Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Specmaster]

*Cue flashiebackie music*

(In German accent so thick you'd swear it was Freud himself speaking) "Zo-o young man... do hyou know how to solder...?"

"I know how..." *pause to think about what I'm saying* "I HAVE soldered. I've never been taught how."

"Zat... eez a good honest answer. Zere may be hope for hyou yet. *Plops little scrap PCB on the bench* "Allright... first, tin zee tip... zat's eet, just a little bit. Eet helps zee heat transfer to zee work..."

[/flashback mode]

Looking back on it, that exchange was probably one of several "you passed a test and didn't even know it" moments which secured my place in that "Electronics Dojo", and the "much-more-patient-than-I-deserved" tutelage I received as a result.

mnem
Wheel of Morality, turn turn turn... Tell us the lesson thart we should learn: If you don't know what you're doing, be honest about it or keep your mouth shut.

When I joined IBM they wanted to send me to "Solder School". So I was asked "What soldering experience do you have?" To which I replied "About a dozen Heathkits". I was qualified on the spot, didn't have to go. 

Yeah but you failed to tell them that none of them worked after you soldered them 

[med6753]

*Cue flashiebackie music*

(In German accent so thick you'd swear it was Freud himself speaking) "Zo-o young man... do hyou know how to solder...?"

"I know how..." *pause to think about what I'm saying* "I HAVE soldered. I've never been taught how."

"Zat... eez a good honest answer. Zere may be hope for hyou yet. *Plops little scrap PCB on the bench* "Allright... first, tin zee tip... zat's eet, just a little bit. Eet helps zee heat transfer to zee work..."

[/flashback mode]

Looking back on it, that exchange was probably one of several "you passed a test and didn't even know it" moments which secured my place in that "Electronics Dojo", and the "much-more-patient-than-I-deserved" tutelage I received as a result.

mnem
Wheel of Morality, turn turn turn... Tell us the lesson thart we should learn: If you don't know what you're doing, be honest about it or keep your mouth shut.

When I joined IBM they wanted to send me to "Solder School". So I was asked "What soldering experience do you have?" To which I replied "About a dozen Heathkits". I was qualified on the spot, didn't have to go. 

Yeah but you failed to tell them that none of them worked after you soldered them 

Shhhhhhhhhhh! They might find out and try to fire me. 

[bd139]

I've seen the inside of more than a dozen Heathkits and I wouldn't hire anyone on that 

[Martin.M]

[tggzzz]

This comes to mind when I see that and people mentioning going to collect it:

Naa when I see that I imagine this happening instead while hauling it on the snow to med6753's house...

Only an Englishman would try to haul a trailer (OK...caravan  ) that big with a little freaking French Renault. 

Better yet;

I doubt that would be legal in the UK - there are regulations about the relative weight of car and trailer.

[xrunner]

Very pretty Martin - especially EL11

[Tomorokoshi]

This comes to mind when I see that and people mentioning going to collect it:

Naa when I see that I imagine this happening instead while hauling it on the snow to med6753's house...

Only an Englishman would try to haul a trailer (OK...caravan  ) that big with a little freaking French Renault. 

Better yet;

I doubt that would be legal in the UK - there are regulations about the relative weight of car and trailer.

Watch out for Mr. Bean!

[med6753]

I've seen the inside of more than a dozen Heathkits and I wouldn't hire anyone on that 

I have something for you......


 

[Martin.M]

7475 is healthy 

[med6753]

I love the warm glow of vacuum tubes in the morning. 

[Martin.M]

that is a cold gas glow 

7475 is a fat stabi.

[med6753]

that is a cold gas glow 

7475 is a fat stabi.

Don't care...still like it. 

[Martin.M]

BD139,

when you urgend need a heathkit you can get my not accurate meter. (german: Ungenaumeter)

[med6753]

Everybody ragging on Heathkits. All the Heath's here work just fine and especially the ones I built. 


Yes.....I've seen some pretty shitty constructed Heathkits

Edit, this one. Was constructed by a group of monkeys with 100 watt irons 

[Martin.M]

Explain for ungenau.

this Heathkit DMM have a Gas lamp for 1 and 2 Nixies. So the overflow is at #199
means when you want to check the AC Voltage what is 230V you have to select 1kV (yes it have  )
and the display will show you "23" ±1 digit. = ungenau
it`s not a bug, it`s a feature 

[med6753]

Explain for ungenau.

this Heathkit DMM have a Gas lamp for 1 and 2 Nixies. So the overflow is at #199
means when you want to check the AC Voltage what is 230V you have to select 1kV (yes it have  )
and the display will show you "23" ±1 digit. = ungenau
it`s not a bug, it`s a feature 

Yep, got the same one.

[nixiefreqq]

Explain for ungenau.

this Heathkit DMM have a Gas lamp for 1 and 2 Nixies. So the overflow is at #199
means when you want to check the AC Voltage what is 230V you have to select 1kV (yes it have  )
and the display will show you "23" ±1 digit. = ungenau
it`s not a bug, it`s a feature 

Yep, got the same one.

so.  on the 20V scale it goes to 19.9 and then what?  does something else light up to indicate an overflow?

using a neon as a "1" is pure genius.  (cheap ass but genius).  have never seen it on an HP thats for sure.

