Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[tautech]

Braved the ban on non-essential travel for the collection of a shipment of essential TEA for tautech the enabler. 
The traffic was a doddle. 

18 assorted scopes, some AWG's, PSU's, bench meters and spectrum analysers. 
Stock levels are good again for a while. 

[Ero-Shan]

I need advice (I probably need professional help too, but that's another subject). A local company is closing down, that I've done some contract work for. They've offered me their surplus component stock for a reasonable price, but I think I would only use certain components and I'd never use the quantities they're offering. Unfortunately, it's an "all-or-nothing" offer. So do I take the offer and try to sell on the unwanted components? This would mean having a garage full of components until I've sold off the surplus, or do I just let it go? Just for clarity, we're talking about reels of both passive and active devices (all SMD), mainly powersupply related stuff. Also, the reels are all past their commercial "best before" date, so they would only be useful to hobbyists.

Take or leave?

McBryce.

Now that's a tough one! As you already mentioned, selling the stuff to companies won't work, and offering to hobbyists means lots and lots of smallish packets with little profit for each. And lots of work. I remember that our company tried to sell surplus components several years ago to a dealer specializing in this. It never worked out. Then there's shops like Pollin that look like they offer exactly this kind of stuff. If you could sell it to one of them, you might get rid of all the surplus at once ...

But I think I wouldn't take it. A wheelbarrow load - certainly. But not a garage full.

[beanflying]

Number of DB9 gender changers thrown out in the last few years - several more than one.
Number of DB9 Gender changers found today when needed - NIL 

[Ero-Shan]

They've sent me a list of what they think is in the stock, so for example, there's 15,000 Zener diodes (from 3V up to 36V) , 12,000 Dual N-Channel MOSFETs (2N7002DW), lots of useful general purpose NPN/PNP transistors and tonnes of passive components. Things that I might use, but never in those volumes. Obviously no company would buy things like that from me, they have their own (certified) supply chains, but would I ever get rid of that many components to Hobbyists? From what I know about the company, they specialised in electronics and charging stations for e-scooters and e-bikes. As far as I can see, there doesn't seem to be much in the way of CPUs, although I did spot some SPI Flash ROM, that I could use, but again, not in the volumes they're offering.

No idea if this is doable, but how about a collaboration with one of these professional parts sellers from ebay?
E.g. this one: https://www.ebay.de/ulk/usr/zhoefler

No affiliations with that seller besides that in the past I've bought occasionly something from him.
The parts I got were good. I saw him at the HAM Radio in Friedrichshafen and at the UKW Tage in Weinheim
where they were selling stuff.

Amazingly, I've never come across that seller. Looks like a rather good option.

[McBryce]

I need advice (I probably need professional help too, but that's another subject). A local company is closing down, that I've done some contract work for. They've offered me their surplus component stock for a reasonable price, but I think I would only use certain components and I'd never use the quantities they're offering. Unfortunately, it's an "all-or-nothing" offer. So do I take the offer and try to sell on the unwanted components? This would mean having a garage full of components until I've sold off the surplus, or do I just let it go? Just for clarity, we're talking about reels of both passive and active devices (all SMD), mainly powersupply related stuff. Also, the reels are all past their commercial "best before" date, so they would only be useful to hobbyists.

Take or leave?

McBryce.

Now that's a tough one! As you already mentioned, selling the stuff to companies won't work, and offering to hobbyists means lots and lots of smallish packets with little profit for each. And lots of work. I remember that our company tried to sell surplus components several years ago to a dealer specializing in this. It never worked out. Then there's shops like Pollin that look like they offer exactly this kind of stuff. If you could sell it to one of them, you might get rid of all the surplus at once ...

But I think I wouldn't take it. A wheelbarrow load - certainly. But not a garage full.

I haven't completely dropped the idea just yet. I've got them to agree that I don't take absolutely everything and I'm also working on getting the price down. I offered to go over later this week and do some sorting with them and bring the total mass down to the size of two pallets or less. They need to vacate the building as soon as possible, so time equals money. I've taken some of the components home already and I'll offer them here to start with. To lessen the workload I think I'll only offer parts in batches of 100. Profit isn't really my goal here, I just hate to see such massive waste of perfectly good components.

McBryce.

