Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[mansaxel]

How do you get Gefahr from the initials FARA?

The only real "Fara" danger: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farrah_Fawcett (at least when I was young).

McBryce.

Oh, it's not an acronym. It's a common Germanic word, "Fara" in Swedish, or "Gefahr" in German, i.e "Danger". As an adjective, it's "Farlig" or "Gefährlich".

[mnementh]

Oh gewd laird... Speaking of "attack of the globflies"; I just made the mistake of putting "dash cam" in my Amazon search. 

Even on a price-limited Prime-next-day-only search, almost a full page of "sponsored" hits. 

Last time  I shopped these things there were like a dozen to choose from, and two of them were the Mobius and GoPro, which I already have from my FPV quadcopter habit.

Sweet biscuits and gravy, there has to be something budget that isn't just cheap shit, but finding it in this sea of China-direct gizmos... Ifni save me...

mnem
*swarmed*

https://dashcamtalk.com/

OMFG the learning curve here is steep. My headache is back with a vengeance.

Of course their favorite budget dashcam, the Xaomi/70mai family, is evidently hated on Amazon.ca . I already have a Xaomi GoPro-type action cam & it is freaking amazing for the price; that experience alone would recommend their dashcams to me if I could get them with Prime.

I think I'm going to shop something a little less stressful for awhile... like chainsaws or Kevlar...

mnem
 

[factory]

What I'm really looking for is a supply of adaptors for 4 mm male to 4 mm female bananas and forks to 4 mm female bananas so that I can use standard safety shrouded test leads on other meters that cannot be retrofitted with safety sockets.

Any ideas, eBay has given me a supplier of 4 mm male to female adaptors, so its the fork to female that seems to rather hard to locate.

Homebrew:



The rings or forks are standard stranded wire terminations that match by chance the outer diameter of these nice tubes that have 4mm inner diameter. Don't ask me where to buy these, I found them lingering around in a long time forgotten box at work. Might be extra long crimp ferrules for 10mm² wires?

I've bought brass tubing from Albion Alloys for a non-TE project, available in Metric & Imperial sizes.
https://www.chronos.ltd.uk/product-category/round-square-tube-sheet-metal-ptfe-nylon/albion-alloys-precision-metals/albion-alloys-standard-brass-round-tube-metric/
https://www.chronos.ltd.uk/product-category/round-square-tube-sheet-metal-ptfe-nylon/albion-alloys-precision-metals/albion-alloys-standard-brass-tube-round-imperial/

They have copper tubing in Metric too, is 4.1mm I.D. any good, or too small?
https://www.chronos.ltd.uk/product-category/round-square-tube-sheet-metal-ptfe-nylon/albion-alloys-precision-metals/albion-alloys-standard-round-copper-tube/


I guess they won't be the only supplier of thin brass & copper tubing.

David

[mansaxel]

No I think it actually a replacement for the hp 404A, which is a portable battery operated valve voltmeter. The 403A is tiny compared with it's hollow state ancestors.

Yes, that fits much better as predecessor. I didn't observe the battery part. OTOH, my 427 (Hi, BD!) has the mains option, and I've never run it off battery anyway, so didn't think of it. The 400H obviously is mains only. Mine must be made in Germany; it's got the DIN 49 491 hot appliance inlet that's common on toasters and waffle irons, and was very common before the introduction of the C15 / C16 kettle plug. 

[bd139]

Grr 

[mnementh]

Just for you bd.

because it sounds like you could use a giggle. 

mnem
for the lulzz.

[bd139]

What the hell? Are they just using random word generators or something these days for product names?

I will use one for my response 



Only took clicking it about 400 times for that 

[mansaxel]

What the hell? Are they just using random word generators or something these days for product names?

I will use one for my response 



Only took clicking it about 400 times for that 

I once built a "Statements of Architecture" generator for a now ex-girlfriend. Idea was to make up pretentious art judgements from a set of phrase pieces. Just a bit of Perl juggling random bits and bobs from arrays. Quite fun, for 5 minutes or so.

[Vince]

What the hell? Are they just using random word generators or something these days for product names?

