Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[0culus]

I stuck another 'scope on the +75Vdc line coming off the Type 81 plug-in adapter, and whattyaknow, more than 1 volt p-p ripple. I'd say that 4 element can is a goner. Pat, any re-stuffing hints? Given how tight quarters the adapter us, I'd rather try my hand at stuffing new caps in the can which will ensure everything fits.

Bingo! 

Yep! I think it was clear that it had to be the problem, but this is proof. 

[0culus]

If all else fails, get a bigger torch! 

Some of the better makes of test leads actually use welded joints to connect the wire to the plugs. I'm curious as to how they achieve this. The immediate thought is resistance welding, until you think a bit more and realise that attempting to resistance weld relatively thick copper cable to solid brass connectors isn't going to be massively successful!

Exogenous welds with a teeny tiny tig torch?

Explosive welding? 

If anybody actually knows I'd be curious as to how it's done.

Hmmm, it might be akin to the welding process that was used to assemble the Apollo Guidance Computer. NASA had (wisely) decided solder wasn't going to be suitable for riding a rocket, so all the components are welded in (and potted).

[med6753]

I stuck another 'scope on the +75Vdc line coming off the Type 81 plug-in adapter, and whattyaknow, more than 1 volt p-p ripple. I'd say that 4 element can is a goner. Pat, any re-stuffing hints? Given how tight quarters the adapter us, I'd rather try my hand at stuffing new caps in the can which will ensure everything fits.

Bingo! 

Yep! I think it was clear that it had to be the problem, but this is proof. 

I wish my Type 1A2 was an easy fix as yours. Got me confused at the moment but I'll eventually figure it out......or blast it with a shotgun. 

[Neomys Sapiens]

If all else fails, get a bigger torch! 

Some of the better makes of test leads actually use welded joints to connect the wire to the plugs. I'm curious as to how they achieve this. The immediate thought is resistance welding, until you think a bit more and realise that attempting to resistance weld relatively thick copper cable to solid brass connectors isn't going to be massively successful!

Exogenous welds with a teeny tiny tig torch?

Explosive welding? 

If anybody actually knows I'd be curious as to how it's done.

Here is a thread

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/welding-wires-together/msg3077347/#msg3077347

which contains some info on this topic. (Started by a rather notorious member of the forum, but contains some useful info). MC/Staeubli uses welded contacts on their 2mm test leads.

[tautech]

I stuck another 'scope on the +75Vdc line coming off the Type 81 plug-in adapter, and whattyaknow, more than 1 volt p-p ripple. I'd say that 4 element can is a goner. Pat, any re-stuffing hints? Given how tight quarters the adapter us, I'd rather try my hand at stuffing new caps in the can which will ensure everything fits.

Bingo! 

Yep! I think it was clear that it had to be the problem, but this is proof. 

I wish my Type 1A2 was an easy fix as yours. Got me confused at the moment but I'll eventually figure it out......or blast it with a shotgun. 

Reminds me of my neighbor whom owns a fleet of diggers, should anything piss him off enough it gets pounded into the dirt with his 35 tonner ! 

[Neomys Sapiens]

I stuck another 'scope on the +75Vdc line coming off the Type 81 plug-in adapter, and whattyaknow, more than 1 volt p-p ripple. I'd say that 4 element can is a goner. Pat, any re-stuffing hints? Given how tight quarters the adapter us, I'd rather try my hand at stuffing new caps in the can which will ensure everything fits.

Bingo! 

Yep! I think it was clear that it had to be the problem, but this is proof. 

I wish my Type 1A2 was an easy fix as yours. Got me confused at the moment but I'll eventually figure it out......or blast it with a shotgun. 

Longtime dream of mine to subject a LC scope and a Dr. Klaschka PLC to this treatment. While energized. Using slugs.

[0culus]

I stuck another 'scope on the +75Vdc line coming off the Type 81 plug-in adapter, and whattyaknow, more than 1 volt p-p ripple. I'd say that 4 element can is a goner. Pat, any re-stuffing hints? Given how tight quarters the adapter us, I'd rather try my hand at stuffing new caps in the can which will ensure everything fits.

