Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[xrunner]

Stick a fork in him...  He's done.   

Hey man - like, I saw your stash on the previous page. I mean, if I get hooked, really hooked, on this what they call TM500, and can't get any from my supplier, are you gonna be able to fix me up? I mean I'll pay the price, whatever it takes.

[mtdoc]

Stick a fork in him...  He's done.   

Clearly he's gone MAD. He's a victim of Module Acquisition Disorder

Ask me how I know. 

[Cubdriver]

   Doc, I did a double take on that pic, as the one I'd posted earlier in the thread showed some of mine stacked on my Model 3 Lab Cart, too.

-Pat

[Cubdriver]

Stick a fork in him...  He's done.   

Hey man - like, I saw your stash on the previous page. I mean, if I get hooked, really hooked, on this what they call TM500, and can't get any from my supplier, are you gonna be able to fix me up? I mean I'll pay the price, whatever it takes.

    Luckily the DEA doesn't regulate this stuff (yet!), so it should be fairly readily available.  If you really want the good stuff, though, look for the TM5000 series.     (I don't have any of that.)   (...yet...)

My understanding is that the 5000 series mainframes are backwards compatible with the 500 series plug ins, but the 5000 plug ins will not work in the 500 mainframes.

-Pat

[German_EE]

Sorry, but I've been bad. I went to a ham radio event over the weekend and purchased an audio voltmeter for the princely sum of 20 Euro. I don't NEED an audio voltmeter and the damn thing was built in 1961 two years after I was born, but that mirrored scale looked so nice as it sat there.

I also have sixteen thumbwheel switches to make resistor and capacitor substitution boxes so by the time I have finished three new pieces of test equipment will have been added to the pile.

[Rerouter]

If you really want the good stuff, though, look for the TM5000 series.

Funnily enough some 5000 series stuff looks cheaper than the 500 series stuff,

e.g. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tektronix-DM5010-Programmable-Digital-Multimeter-/252785742945?hash=item3adb345461:g:YM4AAOSwfVpYsHNL

(Carrot dangled, let the test of will power commence)

[xrunner]

Funnily enough some 5000 series stuff looks cheaper than the 500 series stuff,

e.g. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tektronix-DM5010-Programmable-Digital-Multimeter-/252785742945?hash=item3adb345461:g:YM4AAOSwfVpYsHNL

(Carrot dangled, let the test of will power commence)

Why are you doing that to me? 

[bitseeker]

I went to a ham radio event over the weekend and purchased an audio voltmeter for the princely sum of 20 Euro. I don't NEED an audio voltmeter and the damn thing was built in 1961 two years after I was born, but that mirrored scale looked so nice as it sat there.

Oh, no. You know you're in trouble when cool gear is priced in the spontaneous purchase range.

[bitseeker]

Funnily enough some 5000 series stuff looks cheaper than the 500 series stuff,

(Carrot dangled, let the test of will power commence)

Why are you doing that to me? 

He's just helping you run your test.

[mtdoc]

Warning to those afflicted with MAD -  Do not visit this site!   

[bitseeker]

He says while providing the direct, clickable link.

Bookmarked. 

[xrunner]

He's just helping you run your test.

I don't need any more help! 

Warning to those afflicted with MAD -  Do not visit this site!   

I saw that site earlier this week, it's what finally put me over the edge. Now my mind is corrupted - I can't ever forget what I saw there. All those modules out there with no real home ... 

My first TM500 hit is on the way now, but in the meantime I'm making up some nice test leads with small grabbers. I'm tired of buying crappy leads. I got some really nice 26 AWG silicone insulated wire from Adafruit. I've had these parts for over 6 months so I figured now is the time for action. 

[iainwhite]

what brand are the box of grabbers?   Pomona?

[xrunner]

what brand are the box of grabbers?   Pomona?

No brand - it's just a set off Ebay. But they seem to be of decent quality. You can buy sets already made but the wire isn't as nice as what I'm using.

[iainwhite]

Thanks, I may try the same idea.

[BravoV]

Just graduated the "TEST" test. 

Don't you hate it that the eBay seller easily gave up instantly at your offering ? While the offer was made half heartily as thinking its worth the shot.

112326252402 , seller took it at $30 and the s/h cost is $40. 

Already own the A version, now its B one.

[Housedad]

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

No such luck.  That is when everyone figures you have plenty of time to do their chores now.

[mmagin]

Finally I got a capacitor leakage tester, err, Keithley 237 at a reasonable price. 

Having replaced the broken fan, I find this is totally useful.
Just the other day I tested the reverse leakage of a 1N4007 at the rated voltage!  If I recall it was about 50 nA at room temperature, which is about 100x better than spec.
(Mostly because the ones I found in a drawer were of unknown provenance and I wanted to know if they were trustworthy.)

[bitseeker]

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

No such luck.  That is when everyone figures you have plenty of time to do their chores now.

LOL! Sigh.

[xrunner]

My crack shipment arrived today - TM 504 w/ PS503A and DM501A. One of the best packed Ebay shipments I've ever received. 

More to follow ...

[bitseeker]

Looking forward to them, xrunner, including how you end up rationalizing justifying using enjoying them.

[xrunner]

Looking forward to them, xrunner, including how you end up rationalizing justifying using enjoying them.

To redo a biker slogan -

"Live to Rationalize - Rationalize to Live"

Did a little work on the DMM. Shot some of the switches with Deoxit. Already working much better. Will continue tomorrow. Need to get ready to watch a Texas Rangers game and have an adult beverage.

[Cubdriver]

Looking forward to them, xrunner, including how you end up rationalizing justifying using enjoying them.

   As if any of us here would do ANY of those crossed out things!  (well, we sometimes do that third one...  )  We get this stuff because we NEED it.  End of story.   

-Pat

[Brumby]

We get this stuff because we NEED it.

(Definition of NEED is available on request ... if we feel like telling anyone who asks.)

[Rerouter]

Well its now clear i have gone MAD (Module Acquisition Disorder)

Funnily enough, i actually need such an obscene amount of frequency sources for my current project,

The DM502A, i don't actually know how to use yet,
and the DM501 with Temp up top has a damaged U330 (Display Driver), which is something that is nagging the back of my mind to cook up a replacement for.