]

And everyone should have a Tek-475.

You misspelled 485 

I'll be selling my 475+DM44 at the end of the month, I hope.

I am sorry for the misspelling....

Enjoy that Four-Eighty-Five

[Cubdriver]

@mtdoc, that's some impressive restraint you're exhibiting. I guess it's a good thing you weren't alone.

It sounds like Ryan should just load up a truck full of gear and head down the coast, selling off test and ham equipment along the way. The TEA Tour West, 2017.

Not down the coast - east, damnit, EAST!!!

-Pat

[Cubdriver]

I'm brainstorming a little (yea I know most people think my brain is a storm anyway). What to get next?

I'm thinking something along the lines of the Tek TM500 Series plug-ins. In the lab I worked in, we had those all over the place. We had the two different types of DMMs, the pulse generator, the scope, the dual PS, frequency counter, among others. I remember using the GPIB from a PC - I think it was running a Pentium - to get data back from the DM5010 DMM. Ah the good old days. There's still lots of them available on Ebay. I even saw some new old stock TM503 mainframes.

I think that sounds like a really neat idea don't you. 

(yea I know - that's like asking a heroin addict if he wants another hit)

Yeah, I started down that rabbit warren a few years ago too.  Thus far I haven't ventured in deeply enough to get lost - have only bought a decent sized lot of plug ins in varying states of repair on the bay last year; they're in the 3 and 4 bay racks, and an SG 505 and AA501.  Most of what's in the 6 slot one under the bench is at least superficially functional.  Still need to get manuals for most of them to dig in further.





This could easily become as bad as the HP equipment.  Crack for geeks.  For starting me on these I Blame El Paso Tube Amps youtube channel - his vids showing the AA501 and SG505 (in concert with a forlorn looking empty TM506 that I'd gotten from an estate) prompted my first 'hits' of Tek plug in.  (we need a smiley of a bong or crack pipe with a smoking oscilloscope in it for this thread!)

-Pat

[BravoV]

Really, just can't beat the "TON", totally surrendered and beaten when got an offer at $130 for these two boxes of genuine Hakko articles, yep, not a typo, that price for two items.

More of unboxing and inspection details at both items -> Hakko 474 & 850 Inspections

TON = T-emptations O-f N-OS or N-IB
TON sounds better rather than TONOS or TONIB.

[xrunner]

Really, just can't beat the "TON", totally surrendered and beaten when got an offer at $130 for these two boxes of genuine Hakko articles, yep, not a typo, that price for two items.

Two big boxes for $130. To quote Darth Vader "Impressive - most impressive"

[xrunner]

we need a smiley of a bong or crack pipe with a smoking oscilloscope in it for this thread!

Hey man I just scored a DMM off Ebay!

Wonder if we can get Dave to add it? 

[bitseeker]

Really, just can't beat the "TON", totally surrendered and beaten when got an offer at $130 for these two boxes of genuine Hakko articles, yep, not a typo, that price for two items.

Yeah, saw that in the other thread. Nice score(s)!

Added "TON".

[mmagin]

In strange obsessions:
I'm not sure why I'm so prepared for measuring things in the gigaohms and beyond, but I sure am.  Now that I fixed up my GR 1862-B, I have 3 different instruments to do it, not counting more improvised tricks (like high voltage DC supply, plus 10 meg input DMM and unknown resistance as a divider).

[AF6LJ]

Ah why not we all know Resistance is futile.

[AF6LJ]

Another acronym for the list.

WWBADD?
(What Would Bill And Dave Do)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hewlett-Packard

[TiN]

Time to add one more: CCC or 3C for short. I definately has it, as Calibrator Components Collector.

Two more dead pieces from Fluke calibrator arrived today, and few more are in shipping. Yes, I don't have Fluke calibrator, but at least I can start building one from dead boards  .

[bitseeker]

Another acronym for the list.

