Author Topic: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread  (Read 18797344 times)

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Offline TheUnnamedNewbie

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6025 on: January 07, 2018, 01:23:26 pm »
Not strictly test gear, but always loved those Hirschman style grabber probes. But at 16 EUR/pair I always found them a bit expensive, but found them a lot cheaper on Aliexpress  :popcorn:  https://www.aliexpress.com/item/P5004-2PCS-Professional-full-insulation-fast-test-clamp-test-hook-flexible-probe-high-voltage-differential-test/32661571930.html Instantly used them on arrival to recharge a LiPo battery in-situ without having to fiddle with crocodile clips :D

I've always found those a bit bulky... I prefer the one-size-down ones, but they only take 1.25mm headers, and cost about just as much. Are the aliexpress ones any good? Might have to get me some...
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Offline HalFET

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6026 on: January 07, 2018, 03:59:16 pm »
Not strictly test gear, but always loved those Hirschman style grabber probes. But at 16 EUR/pair I always found them a bit expensive, but found them a lot cheaper on Aliexpress  :popcorn:  https://www.aliexpress.com/item/P5004-2PCS-Professional-full-insulation-fast-test-clamp-test-hook-flexible-probe-high-voltage-differential-test/32661571930.html Instantly used them on arrival to recharge a LiPo battery in-situ without having to fiddle with crocodile clips :D
You mean these?

https://eleshop.eu/sks-kontakt-kleps-30-red.html

That's suspiciously cheap I must say... Never seen them for that price per piece before.

Not strictly test gear, but always loved those Hirschman style grabber probes. But at 16 EUR/pair I always found them a bit expensive, but found them a lot cheaper on Aliexpress  :popcorn:  https://www.aliexpress.com/item/P5004-2PCS-Professional-full-insulation-fast-test-clamp-test-hook-flexible-probe-high-voltage-differential-test/32661571930.html Instantly used them on arrival to recharge a LiPo battery in-situ without having to fiddle with crocodile clips :D

I've always found those a bit bulky... I prefer the one-size-down ones, but they only take 1.25mm headers, and cost about just as much. Are the aliexpress ones any good? Might have to get me some...

Yeah, they seem ok as far as quality goes.
 

Offline bd139

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6027 on: January 07, 2018, 04:04:26 pm »
I was going to carry out a little experiment trying to convert my old 936D clone which has 907 handle, to a T12 based system without the clever bits like the menu system or the vibration switch being used as the clone never had the facilities to support them anyway. I already have the tips just need the holder and for £1.49 from AliExpress I can get one of these converters for a 907 to T12.

Not that I need another T12 system but because it struck me that if you can have mains operated T12 systems really cheaply (without any temp control I think) and given that the OLED ones use 24V for the heating and thermocouple for the feedback and regulation, which is the same in my cloned 936D that it too should be capable of driving a T12 tip satisfactorily with less bells and whistles.

Then I remembered that the T12 system uses a clever program to read the thermocouple during the off cycles of the heating as the thermocouple is embedded within the tip and uses the same 2 wires, whereas the clone actually has 2 separate circuits for thermocouple and heating.

Back to the drawing board or is there a another cheap way of doing it??




Interesting. I’ve got a 937 somewhere. Might be a project as well :)

Still waiting for mine.
 

Offline mnementh

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6028 on: January 07, 2018, 05:46:24 pm »
Double side lock the door.
Drop sheets covering your 'special' gear from prying eyes.
Label some equipment 'borrowed' or 'under repair'.  >:D

If and 'when' ever found out, ask to examine shoe and handbag collections.  :horse:

Yeeeowch... now THAT kind of skulduggery would definitely contravene the Bicameral Disarmament Treaty of 2005 (Otherwise known as our Marriage Certificate ;) ) and would serve to seriously piss off my most favorite "enabler/supplier".  :-DD

That dilemma of "Do I want to be right, or do I want to be happy?" always lands on the "Happy" side for me/us. Nope... not worth it, at least for me.  :-- 

mnem
Science is not a liberal conspiracy.
You newlyweds.  ::)

I bet you've just started using an electric blanket instead of keeping each other warm.  :phew:

Stick another couple of decades of gear collection under your belt and come back to us and tell us how it's going then.  :P

We started out together with me bringing a truckload of electronics, test gear, automotive tools, torches and welding equipment/compressors. She knew what she was getting into.  :-DD

We've been together a lot longer than that; that's just when we decided to make it legal. And the best part is we're still head over tails in love, and that's worth keeping.

