What did you buy today? Post your latest purchase!

[URI]

Oh my bank account moans.. 

Desoldering station: I came across a reasonably priced ZD-915/ZD-985 clone:
Solder Peak SP-1010DR: https://www.tme.eu/de/details/sp-1010dr/entloetstationen/solder-peak/

Occasionally won an auction for an HP 3335A working but with defective sweep out.
Will it be worth the 211,- Euros? I hope so, it's in reasonable shape with feet on it.


After uncounted Kernel updates on my Linux desktop (which means I have to reinstall and reconfigure the GPIB driver subsystem each time) I wanted to have a separate, stable machine to connect my USB to GPIB adapters to and to run the scripts for steering and reading over GPIB.
Finally I gave a raspberry pi 3 a go and ordered one with the necessary accessories for starting with it.
As this path has already been walked down by many before I think I will succeed in one way or another. 

[BU508A]

Well, actually I did not buy it. Yet. But I am considering seriously to buy this nice little tool:



https://www.bosch-do-it.com/gb/en/diy/nanobladesaws-the-innovation.jsp

[djos]

Well, actually I did not buy it. Yet. But I am considering seriously to buy this nice little tool:



https://www.bosch-do-it.com/gb/en/diy/nanobladesaws-the-innovation.jsp

AvE did a review of that, hilarious stuff, basically it rocks!

[McBryce]

Well, actually I did not buy it. Yet. But I am considering seriously to buy this nice little tool:

https://www.bosch-do-it.com/gb/en/diy/nanobladesaws-the-innovation.jsp

That should easily get through FR4

McBryce.

[djos]

Well, actually I did not buy it. Yet. But I am considering seriously to buy this nice little tool:

https://www.bosch-do-it.com/gb/en/diy/nanobladesaws-the-innovation.jsp

That should easily get through FR4

McBryce.

https://youtu.be/tSxgn0_yU-8

[Cubdriver]

Well, actually I did not buy it. Yet. But I am considering seriously to buy this nice little tool:
https://www.bosch-do-it.com/gb/en/diy/nanobladesaws-the-innovation.jsp

That looks pretty friggin' cool!!  Want!!  (Alas it doesn't appear to be readily available in the US at this point.  Bummer.)  (Guess I'll have to blow what I would have spent on it on more old test gear.  )

-Pat

[Mr. Scram]

I tried to bid on some ancient equipment, but apparantly, you can only make three offers on eBay and the "Buy now" price is absolutely ridiculous.

These guys are asking 30 to 50 dollars for a cooling fan and a cable, with 20 dollars shipping 

[BU508A]

That should easily get through FR4

With a nanoblade with Diamonds or Tungstencarbide: yes.
FR4 easily blunt the blades for wood (which are the only ones available right now afaik)

[rdl]

Hadn't wasted any money on cheap electronic toys in a while and made the mistake of logging on ebay last night.

[PA0PBZ]

Hadn't wasted any money on cheap electronic toys in a while and made the mistake of logging on ebay last night.

Watch out with those CH340 cables, they are TTL level and not RS232.

[AF6LJ]

Well, actually I did not buy it. Yet. But I am considering seriously to buy this nice little tool:



https://www.bosch-do-it.com/gb/en/diy/nanobladesaws-the-innovation.jsp

That just bleeds Cute. 

[Cubdriver]

I tried to bid on some ancient equipment, but apparantly, you can only make three offers on eBay and the "Buy now" price is absolutely ridiculous.

These guys are asking 30 to 50 dollars for a cooling fan and a cable, with 20 dollars shipping 

Some of the people selling on eBay are a bit nuts in their shipping (and regular prices).  Knowing what it costs me to ship heavy stuff cross country (and realizing that a box and packing materials aren't free), seeing a $50+ cost to ship something big and heavy is perfectly understandable.  When I see those crazy shipping charges for a tiny power supply or the like, my thought is 'good luck with that!'.

-Pat

[glarsson]

When I see those crazy shipping charges for a tiny power supply or the like, my thought is 'good luck with that!'.

I have seen shipping at US$1000 for a single CR2032 battery from US to Europe. Don't know the thought process behind that.

[bitseeker]

High shipping charges are effectively a visible reserve price for the item. Don't let it ruffle your feathers. The label "shipping" is a misnomer, especially since the seller has to pay fees on it as well as the closing price.

