Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[iainwhite]

Congrats on the 3468  xrunner 
Have you done any testing or calibration on your Instek bench meter?  I bought one recently too.

[xrunner]

Congrats on the 3468  xrunner 

Thanks. It's super-clean and works great. I just finished opening it up to remove the bad lead acid battery (not to be replaced). The chips have a date code of 1984 and it looks like it just came off the assembly line inside. Not a speck of dust to be found. I do plan on replacing the 3V lithium battery though (on order).

Have you done any testing or calibration on your Instek bench meter?  I bought one recently too.

Yep, it seems to work just fine. I did a firmware upgrade and that also went well. I like the bright blue display too.

Now what's next ... off to Ebay! 

[testmode]

Got my replacement U1282A from Keysight this week!    The wife saw me receiving the package at the door then came the look and I quickly took the chance to say: "See, had you not given me the chance to get the U1272A last time, I wouldn't have gotten this nice meter for FREE!"     All is good after then.

Tried to check it side-by-side with my other meters:



Hmmmm...they couldn't seem to agree on the readings...it wouldn't hurt to get another one to confirm, right?    Besides, this pic made me realize I don't have a compact DMM yet.  I think either a Brymen BM235 or BM257S would fit the bill and at least one less digit to worry about matching.  Plus, it will either come in blue or red, which are colors that I don't have yet as well.  How many reasons does one need again to justify getting another DMM?

[xrunner]

The wife saw me receiving the package at the door then came the look and I quickly took the chance to say: "See, had you not given me the chance to get the U1272A last time, I wouldn't have gotten this nice meter for FREE!"     All is good after then.

Good deal on the wife's response. Use every rationalization you can think of.

Hmmmm...they couldn't seem to agree on the readings...it wouldn't hurt to get another one to confirm, right?

RIGHT!

[bingo600]

I haven't been a Time-Nut long enough for the infection to reach that level.  I'd also have to move to a bigger place! 

@ed
Don't you have a CS ?
Then you need a HM to cal the CS 
Luckily i only have a RB  and just need a CS 

/Bingo

[artag]

Plus, it will either come in blue or red, which are colors that I don't have yet as well.  How many reasons does one need again to justify getting another DMM?

Blue, RED ? What is this heresy ?
DMMs are grey or yellow.

That is all.

[testmode]

Plus, it will either come in blue or red, which are colors that I don't have yet as well.  How many reasons does one need again to justify getting another DMM?

Blue, RED ? What is this heresy ?
DMMs are grey or yellow.

If you think blue or red is heresy (BTW, don't let Dave catch you saying that, oops ), you ought to call the cops on THIS:

Not seen a purple.

Here you go:

[xrunner]

What's wrong with a clear case? 

[testmode]

What's wrong with a clear case? 

Exactly! Blue + clear case....I can imagine visualizing electrons getting in-and-out of the jacks and running thru the innards of the meter when measuring current...you're welcome:

[Berni]

Got my replacement U1282A from Keysight this week!    The wife saw me receiving the package at the door then came the look and I quickly took the chance to say: "See, had you not given me the chance to get the U1272A last time, I wouldn't have gotten this nice meter for FREE!"     All is good after then.

Tried to check it side-by-side with my other meters:


Hmmmm...they couldn't seem to agree on the readings...it wouldn't hurt to get another one to confirm, right?    Besides, this pic made me realize I don't have a compact DMM yet.  I think either a Brymen BM235 or BM257S would fit the bill and at least one less digit to worry about matching.  Plus, it will either come in blue or red, which are colors that I don't have yet as well.  How many reasons does one need again to justify getting another DMM?

You need to teach those multimeters some manners. Like so:

[VK5RC]

@artag while Fluke make some very nice meters,  I certainly wouldn't want to restrict myself,  Green = Metrahit,  Orange = Agilent
Blue = Dave's nice compact and very well priced unit.  The clear unit I have is a Mooshimeter -  rather different.
I refuse to buy the purple unit!
Don't have a plain Brymen yet but...