WWBADD?
(What Would Bill And Dave Do)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hewlett-Packard

Design and build 'em!

Time to add one more: CCC or 3C for short. I definately has it, as Calibrator Components Collector.

Ah, yes, that sounds like you, TiN.

[TheSteve]

My 10 MHz ref distribution amp got its own shelf above my bench and a buddy donated 40+ pounds in RG142 BNC patch cables - so I'm definitely in the club.

[xrunner]

Hey bitseeker - Not sure If I've seen pics of your bench or gear. Do you have any you can post, I'd love to see what you have there. 

[frozenfrogz]

HELP!
It was too good of a deal - I could not resist.
Fluke 8060A about to touch down any time...

Looking at the scores, I need to regain focus ASAP.

Rigol DS1054Z
Hp 16c
Uni-T UT139C
Fluke 8020B
Fluke TL-71
Voltcraft 6010

Just to name what came in through the door in 2017 apart from "consumables" (circuitry, cables, components). Oh my...

[bitseeker]

Hey bitseeker - Not sure If I've seen pics of your bench or gear. Do you have any you can post, I'd love to see what you have there. 

Yeah, I haven't posted any yet. Got some new mats and everything is everywhere in order to install them and some new shelving behind the main work area. But, I've been interrupted by the annual tax preparation song-and-dance. Then, I'll continue with the bench remodel and get some pics of the results. Stay tuned.

[bitseeker]

HELP!
It was too good of a deal - I could not resist.

Yep, just when you thought you were just going to have fun with Arduino and Raspberry Pi, then the test equipment starts to show up.

It's all good. Nice scores you've got there.

[AF6LJ]

Hey bitseeker - Not sure If I've seen pics of your bench or gear. Do you have any you can post, I'd love to see what you have there. 

Yeah, I haven't posted any yet. Got some new mats and everything is everywhere in order to install them and some new shelving behind the main work area. But, I've been interrupted by the annual tax preparation song-and-dance. Then, I'll continue with the bench remodel and get some pics of the results. Stay tuned.

Don't ya hate it when life interferes with what we would really rather be doing.....
 

[rrinker]

Ah why not we all know Resistance is futile.

 No it's not, you just need enough 4-wire multimeters to measure it correctly. 

[AF6LJ]

Ah why not we all know Resistance is futile.

 No it's not, you just need enough 4-wire multimeters to measure it correctly. 

That's Cute.

[xrunner]

But, I've been interrupted by the annual tax preparation song-and-dance.

So you are a bitseeker and so is the IRS  (I think two bits =25 cents). Hopefully they will return bits to you and not vice-versa.

I'm trying a new drug called Tektronix Tm500. I've been told it's addictive but I think I can handle it (I know that's what everyone says - just let me try it one time).

But it's on it's way ... we'll see how addictive it really is. 

[bitseeker]

Don't ya hate it when life interferes with what we would really rather be doing.....
 

I know, right? I need to retire so I can get some stuff done. Seriously.

So you are a bitseeker and so is the IRS  (I think two bits =25 cents). Hopefully they will return bits to you and not vice-versa.

Yes, two bits is a quarter. Interesting that a bit is both 1/8 of a dollar and 1/8 of a byte. Back in the late 60's, the price of computer memory was approximately a buck a byte^{1 2} (or bit for bit, I suppose).

I'm trying a new drug called Tektronix Tm500. I've been told it's addictive but I think I can handle it (I know that's what everyone says - just let me try it one time).

But it's on it's way ... we'll see how addictive it really is. 

Careful. I don't think there's an antidote, inoculation, or any other protection for that. You're on your own. But do share your experiences with the group.

[Cubdriver]

I'm trying a new drug called Tektronix Tm500. I've been told it's addictive but I think I can handle it (I know that's what everyone says - just let me try it one time).

But it's on it's way ... we'll see how addictive it really is. 

Stick a fork in him...  He's done.   

-Pat