Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Zucca]

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/this-keithley-2001-need-to-be-saved!/

[Specmaster]

Tea and coffee looked shit so I got myself a Costa on the way home 

Just put the Christmas tree up. Unfortunately bought some new lights and the sodding things were battery powered. 200 LEDs battery powered    Fortunately it has a 3 cell AA holder thus 4.5V. Pulled 100mA so I dug out an old Nokia charger and a USB cable and did some surgery and added 4.7 ohms in series to drop half a volt. Problem solved and it didn’t cost a penny to fix!

Yep, I'm doing the same thing myself this year, we have lots of battery powered lights in the house because the power sockets are never where you want them. And because of the cost of batteries I have already started modifying the battery packs with the help of a dropper resistor to run of phone chargers. The chargers of choice that I went with have 6 outlets rated at 4A and have been making up some leads with USB plugs on them and connecting to the battery packs.

[bd139]

Cool stuff. I have a box of Nokia AC-60x's that were waiting for jobs here. Finally got a use for them (after about 5 years!) 

Recycling an old mnem post....

[Specmaster]

Today I won myself another of those Teac CR-H250 CD receivers on evil bay for £1. Seller stated that the DAB module was not working but he had been assured that it was an easy fix. Like hell, that part is unobtainable and is a common failing on them along with the power transformer and the tactile push buttons and it was collection only, just 8 miles away. I messaged the seller asking when I could collect and pay (marked as cash on collection).

I get a message back apologising but the item was not available due to it being immersed in water and was now in the bin and blaming his teenage daughter  I reckon that he thought that it would fetch more than £1 and didn't to let me have it. I'll be watching to see if he relists it but with shipping rather than collection.

EDIT:
I have a couple without the DAB module, so I'm looking around for a suitable Bluetooth module that I could fit internally in place of the DAB unit and connect it up to the Aux or Tape inputs and tap into the 5v rail in the unit and then flip them on eBay, seems like a plan to me.

[bd139]

Ahh it sounds like you narrowly avoided a bollocks merchant there 

[URI]

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/this-keithley-2001-need-to-be-saved!/

...following another rabbit hole further down I set up my Trimble Thunderbolt GPSDO today:

[Specmaster]

Personally @URI, I'd be inclined to rescue that poor damsel from that large rabbit hole and play around with her, unless she is bat shit crazy redhead, in which case shove her further down the hole 

[Specmaster]

Ahh it sounds like you narrowly avoided a bollocks merchant there 

I think you might be right there, annoyingly that was the first thing I've won on eBay for some time now. Perhaps I'll have better luck with the Bluetooth conversions on the others I have. Maybe I ought to investigate putting the Bluetooth inside a small plastic project case and plugging it into the Aux sockets for the audio and repurpose one of the Remote control sockets as a 5v supply to the unit, or use a spare phone charger and  USB lead?

[Doom-the-Squirrel]

Does five Fluke products qualify me for this group?

In no particular order, I own a Fluke 115, an 87V, and 88V, a 376, and a 365.

Sure, I think it qualifies. If you post pics it practically guarantees instant membership. 

I'll do it after I go back to work on Wednesday.
Most of my stuff is there.

[Doom-the-Squirrel]

This is a broad church

Judging from a lot of us, and all the talk of comestibles, this is a broad bottomed church.

Isn't there a song like that? 

[beanflying]

Cool stuff. I have a box of Nokia AC-60x's that were waiting for jobs here. Finally got a use for them (after about 5 years!) 

Recycling an old mnem post....

Add to your collections  eBay auction: #254429915162 Noticed on yesterdays trawl. My collection is worth at least double 



Same seller

[mnementh]

Looks like you found Cerebus some of his cherished C&A knickers...

Add to your collections  eBay auction: #254429915162 Noticed on yesterdays trawl. My collection is worth at least double        Same seller 

Pfffft...  amateur. Hoeing out for the move, I THREW AWAY more than that as "not safe to give away". I Goodwill-ed easily twice as many as THAT. And I STILL stashed a 30gal tote in the trailer full of "just the essential" types and voltages. And cords/plugs cut off the "unsafe" ones.

mnem
*juicy*

[worsthorse]

My voltage calibrator showed up today.  A little beat up..



Why oh why do people write their name on their test gear in permanent marker? Why?   

But working...



Compared to my DMMCheckPlus, which is cal'd at 4.99999V, not bad. 

A more careful check suggests that I need to calibrate it at zero and nineteen voltages but it is within spec already everywhere but at the ends.

A useful tool this will be and I will surely soon forget the fact that I paid more for than I planned because I forgot to delete a snipe.   

[mansaxel]

Agreed, this shit called "American Cheese" isn't fit for consumption. Real Cheddar or IMPORTED Swiss on the other hand is good. DOMESTIC Swiss is shit too.

Our cheese tray this weekend consisted of a ripe Appenzeller, a very potent Pecorino and to wrap things up, a Dolce Grogonzola, that practically melts.  For the friends-over event Saturday, we had it with 2001 Moulin Touchais, which is a very, very good wine with cheese.

We have some wonderful cheese in our country, like the Västerbotten, so only where the local dairy has taken the concept further and refined it would I consider taking the local clone of something foreign (there is, for instance, a Cheddar dairy in Sweden in Kvibille that turns out really good product).

Besides, "swiss" as a label on cheese is so nondescript that it is silly. You can't lump Gruyère, Emmental and Appenzeller together and label them "Swiss" without explaining.  And nobody who had tasted the originals would.

