Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[bd139]

Didn't have one for being married 

[mnementh]

I didn't have one for surviving being "young & dumb and fulla cum"; now I'm old & fat & tore up from the floor up. 

For me, marriage has been the wildcard that made the "old age & treachery" stage possible. 

mnem
"To become old and wise, one must first survive being young and stupid." ~mom

[psykok]

When you order a faulty scope for cheap from someone who doesn't care at all, you get that


Unfortunately one of the trimmer is completely dead.
The second one I was able to get it straight again without braking the tube.

[bd139]

That's what's known as a refund opportunity 

[AVGresponding]

When you order a faulty scope for cheap from someone who doesn't care at all, you get that
(Attachment Link)

Unfortunately one of the trimmer is completely dead.
The second one I was able to get it straight again without braking the tube.

That's what's known as a refund opportunity 

Ugh...

Bear in mind there are wankers unscrupulous sellers that will use every trick in the book to avoid facing responsibility. Don't let them get away with it, fight the good fight for your butt-hurt brethren!

[med6753]

When you order a faulty scope for cheap from someone who doesn't care at all, you get that
(Attachment Link)

Unfortunately one of the trimmer is completely dead.inadequte
The second one I was able to get it straight again without braking the tube.

That control ALWAYS gets bent on 465/475 because it's way up there in the corner by itself and easily whacked. And inadequate packaging will always get it. 

I have found in most cases it can be carefully bent back and luckily I have a few spare knobs.

[Mr. Scram]

When the choice is to ship with Hermes or UPS, which one do you pick?

Remember this one? I ended up going with UPS. Today I heard a van pull up and idle. I peeked out of the window just in time to see the UPS guy grab the package from the van with a big swooping motion, fumble and half catch and half drop it on the street from what must have been around 2 metres.  That's what you get when you're in a hurry and probably don't really care about what you do. The contents of the package seem to be okay,  though.

[xrunner]

I  your perseverance to help the poor thing live again. It's quite a zoo in there, but the progress is good.

Thanks. The ham friend that asked me to repair the IG-18 uses it a lot because he likes to repair radios called BC 348s -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BC-348

This is a pic I took of his stack of those anchors -



He's pretty excited that I got it to the point it is today. After thinking about options for mounting the new pot, I think all I need to do is 3D print a custom bushing to mate the outside dia. of the new pot to the inside dia. of the mounting plate on the switch.

After that I'll do a little more cleaning and it'll be good to go. 

[bd139]

When the choice is to ship with Hermes or UPS, which one do you pick?

Remember this one? I ended up going with UPS. Today I heard a van pull up and idle. I peeked out of the window just in time to see the UPS guy grab the package from the van with a big swooping motion, fumble and half catch and half drop it on the street from what must have been around 2 metres.  The contents seem to be okay,  though.

That's 1/10th of the damage that was sustained at the depot 

When you order a faulty scope for cheap from someone who doesn't care at all, you get that
(Attachment Link)

Unfortunately one of the trimmer is completely dead.inadequte
The second one I was able to get it straight again without braking the tube.

That control ALWAYS gets bent on 465/475 because it's way up there in the corner by itself and easily whacked. And inadequate packaging will always get it. 

I have found in most cases it can be carefully bent back and luckily I have a few spare knobs.

Yeah I've had at least three which were wonky but none quite that bad or damaged.

I am done now though. No more Teks 

I am keeping this picture only so I can nod approvingly at two wrecks saved and then close it again.

[Specmaster]

When the choice is to ship with Hermes or UPS, which one do you pick?

Remember this one? I ended up going with UPS. Today I heard a van pull up and idle. I peeked out of the window just in time to see the UPS guy grab the package from the van with a big swooping motion, fumble and half catch and half drop it on the street from what must have been around 2 metres.  That's what you get when you're in a hurry and probably don't really care about what you do. The contents of the package seem to be okay,  though.

Thats the benefit from having adequate packaging to take the knocks and absorb the impacts.

[tggzzz]

When you order a faulty scope for cheap from someone who doesn't care at all, you get that
(Attachment Link)

Unfortunately one of the trimmer is completely dead.
The second one I was able to get it straight again without braking the tube.

I've had that.

The clarostats are available; I might even have a spare one available somewhere. Let me know the Tek part number xxx-xxxx-xx.

[med6753]

When you order a faulty scope for cheap from someone who doesn't care at all, you get that
(Attachment Link)

Unfortunately one of the trimmer is completely dead.inadequte
The second one I was able to get it straight again without braking the tube.

That control ALWAYS gets bent on 465/475 because it's way up there in the corner by itself and easily whacked. And inadequate packaging will always get it. 

I have found in most cases it can be carefully bent back and luckily I have a few spare knobs.

