Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Specmaster]

Wow, thats a good score, all of that lot for $100, the cap tester looks interesting and the VTVM. Crusty is very often good, as long everything is there, they often come up trumps once they are given a good cleaning. 

[Specmaster]

I spent the day calibrating all of my multimeters against a known voltage reference, now all of them agree with each other, thats all 15 of them, pretty easy really., so I can pick any one of them and know thats spot on 

That's the easy bit. Your next task is to get somebody else's meter to read the same

You may need to get your wallet out.

Thats easy if they are like mine, all adjustable via trim pots 

[bitseeker]

the cap tester looks interesting and the VTVM.

Yeah, I've been hunting for a TO-6 for a couple years now. It's surprisingly heavy for its size. The only problem with this one is the handle is no more (they're leather). I may make one for it if I feel particularly crafty, though it's been quite a long while since I last did leathercraft. Could be fun.

I'm looking forward to restoring the VTVM. It's my first one.

[Cubdriver]

the cap tester looks interesting and the VTVM.

Yeah, I've been hunting for a TO-6 for a couple years now. It's surprisingly heavy for its size. The only problem with this one is the handle is no more (they're leather). I may make one for it if I feel particularly crafty, though it's been quite a long while since I last did leathercraft. Could be fun.

I'm looking forward to restoring the VTVM. It's my first one.

The TO-6 is a handy thing to have, especially if you have any inclination towards electron flow control devices made from evacuated glass rather than the more pedestrian sand-filled variety so common today.  Things like capacitors can be more sieve-like than desired at the higher electrical pressures such devices operate at, and it's nice to be able to hit them with said pressures to ensure their integrity.   

As for the handle, leathercraft may not be necessary unless you're striving for originality rather than simply utility.  If a handle is all you need, flat webbing is an option - I have an old HP VTVM lurking about here somewhere where the dear departed leather strap was replaced by a loop of webbing that was doubled over and, IIRC, pop riveted.

If you'd like I'll hunt for it and post a pic.

-Pat

[neo]

My 8300A came today and before i mention it let me first mention my favorite/lucky number is 42.

It was made in '76 (42 years old) delivered at 1:42 pm and the thing is practically brand new. Very few hours, the nixies still look brand new, no stickers on the unit except for the metal barcode tag on the front. No scratches or marks not caused by riding a shelf for 40+ years. The thing even has the ohms converter installed. 

That's great news, neo. I was very tempted to get that one because of its great condition and especially since it had the AC and Ohms converters. Congrats on a great score. I'd love to see what the boards are like inside, if you get adventurous.

By request,

[neo]

Request.

[neo]

Request

[Specmaster]

Nice layout with loads of daughter boards, thats going to make fault finding difficult if you have to. Nicely laid out with lots of good sized parts and loads of caps 

[neo]

Nice layout with loads of daughter boards, thats going to make fault finding difficult if you have to. Nicely laid out with lots of good sized parts and loads of caps 

It's loads better than my 8400A.

Getting it back together is a pain in the ass though...

[Specmaster]

I bet because you're working blind on those headers.

[neo]

I bet because you're working blind on those headers.

Actually they have little plastic spacers that line it up perfectly, the screws however are the PITA.

[Cubdriver]

Wow, that sucker looks brandie-new!!  Nice!!   

-Pat

[neo]

Wow, that sucker looks brandie-new!!  Nice!!   

-Pat

It looks brand new because it is... Someone bought it in 76 used it for 2 years then had it ride a shelf for the past 40 years.

Amusingly it was assembled on my birthday 22 years before it was my birthday.

[bitseeker]

The TO-6 is a handy thing to have, especially if you have any inclination towards electron flow control devices made from evacuated glass rather than the more pedestrian sand-filled variety so common today.  Things like capacitors can be more sieve-like than desired at the higher electrical pressures such devices operate at, and it's nice to be able to hit them with said pressures to ensure their integrity.   

Yep, and I've got that BK 177 and HP 200CD as the first candidates.

