Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Cerebus]

I might pay that for the cats, but I'd pay them to take away that kid. I'm not saying he's ugly. OK, yes I am, he's ugly.

[mnementh]

Lookit that Qty discount! Buy 23 and save 46%!   

Hmmm, evidently these come in increments of of 7 pieces... so unless you need a 6-pack & a spare, should probably consult your wallet local Ferengi first.

mnem
mrrrrowwww...?

[Cerebus]

I think, I'll order next month an electronic load from Maynuo @Welectron.
This one: https://www.welectron.com/Maynuo-M9812-Electronic-Load

I need an electronic load. I've already not done some things because of the absence of the same, and I've got projects in the pipeline that would make good use of one. I've been looking for a second hand one for a goodly while, but so far I've come up empty. I'm close to the point where I'm considering buying new, but every time I start looking at them, like that Maynuo, I keep coming up against the prices. That Mayuno is €620 and it seems a lot for what it is. I'm having a hard time persuading myself that the price of a very good HP 34401A is worth it for an electronic load.

Is it just me, or do other people think that the prices for electronic loads are rather high in terms of "bang per buck" compared to other types of TE?

[bd139]

Back on Tayda again, pick surface mail to get them delivered. They preprint their jiffy bags with $7 value and always seem to appears without any customs charges. I haven't tried it post-Brexit so not sure what will happen to be honest now but last time I ordered about $50 of stuff and it turned up with no charges via Royal Mail 

[tautech]

@tautech:

I think, I'll order next month an electronic load from Maynuo @Welectron.
This one: https://www.welectron.com/Maynuo-M9812-Electronic-Load

What do you think is a similar device (tech-spec wise) from Siglent?
What would you recommend?

Thank you for your answer.

Now there's an apparent hack for the SDL1020X-E that converts it into a SDL1030X the $499 X-E is now very attractive for its outlay. I haven't used one much but if you download the datasheet, user manual and programming manual they should give you a good idea of what they are capable of.

[tautech]

Hell. Bloody.
Muscle cramps like hell in my neck area. Plus a fever. And trouble swallowing because of the muscle cramps.
On pain killers and capsaicin/Campher rubs to relieve the cramps so that I can lift my head again
Fuck, that hurts ...

Oh dear, do we start polishing another bullet for you ?
The one for Brumby is getting pretty shiny if you want that one. 

@Saskia - sorry to hear this.  Hope it settles - and quickly.

After 2 weeks and trying 4 treatments, it looks like they found something that might be working.  At this point, I'm willing to step back and pass that bullet up to Saskia.

LOL, engraver out and practising writing Saskia on tapering cylindrical shapes ! 

[BU508A]

I need an electronic load. I've already not done some things because of the absence of the same, and I've got projects in the pipeline that would make good use of one. I've been looking for a second hand one for a goodly while, but so far I've come up empty. I'm close to the point where I'm considering buying new, but every time I start looking at them, like that Maynuo, I keep coming up against the prices. That Mayuno is €620 and it seems a lot for what it is. I'm having a hard time persuading myself that the price of a very good HP 34401A is worth it for an electronic load.

Is it just me, or do other people think that the prices for electronic loads are rather high in terms of "bang per buck" compared to other types of TE?

Yes, I'm thinking the same. I'm looking since 2 years for an electronic load and whenever I'm trying to find one I'm coming back to the Maynuo 9812. They are probably cheaper if you buy them directly in China but this comes with some risks. So I decided to pull the trigger now (next month) and buy this bloody thing! 

If this stupid Brexit wouldn't exist, I'd offer you to lend you mine, when I'll get it next month.   

*sigh*
Life could be so much better with more co-operation and good-will on all sides.

[mnementh]

   

1700 watts, $37. And they threw in my dry-cleaning for free. 

I'm a cheap bastard, so yeah, I tend to agree. Especially since I bought 4 of these modules for $16 off Amazon a few months ago. Diode and optoisolated gate, 200A/80V/300W. Voltage rating is a bit limiting for purposes other than dumping LiPos, tho.