"Us" is more important than "me".


I was going to carry out a little experiment trying to convert my old 936D clone which has 907 handle, to a T12 based system without the clever bits like the menu system or the vibration switch being used as the clone never had the facilities to support them anyway. I already have the tips just need the holder and for £1.49 from AliExpress I can get one of these converters for a 907 to T12.

Not that I need another T12 system but because it struck me that if you can have mains operated T12 systems really cheaply (without any temp control I think) and given that the OLED ones use 24V for the heating and thermocouple for the feedback and regulation, which is the same in my cloned 936D that it too should be capable of driving a T12 tip satisfactorily with less bells and whistles.

Then I remembered that the T12 system uses a clever program to read the thermocouple during the off cycles of the heating as the thermocouple is embedded within the tip and uses the same 2 wires, whereas the clone actually has 2 separate circuits for thermocouple and heating.

Back to the drawing board or is there a another cheap way of doing it??




Interesting. I’ve got a 937 somewhere. Might be a project as well :)

Still waiting for mine.

The OLED T12 kit with acrylic bezel IS the cheap solution. Just put a power switch in the extra hole you don't need for the plug and Bob's your Auntie.

But don't waste your time with that POS PCB adapter & tube for the 907/936 handle; it literally isn't worth the buck & a half it costs. That's the setup that makes the balance all wrong. A lose-lose waste of time; I discovered that the hard way for myself.


Cheers!


mnem
*Currently nuking an iPod dock*
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Offline Specmaster

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6029 on: January 07, 2018, 05:56:35 pm »
Double side lock the door.
Drop sheets covering your 'special' gear from prying eyes.
Label some equipment 'borrowed' or 'under repair'.  >:D

If and 'when' ever found out, ask to examine shoe and handbag collections.  :horse:

Yeeeowch... now THAT kind of skulduggery would definitely contravene the Bicameral Disarmament Treaty of 2005 (Otherwise known as our Marriage Certificate ;) ) and would serve to seriously piss off my most favorite "enabler/supplier".  :-DD

That dilemma of "Do I want to be right, or do I want to be happy?" always lands on the "Happy" side for me/us. Nope... not worth it, at least for me.  :-- 

mnem
Science is not a liberal conspiracy.
You newlyweds.  ::)

I bet you've just started using an electric blanket instead of keeping each other warm.  :phew:

Stick another couple of decades of gear collection under your belt and come back to us and tell us how it's going then.  [emoji14]

We started out together with me bringing a truckload of electronics, test gear, automotive tools, torches and welding equipment/compressors. She knew what she was getting into.  :-DD

We've been together a lot longer than that; that's just when we decided to make it legal. And the best part is we're still head over tails in love, and that's worth keeping.

"Us" is more important than "me".


I was going to carry out a little experiment trying to convert my old 936D clone which has 907 handle, to a T12 based system without the clever bits like the menu system or the vibration switch being used as the clone never had the facilities to support them anyway. I already have the tips just need the holder and for £1.49 from AliExpress I can get one of these converters for a 907 to T12.

Not that I need another T12 system but because it struck me that if you can have mains operated T12 systems really cheaply (without any temp control I think) and given that the OLED ones use 24V for the heating and thermocouple for the feedback and regulation, which is the same in my cloned 936D that it too should be capable of driving a T12 tip satisfactorily with less bells and whistles.

Then I remembered that the T12 system uses a clever program to read the thermocouple during the off cycles of the heating as the thermocouple is embedded within the tip and uses the same 2 wires, whereas the clone actually has 2 separate circuits for thermocouple and heating.

Back to the drawing board or is there a another cheap way of doing it??




Interesting. I’ve got a 937 somewhere. Might be a project as well :)

Still waiting for mine.

The OLED T12 kit with acrylic bezel IS the cheap solution. Just put a power switch in the extra hole you don't need for the plug and Bob's your Auntie.

But don't waste your time with that POS PCB adapter & tube for the 907/936 handle; it literally isn't worth the buck & a half it costs. That's the setup that makes the balance all wrong. A lose-lose waste of time; I discovered that the hard way for myself.


Cheers!


mnem
*Currently nuking an iPod dock*
I've got that part and all the gubbins to build another soldering station in its entirety on its way to me now, the 936D was just a project to see if it was possible to use the base with T12 tips, nothing more or less than an idea at this stage.

