Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[neo]

Were there any 6.5 digit nixie tube multimeters? As Pat is a nixie addict i should think someone should know?

[HalFET]

No idea, didn't 6.5 only become possible due to stable semiconductor references? I suppose you could use a weston cell in the thing. 

Depending on how well things go in the lab today i might do a teardown of the broken wayne kerr 6425. 

[Specmaster]

Well, I've just had a spot of TEA to soothe my aggravation over the lost Fluke a little bit.  Grabbed a set of 8 'new' style HP feet for $8 shipped, and another 6289A power supply that needs a bit of TLC (and a power switch) for $30.15.   

Now, hopefully my mentioning them hasn't jinxed the transactions.   

-Pat

Haha, those new feet hopefully won't run away [emoji23]

Sent from my SM-J510FN using Tapatalk

[Cubdriver]

Were there any 6.5 digit nixie tube multimeters? As Pat is a nixie addict i should think someone should know?

The HP 3450A & B are listed as 5 digit, but I think would be considered 5-1/2 digit.

(A problem child that has been moved back into the queue by other projects.  I'll get back to battling with it eventually...)

The HP 2401C is a six digit meter, as is the 2402A

(This one is still in the queue to be wrung out and tested, and that mismatched sample rate knob has to go.  I don't have a photo of the 2402A)

The HP 3460A & B are 5-1/2 digit.  The HP H04-3460A is a 6-1/2 digit meter.  I've been looking for one for a few years now; I get the feeling that they're about as common as hen's teeth.

(This needs to go on the Fluke calibrator to check its accuracy.)

The 3462A is also a 6-1/2 digit meter; that's another one I've been searching for for a few years now.

Lacking a set of Fluke or Dana Instruments catalogs, I don't know if they have any that qualify.

-Pat

[Cubdriver]

Well, I've just had a spot of TEA to soothe my aggravation over the lost Fluke a little bit.  Grabbed a set of 8 'new' style HP feet for $8 shipped, and another 6289A power supply that needs a bit of TLC (and a power switch) for $30.15.   

Now, hopefully my mentioning them hasn't jinxed the transactions.   

-Pat

Haha, those new feet hopefully won't run away [emoji23]

Sent from my SM-J510FN using Tapatalk

<fingers crossed!>

-Pat

[Specmaster]

Were there any 6.5 digit nixie tube multimeters? As Pat is a nixie addict i should think someone should know?

The HP 3450A & B are listed as 5 digit, but I think would be considered 5-1/2 digit.

(A problem child that has been moved back into the queue by other projects.  I'll get back to battling with it eventually...)

The HP 2401C is a six digit meter, as is the 2402A

(This one is still in the queue to be wrung out and tested, and that mismatched sample rate knob has to go.  I don't have a photo of the 2402A)

The HP 3460A & B are 5-1/2 digit.  The HP H04-3460A is a 6-1/2 digit meter.  I've been looking for one for a few years now; I get the feeling that they're about as common as hen's teeth.

(This needs to go on the Fluke calibrator to check its accuracy.)

The 3462A is also a 6-1/2 digit meter; that's another one I've been searching for for a few years now.

Lacking a set of Fluke or Dana Instruments catalogs, I don't know if they have any that qualify.

-Pat

I think the Fluke 8400A is in fact a 5.5 digit meter, not the 6.5 I've seen it referred to.

Sent from my SM-J510FN using Tapatalk

[Cubdriver]

I think the Fluke 8400A is in fact a 5.5 digit meter, not the 6.5 I've seen it referred to.

Sent from my SM-J510FN using Tapatalk

Based on the images I've seen online, I believe you are correct.  I've only ever seen 5-1/2 digits lit, but there don't seem to be too many photos of them lit up online, so that's all I have to go on right now.  There's a manual coming for the one I'm not getting; I'll look up specs when it arrives if no one else does in the meantime.

-Pat

[Specmaster]

I think the Fluke 8400A is in fact a 5.5 digit meter, not the 6.5 I've seen it referred to.

Sent from my SM-J510FN using Tapatalk

Based on the images I've seen online, I believe you are correct.  I've only ever seen 5-1/2 digits lit, but there don't seem to be too many photos of them lit up online, so that's all I have to go on right now.  There's a manual coming for the one I'm not getting; I'll look up specs when it arrives if no one else does in the meantime.

-Pat

Its described as having 5 full decades of digits plus a sixth digit for 20% overloads, so yes it is therefore a 5-1/2 digit display.

[Ero-Shan]

The last 2 weeks saw a few latecomers appear ...