[Mr. Scram]

Some of the people selling on eBay are a bit nuts in their shipping (and regular prices).  Knowing what it costs me to ship heavy stuff cross country (and realizing that a box and packing materials aren't free), seeing a $50+ cost to ship something big and heavy is perfectly understandable.  When I see those crazy shipping charges for a tiny power supply or the like, my thought is 'good luck with that!'.

-Pat

Yeah, it's pretty common to see shipping costs as part of the price. Some smart ass even offered a nice piece of equipment for 49 dollars, only to add another 150 in shipping. Some poor sod might just fall for it.

In this case, shipping was fairly reasonable, considering the distance and maybe some additional charges for packaging materials and time spent. It seems to be an actual shop, so they need to factor those costs in. However, all the prices were at least 150% of what they should be. As far as I could tell, it was just a regular chassis fan and a regular 3,5 mm jack cable. Sure, they were from recognized brands, but not rare or desirable in any way I could tell. All the other stuff was equally optimistically priced.

They weren't realistic when responding to offers either, so it was probably for the best to run into the three offer maximum. I never knew there was a thing, so I'm glad to find out now, rather than when I really do want the object.

[Specmaster]

High shipping charges are effectively a visible reserve price for the item. Don't let it ruffle your feathers. The label "shipping" is a misnomer, especially since the seller has to pay fees on it as well as the closing price.

Buyer beware, remember that if you want to return it for a refund, you will only get the actual price, postage is refundable so this could be a new scam, seller sells something that they know is likely to be returned because its not quite as described, you pay return postage and they refund the actual price (less postage) you loose out, then gain time and time again when other people also want to return it. They also get into Ebays good books because they seem to be ideal sellers because you pay, you return, they pay you the original selling price and so it goes on.

[bitseeker]

Yeah, if you return something for other than a fault with the product or listing, then you lose out. Good point.

... this could be a new scam, seller sells something that they know is likely to be returned because its not quite as described, you pay return postage and they refund the actual price (less postage) you loose out ...

However, if you make a return under eBay Buyer Protection in the US (I don't know if it's different elsewhere), you get a full refund including shipping, and the seller has to pay the return shipping if they want the item back. I haven't purchased from anyone who has tried to get around these guarantees, but I wouldn't be surprised that some get away with shorting buyers.

[URI]

I bought an Oltronix B300D Power Supply today:



Hard negotiating over ebay's make-an-offer function and per personal message led to an offer of 80,-€ being accepted. 

It will add good to my Chinese 30V/5A switching power supply (that has the same form factor) being versatile and quiet (no fans and low regulation noise). 

[JPortici]

It's so totally useless, but at the same time so incredibly cool and in some way quite profound. It's these shiny bits of sand that power so much of our modern lives.

I've itched to buy some a number of times, but decided to buy something slightly more useful every time. One day!

infact, it'll become a paperweight.
Now, if i can get my hands on a similarly priced 300mm wafer...

[Johnny10]

Century CT-1 Condensor Checker
May need a complete rebuild.

Actually worked when I turned it on !
Variac !!

[Messtechniker]

In view of all this crappy and even dangerous mains powered equipment
around from dubious sources as well as a very serious incident involving a
construction light injuring a friend of mine, I have bought a Peaktech 2695
Insulation Tester also to ensure the safety of any mains powered items
I have repaired or built.

The 2695 comes in a nice carrying case and with a factory calibration certificate
with an attached Test Report. Calibrator is a Fluke 9100. Also included:
two probes, a brief manual, incidentally with no pic covering battery replacement,
a carrying strap and two large croc clips.

The Schuko adapter cord shown in the pic is not included.
Cobbled it together myself. Already did a lot of testing and found two
brand new CE marked mains cords (can’t remember the equipment
they came with) with an insulation resistance below 1 MegOhm.
The problem was found within the moulded IEC plug and not in the cable.
This alone has made this investment worthwhile.

[TheSteve]

HP 8752C Network Analyzer with option 006 - 6 GHz, and as a bonus it uses N connectors instead of APC7. I bought it as parts but I feel an easy repair coming my way.

[Cubdriver]

Nice!     Fingers crossed for you.

-Pat

[tablatronix]

Bunch of parts for projects.

[cdev]

Wow,

They don't make them like that any more!

Century CT-1 Condensor Checker
May need a complete rebuild.

Actually worked when I turned it on !
Variac !!