[SingedFingers]

Don't forget the old light grey Flukes!

Picked this up the other week for virtually nothing. Not quite as sexy as even a mid range keithley or keysight unit but this hasn't been out of my hands since I got it. Calibration spot on, just need a new mA range fuse (someone numptied it).

[xrunner]

Don't forget the old light grey Flukes!

Oh yea! Used to have one at work. 

[edpalmer42]

I haven't been a Time-Nut long enough for the infection to reach that level.  I'd also have to move to a bigger place! 

@ed
Don't you have a CS ?
Then you need a HM to cal the CS 

/Bingo

I hate you!   

 

[rrinker]

 I have one of those in both handheld (8060A) and benchtop (8012A) models. However, when it comes to quantity of test equipment, I am a rank amateur.

[artag]

@artag while Fluke make some very nice meters,  I certainly wouldn't want to restrict myself,  Green = Metrahit,  Orange = Agilent
Blue = Dave's nice compact and very well priced unit.  The clear unit I have is a Mooshimeter -  rather different.
I refuse to buy the purple unit!
Don't have a plain Brymen yet but...

I do have the mooshimeter. But while I often like see-through things, I'm afraid I wish that was in rubberised yellow too. It's fairly tough, but it just doesn't look it! Agilents .. well, when HP first brought out an LCD handheld, it just looked like an off-brand copy of a fluke with an unaccountably small range switch. Their cool handhelds were the 970A and the Logic Dart.

I have a hankering for one of these though. http://www.machine--tools.com/By-Location-/Minnesota-/Tek-tektronix-222PS-portable-10MHZ-oscilloscope-img.jpg

[tggzzz]

Phew. I don't have a real problem after all. From the TekScopes forum...

I read, with interest, the current string regarding selling Tek products
on this forum. I have debated doing this for months and I have now
decided it is time to act. I am 82, retired, and I realize that I no
longer have the time, energy nor desire to refurbish all these scopes
so, I am offering them for sale.

I have 196 scopes in my garage. The inventory is as follows:

...

I also have 53 of the 485 models. These are my favorite scopes and I
might be persuaded to part with some of these.

...

IMNSHO he has good taste w.r.t. his favourite scope.

But what's this going to do to the prices of classic Tek scopes?

[SingedFingers]

Wow. That's impressive. I'm currently discussing with (grinding down) SWMBO about getting a third one...

[VK5RC]

Wow, 53 of the ONE type of scope!!!!  Aren't they about 10 or so kg each - that is about half a metric ton of one type of scope!
I really am not in that league.
Would like a caesium standard but not the price - ouch.

[noidea]

Hmmmm...they couldn't seem to agree on the readings...it wouldn't hurt to get another one to confirm, right?    Besides, this pic made me realize I don't have a compact DMM yet.  I think either a Brymen BM235 or BM257S would fit the bill and at least one less digit to worry about matching.  Plus, it will either come in blue or red, which are colors that I don't have yet as well.  How many reasons does one need again to justify getting another DMM?

If that's the case then maybe you need to cover the whole come spectrum

Wattmaster in Australia have the BM257 (non S) in lime green

[tggzzz]

Wow, 53 of the ONE type of scope!!!! 

also 70 465/465B and 75 474/475A, included in the 196

If they flood onto the market then either prices will drop, or more newbies won't have to spend too much on a Rigol, or both.

[tggzzz]

Wow. That's impressive. I'm currently discussing with (grinding down) SWMBO about getting a third one...

Quote the price you are paying in "shoe equivalents", and ask her whether she needs 3 pairs

Anyway, you have to get a third before you can get a fourth.

[SingedFingers]

Unfortunately that's no bargaining chip. She only has one pair and those she got for £20 in a sale. She's untouchable on that front. I have tried and failed many times.

I think it might just appear suddenly. Better to ask for forgiveness than permission

[madires]

When shoes don't work you could try handbags

[SingedFingers]

Again untouchable on that front. She uses my Karrimor rucksack...