Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Carl_Smith]

So recently in my flow of spam emails I was notified that I should file my claim now for my part of a $33.4 million dollar settlement for people who bought Linear Resistors.

Guess you don't get any settlement money if the resistors you bought were nonlinear.   

https://linearresistorsindirectcase.com/

[bitseeker]

I happen to stumble upon this restoration of an OL-1 while trying to find how much it originally cost. His was just a restoration and no improvements/modifications. Check out the quality of his trace vs mine. Like night and day. 

https://lazyelectrons.wordpress.com/2018/02/12/heathkit-vintage-oscilloscopes-io-17-ol-1/

You can say that again. I guess some people like soft wiggles.

[Specmaster]

The thing to remember with Heathkit is that they always tried to produce kits that could whenever possible, to produce kits that when assembled correctly, put in the constructors hands something that was as near to professional grade kit as was possible. But at times cost was a limiting factor so some compromises had to be accepted on occasions.

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I think the OL-1 cost less than $30 USD in 1954 or so but in 2019 USD that's almost $285. 

Yep and remember, that was for the kit only, and it was only 200khz. At todays prices it would buy maybe a new Hantek 20mhz or higher colour scope. Hardly cutting edge, but then, neither was the Heathkit but was certainly more than capable. I have seen Hantek scopes being used in electronic repair shops professionally.

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[Specmaster]

I happen to stumble upon this restoration of an OL-1 while trying to find how much it originally cost. His was just a restoration and no improvements/modifications. Check out the quality of his trace vs mine. Like night and day. 

https://lazyelectrons.wordpress.com/2018/02/12/heathkit-vintage-oscilloscopes-io-17-ol-1/

Edit...found the price. Yep, It was $29.50 USD. My Father had the O-10 which was $69.50. Big bucks back then.

https://m.eet.com/media/1196851/heathkit-ad_1955.pdf

Much prefer traces on yours. The price list is also interesting, especially the V7A meter, they cost more now than they did then[emoji106]

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[beanflying]

Spreading my current project pollution here rather than in the what did I buy .... thread.

MK II Fume extractor, smaller, stronger, simpler design, less parts and laser cut a filter sample which works great. Also split the rear fan cover to get better material use/sheet (jigsaw feature  ).

Any thoughts on what would a flatpack kit with everything (including hardware) bar the 120mm fan be worth delivered to your door? Postage with 4-6 filters is just on $7 USD anywhere on the planet.

[McBryce]

I tripped over this a few minutes ago... truly classic, and an excellent diversion over a cuppa.

mnem
*OT-er than usual*

What's with the creepy tree footage starting from 6:07 ??

McBryce.

[tggzzz]

Guess you don't get any settlement money if the resistors you bought were nonlinear.   

All resistors are non-linear.

[med6753]

I happen to stumble upon this restoration of an OL-1 while trying to find how much it originally cost. His was just a restoration and no improvements/modifications. Check out the quality of his trace vs mine. Like night and day. 

https://lazyelectrons.wordpress.com/2018/02/12/heathkit-vintage-oscilloscopes-io-17-ol-1/

Edit...found the price. Yep, It was $29.50 USD. My Father had the O-10 which was $69.50. Big bucks back then.

https://m.eet.com/media/1196851/heathkit-ad_1955.pdf

Much prefer traces on yours. The price list is also interesting, especially the V7A meter, they cost more now than they did then[emoji106]

Sent from my POT-LX1 using Tapatalk

Not quite. The V-7 was $24.50 USD in 1955. That's equivalent to $235.00 USD today.

[bd139]

All resistors are non-linear.

Small print: mostly when operated within their SOA and probably not those pissy little hair legged things from China.

[tggzzz]

All resistors are non-linear.

Small print: mostly when operated within their SOA and probably not those pissy little hair legged things from China.

And not LDRs, nor MOVs, ...

But even grossly non-linear devices (e.g. diodes, BJTs) can be regarded as mostly linear for small signals around a DC operating point.

[bd139]

Indeed.  A lot of “the art” is getting non linear things to pretend to be linear. Joy to Mr Black

Still makes me excited just making a simple gain stage with an opamp.

[med6753]

So recently in my flow of spam emails I was notified that I should file my claim now for my part of a $33.4 million dollar settlement for people who bought Linear Resistors.

Guess you don't get any settlement money if the resistors you bought were nonlinear.   

https://linearresistorsindirectcase.com/

What did they do? Conspire to make the resistors cost 15 cents rather than 12 cents? Even if the average hobbyist bought a crap load of resistors what are you gonna get? Maybe a buck or two? Big companies might make out OK but of course the majority is going to go to the bloodsucking lawyers. 

[bd139]

Yeah that's about it. It was a pricing cartel. Big companies yes. I worked for a company that would blow the odd £1 million here and there on resistors

Edit: fuuuuu bought molex connector set for my 1740A and only the damn shells and crimps turned up. They forgot to send the headers! 