Been the norm for at least 15 years here to spit out company names and car names.

Result, all companies have nonsensical names that all look and sound similar so when you hear a name you have no idea what the company is/does, and you can easily mistake one for another.

For example I have long given up trying to remember how the electricity and gas suppliers here have renamed themselves. I just call them by their old obsolete historical names, which made sense: " EDF " ( "Electricité De France" ) and GDF ( " Gaz De France ")....

[bd139]

That always annoyed me. I named my limited company the most insidious sounding dystopian company name I could possibly come up with just to troll recruiters. And no I'm not posting it here as you can link it right back to me via companies house 

[xrunner]

What the hell? Are they just using random word generators or something these days for product names?

Use a business or product name generator!   

Like this one - https://namelix.com/

Here's just a small sample of business names for "Test Equipment". It's kindof fun just to see what it comes up with.

[bd139]

They're all better than Keysight 

[med6753]

Here you go Bd. Some sage advice I wish I had heeded to in my younger years. 

[mnementh]

               BWAHAHAHA!!!

Oh lordy...  I just posted that because the silly-looking seal face made me giggle. I didn't even care aboot the name. I figured it would be good for a moment's diversion; I couldn't have done better if I'd tried. 

mnem
The best nerd-snipes are the accidental ones. 

[Specmaster]

TDS210, stripped down, screen desoldered to provide better access and old dodgy BNC sockets removed, new ones ordered. Because of the size of the screen, had to crank up the Duratool desolder gun to 460C get enough heat into it but with a little gentle prying while heating each peg, the screen came away easily. BNC similarly needed plenty of heat and sockets wriggled and pried to extract the pins from the PCB.

Cleaning the board is next process while I await delivery of the new sockets from RS. 

[mnementh]

What the hell? Are they just using random word generators or something these days for product names?

Use a business or product name generator!   

Like this one - https://namelix.com/

Here's just a small sample of business names for "Test Equipment". It's kindof fun just to see what it comes up with.

Heh... I tried with just one keyword: fuckhead

None stood out at all, especially for relevance, except this one caught my eye because "think scaly" and somebody is actually squatting on the domain:



mnem


that's it... I'm registering penisfingers.com

[mnementh]

TDS210, stripped down, screen desoldered to provide better access and old dodgy BNC sockets removed, new ones ordered. Because of the size of the screen, had to crank up the Duratool desolder gun to 460C get enough heat into it but with a little gentle prying while heating each peg, the screen came away easily. BNC similarly needed plenty of heat and sockets wriggled and pried to extract the pins from the PCB.

Cleaning the board is next process while I await delivery of the new sockets from RS.

Def a job better done with hot air (and/or a preheater). Good you got lucky and didn't delaminate the GND fill. 

mnem
*hoping for some BBQ in the near future*

[Specmaster]

TDS210, stripped down, screen desoldered to provide better access and old dodgy BNC sockets removed, new ones ordered. Because of the size of the screen, had to crank up the Duratool desolder gun to 460C get enough heat into it but with a little gentle prying while heating each peg, the screen came away easily. BNC similarly needed plenty of heat and sockets wriggled and pried to extract the pins from the PCB.

Cleaning the board is next process while I await delivery of the new sockets from RS.

Def a job better done with hot air (and/or a preheater). Good you got lucky and didn't delaminate the GND fill. 

mnem
*hoping for some BBQ in the near future*

I really doubt that you could do that with hot air,  both sides of that PCB around that area have large metal screening cans, I think the heat trapped between the board and the screens would have cooked, and the air may have moved a lot of the SMD parts around the area. In order to remove the other screening can, you first have to remove the one I did.

[shakalnokturn]

Tek  TPS 2024 turned up yesterday.
I knew that the BNC's were missing the Teflon insulation, I knew the batteries were on their last leg, but somehow the seller forgot to mention the LCD was defective... 
At least the inputs seem to be working as intended.

Anyone know of a cheap replacement for the CSTN LCD in this? The original is a Kyocera KCS057QV1AJ-G39, cheapest I've found that looks compatible is 77€ from China.
Also interested if anyone can identify the manufacturer/model of the BNC sockets. I suppose I may be able to pull some Teflon from other types of BNC though.