[Brumby]

Number of DB9 gender changers thrown out in the last few years - several more than one.
Number of DB9 Gender changers found today when needed - NIL 

Murphy is alive and well.   

[bd139]

Don't forget the mysterious gender bender bender who ensures you never have the right gender bender for the job by changing what ones you thought you had on the fly 

[med6753]

Number of DB9 gender changers thrown out in the last few years - several more than one.
Number of DB9 Gender changers found today when needed - NIL 

Murphy is alive and well.   

No, It's Murphy's sister: Karma. 

[Brumby]

My mistake.

That does fit Mr "Enabler" much better.   

[beanflying]

My mistake.

That does fit Mr "Enabler" much better.   

I did find the DB9 connector stash after some searching so tomorrows job is a cut and shut on a MF cable. Things being well my 34401A might talk to the PC without an adapter  https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/help-need-keysight-34461a-dmm-data-logging-to-xl/msg2986942/#msg2986942

[Brumby]

OK.  We'll just call you lucky .... I can handle that.

I can handle that because my 3478A has landed in Australia and cleared customs!!   

It has now entered the scope of local Australia Post tracking.  Last event was arriving at a facility in Sydney late this afternoon, which means it might turn up in 2-3 days.   

[beanflying]

Hope you are luckier than me with the current Blackhole of Sydney Post a parcel dropped in to Carlingford hasn't moved since last Monday 

Lockdown dining tonight. There was Rice and steamed Veg but they were a sideline for the Porkiness  Hoisin, Garlic, Ginger, Soy, Rice wine, Lemon and a glug of Sriracha for heat.

[exor]

Hope you are luckier than me with the current Blackhole of Sydney Post a parcel dropped in to Carlingford hasn't moved since last Monday 

Lockdown dining tonight. There was Rice and steamed Veg but they were a sideline for the Porkiness  Hoisin, Garlic, Ginger, Soy, Rice wine, Lemon and a glug of Sriracha for heat.

Looks good! You can’t go wrong with those ingredients!

[Brumby]

Hope you are luckier than me with the current Blackhole of Sydney Post a parcel dropped in to Carlingford hasn't moved since last Monday 

No tracking events doesn't necessarily mean no movement.  I've had 4 days of nothing then 3 events in the last 12 hours before delivery.

Then, I've seen an item go from Sydney to Perth via Darwin (where it circled a couple of times over a period of a week).

[grizewald]

Hmmm...

That Datron 1281 I'm looking at has gone up to 5600kr (£450).

What do you TEA addicts reckon a dead (but probably easy to fix) Datron 1281 is worth?

[BU508A]

Hmmm...

That Datron 1281 I'm looking at has gone up to 5600kr (£450).

What do you TEA addicts reckon a dead (but probably easy to fix) Datron 1281 is worth?

Depends on lots of things and not easy to say, imo.
What is the history of it?
Could it be, that the failure has caused secondary failures?
Is the cal-data gone?

My guts-feeling is: I wouldn't pay much more than 600 - 700 Euro.

[factory]

Does anyone here have a HP3400A that they are willing to crack open and check something for me?

When I opened the meter to replace the power socket, I discovered that several of the wires in the power harness had broken free.  I also found an apparent difference between the schematic and the wiring. Here are my two questions:

1. There are two black wires in the harness. One is connected to the 115/230 VAC switch. Is the other connected to the center post of the power socket?

2. There is a sprague ceramic capacitor (three leads, two capacitors with a common lead in one package) across the power socket. Is the center lead connected to the center post of the power socket?

1). Just opened up a UK made 1969 vintage one and it only has a black wire to the ground of the power socket, NO black wire on the voltage switch. 

2). Yes the middle lead of the dual Sprague capacitor also goes to the ground of the power connector.

Will add some pictures later, got a second one to look at as well, which needs the power connector changing anyway (I have a NOS replacement).

David

[McBryce]

So this morning (before having enough coffee), I accidentally blew my Hao Qi Xin voltage reference by connecting it to the wrong charger. It now no longer charges or turns on (even after manually charging the Lipo back up). Is there a schematic floating around for this device, or is it not worth repairing, ie: cheaper to buy a new one?

McBryce.