[med6753]

Edit: fuuuuu bought molex connector set for my 1740A and only the damn shells and crimps turned up. They forgot to send the headers! 

[Specmaster]

I happen to stumble upon this restoration of an OL-1 while trying to find how much it originally cost. His was just a restoration and no improvements/modifications. Check out the quality of his trace vs mine. Like night and day. 

https://lazyelectrons.wordpress.com/2018/02/12/heathkit-vintage-oscilloscopes-io-17-ol-1/

Edit...found the price. Yep, It was $29.50 USD. My Father had the O-10 which was $69.50. Big bucks back then.

https://m.eet.com/media/1196851/heathkit-ad_1955.pdf

Much prefer traces on yours. The price list is also interesting, especially the V7A meter, they cost more now than they did then[emoji106]

Sent from my POT-LX1 using Tapatalk

Not quite. The V-7 was $24.50 USD in 1955. That's equivalent to $235.00 USD today.

LMAO, I meant if you buy one on eBay, they often sell for more then their original price [emoji1787]

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[med6753]

I happen to stumble upon this restoration of an OL-1 while trying to find how much it originally cost. His was just a restoration and no improvements/modifications. Check out the quality of his trace vs mine. Like night and day. 

https://lazyelectrons.wordpress.com/2018/02/12/heathkit-vintage-oscilloscopes-io-17-ol-1/

Edit...found the price. Yep, It was $29.50 USD. My Father had the O-10 which was $69.50. Big bucks back then.

https://m.eet.com/media/1196851/heathkit-ad_1955.pdf

Much prefer traces on yours. The price list is also interesting, especially the V7A meter, they cost more now than they did then[emoji106]

Sent from my POT-LX1 using Tapatalk

Not quite. The V-7 was $24.50 USD in 1955. That's equivalent to $235.00 USD today.

LMAO, I meant if you buy one on eBay, they often sell for more then their original price [emoji1787]

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In terms of actual numbers you are correct. Quick check of Ebay shows them selling from $20 USD up to $75 USD. But in terms of buying power compared to the 1955 price of $24.50 USD they are MUCH cheaper by a significant amount.

[neo]

Funny story here, saved it to my watch list and the very next day the seller used the make offer on me.
"Pssstt! Want it for $50? (was $76)
"...... Twenty."
"Twenty five!"
""SOLD!....... DAMN IT THE SHIPPING IS $75!" 

I paid $100, three quarters of that shipping, for the chance to say I have three outta five. Let's hope it survives shipping, and in closing I do NOT have a problem, I'm mostly sure.
 
To do buy list;
HP 608(C) 10-500 megacycles (I own two of these actually, for god alone knows what reason)
HP 610(B) 450-1200 megacycles
HP 614(A) 800-2100 megacycles
HP 616(A) 1800-4000 megacycles
HP 618(B) 3800-7200 megacycles

[BU508A]

Funny story here, saved it to my watch list and the very next day the seller used the make offer on me.
"Pssstt! Want it for $50? (was $76)
"...... Twenty."
"Twenty five!"
""SOLD!....... DAMN IT THE SHIPPING IS $75!" 

I paid $100, three quarters of that shipping, for the chance to say I have three outta five. Let's hope it survives shipping, and in closing I do NOT have a problem, I'm mostly sure.
 
To do buy list;
HP 608(C) 10-500 megacycles (I own two of these actually, for god alone knows what reason)
HP 610(B) 450-1200 megacycles
HP 614(A) 800-2100 megacycles
HP 616(A) 1800-4000 megacycles
HP 618(B) 3800-7200 megacycles

Nice knobs. No way that you could send me the "Sync. Selector" knob?    

[Specmaster]

I happen to stumble upon this restoration of an OL-1 while trying to find how much it originally cost. His was just a restoration and no improvements/modifications. Check out the quality of his trace vs mine. Like night and day. 

https://lazyelectrons.wordpress.com/2018/02/12/heathkit-vintage-oscilloscopes-io-17-ol-1/

Edit...found the price. Yep, It was $29.50 USD. My Father had the O-10 which was $69.50. Big bucks back then.

https://m.eet.com/media/1196851/heathkit-ad_1955.pdf

Much prefer traces on yours. The price list is also interesting, especially the V7A meter, they cost more now than they did then[emoji106]

Sent from my POT-LX1 using Tapatalk

Not quite. The V-7 was $24.50 USD in 1955. That's equivalent to $235.00 USD today.

LMAO, I meant if you buy one on eBay, they often sell for more then their original price [emoji1787]

Sent from my POT-LX1 using Tapatalk

In terms of actual numbers you are correct. Quick check of Ebay shows them selling from $20 USD up to $75 USD. But in terms of buying power compared to the 1955 price of $24.50 USD they are MUCH cheaper by a significant amount.

