Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Specmaster]

Congratulations. I want one now 

Oh Oh the boat anchor virus is still running rampant and unchecked, there might well be some Flukes on the bay soon   

[0culus]

Congratulations. I want one now 

Oh Oh the boat anchor virus is still running rampant and unchecked, there might well be some Flukes on the bay soon 

I'm doing my best to help! 

[xrunner]

What's the procedure?

Take a look at the link. If you want to attempt it make sure you are very careful and have plenty of patience -

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/hp-5335a-non-working-enter-key/msg901133/#msg901133

[bitseeker]

I use these more than DMM probes as you don't have to have hands on when using them.

Your hands are detachable?

[bitseeker]

I'm actively avoiding work to be honest so I get some more time for TEA etc. It's just quite difficult at the moment because half the EU based staff fucked off from all the tech companies due to Brexit. I figure I do another 5 years of this crap and retire so I can bury myself in a basement full of boat anchors.

I feel I'm on a similar schedule, just trying to get to the finish line. At least I hope I'll be happily immersed in all flavors of TEA in five years (and finally get my ham license).

[bitseeker]

@URI, I think we ought to call you Dr Frankenstein then seeing as you have just made a monster out of bitseeker amd yours truly, bitmaster indeed 

  I like it.

[bitseeker]

I've been spending the last hour pondering if I should use stranded or solid cable when measuring my fancy new DC voltage reference. I see so many photos of cat5 UTP pairs on this forum, but I don't know if they are stranded or solid.

I could only find one paper talking about solid vs stranded. It suggests to use either very expensive solid wire, or any stranded wire.

Solid wire isn't very flexible and prone to cracking if flexed too often. If you need to move the wires around often, then stranded is friendlier. Otherwise, use solid for "permanent" setups.

[Specmaster]

I'm actively avoiding work to be honest so I get some more time for TEA etc. It's just quite difficult at the moment because half the EU based staff fucked off from all the tech companies due to Brexit. I figure I do another 5 years of this crap and retire so I can bury myself in a basement full of boat anchors.

I feel I'm on a similar schedule, just trying to get to the finish line. At least I hope I'll be happily immersed in all flavors of TEA in five years (and finally get my ham license).

Free bus passes coming up soon then. 

Had mine for 4 years now and only used the thing once, all the money I've wasted on Diesel instead of using the bus  Then I think of all the time I've saved and not having to wait around for a bus to come along, getting cold and wet, its not really money wasted anymore 

[URI]

@URI, I think we ought to call you Dr Frankenstein then seeing as you have just made a monster out of bitseeker amd yours truly, bitmaster indeed 

  I like it.

Huh, what did I mess up here? 

Yeah, I ment I will write here so bitseeker (and the other fellow TEA members) will know if he luckily got around drawing a blank by asking the seller of the PM6681 first.   

Don't be afraid, specmaster, no frankensteining or freakin' telepathy involved.   

[bitseeker]

You wrote bitmaster (i.e., bitseeker + specmaster) as if to address us both at the same time. Hilarity ensued.

[mnementh]

As long as we don't have any Dr. Frankenfurter-ing around... 

mnem
You do NOT wanna see a dwagon in gold lame crotch-huggers.   

[Specmaster]

I use these more than DMM probes as you don't have to have hands on when using them.

Thats fine and dandy for you forward engineering guys  not quite so handy for the fixer uppers when all the lead ends have snipped  , that said though, I have a set like that myself and have been known to solder on a few test points to clip them onto before now 

[Specmaster]

As long as we don't have any Dr. Frankenfurter-ing around... 

mnem
You do NOT wanna see a dwagon in gold lame crotch-huggers.   

How right you are 

[mnementh]

I use these more than DMM probes as you don't have to have hands on when using them.

Your hands are detachable?

In the same way as the Robot Devil's hands are, sure... 

mnem
*Agitating-ily*

[Mr. Scram]

I ordered the CCD one. The CMOS one made me instantly think of those hacks where you used to use a decapped DRAM as a camera that was popular back in the mid 1980s.


TEA related, my 33120A is arriving tomorrow (woohoo) and got me some Pornoma stuff in the post today (seeing as I set fire to the other set of these I have  )

I use these more than DMM probes as you don't have to have hands on when using them.

I like those kinds of leads too. You get a solid connection and they're not too unwieldy. I currently have a few cheapies, but certainly wouldn't mind a few good sets. I've been promising myself a good set of various leads for a while now, but a bigger item always seems to empty the war chest before I get that far.

[0culus]

I ordered the CCD one. The CMOS one made me instantly think of those hacks where you used to use a decapped DRAM as a camera that was popular back in the mid 1980s.


TEA related, my 33120A is arriving tomorrow (woohoo) and got me some Pornoma stuff in the post today (seeing as I set fire to the other set of these I have  )

I use these more than DMM probes as you don't have to have hands on when using them.

I like those kinds of leads too. You get a solid connection and they're not too unwieldy. I currently have a few cheapies, but certainly wouldn't mind a few good sets. I've been promising myself a good set of various leads for a while now, but a bigger item always seems to empty the war chest before I get that far.

I am fortunate to have a local electronics store that stocks Pomona stuffs. I need to stop in and get some of these for my new boat anchor voltmeter! 