Yes, I know they're switching transistors. Plan was to drive them with a 'duino PWM using a shunt and/or current sensing coil for closed loop. Afraid my circuit design & programming chops aren't up to the task... yet.

Point being... I'd certainly much rather have that 66312A measurment voltage source for that kind of money.

mnem
 

[BU508A]

@tautech:

I think, I'll order next month an electronic load from Maynuo @Welectron.
This one: https://www.welectron.com/Maynuo-M9812-Electronic-Load

What do you think is a similar device (tech-spec wise) from Siglent?
What would you recommend?

Thank you for your answer.

Now there's an apparent hack for the SDL1020X-E that converts it into a SDL1030X the $499 X-E is now very attractive for its outlay. I haven't used one much but if you download the datasheet, user manual and programming manual they should give you a good idea of what they are capable of.

You mean this one?
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sdl1000xsdl1000x-e-electronic-load/msg3395024/#msg3395024

Hmm, will think about it over the weekend.

[vk6zgo]

I have checked the tants  and they are fine. Think Q30 just died.

Edit; going to throw 24v at the decoupling network off a bench supply with current limit and check that the IC isn’t toast first. That could have gone bad and caused the SOA to be exceeded of the transistor.

Ok fixed it.

1. Removed Q30, the ZTX 550 pass transistor B-E short.
2. Stuffed 24v into the decoupling network and fired up a VHF TX next to it. Bingo readout.
3. Checked current and dropout. Turns out it was blowing 1/3 of a watt off on that pissy little Zetex transistor. Probably why it snuffed it. 
4. Looked in junk box and found a BD140 and bodged that in.
5. Fired it up. Working.

Pictures attached.

I’m not proud of the use of an inline package in a TO18 shaped hole but it works. I would use a 2N2905A or 2N2907A with a hat heatsink if I had one but I don’t.


Edit: this is the first thing I’ve got to fix in TE space for months. Am stoked again 

Hey, it works don't beat yourself up over it. Chances no one except you will know for eternity. Unless you sell it to one of us. 

If it was me, I would say "Well done!"

Living at "the other side of the world" from most of the manufacturers of stuff, you get used to "bodging in" differently packaged components, with the ratings that should have been specified if the designer hadn't had a "long lunch" at the Pub on the day they finalised the design!

The philosophy at most of my employers was "If you can fix it, it is mechanically robust & meets specs, don't agonise over exact replacements."

[mnementh]

I think, I'll order next month an electronic load from Maynuo @Welectron.  This one: https://www.welectron.com/Maynuo-M9812-Electronic-Load   

Anybody an idea where to get these nice 4mm banana adapters for the input jacks?

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32791381097.html

This one looks suspiciously like a repackaged M9712. It's CAD$ 415.69, plus $115 S/H. No idea what shipping is to your corner of the globe.

mnem
 

[tautech]

@tautech:

I think, I'll order next month an electronic load from Maynuo @Welectron.
This one: https://www.welectron.com/Maynuo-M9812-Electronic-Load

What do you think is a similar device (tech-spec wise) from Siglent?
What would you recommend?

Thank you for your answer.

Now there's an apparent hack for the SDL1020X-E that converts it into a SDL1030X the $499 X-E is now very attractive for its outlay. I haven't used one much but if you download the datasheet, user manual and programming manual they should give you a good idea of what they are capable of.

You mean this one?
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/siglent-sdl1000xsdl1000x-e-electronic-load/msg3395024/#msg3395024

Hmm, will think about it over the weekend.

Yes although I believe Elasia was first to travel that road along with of course tv84's help.

Been thinking about model designations and factory calibration this morning which IMO because everything is automatically calibrated closed box then the model # is then added later in SW. It doesn't make sense that different calibration scripts be written for different models in the same range.
Some say a model designation is due to component variability however when all instruments meet their spec and some by a comfortable margin defining a model # due to component variability doesn't wash with me.

