It's the first 5240A I've ever seen, inside it's mostly the contents of the 5260A frequency divider with an 8 digit 12.5MHz counter stuck to the top (probably based on the circuitry from similar counters such as the 5321 & 5216A).
It was packed in a large enough box, but unfortunately it was filled with the thousands of tiniest polystyrene balls I've ever seen, most of which had escaped out of the box (not enough tape used to close it), the useless balls allowed the heavy meter to move about during transit & were a PITA to contain after opening the box, there were holes created by both the front handles and the BNC adaptor/termination on the back.
![](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/test-equipment-anonymous-(tea)-group-therapy-thread/?action=dlattach;attach=841392)
Now that's bad! I was really lucky, in more than just one regard. As I said: Packaged goods must not be allowed to move in their packages!
(The tiny balls messing your lab are the icing on the cake, adding insult to injury.)
What a crying shame!
A quick test to see if it still worked (after changing switch to 240V), picture is a bit crap, one more tube lit than in the sellers pictures, the half zeros were showing in the sellers pictures too.
![](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/test-equipment-anonymous-(tea)-group-therapy-thread/?action=dlattach;attach=841400)
More to follow with some inside pictures.
David
And these half digits are exactly what I had seen on my 5245L on first try.Just re-seating all cards and connectors helped here.
Hope you get a refund.
I'm trying to catch up again, been too busy recently.
![ThumbsDown :--](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/icon_thumbsdown.gif)
The seller of the 5240A was OK actually, a partial refund covered the cost of some replacement side frames from BD's favourite test gear mass murderer (aka Freddy Krueger).
![Evil >:D](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/evil.gif)
The sides aren't exactly the same due to a wiring loom running where the side handles are normally fitted, this part is cut out on this meter, but that's nothing that can't be fixed with a milling machine.
Just need to find a paint match for the scratch on the front panel.
![](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/test-equipment-anonymous-(tea)-group-therapy-thread/?action=dlattach;attach=846438)
I will try reseating the connectors for the counter, one of them doesn't look fully seated, also got to check the supplies, looking at the manual the HV supply for the tubes doesn't seem to have a smoothing capacitor.
![Confused :-//](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/confused0024.gif)
No idea what to do with those annoying tiny balls from the box, can't use them for packing as they are crap, they must be bad for the environment too, as well as a potential choking hazard for children or animals, why do they exist?
![Face Palm :palm:](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/facepalm.gif)
David