[URI]

You wrote bitmaster (i.e., bitseeker + specmaster) as if to address us both at the same time. Hilarity ensued.

Ok, thanks bit*, I didn't catch up on spec* there.      

*-short form to avoid any further Frankensteining.

[Housedad]

My GPSDO finally came in today.  Seems to be working fine.  Heather sees it and seems happy.

I bought this one: https://www.ebay.com/itm/GPSDO-Symmetricom-Inside-GPS-10MHz-1PPS-GPS-Send-GPS-antenna/263458624856?hash=item3d575b9558:g:bk8AAOSw9vlaael4:rk:1:pf:0

I was pleasantly surprised. It came with a RS232 to USB 1 meter long adapter ( a real one)  a 1.5 meter RS232 extension cable, the antennae, the bnc adapters in the pic, and software / manual on a mini cd.  Even had a 'inspected by #2" card with the date of manufacture on it.  It was packed so well I think it could have been used as a football by the NFL and not gotten damaged.




Now to modify the Extron  ada 6 300mx hv distribution apmplifier that I bought.  Then make some cables to hook it all up. 
I think I'll also need to run the antennae up to the attic.  The lab is in the basement.  Right now, I'm doing the testing in the kitchen upstairs so it sees satellites. 

[bd139]

Ok so 33120A arrived. Works perfectly - display bright and working fine.

Really dirty, covered in stickers and the fan is knackered though so I will strip it down, clean it and replace that. Fan is a standard Delta one which is typically obsolete but Sunon do one with same dimensions and airflow which is only 12dB (bugger all) so I will install one of them: https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/axial-fans/8114144/



Me happy 

[bd139]

Ok have stripped it down (don't turn it on, take it apart!) and found no major crimes other than the encoder knob being bodged pretty badly and the fan being duff. No sign of any repairs on the output side of things which is a common failure. Keysight still stock the knobs so I will buy a couple of them I think for stock.

It has the panel cutouts for the TCXO option and the board connector (SMB by the looks).

Gubbins:



Rear panel holes:





Someone is selling original sealed manuals on ebay so I might grab that as well. I'm sure there's a TEA term for obsessive completeness.

Edit: damn I love HP / Agilent / Keysight. Phoned them up, answered by human straight away, took order for parts over phone.

I bought two knobs (incase I munt the replacement in the future) and they were £2.28 each 

[med6753]

Here's my newest toy. Siglent SDM3055 5.5 digit bench DMM. Haven't had a chance to put it through a complete checkout yet but so far looks good. I may even do a teardown.

[bd139]

Looking good 

Let us know how you get on with it

[Brumby]

Someone is selling original sealed manuals on ebay so I might grab that as well. I'm sure there's a TEA term for obsessive completeness.

My offering:

OCR - Obsessive Completeness Response.  This insidious affliction starts out with an acquisition of test gear that is often found to be in excellent condition - even if beneath stickers, dirt and dust.  The trigger is usually the desire to add a missing component, such as a lead, manual or carry case that would have been included in the original equipment purchase or from an optional accessory.  Once this trigger has been initiated, sufferers continue with an unsuppressible drive until there is nothing missing.  Extreme cases have been known to not rest until original twist-ties, cable ties and mains plug protectors have been obtained.

[pigrew]

Ok have stripped it down (don't turn it on, take it apart!) and found no major crimes other than the encoder knob being bodged pretty badly and the fan being duff. No sign of any repairs on the output side of things which is a common failure. Keysight still stock the knobs so I will buy a couple of them I think for stock.

While you have your 33120A open, check for cold solder joints on the power transistors near the front of the unit....  Blindly replacing electrolytic capacitors isn't a bad idea, either. Does this unit have the exploding Rifa line filler capacitors?

[bd139]

Someone is selling original sealed manuals on ebay so I might grab that as well. I'm sure there's a TEA term for obsessive completeness.

My offering:

OCR - Obsessive Completeness Response.  This insidious affliction starts out with an acquisition of test gear that is often found to be in excellent condition - even if beneath stickers, dirt and dust.  The trigger is usually the desire to add a missing component, such as a lead, manual or carry case that would have been included in the original equipment purchase or from an optional accessory.  Once this trigger has been initiated, sufferers continue with an unsuppressible drive until there is nothing missing.  Extreme cases have been known to not rest until original twist-ties, cable ties and mains plug protectors have been obtained.

  That's it! 

Ok have stripped it down (don't turn it on, take it apart!) and found no major crimes other than the encoder knob being bodged pretty badly and the fan being duff. No sign of any repairs on the output side of things which is a common failure. Keysight still stock the knobs so I will buy a couple of them I think for stock.

While you have your 33120A open, check for cold solder joints on the power transistors near the front of the unit....  Blindly replacing electrolytic capacitors isn't a bad idea, either. Does this unit have the exploding Rifa line filler capacitors?

Have already inspected that. Seems good. I will replace the capacitors at some point in the next couple of months I think. I did find a couple of stacked resistors in the attenuator. Looks like that's ok according to the schematic though.

No exploding mains filter in these fortunately. In fact no mains filter at all. Had a couple of RIFAs go off on me before so it's the first thing I check

So now a question for the experts? How do you clean the bumpers on these? Attacking it with my usual kitchen spray and sponge resulted in a net total of nothing happening.