[Neomys Sapiens]

I might pay that for the cats, but I'd pay them to take away that kid. I'm not saying he's ugly. OK, yes I am, he's ugly.

You really beat me to it. Seriously. I'd even gladly pay night and express surcharges.

[Neomys Sapiens]

I want the cat that knows how to plunger a toilet. I'd totes pay $560 for that. 

mnem
 

Don't even think of buying 5 and offering plumbing services - we'll watch the ads in your region!

[SilverSolder]

Restoring an older electronic load...  hopefully all those trannies in the wind tunnel are working!

[Cerebus]

The philosophy at most of my employers was "If you can fix it, it is mechanically robust & meets specs, don't agonise over exact replacements."

For most well designed bipolar transistor circuits - note that emphasis - any bipolar transistor that meets the breakdown voltage, power dissipation, SOA and \$f_T\$ requirements is a suitable replacement.

I was always taught that a circuit design was NFG if it was sensitive in all but the grossest way to transistor parameters. Yes, there are edge cases where you're pushing the envelope in one way or another and you're not going to use bargain basement low/medium frequency transistors at VHF, there are times where rather more select stuff is called for, but for run of the mill pretty much anything will do.

[Specmaster]

I usually buy them here: https://www.taydaelectronics.com/capacitors/tantalum-capacitors.html

Take a couple of weeks to turn up. RS are ridiculously expensive

mmmhmmm... I keep meaning to price them out to the GWN.  Next project... I like that they take PP.

Oh, and it looks like I owe you a drink too. 

mnem
 

I may have to check them out too. 47uf/35V for only $1 a piece.  That's a steal. 

Don't forget to factor in shipping and any import duty, having said that, I shall be checking them out next time I need some. I presume that they use airmail rather than surface?

[Specmaster]

I stumbled across this on YT, anyone seen anything like it before?

[med6753]

I usually buy them here: https://www.taydaelectronics.com/capacitors/tantalum-capacitors.html

Take a couple of weeks to turn up. RS are ridiculously expensive

mmmhmmm... I keep meaning to price them out to the GWN.  Next project... I like that they take PP.

Oh, and it looks like I owe you a drink too. 

mnem
 

I may have to check them out too. 47uf/35V for only $1 a piece.  That's a steal. 

Don't forget to factor in shipping and any import duty, having said that, I shall be checking them out next time I need some. I presume that they use airmail rather than surface?

You got me curious so I checked out where they are. Thailand.  Yea, shipping might be a bummer and obviously delivery time. There shouldn't be any import duty.

But....at least they won't be shut down by an ice storm. 

[mnementh]

I want the cat that knows how to plunger a toilet. I'd totes pay $560 for that. 

mnem
 

Don't even think of buying 5 and offering plumbing services - we'll watch the ads in your region!

 

mnem
I'm not seeing a downside here... 

[mnementh]

I stumbled across this on YT, anyone seen anything like it before?

Yeah; I saw this one last year. Looks like the same guy, only a couple weeks older vid.

mnem
 

[Cerebus]

I stumbled across this on YT, anyone seen anything like it before?

Oh yeeew! You've found Bender's dildo!

[mnementh]

mnem
*toddles off to ded*

[mnementh]

   https://www.ebay.com/itm/VISHAY-INSTRUMENTS-GROUP-SB-10-SWITCH-AND-BALANCE-UNIT-Free-Shipping/114663525784

mnem
*knocks self unconscious with a divider mallet*

[Ice-Tea]

@tautech:

I think, I'll order next month an electronic load from Maynuo @Welectron.
This one: https://www.welectron.com/Maynuo-M9812-Electronic-Load

What do you think is a similar device (tech-spec wise) from Siglent?
What would you recommend?

Thank you for your answer.

Could I perhaps interest you in a Chroma load?