Does anybody know what thread HP/Agilent used on the terminal strips on the back of various power supplies (the ones you use for sense and for strapping the remote options)? Are they all the same, or is there an 'imperial era' and a 'metric era'?
I've been meaning to acquire a little stock of some suitable pan head screws for a while. Although I could whip out a few and measure them, I'd like to account for various vintages (should I need to) and I don't have a broad enough range of ages of kit to be confident that I've covered all the bases.
I've checked one of the screws from the terminal strip on the Harrison/HP 6209A power supply, it's #5x40 UNC, maybe some of the higher power units use a larger size, but I haven't got any to check nor any of the Agilent ones.
![](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/test-equipment-anonymous-(tea)-group-therapy-thread/?action=dlattach;attach=883966)
David
Hello,
XMAS bakery is nearly done. Eight out of twelve (thirteen)¹ are nearly finished,
tomorrow the rest will be baked and the topping should be done by Friday.
![Phew :phew:](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/phew.gif)
Here are two examples, just for the fun.
![Cheesy :D](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/cheesy.gif)
These are vanilla-flavoured crescent cookies:
![](https://i.imgur.com/keXCW1i.jpg)
And these are Espresso sphere cookies:
![](https://i.imgur.com/Qd6Rl4h.jpg)
And now the round thing (me) must see the angled thing (bed)
¹ the thirteenth kind will be something experimental. Will show a picture when it's finished.
X25 was one of the red ones? They are better than the XS25 again. The XS25 had literally just come out when I got it ![Laughing :-DD](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/smiley_laughing.gif)
Yes, it is red. In what way is it better?
The cable on mine is becomng a little stiff, but the neon in the 13A mains plug still works. (That was the best "you've left it on" indicator available in the mid 70s!).
This site rather likes it: https://www.petervis.com/Electronics_Tools/antex-x25/antex-x25.html "Today, the X25 is highly desirable, and many engineers are looking to find one."
![Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread 884006-0](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=81471.0;attach=884008;image)
Mine is a Weller, I had one like Med's before that, but that's been thoroughly forgotten. My father has a hob-heated one somewhere.
I did exchange the cable for silicone mains flex, because I too well know the "bacon experience" that BD139 wrote about. It's done its fair share of emergency stuff in strange entertainment situations. Now, I've got an Ersa on the bench and a TS100 in the toolcase.
Edit: Yes, it is fairly new; I lost the original one in a theft while traveling for work, so then-current employer paid for a new set of tools. But I got everything as close as possible to the things I did lose.
All this talk of fire stick soldering irons makes me wonder:
How many of us learned to not catch a falling soldering iron by catching a falling soldering iron. Once...
(Raises Hand)
Antex XS25 here.
Inherited one from the father in law, a great little firestick and now my preferred 'away from the bench' iron. ![Smiley :)](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/smiley.gif)
1.) Edsyn CL1280 (70W) cont. variable
2.) Ersa TC70 (70W) cont. variable
3.) Weller W-61C (~60W) Magnastat
4.) Ersa Isotyp 20/25 (25W) unregulated, but isolated! And yes, I have used it in this capacity once or twice.
5.) Edsyn CL2180 (20W) somehow regulated (PTC?) and isolated with small wall wart
All this talk of fire stick soldering irons makes me wonder:
How many of us learned to not catch a falling soldering iron by catching a falling soldering iron. Once...
(Raises Hand)
I learned not to catch marbles that broke off of punties that way...
-Pat
I learnt not to solder in shorts! Ooooooooooo - it still hurts!
Gee......I've been known to be clumsy at times but never, ever, have I dropped a hot soldering iron.
![Phew :phew:](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/phew.gif)
My specialty is getting buzzed off of 120VAC.
When I did my intermediate amateur radio course I fell over the cord of the lowest bidding firestick vendor with my massive boot clad feet, it shot off the table and nearly burned a hole in the carpet. It will happen to all of us. One day
I learnt not to solder in shorts! Ooooooooooo - it still hurts!
Who was is that claimed they wiped off their iron on the front of their pants...
Ah! Here is is:
I've always used a sponge or the front of my jeans when in the field.
Playing with the high resistance meter and some Russian Glass 1T Ohm resistors, I found it necessary to build a shielded test enclosure to connect the guard.
Short video showing how necessary and effective it is;
Uuhhhh, guys..I either have to do some cleanup or I need to call an exorcist - my bench just ate a shunt!