Bingo! 

Yep! I think it was clear that it had to be the problem, but this is proof. 

I wish my Type 1A2 was an easy fix as yours. Got me confused at the moment but I'll eventually figure it out......or blast it with a shotgun. 

lol!!

That frustrating, eh?   

[Cubdriver]

I stuck another 'scope on the +75Vdc line coming off the Type 81 plug-in adapter, and whattyaknow, more than 1 volt p-p ripple. I'd say that 4 element can is a goner. Pat, any re-stuffing hints? Given how tight quarters the adapter us, I'd rather try my hand at stuffing new caps in the can which will ensure everything fits.

I just looked up the manual on Tekwiki - looks like a quad 75uF @ 150V.  How physically big is it?

-Pat

[med6753]

I stuck another 'scope on the +75Vdc line coming off the Type 81 plug-in adapter, and whattyaknow, more than 1 volt p-p ripple. I'd say that 4 element can is a goner. Pat, any re-stuffing hints? Given how tight quarters the adapter us, I'd rather try my hand at stuffing new caps in the can which will ensure everything fits.

I just looked up the manual on Tekwiki - looks like a quad 75uF @ 150V.  How physically big is it?

-Pat

And I just looked at the schematic. The PSU has two of the 75uf in parallel then a dropping resistor and the other two in parallel. You can simplify that by replacing with two 150uf/160V capacitors.

[bitseeker]

Fluke Alert

Dave spotted that AllTest has a bunch of Fluke 27 for $38 + shipping. https://www.ebay.com/itm/382616480372

As we've noted before, their packing is some of the best, especially for big TE. However, that level seems to be overkill for a single handheld DMM. Over $35 s/h for me. The total is so-so, all things considered (I see many have sold for $50-60 including shipping), but it's definitely no longer an impulse buy. Is it better for those of you located closer to them?

Ref: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/ebay-us-fluke-27-multimeters-cheap/

$12.71 shipping for me. He's in Jersey and I'm NY so it's cheap.

But I'm not interested. The 87 takes care of my needs.

$12.71 for me, too.  I'm in CT, so probably about the same distance away as Mike is.  I have two of the ex military 27/FMs, so I'm set too, otherwise it would be quite tempting.  I think (but am not 100% certain) that the yellow 27 is NOT a true RMS meter, but know that the grey 27/FM is true RMS.

-Pat

That's much more reasonable! Oh, well. Maybe someone else on the East Coast will enjoy the deal.

[mnementh]

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 

Damn... that is some right-proper butt-ugly deadbug right there!!! I heartily approve of this project!!!

mnem
bd139: Shoving electrons up dead bugs' asses for fun & profit since nineteen-mumblety-mumble...

[bitseeker]

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 

Wow! Our Tony is famous. He gets better pricing, now!

[0culus]

I stuck another 'scope on the +75Vdc line coming off the Type 81 plug-in adapter, and whattyaknow, more than 1 volt p-p ripple. I'd say that 4 element can is a goner. Pat, any re-stuffing hints? Given how tight quarters the adapter us, I'd rather try my hand at stuffing new caps in the can which will ensure everything fits.

I just looked up the manual on Tekwiki - looks like a quad 75uF @ 150V.  How physically big is it?

-Pat

Outside dimensions--approximate: 2.5 in tall x 1.5 in diameter.

[0culus]

I stuck another 'scope on the +75Vdc line coming off the Type 81 plug-in adapter, and whattyaknow, more than 1 volt p-p ripple. I'd say that 4 element can is a goner. Pat, any re-stuffing hints? Given how tight quarters the adapter us, I'd rather try my hand at stuffing new caps in the can which will ensure everything fits.

I just looked up the manual on Tekwiki - looks like a quad 75uF @ 150V.  How physically big is it?

