Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[bd139]

I think they’ll be more surprised we got to the moon once.

Went bowling with the kids yesterday morning. I was on “team turd” so yes everything comes down to poo.

[Mr. Scram]

Is this how it ends?  Have we discussed everything possible and reached the end of the Internet and resorting to discussing poop on the moon?  Somehow I think we missing a few subjects. 

And look at it this way. When an archeologist discovers a piece of fossilized human shit 10,000 years old they marvel at the find because it provides evidence of our ancient life style. 10,000 years from now when we colonize the moon a future archeologist will discover the moon shit and marvel that we managed to survive on the crap we ate. 

It's actually a remarkably interesting subject. Definitely more than most on the internet. Not just because it highlights the more practical sides and less glamorous of the Moon flight but also because it's scientifically interesting as the video posted already indicated somewhat. It being about poop doesn't make it infantile. That's just the added bonus. In all seriousness I don't think Moon faeces is very representative as it's not very typical food eaten in very unusual circumstances.

[med6753]

Is this how it ends?  Have we discussed everything possible and reached the end of the Internet and resorting to discussing poop on the moon?  Somehow I think we missing a few subjects. 

And look at it this way. When an archeologist discovers a piece of fossilized human shit 10,000 years old they marvel at the find because it provides evidence of our ancient life style. 10,000 years from now when we colonize the moon a future archeologist will discover the moon shit and marvel that we managed to survive on the crap we ate. 

It's actually a remarkably interesting subject. Definitely more than most on the internet. Not just because it highlights the more practical sides and less glamorous of the Moon flight but also because it's scientifically interesting as the video posted already indicated somewhat. It being about poop doesn't make it infantile. That's just the added bonus. In all seriousness I don't think Moon faeces is very representative as it's not very typical food eaten in very unusual circumstances.

Perhaps. But to me the only time I care much about poop is when I must pass one or if I'm out and about and accidentally step in dog shit. 

[bd139]

Ok it's Sunday afternoon, I've had a couple of beers and I'm now looking at boat anchors with valves in them 

This thread is definitely an enabling thread. 

Edit: my excuse is that winter is coming and of course I need something to keep the place warm

Edit: this looks fun https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/323883516377

[mnementh]

Is this how it ends?  Have we discussed everything possible and reached the end of the Internet and resorting to discussing poop on the moon?  Somehow I think we missing a few subjects. 

And look at it this way. When an archeologist discovers a piece of fossilized human shit 10,000 years old they marvel at the find because it provides evidence of our ancient life style. 10,000 years from now when we colonize the moon a future archeologist will discover the moon shit and marvel that we managed to survive on the crap we ate. 

It's actually a remarkably interesting subject. Definitely more than most on the internet. Not just because it highlights the more practical sides and less glamorous of the Moon flight but also because it's scientifically interesting as the video posted already indicated somewhat. It being about poop doesn't make it infantile. That's just the added bonus. In all seriousness I don't think Moon faeces is very representative as it's not very typical food eaten in very unusual circumstances.

I would submit that the pureed carrots and meatloaf they ate back then in a space capsule were much closer to "natural" foods than what we eat now, which has to be genetically modified to survive the pesticides we spray on it, and has been irrigated with toxic waste runoff water from fracking oil/natural gas wells. 

mnem

[PA0PBZ]

This looks fun https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/323883516377

Pro:   Real dual beam
Con:  Someone's been in there before and 3 tube clips missing, I wonder where they went.

[med6753]

Ok it's Sunday afternoon, I've had a couple of beers and I'm now looking at boat anchors with valves in them 

This thread is definitely an enabling thread. 

Edit: my excuse is that winter is coming and of course I need something to keep the place warm

Edit: this looks fun https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/323883516377

Look at all the goodies in there!  If it were on this side of the pond I just might consider it. 

Edit...need some encouragement? VALVES! (vacuum tubes  )

[med6753]

BTW....see that large object in the center of the pix that looks like a transformer? It's actually a filter choke. It looks like a transformer but only has 2 leads coming out the same side. It's used in a vacuum tube B+ supply to provide additional filtering in addition to the capacitors.

I need one, about that size. New ones are quite pricey. If someone has one floating around in their junk box I'll gladly take it off your hands for cost of shipping plus. Note that it must be a small one, not the huge filter chokes typically used in audio amps or bench supplies.

 

[bd139]

These guys in the UK make them new for a good price: http://primarywindings.com/product-category/chokes/

[med6753]

10H and 20H chokes are freaking huge.  I'm talking something in the mH range. 

[bd139]

Ahh. How much current? If it’s up to about 30mA then Bourns do some cheap ones. Also look out for Epcos common mode chokes. They can be used as well.

Assume that’s for caveman HT smoothing?