Yeah I've had at least three which were wonky but none quite that bad or damaged.

I am done now though. No more Teks 

I am keeping this picture only so I can nod approvingly at two wrecks saved and then close it again.

Currently on the torture rack. Rotate them around so they all get up time even if I don't need them for a project. Keeps them healthy. 

[bd139]

Looking good 

[med6753]

And next week I'll pull them down and probably put up the 475A and the 485.


Edit, and as soon as I cure all the fireworks in the Type 561B it will get it's turn "on the rack" (It will fit) 

[Mr. Scram]

Thats the benefit from having adequate packaging to take the knocks and absorb the impacts.

I asked the seller for good packaging and he delivered. Can't complain about that.

[mansaxel]

"With most of these instruments, I should be able to measure the line voltage with sufficient accuracy. "

 

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/show-us-your-mains-waveform!/?all

That's a fun thread. Some really sick waveforms. Of course, I had to post my waveforms, because I've got a scope(meter) that happily goes and measures it, and because I've got something noone else seems to have at home, real alternating current made for induction motors without rolled-up foil-and-paper bombs for twisting phase...

[psykok]

That's what's known as a refund opportunity 

Non refund option where I bought the scope.


The bnc connector of the ch1 also got a hit


Apart of all these issues, the scope is back to life after changing one of the big PSU cap

[med6753]

That's what's known as a refund opportunity 

Non refund option where I bought the scope.


The bnc connector of the ch1 also got a hit
(Attachment Link)


Apart of all these issues, the scope is back to life after changing one of the big PSU cap

If I recall correctly QService in Greece has them. I have several spares.

And also if I recall correctly they are a real pain in the ass to change out. 

[edavid]

TEA battery gurus, here's one for you. I am working on an HP 208A test oscillator. This is a cute little battery powered sine oscillator mainly for audio frequencies (but covers up to about 560 kHz) that is a bit of a unicorn. Pat (Cubdriver) was able to track down a manual for it, and it's now on the usual manual sites. Basically, the only function of the mains power in this instrument is to trickle charge the batteries when plugged in (charging current is adjustable with a pot on the power supply board). The instrument does not function without batteries, and mine has had the batteries removed. It calls for 4 6.5 volt NiCads. What would be a suitable modern replacement?

Well, you need a shunt regulator with a capacitor across it.  Here's what I did for some HP 204Cs:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/oscillator-not-working-right-(hp-204c)/msg1230441/#msg1230441

[mnementh]

   When you order a faulty scope for cheap from someone who doesn't care at all, you get that. Unfortunately one of the trimmer is completely dead. The second one I was able to get it straight again without braking the tube.

    https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/test-equipment-anonymous-(tea)-group-therapy-thread/msg2364543/#msg2364543

Yeah, being paranoid about JUST THAT kind of mauling is why I spent 2 daze making this cover for the 454 I sent bitseeker. 

mnem
No regrets.

[GreyWoolfe]

mnem
"To become old and wise, one must first survive being young and stupid." ~mom

"Wisdom comes from experience and experience comes from bad decisions."  ~GreyWoolfe

Based on the decisions of painting 2 rooms, bedroom and large walk in closet area( including concrete floor and ceiling) as a prelude to moving my office from the crappy addition built on the back of the house by the 3 stooges to actually now being in the house under air con instead of a window unit.  We won't mention the fact that I farkin' hate painting.  NO, we won't.

[bitseeker]

The ham friend that asked me to repair the IG-18 uses it a lot because he likes to repair radios called BC 348s -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BC-348

This is a pic I took of his stack of those anchors -

(Attachment Link)

Woah! That's quite a stack of some interesting looking radios. I thought it looked like the inside of a WWII aircraft. I wasn't too far off.

[bitseeker]

   When you order a faulty scope for cheap from someone who doesn't care at all, you get that. Unfortunately one of the trimmer is completely dead. The second one I was able to get it straight again without braking the tube.

   https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/test-equipment-anonymous-(tea)-group-therapy-thread/msg2364564/?topicseen#msg2364564

Yeah, being paranoid about JUST THAT kind of mauling is why I spent 2 daze making this cover for the 454 I sent bitseeker. 

mnem
No regrets.

I second that. The most awesome scope cover. Ever.

Meanwhile, I got a pack of BNC covers so the other connectors don't get too jealous.

[bitseeker]

mnem
"To become old and wise, one must first survive being young and stupid." ~mom

"Wisdom comes from experience and experience comes from bad decisions."  ~GreyWoolfe

The version I remember goes, "Wisdom comes from experience, and experience comes from lack of wisdom."

[0culus]

"There's three kinds of people. Those that learn by watching someone else, those that learn themselves, and then there's the guy who has to pee on the electric fence!"