As mentioned before I'm using the "blue" controller this time and hopefully this time next week I'll should have all parts and built it.
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Offline bd139

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6030 on: January 07, 2018, 06:06:04 pm »
Going to need SIA soon (soldering irons anonymous)  :-DD
 

Offline neo

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6031 on: January 07, 2018, 06:13:50 pm »
Any one else have a problem with monitors randomly biting the dust? 2nd monitor in less than three months to go down, now i'm down to two and cramped. At least this latest casualty is not a fatality, amusingly enough the brand of the caps is suksons  :-DD
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Offline Mr. Scram

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6032 on: January 07, 2018, 06:52:42 pm »
That's suspiciously cheap I must say... Never seen them for that price per piece before.

Yeah, they seem ok as far as quality goes.
The shop has a good reputation, if that's what you mean.
 

Offline bd139

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6033 on: January 07, 2018, 06:58:05 pm »
This is tempting. Price is a little high though:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F202178035387

Also no collection option. These die on transport.
 

Offline mnementh

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6034 on: January 07, 2018, 07:06:56 pm »
I've got that part and all the gubbins to build another soldering station in its entirety on its way to me now, the 936D was just a project to see if it was possible to use the base with T12 tips, nothing more or less than an idea at this stage.

As mentioned before I'm using the "blue" controller this time and hopefully this time next week I'll should have all parts and built it.

Yeah; I thought you had OTHER plans for that kit. The mod you're contemplating here is EXACTLY what this kit was developed for as an open-source project a few years ago; the stuff you're seeing all over AliEx and Banggood is China-Direct manufacturers turning that open-source project into a quick, easy profit since they already had gerbers, a BOM and the firmware already written.

I think the new stuff... the bigger OLED, rev 2.0.1 firmware, etc from vendors like KSGER is the ensuing "arms race" of product modification so each vendor can differentiate and claim "Value-added features" over the basic design, or in the case of Quicko, trying to pare down the BOM to the bare minimum to lower manufacturing costs.


Going to need SIA soon (soldering irons anonymous)  :-DD



Too late for me, I'm afraid. I fell jumped down that rabbit-hole of my own making long ago. ;)


mnem
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Offline Specmaster

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6035 on: January 07, 2018, 07:07:38 pm »
Nice but Sheffield? There is a collection option if you want to go there and get it. :popcorn:
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Offline bd139

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6036 on: January 07, 2018, 07:10:41 pm »
Nice but Sheffield? There is a collection option if you want to go there and get it. :popcorn:

I’m going to Leeds next week. Might be “on the way” but is only put a £30 offer down as it’s untested.
 

Offline Specmaster

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6037 on: January 07, 2018, 07:11:17 pm »
Nice but Sheffield? There is a collection option if you want to go there and get it. :popcorn:

I’m going to Leeds next week. Might be “on the way” but is only put a £30 offer down as it’s untested.
:-+
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Offline bd139

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6038 on: January 07, 2018, 07:14:13 pm »
Declined.

Ah well forget it :)
 

Offline Specmaster

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6039 on: January 07, 2018, 07:18:16 pm »
problem solved then. :--
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Offline HalFET

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6040 on: January 07, 2018, 07:22:08 pm »
This is tempting. Price is a little high though:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F202178035387

Also no collection option. These die on transport.
That's a double padded box on pallet jobby.
 

Offline bd139

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6041 on: January 07, 2018, 07:24:43 pm »
Yeah. Not single wall box and fluff like that 2225 that the carrier smashed on me. Grr.
 

Offline mnementh

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6042 on: January 07, 2018, 07:55:45 pm »
This is tempting. Price is a little high though:

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F202178035387

Also no collection option. These die on transport.

A little high? That thing is in museum quality condition for 75 clams OBO. Smeesh.  :palm: Even as a shell to rebuild a working unit into, it seems a fair price for that; or make a reasonable offer and see if he'll meet you somewhere between your place and Sheffield.

I certainly wish any of my 2465s were that nice; I don't think "Appears unused" is even a slight exaggeration.

Am I missing something here?  :-//


mnem
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Offline bd139

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6043 on: January 07, 2018, 08:04:33 pm »
I think the problem is that it’s £50 round trip in fuel (or plus £20 as I’m likely going past it). Or pick a courier who is probably going to ride the thing all the way to me from the van after they have played ninja warrior with it in the distribution centre.

Plus also £75 for an untested 50MHz scope is a bit err high. £1/MHz is the rule even if it’s got jesus’s butt print on it.