-Pat

And I just looked at the schematic. The PSU has two of the 75uf in parallel then a dropping resistor and the other two in parallel. You can simplify that by replacing with two 150uf/160V capacitors.

That's a good point...

[mnementh]

Was that done deliberately to lower ESR in this circuit?

mnem
 

[mnementh]

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 

Wow! Our Tony is famous. He gets better pricing, now!

Hey... all the electrons he's inconvenienced over the last few months and all the bandwidth his videos suck off yoobToob should ought ter' be worth SOMETHIN'... 

mnem
"You know what ought ters be...? They be silly critterz whut slide down mud banks on their asses..." ~grand-dad

[Joe M]

I've treated myself for new Toys, I guess this is as time nuts as it gets Now I need Caesium frequency standard
Pendulum CNT-90
and Siglent SDS-1104X-E 4ch scope

Thats some serious resolution in the frequency counter, you might want to consider a Disciplined GPS clock, may not be as good as Cessium but some people claim it to be better than a Rubidium https://www.ebay.com/itm/GPS-Disciplined-Clock-Oscillator-Frequency-Standard-for-GPS-BD-Sine-Wave-pans/283654655593?hash=item420b228e69:g:69sAAOSwmMVds~Bs

[bitseeker]

You know it’s bed time when you think your metcal cartridge is duff but actually find out you’re just trying to use solid hookup wire as solder  . And bed! 

Wow, that was too good, bd!

[mnementh]

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 

Bronx style at its best. Manhattan is for pussies.

Nahhh... that's N'awlins style: Built like a shotgun shack, and you can see where 'e peppered the walls with lead a few times... 

mnem
 

[med6753]

Was that done deliberately to lower ESR in this circuit?

mnem
 

I don't think so. I see that a lot in old Tek PSU circuits and I think it's more of what's readily available off the shelf rather than any design considerations. If I see 2 capacitors in parallel I replace it with a one of equivalent value and I've not seen any ill effects. 

[mansaxel]

I've treated myself for new Toys, I guess this is as time nuts as it gets Now I need Caesium frequency standard
Pendulum CNT-90
and Siglent SDS-1104X-E 4ch scope

Thats some serious resolution in the frequency counter, you might want to consider a Disciplined GPS clock, may not be as good as Cessium but some people claim it to be better than a Rubidium https://www.ebay.com/itm/GPS-Disciplined-Clock-Oscillator-Frequency-Standard-for-GPS-BD-Sine-Wave-pans/283654655593?hash=item420b228e69:g:69sAAOSwmMVds~Bs

As told by a couple friends in the business (Salaried time-nuts, responsible for the Swedish UTC instance), a Rb standard can excel  (besting a Cs too) in a short-time stability perspective but the Cs wins in long-time stability (until the "physics package" is worn out, that is) so if properly steered, a local Rb coupled to a Cs, possibly via space (GNSS), is a very good combo.

With a bit of luck, I'm getting just that combination to play with at work in a few months time. GNSS-receiver driving a Rb, because you need that to properly assess our other frequency standards, Meinberg GNSS receivers with OXCO local oscillators.

New, Shiny! TE that I'm being paid to play with. I like that.

/M

Every broadcast engineer is a closet time-nut (Another forum member, in PM to me)

[bitseeker]

TE that I'm being paid to play with. I like that.

Indeed!

[tonyalbus]

TE that I'm being paid to play with. I like that.

Indeed!

That is TE heaven, the ultimate....hope to get there once

[BU508A]

As someone who likes to wear T-Shirts I wanted to have one with a TEA logo on it.
But I wasn't able to find such a logo, perhaps I've overlooked it somehow.

If we don't have a TEA logo, is there somebody here with us with some
graphical and artist talents (and is willing to do) who could create such a logo?

My abilites in this respect are fairly mediocre.

Any ideas, how such a TEA logo should look alike?

[med6753]

T-shirts are standard equipment here. Couldn't tell you the last time I wore a button down shirt. 

But my graphical skills are mediocre too.