Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[bd139]

Todays acquisition:  Rohde & Schwarz ADS with Option B1 (Clock Generator). ETA 8. - 9. September

This is the beast:

Dammit you need to say when you're going to post pics like that, now I need a fresh pair of pants!   


Those Fluke 27's are £80 by the time you add on shipping and import duties, I'll pass.


Update on the Keithley 2000, new message from the seller:

I manage to finally see the money in may PayPal account as pending. I will dispatch the multimeter today.
Sorry again for this big delay.


And from PayPal:

Transaction ID: **********    
    Your parcel will be with you soon!   
    
***** ***** sent your parcel using Royal Mail.

Posting details
Carrier:   Royal Mail
Service type:   RM 2nd Class stamps
Posting status:   Sent
For more about your delivery, go to http://www.royalmail.com

Seller
***** *****
***** *****@yahoo.co.uk

Note to buyer
*****
*****
*****
*****
United Kingdom
Note to buyer
The seller hasn't sent a note




Description   Unit price   Qty   Amount
Item Name:Keithley 2000 Bench Digital Multimeter
Item Number *****
£251.00 GBP   1   £251.00 GBP
Subtotal   £251.00 GBP
Postage and packaging   £5.00 GBP
Insurance   £0.00 GBP
Tax   £0.00 GBP
Total   £256.00 GBP
Payment   £256.00 GBP

Custom:**********

I note the lack of insurance on the parcel... with a raised eyebrow and a half smile.
It's due 5/9-7/9, waiting with bated breath... what will arrive? A Keithley 2000 as described? A brick? A Keithley 2000 with a brick inserted? Nothing at all?

Stay tuned for our next unedifying episode of "DMMs and Numpties, can they coexist?"

LMAO. I spy a refund 

[Specmaster]

Dammit you need to say when you're going to post pics like that, now I need a fresh pair of pants!   


Those Fluke 27's are £80 by the time you add on shipping and import duties, I'll pass.


Update on the Keithley 2000, new message from the seller:

I manage to finally see the money in may PayPal account as pending. I will dispatch the multimeter today.
Sorry again for this big delay.


And from PayPal:

Transaction ID: **********    
    Your parcel will be with you soon!   
    
***** ***** sent your parcel using Royal Mail.

Posting details
Carrier:   Royal Mail
Service type:   RM 2nd Class stamps
Posting status:   Sent
For more about your delivery, go to http://www.royalmail.com

Seller
***** *****
***** *****@yahoo.co.uk

Note to buyer
*****
*****
*****
*****
United Kingdom
Note to buyer
The seller hasn't sent a note




Description   Unit price   Qty   Amount
Item Name:Keithley 2000 Bench Digital Multimeter
Item Number *****
£251.00 GBP   1   £251.00 GBP
Subtotal   £251.00 GBP
Postage and packaging   £5.00 GBP
Insurance   £0.00 GBP
Tax   £0.00 GBP
Total   £256.00 GBP
Payment   £256.00 GBP

Custom:**********

I note the lack of insurance on the parcel... with a raised eyebrow and a half smile.
It's due 5/9-7/9, waiting with bated breath... what will arrive? A Keithley 2000 as described? A brick? A Keithley 2000 with a brick inserted? Nothing at all?

Stay tuned for our next unedifying episode of "DMMs and Numpties, can they coexist?"

 

Changed your pants yet 

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you on the Keithley, good luck, we all expect loads of photos now after all this tension

[med6753]

Further down the chain in the 1A2 this is what happens to the waveform. What has been elusive so far is what is causing it. And it occurs on both channels which are separate circuits but obviously something in common. DC voltages so far are OK which would be common. Could be something in the switching circuit but so far has got me stumped.

But I won't give up. 

 

[tggzzz]

Changed your pants yet 

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you on the Keithley, good luck, we all expect loads of photos now after all this tension

I'm so tempted to send that vendor a message thanking him for providing us with so much entertainment

[Cerebus]

Why would you need a 25/27 pair  There is zero difference between a 25 and a 27 other than usually the colour (not strictly true, there are brown 27's) and 2 extra functions, REL and MIN/MAX, both of which are built into the 25 as the same boards are used in both meters, I'd rather have what I've got and that is a pair of 27's so if I want to monitor 2 rails for MIN/MAX performance, I can. 

What are you going to say next: "Why do you need another multimeter"? 