[mnementh]

Time for a huge toroid and some 18ga Kynar wire...

mnem
*visiting the in-laws*

[bd139]

LOL you'd be there a week doing a toroid at that inductance 

[med6753]

Ahh. How much current? If it’s up to about 30mA then Bourns do some cheap ones. Also look out for Epcos common mode chokes. They can be used as well.

Assume that’s for caveman HT smoothing?

No, I want to rebuild the B+ supply in the Heath OL-1 proper, with a filter choke like it should have been done when designed. Heath left one out to keep the price down. So the trace has a very small, but noticeable, ripple on it that I want to get rid of. Adding capacitance is a double-edged sword in that it increases the load on the rectifier and may burn it out. I guess I'm just too anal about it. That scope currently has a better trace than any other OL-1 ever built due to my mods so far. 

Edit, we're talking about 400VDC and I'm assuming less than 100mA.

[mnementh]

LOL you'd be there a week doing a toroid at that inductance 

Oh, yeah.  You said mH, not uH. 

mnem
*at the in-laws with the ‘lurgy*

[mnementh]

[RANDOM MODE]

https://blog.xkcd.com/2019/08/16/serena-versus-the-drones/

[/RANDOM MODE]

mnem
I’d totally pay to see that.

[Specmaster]

Ok it's Sunday afternoon, I've had a couple of beers and I'm now looking at boat anchors with valves in them 

This thread is definitely an enabling thread. 

Edit: my excuse is that winter is coming and of course I need something to keep the place warm

Edit: this looks fun https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/323883516377

Look at all the goodies in there!  If it were on this side of the pond I just might consider it. 

Edit...need some encouragement? VALVES! (vacuum tubes  )

They are called valves not tubes, typical American, why use 1 word when you can use 2 

[bd139]

Ahh. How much current? If it’s up to about 30mA then Bourns do some cheap ones. Also look out for Epcos common mode chokes. They can be used as well.

Assume that’s for caveman HT smoothing?

No, I want to rebuild the B+ supply in the Heath OL-1 proper, with a filter choke like it should have been done when designed. Heath left one out to keep the price down. So the trace has a very small, but noticeable, ripple on it that I want to get rid of. Adding capacitance is a double-edged sword in that it increases the load on the rectifier and may burn it out. I guess I'm just too anal about it. That scope currently has a better trace than any other OL-1 ever built due to my mods so far. 

Edit, we're talking about 400VDC and I'm assuming less than 100mA.

Im a cheap ass too, possibly slightly less than Heathkit so had a look at the schematic. It uses mostly differential stages. In theory (not necessarily in implementation with Griefkit) these should have a decent (for the age) power supply rejection ratio. I’d pull V1 out then measure ripple on the plates. Get the feeling that’s where it’s actually coming from.

Disclaimer: may be wrong but worth a check

[med6753]

[RANDOM MODE]

https://blog.xkcd.com/2019/08/16/serena-versus-the-drones/

[/RANDOM MODE]

mnem
I’d totally pay to see that.

I'm not surprised at all that she took it out in 3 or less. 

[med6753]

Ahh. How much current? If it’s up to about 30mA then Bourns do some cheap ones. Also look out for Epcos common mode chokes. They can be used as well.

Assume that’s for caveman HT smoothing?

No, I want to rebuild the B+ supply in the Heath OL-1 proper, with a filter choke like it should have been done when designed. Heath left one out to keep the price down. So the trace has a very small, but noticeable, ripple on it that I want to get rid of. Adding capacitance is a double-edged sword in that it increases the load on the rectifier and may burn it out. I guess I'm just too anal about it. That scope currently has a better trace than any other OL-1 ever built due to my mods so far. 

Edit, we're talking about 400VDC and I'm assuming less than 100mA.

Im a cheap ass too, possibly slightly less than Heathkit so had a look at the schematic. It uses mostly differential stages. In theory (not necessarily in implementation with Griefkit) these should have a decent (for the age) power supply rejection ratio. I’d pull V1 out then measure ripple on the plates. Get the feeling that’s where it’s actually coming from.

Disclaimer: may be wrong but worth a check

That's exactly where it's coming from. I've already determined that. It's a high gain pre-amp with a somewhat shitty supply. Any quality audio pre-amp wouldn't be like that.

[bd139]

Gotcha. All makes sense. Bourns radial ones then. Cheap and cheerful. Series a few up to make a bigger one.

[med6753]

Gotcha. All makes sense. Bourns radial ones then. Cheap and cheerful. Series a few up to make a bigger one.

Can you give me an example of what you mean? 

[bd139]

https://www.bourns.com/pdfs/RLB9012.pdf

You have to trade off current with inductance so you might have to put a few in series.

[BU508A]

@bd139
So, finally you've sniped the HP 209A oscillator? Congrats        

[bd139]

Fuck! Completely forgot about that! Wasn’t me