[beanflying]

Agreed, this shit called "American Cheese" isn't fit for consumption. Real Cheddar or IMPORTED Swiss on the other hand is good. DOMESTIC Swiss is shit too.

Our cheese tray this weekend consisted of a ripe Appenzeller, a very potent Pecorino and to wrap things up, a Dolce Grogonzola, that practically melts.  For the friends-over event Saturday, we had it with 2001 Moulin Touchais, which is a very, very good wine with cheese.

We have some wonderful cheese in our country, like the Västerbotten, so only where the local dairy has taken the concept further and refined it would I consider taking the local clone of something foreign (there is, for instance, a Cheddar dairy in Sweden in Kvibille that turns out really good product).

Besides, "swiss" as a label on cheese is so nondescript that it is silly. You can't lump Gruyère, Emmental and Appenzeller together and label them "Swiss" without explaining.  And nobody who had tasted the originals would.

Given you have also unleashed Surstromming on the tastebuds of the world I would be approaching Swedish cheeses with caution.

Potato helped btw but even with a Beer chaser I won't be going there again in a hurry 

[mansaxel]

Given you have also unleashed Surstromming (Attachment Link) on the tastebuds of the world I would be approaching Swedish cheeses with caution.

Potato helped btw but even with a Beer chaser I won't be going there again in a hurry 

Beer is essential, but you need distilled drinks for surströmming. Preferably swedish vodka or some of the Nordic aquavits, like Lysholms Linie or Aalborg Jubilæum.  Me, I've tried it once, and I won't repeat that.

The Västerbotten, OTOH, is clearly up there with the best of traditional craft cheese. Simply awesome.

Edit: T.E.A. related; I _think_ we got approval for test instruments in next years budget. Off to hunt for a network tester that can do IEEE1588-2008 and OTDR, along with Ethernet load tests.

[McBryce]

/albums/x462/mnemennth/GeezelMorningAfter.jpg[/img]
"And then you wake up one morning passed out on the lawn in your underwear... No, wait; somebody ELSE'S underwear... on somebody ELSES'S lawn... in a different COUNTY..." ~tales of a misspent youth

Yes, but whether the underwear is "La perla" or "C&A^*" tells you quite how good a night you had.

^*A defunct, low end, high-street chain from the UK.

"Why do Essex girls buy their knickers from C&A?"
"I don't know, Why do Essex girls buy their knickers from C&A?"
"So they can tell they have them on the right way around."

Actually, C&A is a Dutch company, from Sneek and now based in Belgium. That doesn't make tham any less low-end of course.

McBryce.

[tggzzz]

My voltage calibrator showed up today.  A little beat up..



Why oh why do people write their name on their test gear in permanent marker? Why?   

But working...



Compared to my DMMCheckPlus, which is cal'd at 4.99999V, not bad. 

A more careful check suggests that I need to calibrate it at zero and nineteen voltages but it is within spec already everywhere but at the ends.

A useful tool this will be and I will surely soon forget the fact that I paid more for than I planned because I forgot to delete a snipe.   

That looks like a smaller version of my delightful Power Designs 2020 PSU. 20V, 2A, 1mV "thumbwheels", 1mV vernier , LM399 based, now in a nice resprayed blue case.



and https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/test-equipment-anonymous-(tea)-group-therapy-thread/msg1839581/#msg1839581

[Specmaster]

Why oh why do people write their name on their test gear in permanent marker? Why?   

To remove the permanent marker on your equipment, get a Dry White wall Marker and scribble over the permanent marker and you will see it begin to lift off. Wipe it off with a suitable dry cloth and repeat if necessary, this method works for me nicely. 

[Specmaster]

I've just stumbled on BD139 selling himself, anyone interested in buying him, please PM me 

[beanflying]

Acetone, Xylene, Citrus Goo remover and IPA - FAILED  Not fussed particularly but a pain if I decide to sell it on.

[Specmaster]

Acetone, Xylene, Citrus Goo remover and IPA - FAILED  Not fussed particularly but a pain if I decide to sell it on.

Get yourself a Dry White Wall Marker and try that. Works OK for me but depending on the surface, if it is a bit dimply then you may have a some faint residue left but it should knock it back a lot and will be less noticeable.

[med6753]

Heading to Colorado tomorrow (Tuesday) for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Unfortunately going to be heading directly into the middle of this mess:

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=39.839&lon=-104.6719#.XdvfWNV7mMo

Supposed to land at DIA at 8:30 AM their time. Right now flight status sez on time. You can bet that will change. I'm leaving from Newark Airport in Jersey. I have a feeling it will delay at Newark. Fun, fun.

[Cubdriver]

Heading to Colorado tomorrow (Tuesday) for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Unfortunately going to be heading directly into the middle of this mess:

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=39.839&lon=-104.6719#.XdvfWNV7mMo

Supposed to land at DIA at 8:30 AM their time. Right now flight status sez on time. You can bet that will change. I'm leaving from Newark Airport in Jersey. I have a feeling it will delay at Newark. Fun, fun.

Med, remember - it is much better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than the other way 'round...

-Pat

[Mr. Scram]

Acetone, Xylene, Citrus Goo remover and IPA - FAILED  Not fussed particularly but a pain if I decide to sell it on.

That yellow plastic is a stain magnet. I've had minor blemishes stick like crazy too.