Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[AVGresponding]

So I can add to my knowledge of German humour. I knew about schadenfreude, now I've seen Drachenlecke
 

[Specmaster]

Is anyone familiar with select-test.com?  They have a couple of bench multimeters listed on fleabay that would fit in my needs category.
They look rough cosmetically, so I expect a low ball offer would be in order.  Supposedly they are working.  Part of the interest is that I could almost go in person, rather than getting them shipped.
Any advice/coaching as I embark on used TEA?  My past acquisitions have been from very reliable sources, so this is new territory for me.

HP 3468B:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AGILENT-HP-3468B-5-5-DIGIT-BENCH-MULTIMETER-DMM-LOOK-REF-995G/202981521137?hash=item2f42a436f1:g:y4oAAOSwhIRerrQc

HP 3478A:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/AGILENT-HP-3478A-5-DIGIT-2-4-WIRE-BENCHTOP-MULTIMETER-LOOK-REF-257G/202982992412?epid=2254324634&hash=item2f42baaa1c:g:oBYAAOSwR6lesTaX

I need to move somewhat quickly.  SWMBO's brother is getting rid of an above-ground pool to get a spa instead.  We are getting the pool for free, but budgets are going to tighten up once SWMBO realizes installation is going to cost in the $1000CAD ballpark.  It is certainly not free considering the sweat I put in to disassemble it and load it into a trailer...

That 3478A would def be high on my list; mine is a joy to use and that one comes with GPIB and 30-day warranty. Yeah, it's a bit ugly... but nothing a little TLC and some printed plastic wouldn't make right nice in half a jiffy. 

Don't forget to hunt up some decent UNSHROUDED 4mm plug test leads; those are a bit on the scarce side anymore.

[EDIT] You might want to look into this [FLUKE] 45 they have if it'll serve your needs; a bit newer, VFD looks half-decent, dual-display and RS-232: eBay auction: #202983024562

mnem
 

When it comes to leads, you can get normal shrouded ones and just trim the shroud off with a decent craft knife, job done.

[AVGresponding]

When it comes to leads, you can get normal shrouded ones and just trim the shroud off with a decent craft knife, job done.

But then you can only use them in unshrouded sockets. Since good quality retracting sheath leads are only £15-25 depending on brand (Pomona and Probe Master are the two I can think of, off the top of my head), why bother?

[Specmaster]

Med, you want to upgrade your HeathKit oscilloscope calibrator ? 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/114244159119?ViewI

Ahem. 

Ahh my mistake I was sure you had the IG-4505.

No, that would be me 

[Zucca]

June TEA is started:

Just won it:



for 107 eu shipped.

meh....

[Specmaster]

When it comes to leads, you can get normal shrouded ones and just trim the shroud off with a decent craft knife, job done.

But then you can only use them in unshrouded sockets. Since good quality retracting sheath leads are only £15-25 depending on brand (Pomona and Probe Master are the two I can think of, off the top of my head), why bother?

No, you can still use them in both shrouded and unshrouded safely. I have some unshrouded ones that are perfectly happy when used in my Flukes, 8840A and 8842A, Black Star 4503 and my hand held Flukes and other meters or in the unshrouded 7150's, 3468A and the 1905A and I don't have any exposed plug pins.

[Ice-Tea]

The TEA in tomorrow's Ramco auction already has some interesting bid prices...

A Fluke 85 multimeter for £85+uplift
Several used Isotech 100MHz scopes for £55+uplift

I wonder where they will end up?!

Quite a few Racal Dana 1998 counters around £30, HP34401 ("Archived") for £150. And shitloads of crap.

Guess I should be happy we don't have something like that in Germany. At least I'm not aware of it.

Wonder what that is about..

[Neomys Sapiens]

The TEA in tomorrow's Ramco auction already has some interesting bid prices...

A Fluke 85 multimeter for £85+uplift
Several used Isotech 100MHz scopes for £55+uplift

I wonder where they will end up?!

Quite a few Racal Dana 1998 counters around £30, HP34401 ("Archived") for £150. And shitloads of crap.

Guess I should be happy we don't have something like that in Germany. At least I'm not aware of it.

https://www.vebeg.de/web/de/start/index.htm

[Neomys Sapiens]

An update on the mini-tracer: I got the circuit out. Looks baaad.
Unfortunately, the camera that was at hand won't focus on it. Will try another tomorrow.

[worsthorse]

An update on the mini-tracer: I got the circuit out. Looks baaad.
Unfortunately, the camera that was at hand won't focus on it. Will try another tomorrow.

Yikes. It looks bad out of focus, it must really look bad IRL.   

[mnementh]

But what if happens something like this?   

That's cousin Imogene. She lost her sense of taste to a Synesthesia Bomb in the Condiment Wars; hasn't been right since. med would definitely get along with her. 

mnem
"Tastes like frustration and 10.00002MHz."

[mnementh]

Never going to sleep again after seeing that 

Either am I. What has been seen cannot be unseen. 

I could always give her your address... 

So I can add to my knowledge of German humour. I knew about schadenfreude, now I've seen Drachenlecke   

No comment. 

mnem
};=)~~~~<

[mnementh]

That 3478A would def be high on my list; mine is a joy to use and that one comes with GPIB and 30-day warranty. Yeah, it's a bit ugly... but nothing a little TLC and some printed plastic wouldn't make right nice in half a jiffy. 

Don't forget to hunt up some decent UNSHROUDED 4mm plug test leads; those are a bit on the scarce side anymore.