A Burster Digistant Typ 6705 should be on this picture here, too, but it was too camera shy. Just hope I get this embedding right first time (probably not).


The HP34401 shown is here already repaired and cleaned.

[Edit: inserted the correct link]

[xrunner]

That's a decent pile of kit. 

[Specmaster]

Wow, decade boxes as well and I see yet another Philips PM2521 meter, those are really accurate meters let down by their poor construction and brittle plastics. If you want a new home for one of them. I'm here willing to offer my services...

[Ero-Shan]

As I mentioned before, it's not just the test equipment. There's also considerable by-catch, some of which I'd like to present here.

Binding posts, banana plugs, Kleps:


GPIB cables and oscilloscope probes:


Mains filters, resistors (10 M to 470 M ), LEDs for front panels, and a few of the ubiquitous 1N4148 (the whole reel with 10000 parts was just too much):


Some magazines:


And a range of SMD resistors:


These are just examples, there's more (capacitors, fuses, screws, drills, ...).
I guess It'll take me months to sort this all out. If ever!

I guess I need to get this TEA (and Electronic Components Collectoritis) under control, lest I get buried under all that stuff. 

[Specmaster]

Wowsers, that really is some side catch, a lifetime supply of banana plugs and jacks alone there, got job you was there to rescue that gear, it would have been criminal to have let that go to landfill. 

[bd139]

That's a pretty decent haul!

[Ero-Shan]

Wow, decade boxes as well and I see yet another Philips PM2521 meter, those are really accurate meters let down by their poor construction and brittle plastics. If you want a new home for one of them. I'm here willing to offer my services...

The rotary switch on this one actually still clicks.
I think the PM2521 likes it in my cozy lab and doesn't want to move to an island.  Haven't even checked whether it's working. In fact, most of the equipment collected in the last two months isn't checked yet.

[Ero-Shan]

Wowsers, that really is some side catch, a lifetime supply of banana plugs and jacks alone there, got job you was there to rescue that gear, it would have been criminal to have let that go to landfill.

Yes, I do not intend to ever buy banana plugs and jacks (even before this, I had a decent assortment).

But I am guilty of allowing quite a lot to go the landfill. At one point I just gave up. For one, I do feel somewhat guilty of getting all this (only one of my colleagues also grabbed a considerable amount, and my boss another PM2521; I also donated a considerable amount to the kitty). Second, I don't like pestering them to drive me home with a car full of junk (that's how they see it - otherwise they'd taken some themselves) too often. And a last bit of sanity cropped up: Do I really want another 2 PSU, or a Kontron 248 logic analyzer (CP/M, 5 1/4 in floppies) that I'd surely never use, or a Kontron PLA2 logic analyzer (MS DOS, HDD and 3 1/2 in floppies), or half a dozen more variacs, or several more Knick precision voltage sources, or ...? Especially, when the flat is already filled to the brim?

I'd rather have some instruments I don't own yet. 

[Ero-Shan]

The second haul included my first foray into Nixieland: A Solartron A 200 Digital Voltmeter.

What a wonderful warm glow. If only it worked. This is all I get:


Well, not exactly. It may start at -14.002 and very slowly count down (erm, up) to -14.000. But the WAIT annunciator never gets canceled, and there's absolutely no reaction to anything but switching it off. And I am totally unable to find a manual ... What a pity!

[khs]

The second haul included my first foray into Nixieland: A Solartron A 200 Digital Voltmeter.

What a wonderful warm glow. If only it worked. This is all I get:


Well, not exactly. It may start at -14.002 and very slowly count down (erm, up) to -14.000. But the WAIT annunciator never gets canceled, and there's absolutely no reaction to anything but switching it off. And I am totally unable to find a manual ... What a pity!

Nice instrument 

You may take a look at

http://bama.edebris.com/manuals/solartron/7055

The 7055 little bit newer, but regarding the design maybe similar.
Maybe I'm wrong, maybe it helps 

[tggzzz]

Spotted a lot of Datron 1061s on the fleaBay: https://www.benl.ebay.be/itm/Datron-1061-multimeter-0-1000V-options-10-20-30-40-50/112652845896

Please buy them before I do 

No doubt you will be pleased to know that half a dozen 1061As have just sold for £115+VAT. You would have had to arrange shipping yourself.

[Specmaster]

I put an offer in slightly short of that figure and it was declined. Don't really want another thumping great big monster on my bench but all of those LED's lured me in 

[neo]

I think the Fluke 8400A is in fact a 5.5 digit meter, not the 6.5 I've seen it referred to.