[med6753]

so.  on the 20V scale it goes to 19.9 and then what?  does something else light up to indicate an overflow?

using a neon as a "1" is pure genius.  (cheap ass but genius).  have never seen it on an HP thats for sure.

Yes, as I recall on the left side is some sort of overflow light.

Heath was famous for going "cheap ass but genius" on a lot of their designs.

[mnementh]

More Postcards From the Edge (of the nice dry Garage)...



...This Morning's Cardio!

mnem

You Might Be in Canada, Eh...?

[Cerebus]

Explain for ungenau.

this Heathkit DMM have a Gas lamp for 1 and 2 Nixies. So the overflow is at #199
means when you want to check the AC Voltage what is 230V you have to select 1kV (yes it have  )
and the display will show you "23" ±1 digit. = ungenau
it`s not a bug, it`s a feature 

Except you didn't explain "ungenau" = inexact/imprecise.

Germans inject "genau" as a one word interjection in a conversation in just the same way that English speakers use "exactly".

[mnementh]

*Cue flashiebackie music*

(In German accent so thick you'd swear it was Freud himself speaking) "Zo-o young man... do hyou know how to solder...?"

"I know how..." *pause to think about what I'm saying* "I HAVE soldered. I've never been taught how."

"Zat... eez a good honest answer. Zere may be hope for hyou yet. *Plops little scrap PCB on the bench* "Allright... first, tin zee tip... zat's eet, just a little bit. Eet helps zee heat transfer to zee work..."

[/flashback mode]   Looking back on it, that exchange was probably one of several "you passed a test and didn't even know it" moments which secured my place in that man's "Electronics Dojo", and the "much-more-patient-than-I-deserved" tutelage I received as a result.

mnem
Wheel of Morality, turn turn turn... Tell us the lesson that we should learn: If you don't know what you're doing, be honest about it or keep your mouth shut.

When I joined IBM they wanted to send me to "Solder School". So I was asked "What soldering experience do you have?" To which I replied "About a dozen Heathkits". I was qualified on the spot, didn't have to go.

Yeah but you failed to tell them that none of them worked after you soldered them 

Shhhhhhhhhhh! They might find out and try to fire me. 

I've seen the inside of more than a dozen Heathkits and I wouldn't hire anyone on that 

I have something for you......    

While there is vast truth in this statement... both quantitatively and qualitatively... my honest reaction was more one of "Wait.... what...? You turned down an opportunity to get FREE training AND get paid for taking it?  izza matta wiff you...?!?"

You NEVER know what you might learn... there is no way anybody can know all there is to know about anything. Long after Basche "taught" me how to solder... I was given the chance to take a 3-week "Certified Soldering" seminar at the company's expense. While much of it WAS in fact old hat, I learned a LOT about the SCIENCE of soldering, where most of what I had was skill in the ART thereof. Trust me, there is a vast gulf between the two states. 

Also, especially in this day & age, one should NEVER turn down ANY opportunity at free training in ANYTHING one is even REMOTELY interested in.

mnem

[nixiefreqq]

got to wondering how hp DID did handle that extra digit in nixie voltmeters.

answer - with an array of incandescent backlight bulbs.

someone (really don't remember....maybe me?)  replaced some of them with colored led's in this unit.

[med6753]

While there is vast truth in this statement... both quantitatively and qualitatively... my honest reaction was more one of "Wait.... what...? You turned down an opportunity to get FREE training AND get paid for taking it?  izza matta wiff you...?!?"

You NEVER know what you might learn... there is no way anybody can know all there is to know about anything. Long after Basche "taught" me how to solder... I was given the chance to take a 3-week "Certified Soldering" seminar at the company's expense. While much of it WAS in fact old hat, I learned a LOT about the SCIENCE of soldering, where most of what I had was skill in the ART thereof. Trust me, there is a vast gulf between the two states. 

Also, especially in this day & age, one should NEVER turn down ANY opportunity at free training in ANYTHING one is even REMOTELY interested in.

mnem

Geez....you make it sound like I turned down the opportunity of a life time.  "Solder school" was something like a 2 hour class during work time.  And this was in the 1970's before SMT. It was all pin thru hole. What the hell were they gonna teach me that I didn't already know? Not much. 

[mnementh]

Geez....you make it sound like I turned down the opportunity of a life time.  "Solder school" was something like a 2 hour class during work time.  And this was in the 1970's before SMT. It was all pin thru hole. What the hell were they gonna teach me that I didn't already know? Not much. 

I dunno... maybe why a temp-controlled iron is important...? So you'd put away the firestarter and get a proper station... some time before somebody gave you one as a retirement gift in your old age...? 

mnem
*frantically looking about for my athletic cup or some similar form of armor*

[nixiefreqq]

well my $30 offer on that $45 hp 6227b just expired with no response from the seller.

thought he might at least counter offer at 35 or 40.

was my offer so low as to be offensive?  did not mean for that to happen.....thought it was just part of the bargaining process.