So very true, but they are also obsolete these days as new pieces of test gear go, its only us boring old farts who still see a use for them, I have some fantastic analogue meters here but TBH they hardly ever see the light of day as its always a DMM that gets reached first time. 

[neo]

Nice knobs. No way that you could send me the "Sync. Selector" knob?    

It's so much more than knobs, it's a 7.6 GHz vacuum tube frequency generator. Brains and beauty, It's eyes are right there and all you choose to look at are it's knobs, shame on you.... shame!

The answers is maybe.... if I can find a look alike close enough to suit me then maybe. Wouldn't be cheap though.

[mnementh]

I happen to stumble upon this restoration of an OL-1 while trying to find how much it originally cost. His was just a restoration and no improvements/modifications. Check out the quality of his trace vs mine. Like night and day. 

https://lazyelectrons.wordpress.com/2018/02/12/heathkit-vintage-oscilloscopes-io-17-ol-1/

You can say that again. I guess some people like soft wiggles.

Only in my women.

I tripped over this a few minutes ago... truly classic, and an excellent diversion over a cuppa.

mnem
*OT-er than usual*

What's with the creepy tree footage starting from 6:07 ?? - McBryce.

Huh? *Goes back and looks* No fucking idea. I shut it off after the end.... didn't realize it kept playing on like that.

Looks like maybe somebody transcoded from videotape recorded over some old home movies? I just picked that one because it was still in the original 4:3 aspect ratio and was of watchable video quality. 

mnem

[med6753]

Nice knobs. No way that you could send me the "Sync. Selector" knob?    

It's so much more than knobs, it's a 7.6 GHz vacuum tube frequency generator. Brains and beauty, It's eyes are right there and all you choose to look at are it's knobs, shame on you.... shame!

The answers is maybe.... if I can find a look alike close enough to suit me then maybe. Wouldn't be cheap though.

Turn that sucker on near any computer and watch it crash instantly. 

[mnementh]

Spreading my current project pollution here rather than in the what did I buy... thread.

MK II Fume extractor, smaller, stronger, simpler design, less parts and laser cut a filter sample which works great. Also split the rear fan cover to get better material use/sheet (jigsaw feature  ).

Any thoughts on what would a flatpack kit with everything (including hardware) bar the 120mm fan be worth delivered to your door? Postage with 4-6 filters is just on $7 USD anywhere on the planet.

I'm the original cheap bastahd, and I'd buy that kit without thinking twice if I saw it at Fry's or MicroCenter in the $10-12 range. The more filters, the quicker I'd snatch it up. IME, that means normal, more "consumer-ey" minded folks would probably go as high as $15, maybe even $20; especially if you remind them that they're saving $40-50 over the HAKKO by DIYing.

The problem you're going to have with those sorts is... you'll have to write up a short treatise on fan selection. Sure as shootin', even in THIS relatively well-educated market on eevBlog, you'll get some yo-yo who puts a low-speed Noctua in there and blames you because it doesn't suck. 

A couple suggestions...

1) The center medallion area on the back seems a bit large; at a guess approx 55mm. Looking at my collection of 120mm fans, only one AC-powered unit has a motor that wide; the rest are 40-45mm. Whether it's so or not, that large medallion area APPEARS to block some airflow, and might cost you some potential sales.

2) You could also offer an "Option" of a strip of 12V white LEDs to go on the front inside edge of the hood; that thing will be well positioned to shine light right on the work pretty much any time it is in use. 

mnem
*Scurries off to sign up for 2 kits*

[worsthorse]

Spreading my current project pollution here rather than in the what did I buy .... thread.

MK II Fume extractor, smaller, stronger, simpler design, less parts and laser cut a filter sample which works great. Also split the rear fan cover to get better material use/sheet (jigsaw feature  ).

Any thoughts on what would a flatpack kit with everything (including hardware) bar the 120mm fan be worth delivered to your door? Postage with 4-6 filters is just on $7 USD anywhere on the planet.

I dunno, $25 plus postage? Probably more. I could use it. It is a cool design and a lot sturdier than anything in a comparable price range. Sign me up for one!

[worsthorse]

I finished cleaning up, calibrating, and testing the Heathkit voltage reference. It is ready to head to ebay.  Then I started thinking...

I have a Fluke 8800, Keithley 199, Keithley 197, B+K something or other, and at least one more HP DMM on the shelf. I plan on testing them, doing whatever simple calibration I can, makin' them pretty and selling them (Which will leave me with three 5.5 digit DMMs and three lesser one) to free up space and generate cash. So I look at the EU80-A and think, why don't I keep the that and use it as my voltage reference for calibrating these meters?

Great idea, right? So now the Heathkit is on my test bench, as is the 8800. I will keep the voltage reference long enough to check these meters and then sell it.

And we have another example why nothing ever seems to make it from my "sell" shelf to ebay.