[mnementh]

Def a job better done with hot air (and/or a preheater). Good you got lucky and didn't delaminate the GND fill. 

mnem
*hoping for some BBQ in the near future*

I really doubt that you could do that with hot air,  both sides of that PCB around that area have large metal screening cans, I think the heat trapped between the board and the screens would have cooked, and the air may have moved a lot of the SMD parts around the area. In order to remove the other screening can, you first have to remove the one I did.

I was thinking of the hot air as preheating for removing the BNCs, but it would help with the tin too. I've done exactly that job a few times, and it is a bastard; hot air right on the body of the BNC and surrounding fill makes them come loose a lot easier vs just using an iron, and much less chance of delaminating the fill or pulling the vias out with the pins as you actually are working at a lower temperature.

I wasn't slighting your technique; I really felt it was lucky that you didn't damage anything having to crank the heat up like that. It seems these boards with huge fills right on top of delicate bits are almost deliberately made to thwart repair. 

mnem
 

[cyclin_al]

I think I'm going to shop something a little less stressful for awhile... like chainsaws AND Kevlar...

mnem
 

There, FTFY.  I highly recommend shopping for both together.  (Kevlar pants/chaps as part of your PPE) 

[Vince]

Tek  TPS 2024 turned up yesterday.
I knew that the BNC's were missing the Teflon insulation, I knew the batteries were on their last leg, but somehow the seller forgot to mention the LCD was defective... 
At least the inputs seem to be working as intended.

Anyone know of a cheap replacement for the CSTN LCD in this? The original is a Kyocera KCS057QV1AJ-G39, cheapest I've found that looks compatible is 77€ from China.
Also interested if anyone can identify the manufacturer/model of the BNC sockets. I suppose I may be able to pull some Teflon from other types of BNC though.

Well at least now you know why it was cheap ! Get what you pay for etc ! 

Maybe don't waste your time and just flog it as is, with a little markup to cover what you paid to get it shipped ?! 

[mnementh]

Tek  TPS 2024 turned up yesterday.
I knew that the BNC's were missing the Teflon insulation, I knew the batteries were on their last leg, but somehow the seller forgot to mention the LCD was defective... 
At least the inputs seem to be working as intended.

Anyone know of a cheap replacement for the CSTN LCD in this? The original is a Kyocera KCS057QV1AJ-G39, cheapest I've found that looks compatible is 77€ from China.
Also interested if anyone can identify the manufacturer/model of the BNC sockets. I suppose I may be able to pull some Teflon from other types of BNC though.

It looks like your $77 find is the cheap one; everything I could find from here was ~$100 more.

Couldn't find the datasheet either, but the one for KCS057QV1AJ-G23 (attached) might be close enough to help you find a substitute...?

mnem
*toddles off to the park with the kids*

[tggzzz]

What the hell? Are they just using random word generators or something these days for product names?

And charity names...

"Contact the elderly" gave the idea that it allowed elderly people to remain in touch with each other and part of society. It has been re-branded "Re-engage", which sounds like something out of "Top Gear" or "Star Trek" or a dating agency.

"Royal National Institute for the Deaf" rebranded itself as "Action on Hearing Loss" - and 10 years later has just re-rebranded itself as RNID for obvious reasons.

And never forget "Royal Mail" -> "Consignia" -> "Royal Mail".

[Vince]

What the hell? Are they just using random word generators or something these days for product names?

And charity names...

"Contact the elderly" gave the idea that it allowed elderly people to remain in touch with each other and part of society. It has been re-branded "Re-engage", which sounds like something out of "Top Gear" or "Star Trek" or a dating agency.

"Royal National Institute for the Deaf" rebranded itself as "Action on Hearing Loss" - and 10 years later has just re-rebranded itself as RNID for obvious reasons.

And never forget "Royal Mail" -> "Consignia" -> "Royal Mail".

Well what you are saying is giving me HOPE ! At least in the UK seems like they eventually saw the light and REVERTED back to the old meaningful name ! Now here is hoping France would follow.... I know, probably not !