[EDIT] You might want to look into this [FLUKE] 45 they have if it'll serve your needs; a bit newer, VFD looks half-decent, dual-display and RS-232: eBay auction: #202983024562

mnem
 

When it comes to leads, you can get normal shrouded ones and just trim the shroud off with a decent craft knife, job done.

Two problems with that:
1) The shroud is part of the dielectric rating of the plug. You decrease the live safety factor to that of a ~4mm air gap vs that of a ~4mm air gap PLUS the dielectric of the boot.

2) When you do that with the 3478A, you wind up fuckerizing a perfectly good set of leads for no good reason, as they won't make proper contact with the deep jacks on the 3478A and you still wind up needing to shop for a proper set of leads for it.

mnem

[mnementh]

Quick heads-Up for all you Futtinna'ed Interplanetary FPS Fans: Borderlands 2 Bundle now FREE via Epic Games: https://www.epicgames.com/store/en-US/bundles/borderlands-the-handsome-collection



mnem

Yeah I'm not taking that for free 

In all honesty, it's been so long I don't even remember anymore. I feel that way about most FPS games; actually. 

mnem

[Specmaster]

An update on the mini-tracer: I got the circuit out. Looks baaad.
Unfortunately, the camera that was at hand won't focus on it. Will try another tomorrow.

Increase the ambient lighting will greatly improve the focusing.

[Neomys Sapiens]

And here is the adjustment pattern of the TVC501. During the next days I will try a oscillator measurement, but so far it looks fine.
But my bad karma seems to persist. First, I tried to save a screenshot to the FDD on the TDS644. Got 'internal storage error'. When I tried to format it, more of the same, then the screen did go dark.At least it came back after a reboot. But that seems like a major feature failure on that scope.
Well, this WILL accellerate the scope question as discussed last saturday.

[VK5RC]

Uphand.
 I need to rest my forearm to get a smoother controlled movement, I used oxy-acet as a younger lad - tig is a bit different from that.
I haven't got the foot pedal going yet, I am flat out keeping the handpiece and filler rod under control, I think the pedal will be helpful in the long run.

Certainly being comfortable and relaxed is the key to most welding and sometimes a leather gauntlet on the handpiece hand allows the lower arm to be rested against the workpiece without the fear of the hots !

Pedals are great for getting up to heat but you want their zero position to still supply enough grunt so you can get off it when you get going. Otherwise you're doing the hand foot dance which impacts on being properly relaxed.
Setting the pedal is a bit fiddly initially but with some experience you can get the zero 'extra' setting close most times.
Have fun !

Thanks for those tips, I am figuring it will take me a while to get just the hands/brain sorted, it is hard not to pull away to 'cool things off' like you can with oxy-acet.
👍

[bitseeker]

When it comes to leads, you can get normal shrouded ones and just trim the shroud off with a decent craft knife, job done.

But then you can only use them in unshrouded sockets. Since good quality retracting sheath leads are only £15-25 depending on brand (Pomona and Probe Master are the two I can think of, off the top of my head), why bother?

Agreed. I got Probe Master probes with retracting sheath leads. Works great on a variety of DMMs with different types of jacks: HP 3456A, 3469A, 3478A, 34401A, 34410A; Fluke 8100A; Keithley 196, 2700.

[beanflying]

No TEA for me today but I had a fairly expensive Ruida 6445G Laser controller and front panel arrive. Under a week from China so  and shove that up your Clacker UPS - still waiting for PCB's for 4 weeks from the USA

And what did I do with but TAKE IT APART before even putting power to it.

Lots of Quality goodies under the hood and looks well laid out and sensible in design. Only here if it interests some and those it doesn't please move on 

[nixiefreqq]

[/quote]


[/quote]

just poked my nose in to see what was goin' on.

YIKES!!!

you guys sailed too far and have fallen over the edge!

i am outta' here.

[Specmaster]

Well. so far I can't complain about the service from Hermes, certainly in terms of speed nor keeping me updated. The Avo Model 8 Mk5, I purchased last Friday, was taken to their collection shop in Wellington on Saturday and the tracking just keeps on being updated and the latest is that it will be with me this evening. Only 2 questions remain at this point, 1 did the seller securely package this up to survive the journey, he assures me that he did. Second, will Hermes manage to deliver it to in one piece, that being said, our delivery driver is very diligent and so has always succeeded in doing that, and she seems to be a quite nice person who takes a pride in her job 

[Specmaster]

No TEA for me today but I had a fairly expensive Ruida 6445G Laser controller and front panel arrive. Under a week from China so  and shove that up your Clacker UPS - still waiting for PCB's for 4 weeks from the USA

And what did I do with but TAKE IT APART before even putting power to it.

Lots of Quality goodies under the hood and looks well laid out and sensible in design. Only here if it interests some and those it doesn't please move on 

Those boards look to be well-made with some decent Chinese workmanship, time will tell when you install it.

[beanflying]

Should be fine they produce the best and most featured of the Chinese designed and origin boards for Lasers and this one has been out in the wild for nearly a year. There is surprisingly little technical info out there on them and are generally treated as a black box by the industry. The Manual SUXS but that is to be expected I guess. 

[xrunner]

I get up to this? 

Talk about images I can never "erase". That's just ... wrong. 

just poked my nose in to see what was goin' on.

YIKES!!!

you guys sailed too far and have fallen over the edge!

i am outta' here.

[Zucca]

Yesterday installed Ubuntu on USB drive to salvage data on a broken Mac HDD and copy them to a FAT32 windows external drive.

It was funny.