Around here one hardly needs a justification to extend one's collection. If I want to use "pair" as a flimsy pretext for another acquisition than I claim that as my right. [Fx: emoji of man crossing arms and dropping his chin in a "that's final" pose]

[Specmaster]

Why would you need a 25/27 pair  There is zero difference between a 25 and a 27 other than usually the colour (not strictly true, there are brown 27's) and 2 extra functions, REL and MIN/MAX, both of which are built into the 25 as the same boards are used in both meters, I'd rather have what I've got and that is a pair of 27's so if I want to monitor 2 rails for MIN/MAX performance, I can. 

What are you going to say next: "Why do you need another multimeter"? 

Around here one hardly needs a justification to extend one's collection. If I want to use "pair" as a flimsy pretext for another acquisition than I claim that as my right. [Fx: emoji of man crossing arms and dropping his chin in a "that's final" pose]

LMAO, actually I'm saying quite the reverse, lord knows I need no excuse to add a meter to my collection. But what I was saying, for the amount of difference between a 25 and a 27, I'd personally elect to go for a paid of 27s which are 25s in all but name and 2 extra functions, nothing complicated in that.

[tonyalbus]

That was just funny, well it made me feel good,  i just need to share....
i do a bidding on the dutch ebay 'marktplaats' , its was a reasonable bit, but not to high...
the guy responds ... 'Hey Tony its you, i watch your videos, for you, the offer is okey, i send it tomorrow' 
Nice seller, thank you ...that made me feel real good 

[tggzzz]

.... I'd personally elect to go for a paid of 27s which are 25s in all but name and 2 extra functions, nothing complicated in that.

The only difference is the buttons on the front panel; I've tested that

Mechanically, possibly the lowest tech way of upgrading would be drill holes in the case for small n/o momentary push buttons switches, and have flying wires going to either side of the printed pattern on the PCB.

[Neomys Sapiens]

Why would you need a 25/27 pair  There is zero difference between a 25 and a 27 other than usually the colour (not strictly true, there are brown 27's) and 2 extra functions, REL and MIN/MAX, both of which are built into the 25 as the same boards are used in both meters, I'd rather have what I've got and that is a pair of 27's so if I want to monitor 2 rails for MIN/MAX performance, I can. 

What are you going to say next: "Why do you need another multimeter"? 

Around here one hardly needs a justification to extend one's collection. If I want to use "pair" as a flimsy pretext for another acquisition than I claim that as my right. [Fx: emoji of man crossing arms and dropping his chin in a "that's final" pose]

Oh don't get me started. I have still to get rid of the THM560 and send BU508 his Nordmende to come below 30 again, yet I am eyeing a MetraMax 14. It is the same form factor as my MetraMax12, but RMS.

[Neomys Sapiens]

.... I'd personally elect to go for a paid of 27s which are 25s in all but name and 2 extra functions, nothing complicated in that.

The only difference is the buttons on the front panel; I've tested that

Mechanically, possibly the lowest tech way of upgrading would be drill holes in the case for small n/o momentary push buttons switches, and have flying wires going to either side of the printed pattern on the PCB.

That amounts to a PLANNED BODGE, which is a crime against instruments.

[Neomys Sapiens]

New video from The Signal Noise Path:

I just love him and his lab full of toys so much. Great YT channel, he deserves 1M sub.

Yes, +1 from here. But the topic is way too specialized and sophisticated to reach this. Even Dave doesn't have 1M subscribers.

Perhaps, if Shahriar would add such topics like polishing nails, what to wear on the next TEA meeting, new hairstyles etc ...

Edit:
He could also invite guests to his show, e.g. med6753 for the topic: "How to paint testequipement blue?" 

What is the use of polishing nails? When you hammer them in, they get marred again!

[bd139]

That was just funny, well it made me feel good,  i just need to share....
i do a bidding on the dutch ebay 'marktplaats' , its was a reasonable bit, but not to high...
the guy responds ... 'Hey Tony its you, i watch your videos, for you, the offer is okey, i send it tomorrow' 
Nice seller, thank you ...that made me feel real good 

That’s about 5000 more subscribers and you start getting that from vendors pushing their scopes on you (if you’re lucky) 

[Specmaster]

.... I'd personally elect to go for a paid of 27s which are 25s in all but name and 2 extra functions, nothing complicated in that.

The only difference is the buttons on the front panel; I've tested that

Mechanically, possibly the lowest tech way of upgrading would be drill holes in the case for small n/o momentary push buttons switches, and have flying wires going to either side of the printed pattern on the PCB.

Exactly that.