As for the handle, leathercraft may not be necessary unless you're striving for originality rather than simply utility.  If a handle is all you need, flat webbing is an option - I have an old HP VTVM lurking about here somewhere where the dear departed leather strap was replaced by a loop of webbing that was doubled over and, IIRC, pop riveted.

If you'd like I'll hunt for it and post a pic.

That'd be great. Thanks, Pat. The original handle's design used ears that keep the handle from slipping out of its holders, which doesn't inspire confidence. I'd rather have it slip through and riveted like that used for luggage. Another option might be to braid a handle with leather lacing, though that can be quite time consuming.

[neo]

I looked up the barcode tag for the hell of it, this thing was owned by the United States Air-Force Test, Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment. USAF TMDE! The freaking air force man! How cool is that!?

[bitseeker]

It looks brand new because it is... Someone bought it in 76 used it for 2 years then had it ride a shelf for the past 40 years.

So nice! Thanks for all the pics, neo. I can enjoy it vicariously, at least a little bit (while kicking myself for letting it go ).

I looked up the barcode tag for the hell of it, this thing was owned by the United States Air-Force Test, Measurement and Diagnostic Equipment. USAF TMDE! The freaking air force man! How cool is that!?

Very cool, indeed!

[bitseeker]

Hey guys and dolls, don't look now but with in the next couple of days we'll pass the 300 pages of TEA.

Almost there!

[neo]

I got the Communications satellite corp of Washington DC, The air force and i think the Rochester institute for technology, next stop Nasa! 
 

[Cerebus]

It would be really childish of me to make a post purely on the chance that it would be the first on the 300th page, wouldn't it?

[neo]

It would be really childish of me to make a post purely on the chance that it would be the first on the 300th page, wouldn't it?

No not at all.

On a side note to keep this relevant, all of my meters agree to the second to least significant digit.

[Cerebus]

It would be really childish of me to make a post purely on the chance that it would be the first on the 300th page, wouldn't it?

No not at all.

 

Somedays I'm really, really easy to amuse.

[bitseeker]

I got the Communications satellite corp of Washington DC, The air force and i think the Rochester institute for technology, next stop Nasa! 
 

Getting a nice collection going there, neo. I have a Navy universal counter and a Grumman Aircraft power supply.

[Cerebus]

On a side note to keep this relevant, all of my meters agree to the second to least significant digit.

Some days I calibrate my Keithley 197 so that it keeps digit perfect step with my Vishay 1-99,999 ohm resistance standard just because I can. There's no practical point in it, but I get a very satisfying feeling from dialling in any random 5 digits and watching them magically appear on the display. Of course it drifts off within a day, but just for a few hours the world does exactly what I tell it to - metrological bliss!

[bitseeker]

Some additional thoughts about the current state of the TEA house:

- Another 62 pages and it'll be the longest thread on the forum.
- Since there are so many posts, I'm considering adding to the OP a "Points of Interest" or Quick Links index to replies that have interesting, noteworthy, addiction-inducing, or otherwise useful info/pics for both new visitors to the TEA house as well as future reference. What are your thoughts?
- If you like the index idea, post your suggestions/nominations and I'll start adding them.

[neo]

On a side note to keep this relevant, all of my meters agree to the second to least significant digit.

Some days I calibrate my Keithley 197 so that it keeps digit perfect step with my Vishay 1-99,999 ohm resistance standard just because I can. There's no practical point in it, but I get a very satisfying feeling from dialling in any random 5 digits and watching them magically appear on the display. Of course it drifts off within a day, but just for a few hours the world does exactly what I tell it to - metrological bliss!

Yeah i bet, the real laugh here with my multimeter is, at least for DCV, they all agree. Which is funny because it started with a 5 dollar Fluke 8000A which i used to calibrate a Fairchild 3.5 digit nixie tube meter.

All others i didn't touch and they ALL agree to the second least significant digit to my 3456A, some to the least significant digit.