Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Saskia]

anything you do not buy but repair and reuse is good for the environment.

I don't understand those fridays for future kids or their extinction rebellion counterpart (funded by Soros ...)

All with brand new cell phones and stuff.
If they want to do some real good they go back to not buying and consuming that crap and try to farm their own veggies, rabbits, etc. gives them something to do and gets dinner on the table.

[tggzzz]

Just nabbed another Fluke 25. Let the TE hoarding begin!

Oh, where from? I was assuming you were after the Ramco ones next week. Lots of 34401/10s there as well.

Next week?, Do you mean next week or the 23rd?

Ramco auction finishes on the 13th.

[bd139]

anything you do not buy but repair and reuse is good for the environment.

I don't understand those fridays for future kids or their extinction rebellion counterpart (funded by Soros ...)

All with brand new cell phones and stuff.
If they want to do some real good they go back to not buying and consuming that crap and try to farm their own veggies, rabbits, etc. gives them something to do and gets dinner on the table.

Completely agree.

Not much opportunity to teach things like that here but I try and keep the kids grounded in reality. Difficult job really.

On that note I'm bloody fed up of tomatoes we grew this year now. Must have had about 500 of the bastard things and they're still going 

[Saskia]

ok, they want me to switch departments, probably at Jan 2nd or so. Told my team lead that I would be taking along our team server as I had my software installed on it and did not want to reinstall all that special admin crap, especially all that master data crap that is falling under that EU shithole data privacy law.

He'll get a new one.

[BU508A]

Was he ... delighted?

[Saskia]

I'll install one for him. I don't have any intention of pissing him off.
I told him that it was faster to install a new one than to migrate my stuff.

[mansaxel]

I'm guessing all the relay's in the 432A posted here today are for automated or remote operation.

I assume so. It's accompanied by a GPIB-almost connector on the back, and has a LOCAL/REMOTE switch inside. The relays look like Siemens Kammrelais, which can be -- it's made in (Western) Germany.

Speaking of relays. I've got a fairly large batch of STC relays, signal ones, 24VDC coils, low current capacity. Any idea if there are sockets around?

[Specmaster]

anything you do not buy but repair and reuse is good for the environment.

I don't understand those fridays for future kids or their extinction rebellion counterpart (funded by Soros ...)

All with brand new cell phones and stuff.
If they want to do some real good they go back to not buying and consuming that crap and try to farm their own veggies, rabbits, etc. gives them something to do and gets dinner on the table.

Completely agree.

Not much opportunity to teach things like that here but I try and keep the kids grounded in reality. Difficult job really.

On that note I'm bloody fed up of tomatoes we grew this year now. Must have had about 500 of the bastard things and they're still going 

Set up a small scale sale of surplus produce to neighbours etc?

[bd139]

Smells like hassle 

[Neomys Sapiens]

And last, but most certainly not least, where the magic happens in the P6042. These things must be treated like Fabergé eggs, and unfortunately it looks like there may be a crack started in the top half. But, it seems to work fine, so not bad for a pennies on the dollar property auction purchase. [edit] I also confirmed that dc response is fine...it tracks my in-service P6042 perfectly.

@Oculus: Should a problem arise drop me a line. I have two untested/supposedly faulty ones somewhere. Core could be ok - or not. I will look for them only in case of need.

[Neomys Sapiens]

Smells like hassle 

Keep a pig?

[BU508A]

I'll install one for him. I don't have any intention of pissing him off.
I told him that it was faster to install a new one than to migrate my stuff.

Yes, but I meant more the fact, that you are leaving per 2nd of January 2021.

[Saskia]

no, I don't really think that he is happy. It has been decided for him, and we had a very "open" and "direct" communication.
I always tend to tell my bosses that they will not get a knife in their back, it will always come from where they can see it.

[Saskia]

Smells like hassle 

better than teen spirit ...

[Saskia]

if I am lucky I can negotiate a promotion ...

which would mean absolute end of career ladder (can't get higher with a non-manager job in our company).
Would also entail a nice raise. We'll see.

[mnementh]

That's obviously still around for something mil-spec and no other reason. 

<SNIP>
mnem
*family time*

Nope, It's still made (and they recently did a digital version of the meter, N432A $10,9991.94), not for the military (they would want the old meter) but because it can be used as a transfer standard using a digital voltmeter without the adjustment / calibration of the 432A having any affect on accuracy. This is because the thermistor bridge is balanced with DC. It is the industry standard for low level meter calibration.

Still same principle. It's because the thing is specified equipment as a requisite to some critical standards document in use in aerospace or industrial design and keeping the device current is still millions of dollars cheaper than re-engineering and certifying some newer device to that standard document.

And all too often, industrial design standards are just recycled/derived from existing mil-spec standards anyways.

mnem
 

[mnementh]

On that note I'm bloody fed up of tomatoes we grew this year now. Must have had about 500 of the bastard things and they're still going     

I'll take 'em.    Sliced ripe or green and fried; split in half and salted, eat 'em like a apple... I love me a tomato pretty much any way they come. 

mnem

[bd139]

Yeah been doing that until I got ulcers in my mouth 

Ok found a unicorn on ebay. It's a very complicated and broken unicorn with three legs and half a horn but I'll fix that on arrival if no one else finds the auction or is less cheap than me. 