Also they have very rare mains leads so before it’ll even go I’ll have to replace the inlet entirely which requires metal work. And my nibblers fell to bits last week.

Edit: also the last one I had was £5 and worked fine. Plus the two I was going to pick up the other day were £25 for both.
« Last Edit: January 07, 2018, 08:07:25 pm by bd139 »
 

Offline Specmaster

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6044 on: January 07, 2018, 08:20:08 pm »
I think the problem is that it’s £50 round trip in fuel (or plus £20 as I’m likely going past it). Or pick a courier who is probably going to ride the thing all the way to me from the van after they have played ninja warrior with it in the distribution centre.

Plus also £75 for an untested 50MHz scope is a bit err high. £1/MHz is the rule even if it’s got jesus’s butt print on it.

Also they have very rare mains leads so before it’ll even go I’ll have to replace the inlet entirely which requires metal work. And my nibblers fell to bits last week.

Edit: also the last one I had was £5 and worked fine. Plus the two I was going to pick up the other day were £25 for both.

Almost fell of the bog laughing  :-DD
« Last Edit: January 07, 2018, 08:21:49 pm by Specmaster »
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Offline mnementh

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6045 on: January 07, 2018, 08:25:35 pm »
Okay I guess... I see that comes out to ~US$100, which really doesn't seem unreasonable to me for the pristine condition it's in; you're comparing its value to units you stole for use as a tool rather than as a show-quality example of the breed. Yes it's certainly more than I have to spend on a toy, but still... a museum piece.

I get you about the hassle factor though; this is certainly something you'd rather pick up yourself than entrust to DHL.

I have no doubt anybody here could get it powered up with their favorite suicide cord in less than 5 minutes to evaluate. ;)

I gotta tell you though... IMO, given the regional pride value the brand appears to carry in your corner of the TEA, this will be the piece that niggles at you for years if you don't at least make a reasonable effort to acquire it.

mnem
moo?
« Last Edit: January 07, 2018, 08:28:29 pm by mnementh »
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Offline bd139

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6046 on: January 07, 2018, 08:30:23 pm »
This place is like an Alcoholics Anonymous group except they meet in the pub :)

My last one was powered by the aforementioned suicide cord. Soldered on and cable tied.
 

Offline mnementh

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6047 on: January 07, 2018, 08:55:42 pm »
This place is like an Alcoholics Anonymous group except they meet in the pub :)

My last one was powered by the aforementioned suicide cord. Soldered on and cable tied.

Yeah, looks to me like something that could easily be Polish-engineered by cutting down a regular 4-pin female Molex connector commonly used on all computer power supplies prior to the advent of  SATA. I've made them connect quite securely to flat connector pins like this; you just need to index the hollow "pins" so the slots are all in a row.

Or, worst case, a little heat shrink on 3/16" female spade connectors.

Then you just use this until the "right" cord comes along at the "right" price.


mnem
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Offline bd139

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6048 on: January 07, 2018, 09:00:34 pm »
TBH I'd give up trying to find the right lead and look at forward engineering always on these. I have spent months trying to find out what the damn thing was. Found a picture of the insides:



As you can see from the above, someone drilled a hole underneath the socket and put a captive lead on  :-DD

Missing leads is a mega-common problem on these.

The hack above I'd be worried about hot pins sticking out so I'd just nibble the hole out big enough for an IEC panel mount socket and be done with it.

When I did it, I removed the connector, put the posts back on and tied the mains lead around one of the poles and cable tied the fuck out of it.
« Last Edit: January 07, 2018, 09:02:26 pm by bd139 »
 

Offline Specmaster

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #6049 on: January 07, 2018, 09:20:24 pm »
TBH I'd give up trying to find the right lead and look at forward engineering always on these. I have spent months trying to find out what the damn thing was. Found a picture of the insides:



As you can see from the above, someone drilled a hole underneath the socket and put a captive lead on  :-DD

Missing leads is a mega-common problem on these.

The hack above I'd be worried about hot pins sticking out so I'd just nibble the hole out big enough for an IEC panel mount socket and be done with it.

When I did it, I removed the connector, put the posts back on and tied the mains lead around one of the poles and cable tied the fuck out of it.
I'd be inclined to leave the connector there, disconnect it internally, drill a hole, grommet it, push a cable in, securely fix it with a cable clamp and terminate in a 3 pole chocolate block and reconnect the internal wiring to the chocolate block and job done.
Who let Murphy in?

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