Sent from my SM-J510FN using Tapatalk

Based on the images I've seen online, I believe you are correct.  I've only ever seen 5-1/2 digits lit, but there don't seem to be too many photos of them lit up online, so that's all I have to go on right now.  There's a manual coming for the one I'm not getting; I'll look up specs when it arrives if no one else does in the meantime.

-Pat

I said it was 6.5 my mistake due to lack of pictures and information, i later corrected myself.

It only have a three year run.

[Specmaster]

I think the Fluke 8400A is in fact a 5.5 digit meter, not the 6.5 I've seen it referred to.

Sent from my SM-J510FN using Tapatalk

Based on the images I've seen online, I believe you are correct.  I've only ever seen 5-1/2 digits lit, but there don't seem to be too many photos of them lit up online, so that's all I have to go on right now.  There's a manual coming for the one I'm not getting; I'll look up specs when it arrives if no one else does in the meantime.

-Pat

I said it was 6.5 my mistake due to lack of pictures and information, i later corrected myself.

It only have a three year run.

Neo, I was not referring to you, I've seen it mentioned elsewhere like Ebay.

Did it only have a 3 year production run, no wonder manuals are rarer then hens teeth 

[neo]

Yes, only 3 years 1971, '72, and '73 i believe thats when he 8500A was put on the line was when this was taken off.

[nctnico]

Wish I had the space for something like that Harrison

When a mate put me onto the Harrison at his work I shot in and sussed it out, took some pics and home again to research it on Tony's great lathe site.
http://www.lathes.co.uk/harrison/page16.html
That's when I had to have it as it was optioned unlike any similar model I could find online. I even emailed Tony with some pics and he'd not seen one like it.   

AFAICT it has all options and some even not mentioned online, see if you can spot all the options. I'll come back in a couple days and % mark your efforts. 

That picture brings back some memories. My uncle has a Harrison lathe as well (it may even be the '12' because yours looks identical) and I learned how to use a lathe on it. After 4 decades it still works well and IMHO better than the cheap Chinese lathes. Do you also have the option to change bits quickly?

There were metric and imperial versions 155, 165 and this 12, maybe more. Probably in your part of the world he had a metric one, no ?
I don't have a quick change toolpost only a 4" 4 sider that I usually have 2 tools in. The factory 3" one was a bit small so I swapped it out for a 4" that I had. An adjustable quick change would be a great upgrade as once setup you don't have to shim every tool to centre height and it really matters to get it right, especially for carbide.

My uncle's lathe is a metric one but the only difference is in the dials. The quick change tool holder was a must have option for him when my uncle bought it new (with a discount). It makes it much easier to work with a lathe so it is worthwhile to hunt one down. Actually I was kinda surprised it wasn't standard when (later on) I had to use a lathe in school and there where shims under the tool to adjust the height.

[tautech]

That picture brings back some memories. My uncle has a Harrison lathe as well (it may even be the '12' because yours looks identical) and I learned how to use a lathe on it. After 4 decades it still works well and IMHO better than the cheap Chinese lathes. Do you also have the option to change bits quickly?

There were metric and imperial versions 155, 165 and this 12, maybe more. Probably in your part of the world he had a metric one, no ?
I don't have a quick change toolpost only a 4" 4 sider that I usually have 2 tools in. The factory 3" one was a bit small so I swapped it out for a 4" that I had. An adjustable quick change would be a great upgrade as once setup you don't have to shim every tool to centre height and it really matters to get it right, especially for carbide.

My uncle's lathe is a metric one but the only difference is in the dials.

It won't be, if it's a 155 or 165 it's likely to have a 6mm pitch leadscrew. The imperial models had 1/4" so without the quick change Metric/Imperial changeover lever like mine you have to acquire a selection of gears to allow a full range of pitches. Even with the option I have it won't do them all, IIRC I miss some obscure pitches 19 and 27 or something like that.

The quick change tool holder was a must have option for him when my uncle bought it new (with a discount). It makes it much easier to work with a lathe so it is worthwhile to hunt one down. Actually I was kinda surprised it wasn't standard when (later on) I had to use a lathe in school and there where shims under the tool to adjust the height.

I don't recall seeing a quick change toolpost in the Harrison option listing so maybe it was from another manufacturer. Back in the late 60's and early 70's when these were made a QC toolpost would've been a real luxury and probably lots more expensive than today. Not sure I'll ever get one as I use lots of HSS so you're grinding them up a bit and tool centre heights can be set by just sliding the tool steel in or out of the holder. Easy.