[0culus]

That's obviously still around for something mil-spec and no other reason. 

@Cubdriver: I bet you have a full set of spare tubes for that 545A too, doncha...? Best to put them to good use before the offspring have to take them to the tip...

mnem
*family time*

Nope it's still around because it's a good quality cal standard for open loop type meters. Keysight will even service old thermistor mounts.

[bd139]

To be fair, keysight will service you if you throw them enough cash 

[0culus]

Well yes...they quoted me $1200 for the one I have. It works fine, so I decided not to.

[Cerebus]

That's obviously still around for something mil-spec and no other reason. 

<SNIP>
mnem
*family time*

Nope, It's still made (and they recently did a digital version of the meter, N432A $10,9991.94), not for the military (they would want the old meter) but because it can be used as a transfer standard using a digital voltmeter without the adjustment / calibration of the 432A having any affect on accuracy. This is because the thermistor bridge is balanced with DC. It is the industry standard for low level meter calibration.

Still same principle. It's because the thing is specified equipment as a requisite to some critical standards document in use in aerospace or industrial design and keeping the device current is still millions of dollars cheaper than re-engineering and certifying some newer device to that standard document.

And all too often, industrial design standards are just recycled/derived from existing mil-spec standards anyways.

mnem
 

No, this exists because it can act as a transfer standard from basic DC standards to RF power measurement.  It's a bit of fundamental metrology equipment, it has no more to do with the military or any other field of endeavour than a voltmeter or an ammeter. It happens to have a quite amazing 10MHz to 10GHz range, which would be impressive in any RF power meter designed yesterday, and that combined with its transfer standard capability is why the thing is still worth manufacturing, not because it's hanging on the coat tails of some military standard, aviation standard and for "no other reason".

[mansaxel]

Ok found a unicorn on ebay.

Do tell. When you feel you can, that is.

[mnementh]

That's obviously still around for something mil-spec and no other reason. 

<SNIP>
mnem
*family time*

Nope, It's still made (and they recently did a digital version of the meter, N432A $10,9991.94), not for the military (they would want the old meter) but because it can be used as a transfer standard using a digital voltmeter without the adjustment / calibration of the 432A having any affect on accuracy. This is because the thermistor bridge is balanced with DC. It is the industry standard for low level meter calibration.

Still same principle. It's because the thing is specified equipment as a requisite to some critical standards document in use in aerospace or industrial design and keeping the device current is still millions of dollars cheaper than re-engineering and certifying some newer device to that standard document.

And all too often, industrial design standards are just recycled/derived from existing mil-spec standards anyways.

mnem
 

No, this exists because it can act as a transfer standard from basic DC standards to RF power measurement.  It's a bit of fundamental metrology equipment, it has no more to do with the military or any other field of endeavour than a voltmeter or an ammeter. It happens to have a quite amazing 10MHz to 10GHz range, which would be impressive in any RF power meter designed yesterday, and that combined with its transfer standard capability is why the thing is still worth manufacturing, not because it's hanging on the coat tails of some military standard, aviation standard and for "no other reason".

So even HP hasn't come up with anything better in the 60+ years since it was released? What device is specified as the standard by which this device is validated? Bet it's another one of the same, isn't it...?

Also; are we talking about the meter here, or the mount and thermistor? The mount/thermistor I can see; there's no need for that to change, for the same reason the 84xx series sensors remain relevant. The meter itself...? come on; they have to have come up with something better by now.

mnem
 

[0culus]

That's obviously still around for something mil-spec and no other reason. 

<SNIP>
mnem
*family time*

Nope, It's still made (and they recently did a digital version of the meter, N432A $10,9991.94), not for the military (they would want the old meter) but because it can be used as a transfer standard using a digital voltmeter without the adjustment / calibration of the 432A having any affect on accuracy. This is because the thermistor bridge is balanced with DC. It is the industry standard for low level meter calibration.

Still same principle. It's because the thing is specified equipment as a requisite to some critical standards document in use in aerospace or industrial design and keeping the device current is still millions of dollars cheaper than re-engineering and certifying some newer device to that standard document.

And all too often, industrial design standards are just recycled/derived from existing mil-spec standards anyways.

mnem
 

No, this exists because it can act as a transfer standard from basic DC standards to RF power measurement.  It's a bit of fundamental metrology equipment, it has no more to do with the military or any other field of endeavour than a voltmeter or an ammeter. It happens to have a quite amazing 10MHz to 10GHz range, which would be impressive in any RF power meter designed yesterday, and that combined with its transfer standard capability is why the thing is still worth manufacturing, not because it's hanging on the coat tails of some military standard, aviation standard and for "no other reason".

So even HP hasn't come up with anything better in the 60+ years since it was released? What device is specified as the standard by which this device is validated? Bet it's another one of the same, isn't it...?

Also; are we talking about the meter here, or the mount and thermistor? The mount/thermistor I can see; there's no need for that to change, for the same reason the 84xx series sensors remain relevant. The meter itself...? come on; they have to have come up with something better by now.

mnem
 

https://www.keysight.com/en/pd-1842740-pn-N432A/thermistor-power-meter?cc=US&lc=eng