Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Specmaster]

@med6753.
I echo the thoughts on here, get well again, best to avoid getting any more boat anchors, hernias can get nasty if you ignore then and don't accept your limitations. You need a positive attitude and boy, you have that in spades, use it, channel it and don't squander it, put yourself first and foremost. Keep us all posted.

[Kosmic]

I got a SMPS power supply that is whining a lot when cold. I checked all the caps and they are all fine. Output is fine. And the problem disappear when the thing get a little bit hot.

Anybody know what could cause the whining ?

I suspect some transistors.

[Neomys Sapiens]

I would rather suspect the transformer/main inductor (as per topology). It could be caused by tolerances in core dimensions or something that became loose over time.

[Neomys Sapiens]

Ooof, another "accidental" purchase... I was certain I was going to be outbid.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Philips-PM-5193-Programmable-Synthesizer-Function-Generator-0-1mHz-50mHz/265114303620

If this one works, it was an incredibly fine catch!

[Cerebus]

I got a SMPS power supply that is whining a lot when cold. I checked all the caps and they are all fine. Output is fine. And the problem disappear when the thing get a little bit hot.

Anybody know what could cause the whining ?

You should take it out to dinner once in a while. 

[mnementh]

I refuse to get depressed about this pissy situation. Disheartening, yes. Depressed, no. I'll just take it as it comes. Luckily this cat is no where near as uncomfortable as the previous one.

So... the previous occupant of your lap was a hissy pissy hurty old cat, and this one is more of a tame little kitten...?

No, seriously... here's hoping that it is a simple hernia operation, and the word "complications"  is not heard again... 


mnem
*ducks barrage of soggy ol' boots from pretty much ALL directions*

[mnementh]

*pokes thread with a stick*

mnem
I knew that joke was bad... but lethal...?

[BU508A]

Boston Dynamics A nerd has built modified a robot from Boston Dynamics which can pissing beer!

No Smurfs have been harmed during making this video.



  

[mnementh]

Sometimes life throws you lemons. Today was one of those days. My body did not get the memo that without a catheter when the bladder starts to fill up it's time to piss. And trying to force the issue by standing in front of the toilet and whistling Dixie produces no results either. So when I went back to the urologist at 3 PM the catheter went back in. Pretty convincing evidence that the hernia is screwing up my urinary tract.

Have an appointment with specialist Tuesday. I suspect shortly after meeting with him I'm probably going to be scheduled for surgery.   

Fuck those lemons. 



mnem
*currently nuking a OXCO*

[beanflying]

If someone throws me Lemons I add a good slug of Gin and a Glug of Cointreau at them.  All the best @med.

For those of us who wanted some OCXO playthings but don't feel the NEED for 10. This seller has a twofor sale reduced for 3 hours more eBay auction: #143779790317 now for the waiting...... 

[BU508A]

Meanwhile in Hamburg/Germany: World record at the Miniatur Wunderland! Classical music medley played by a train! 

[Cubdriver]

Meanwhile in Hamburg/Germany: World record at the Miniatur Wunderland! Classical music medley played by a train! 

Damn - that's a hell of a layout!!  Very impressive!

-Pat

[mnementh]

yawwwwwwwnnnnnn...

I got this far before I had to pull the plug for my own safety; I found myself waking up to the tone of the iron going to sleep. While it was still in my hand.

Tomorrow's a chance for all new mistakes.

mnem
 

[mansaxel]

Damn - that's a hell of a layout!!  Very impressive!

-Pat

It's been on the to-do list some years now. Hamburg is where us Scandinavians switch trains if we're going southwards through Denmark, and it lies a 2km walk from the Hauptbahnhof.  I last went through coming back from Paris and a meeting with a supplier. That was back in  2019 when there still was a train ferry between Rødby in Denmark and Puttgarden in Germany.  (Compare getting off the train and going up to the restaurant for a 2 course hot lunch, seated with a view of the sea, with being served a soggy sandwich and a half-full cup of coffee on a plane. No, you can't. )

[VK5RC]

Hi guys and gals,
I am selling some of my stuff at a Ham buy and sell next weekend,
Below are the prices I was thinking (in Aussie pesos)  - are any crazy high or low?
Tek 7603 (with 7A18, 7A16A, 7B50A) $250
HP 53131A (with 3GHz) $600
     3465A (with a parts unit) $150
    3324A $700
    5334B $300
   5316A $150
   3456A $200
  3467A $250
  3403C.$250
Yaesu FTM 400XDR $550 (in box etc)

Post to or from Australia is crazy at the moment - realistically adds another $100 to prices.
Regards Rob

[AVGresponding]

Ooof, another "accidental" purchase... I was certain I was going to be outbid.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Philips-PM-5193-Programmable-Synthesizer-Function-Generator-0-1mHz-50mHz/265114303620

If this one works, it was an incredibly fine catch!