[Cerebus]

I need advice (I probably need professional help too, but that's another subject). A local company is closing down, that I've done some contract work for. They've offered me their surplus component stock for a reasonable price, but I think I would only use certain components and I'd never use the quantities they're offering. Unfortunately, it's an "all-or-nothing" offer. So do I take the offer and try to sell on the unwanted components? This would mean having a garage full of components until I've sold off the surplus, or do I just let it go? Just for clarity, we're talking about reels of both passive and active devices (all SMD), mainly powersupply related stuff. Also, the reels are all past their commercial "best before" date, so they would only be useful to hobbyists.

Take or leave?

McBryce.

Now that's a tough one! As you already mentioned, selling the stuff to companies won't work, and offering to hobbyists means lots and lots of smallish packets with little profit for each. And lots of work. I remember that our company tried to sell surplus components several years ago to a dealer specializing in this. It never worked out. Then there's shops like Pollin that look like they offer exactly this kind of stuff. If you could sell it to one of them, you might get rid of all the surplus at once ...

But I think I wouldn't take it. A wheelbarrow load - certainly. But not a garage full.

I haven't completely dropped the idea just yet. I've got them to agree that I don't take absolutely everything and I'm also working on getting the price down. I offered to go over later this week and do some sorting with them and bring the total mass down to the size of two pallets or less. They need to vacate the building as soon as possible, so time equals money. I've taken some of the components home already and I'll offer them here to start with. To lessen the workload I think I'll only offer parts in batches of 100. Profit isn't really my goal here, I just hate to see such massive waste of perfectly good components.

McBryce.

Remember that in all this, if they don't dispose of it before they move then: (1) it all goes in a skip, (2) they have to pay someone to take it away. Bottom line for them is that someone taking it away for free is still financially better than not having someone who wants to take it away.

[factory]

Same here, they would have had to pay for a skip and taken time out of production to fill it (or pay a contractor to do the same).

David

[McBryce]

That's the main bargaining argument I'm using, but they already have several skips to get rid of other stuff, so they may already have enough capacity for the components without extra cost. I'll know more on Wednesday.

Regarding my question above (voltage reference that I blew the ass off). Are there any better recommendations that I should buy instead, now that I no longer have a reference?

McBryce.

[Specmaster]

Hmmm...

That Datron 1281 I'm looking at has gone up to 5600kr (£450).

What do you TEA addicts reckon a dead (but probably easy to fix) Datron 1281 is worth?

Ni, I'd keep the money in my pocket, there's going to be bigger and better bargains coming along with the current lockdown beginning to bite for some people.

[grizewald]

Hmmm...

That Datron 1281 I'm looking at has gone up to 5600kr (£450).

What do you TEA addicts reckon a dead (but probably easy to fix) Datron 1281 is worth?

Depends on lots of things and not easy to say, imo.
What is the history of it?
Could it be, that the failure has caused secondary failures?
Is the cal-data gone?

My guts-feeling is: I wouldn't pay much more than 600 - 700 Euro.

That's good advice. Thanks!

I asked the seller about it and it turns out that it used to belong to the place where he worked and he bought it from them when it died the first time and brought it back to life by replacing the smoothing capacitors on the supply rails.
Calibration data may still be there, but there's a sticker on the back saying the battery should have been changed two years ago, which is a little worrying as calibration for an 8.5 digit meter is going to be very, very expensive.

Looking around, I see that people pay silly money - like €2300 for a faulty 1281, but that's way out of my league. I'll see if I can snipe it with a last second maximum bid for 8000kr, but that's my limit, both in terms of risk and available funds.

Still, it would be nice to have a proper volt nut meter and I could maybe sell on the 7061 to make up some of the cost.

[Cerebus]

Don't forget the mysterious gender bender bender who ensures you never have the right gender bender for the job by changing what ones you thought you had on the fly 

That's Andrew Logan channelling the spirit of Derek Jarman come to fuck with your straight mind by climbing through your window, wearing a pink tutu and a nun's veil, and out again while you're out of the room. You'll know if it's him if you're lucky enough to find one of his hand sculpted 26 pin D connectors in purple and gold lamé.

[BU508A]

So this morning (before having enough coffee), I accidentally blew my Hao Qi Xin voltage reference by connecting it to the wrong charger. It now no longer charges or turns on (even after manually charging the Lipo back up). Is there a schematic floating around for this device, or is it not worth repairing, ie: cheaper to buy a new one?

Do you mean one of those?

https://www.markhennessy.co.uk/ad584_references/