[AVGresponding]

.... I'd personally elect to go for a paid of 27s which are 25s in all but name and 2 extra functions, nothing complicated in that.

The only difference is the buttons on the front panel; I've tested that

Mechanically, possibly the lowest tech way of upgrading would be drill holes in the case for small n/o momentary push buttons switches, and have flying wires going to either side of the printed pattern on the PCB.

That amounts to a PLANNED BODGE, which is a crime against instruments.

Pfft, it's rat-look, and it's a crime against aesthetics.

[factory]

Today's delivery fail, a sample of Chinese number readout bulbs, the total lack of packaging resulted in bent pins and one being completely smashed. 



David

[Specmaster]

.... I'd personally elect to go for a paid of 27s which are 25s in all but name and 2 extra functions, nothing complicated in that.

The only difference is the buttons on the front panel; I've tested that

Mechanically, possibly the lowest tech way of upgrading would be drill holes in the case for small n/o momentary push buttons switches, and have flying wires going to either side of the printed pattern on the PCB.

That amounts to a PLANNED BODGE, which is a crime against instruments.

Pfft, it's rat-look, and it's a crime against aesthetics.

Agreed, hence why I said, I'd rather go for a pair of 27's.

[AVGresponding]

.... I'd personally elect to go for a paid of 27s which are 25s in all but name and 2 extra functions, nothing complicated in that.

The only difference is the buttons on the front panel; I've tested that

Mechanically, possibly the lowest tech way of upgrading would be drill holes in the case for small n/o momentary push buttons switches, and have flying wires going to either side of the printed pattern on the PCB.

That amounts to a PLANNED BODGE, which is a crime against instruments.

Pfft, it's rat-look, and it's a crime against aesthetics.

Agreed, hence why I said, I'd rather go for a pair of 27's.

I would have thought it a relatively simple task to reuse some buttons from a scrap tv etc remote.

[PA0PBZ]

Today's delivery fail, a sample of Chinese number readout bulbs, the total lack of packaging resulted in bent pins and one being completely smashed. 

Well, what can you expect for 0.78 GBP?

[med6753]

Still no fix on the Type 1A2 plug-in. Did some more static testing of diodes/transistors and everything seems OK. Got me stumped for now. Putting it away for now and the earliest I'll be able to get back to it is next week. No matter, it will keep.   

[mnementh]

Extrapolating your excellent idea further 

https://thesurrealist.co.uk/feedback?who=seller&quality=on&speed=on&packing=on&maxlen=80&mood=negative&vocab=frivolous

So far this is a winner: Immensely wretched quality! Notably disfigured packaging. Ever so late delivery.

mnem
 

[mnementh]

So stuck in a conference call this morning I didn't really need to be in so I drafted up a very high level design for the next project:      If anyone has any input on this let me know.

I want to produce a well documented, tested, fully open source and actually useful curve tracer adapter for analogue oscilloscopes. This will not be a Tek 576 or a toy but somewhere up the 576 end of usefulness. Objectively I want to use it to be able to look at normal BJT and zener breakdowns as well as the usual parameters which means 200V voltage compliance at least.

Edit: there ARE mistakes in the above and the current sampling is probably wrong. I'll deal with that when I get there

I'd totes build that. 

mnem
*currently enjoying that intergalactic illusion known as lunchtime*

[factory]

Today's delivery fail, a sample of Chinese number readout bulbs, the total lack of packaging resulted in bent pins and one being completely smashed. 

Well, what can you expect for 0.78 GBP?

Both the description* & declared value are wrong, they were just over £5 each.

David

*Unless they actually are a new type of fuse. 

[PA0PBZ]

Today's delivery fail, a sample of Chinese number readout bulbs, the total lack of packaging resulted in bent pins and one being completely smashed. 

Well, what can you expect for 0.78 GBP?

Both the description* & declared value are wrong, they were just over £5 each.

David

*Unless they actually are a new type of fuse. 

Individually tested of course.

[mnementh]

Today's delivery fail, a sample of Chinese number readout bulbs, the total lack of packaging resulted in bent pins and one being completely smashed. 

Well, what can you expect for 0.78 GBP?

Both the description* & declared value are wrong, they were just over £5 each.

David

*Unless they actually are a new type of fuse. 

Individually tested of course.

This is a case where you lead with a request for them to initiate a shipping insurance claim.  The assache factor will give you some small amount of leverage, and no small amount of satisfaction.

mnem
 

[bd139]

First real prototype for the curve tracer function generator works out of box



Look no breadboard



Right. That's probably that project shelved for 2 years now