Given the seller, it'll be a 50/50 chance for it to work, at best, and it'll be cosmetically very shabby. Hopefully any faults are relatively simple to fix, ie RIFA packed Shaeffner etc.
The fact it's shown with the display working is a positive sign, at least.

[med6753]

Approx $190 USD for the 7603 with those plug-ins is not unreasonable given that Tek stuff in Oz is hard to find but I would be prepared to see offers of $150 USD or slightly less.

[AVGresponding]

Yeah HP  . All voltages are red terminals. Earth is black.

The 3458a is still like that.

I know assumptions are generally unwise, but I think it would be fair for HPAK to assume that anyone prepared to spend the kind of money necessary to acquire a 3458, or even one of their "lesser" offerings would be fully competent in its general use.

[JohanH]

There is a way of slowing down GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) (stop gearoholics, don't hurt me yet). Demand of yourself that you have to build your gear yourself!

Here is a simple tube tester I recently finished.

The schematic is from Valve Heaven.

As always with test gear (and I've built a couple), it is the mechanical work that is the most cumbersome and takes a lot of time. In this example I used an old box that has 2 mm steel walls. Steel slows down your GAS quite a lot. Due to slow advancement there is risk though of periodically increasing abstinence symptoms. The cure for that is to acquire smaller things that you "need" for your current project (or maybe for your next project...).

[beanflying]

Hi guys and gals,
I am selling some of my stuff at a Ham buy and sell next weekend,
Below are the prices I was thinking (in Aussie pesos)  - are any crazy high or low?
Tek 7603 (with 7A18, 7A16A, 7B50A) $250
HP 53131A (with 3GHz) $600
     3465A (with a parts unit) $150
    3324A $700
    5334B $300
   5316A $150
   3456A $200
  3467A $250
  3403C.$250
Yaesu FTM 400XDR $550 (in box etc)

Post to or from Australia is crazy at the moment - realistically adds another $100 to prices.
Regards Rob

Given the availability of most of that lot in Oz is near Zero it has to be worth the USD evilbay SOLD price plus a bit for frt and tax. Then it depends on if the ancient HAM wrinkley's have spent their COVID top ups 

At the risk of showing interest is the 53131A the stock Oscillator or the high stability one? and is the 3Gig genuine or the Chinese origin board? I was bidding on one a month ago from the USA 

[BU508A]

Hi guys and gals,
I am selling some of my stuff at a Ham buy and sell next weekend,
Below are the prices I was thinking (in Aussie pesos)  - are any crazy high or low?
Tek 7603 (with 7A18, 7A16A, 7B50A) $250
HP 53131A (with 3GHz) $600
     3465A (with a parts unit) $150
    3324A $700
    5334B $300
   5316A $150
   3456A $200
  3467A $250
  3403C.$250
Yaesu FTM 400XDR $550 (in box etc)

Post to or from Australia is crazy at the moment - realistically adds another $100 to prices.
Regards Rob

Perhaps Brumby will be interested in some of this stuff?   

[VK5RC]

Approx $190 USD for the 7603 with those plug-ins is not unreasonable given that Tek stuff in Oz is hard to find but I would be prepared to see offers of $150 USD or slightly less.

Thanks for the comments, 👍

[BU508A]

And we are having a new video from TSP! 

[med6753]

There is a way of slowing down GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) (stop gearoholics, don't hurt me yet). Demand of yourself that you have to build your gear yourself!

Here is a simple tube tester I recently finished.

The schematic is from Valve Heaven.

As always with test gear (and I've built a couple), it is the mechanical work that is the most cumbersome and takes a lot of time. In this example I used an old box that has 2 mm steel walls. Steel slows down your GAS quite a lot. Due to slow advancement there is risk though of periodically increasing abstinence symptoms. The cure for that is to acquire smaller things that you "need" for your current project (or maybe for your next project...).

That looks interesting. The low cost is definitely a plus. The others that I've seen on line of on YouTube were pretty damn expensive.

I found Tek's recommendation concerning tubes which is basically does it function properly in circuit? If yes, leave it alone. But for matching tubes that tester certainly can be valuable.     

[bd139]

That’s pretty decent looking actually.

I’ve got potentially half a garage full of tubes coming my way at some point so I would probably invest in building one of those to test them.