What did you buy today? Post your latest purchase!

[Alex Eisenhut]

I got a very similar model to that a while ago for a family member with a 120V food mixer.

By memory the wires inside were a bit dodgy (damaged insulation) so I touched a few bits up before handing it on to them.

Yep, indeed dodgy inside. But the biggest problem is how old the thing is, turns out mains hasn't been 110V in Canada for a long time. Oops. It's closer to 125! So the "220" output is more 250.
So that sucks. I have a Variac but now suddenly this setup is getting very large.
I just wanted a quick way to power European computers and peripherals. I think 250 is too high.
But that transformer is 40-50$ plus shipping so I'm still ahead if I just use it as a bookend!

[themadhippy]

I think 250 is too high

na youve got a whole 3 volts to spare.

[shapirus]

I just wanted a quick way to power European computers and peripherals. I think 250 is too high.

Technically, it's still within the 230V +- 10% tolerance.

But yeah, you don't generally want to run things at nearly the max allowed voltage, especially given that many devices state that "240V" is the max allowed (not that they'll fail at 241, again).

Those magnetic transformers are very nice (and have some weight in them, too), but these days, I guess, the default way to go is to use switch-mode transformers: AC115->low-volt-DC->AC230, using, unless otherwise is acceptable, a "pure sine wave" inverter for the output. It also has an added benefit of being able to power it using a battery.

[DiTBho]

Scicon Sports Aerotech Evolution X TSA
bicycle travel case 

[armandine2]

Import duties and VAT (if applicable) are set by the government.

set,  I agree - not collected 

I had two delivery attempts before I found the tax demand?

[SiliconWizard]

Scicon Sports Aerotech Evolution X TSA
bicycle travel case 

Not cheap but impressive.

[DiTBho]

Scicon Sports Aerotech Evolution X TSA
bicycle travel case 

Not cheap but impressive.

480 euro brand new + 50 euro for accessories (axel adapters for vintage 80s hubs), perfect to transport a special bike by train and then by plane
It makes sense when it doesn't make sense to leave with just your suitcase and rent a bike on site 

[DiTBho]

Now I have to hack the tag-bag to add a IR-tag!
This way I can recognize the suitcase as soon as it appears on the baggage carousel

I also have to have my data { name, surname, email, address, phone/whatsup, ... } engraved on a plastic plate, to be glued to the body of the suitcase, with the addition of two M3 screws. Just in case ... they lost their check-in etiquette ...

[DiTBho]

I intentionally bought a couple of faulty hard disks,  512Gbyte Seagate Barracuda, with a level of failure that does not mean a totally unusable disk but a disk with several bad sectors, heads and everything else working perfectly.

I expressed this particular request to a seller who charged me 1 euro for both HDDs, and 14 euros for the time he took to perform the tests I requested of him on something like a dozen HDDs, selected from a basket of 100 HDDs to destroy.

moral of the story:
+01 euro for both the HDDs
+14 euro for his times
+15 euro S/H
--------------
=30 euro to have them at my house 

Super happy, these two defective HDDs are *exactly* what I need in order to perfection my userspace RAID without the need to model (in python, or in C) a faulty disk through a virtual HDD.

[exe]

Nice. I have a QA product myself - a power supply (that is now off their catalog).

I didn't know they had power supply? Can you please share the model name? I wasn't able to find anything, even in their catalog of retired hardware: https://quantasylum.com/collections/retired-hardware .

[Alex Eisenhut]

Those magnetic transformers are very nice (and have some weight in them, too), but these days, I guess, the default way to go is to use switch-mode transformers: AC115->low-volt-DC->AC230, using, unless otherwise is acceptable, a "pure sine wave" inverter for the output. It also has an added benefit of being able to power it using a battery.

Yeah I guess so but I just had to grab it when I saw it. Thrifting is a strange activity, it's like I'm a hungry seagull looking for french fries on the ground when I have steak at home.   

[SiliconWizard]

Nice. I have a QA product myself - a power supply (that is now off their catalog).

I didn't know they had power supply? Can you please share the model name? I wasn't able to find anything, even in their catalog of retired hardware: https://quantasylum.com/collections/retired-hardware .

Yes, I noticed it's not even in their official retired collection. Not sure why. I bought it when QA was just starting, I think. Maybe they're not proud of some early products, or maybe they don't want to mention them as it's a category they don't make products for anymore, so they don't want to be bothered by customers asking for them.

The power supply is a QA300. I was not even able to find any article on it on Google. That's odd. I swear I have one.
(I can take a picture of it if anyone's curious.)
The supply's still working fine. It's a programmable low-noise supply, single channel, with USB connectivity (not powered by USB). I remember there was an issue with early versions, I had mine replaced because it tended to turn off the output by itself for no apparent reason, but they had sent me a replacement unit promptly, without me even having to send mine back, and the new unit's been working fine. The LCD display has oddly developed some burn-in over the years (I left it on for extended periods of time at some point), but otherwise still good.

Don't know, they probably decided that this wasn't a market for them.

[Alex Eisenhut]

Picked this up while thrifting.
Did I need it? Nope. Not even sure I have a space for it. Didn't even get to test it, the AC outlet at the Renaissance/Goodwill was not working.
Clean, no rattling sounds, no broken parts or glass pouring out the vent holes, fuse still good.
I think this thing is what CRD calls a Beige Whale.

[zapta]

That's how a real osciloscope looks like.

[Alex Eisenhut]

Powers up, there is a spot but not a trace, smells like an old baseboard heater. Opened it up, I never knew Heathkit got tubes marked for them!
This one's by General Electric, another one is a Mullard, "MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN", awesome.
Nice RCA 5UP1 CRT.

[gamalot]

An Agilent 4288A capacitance meter that reported an E15 error. I'm trying to fix it.   

[Wallace Gasiewicz]

Concerning the Heathkit Scope:
Can you get a trace putting a sine wave on the Ext Inputs?

[Alex Eisenhut]

Concerning the Heathkit Scope:
Can you get a trace putting a sine wave on the Ext Inputs?

Oh yeah, fingers on X and Y inputs created a crappy oval. I want to clean the inside and check the Black Beauty/Bumblebees, and other capacitors, first.
This is a very simple scope, all the tubes seem low hours, and whoever put it together did a good job.

I think long-term, if I can find it in my crap, I'll connect my X-Y graphical clock board to it.

[coppercone2]

bsudbrink is right! It is called »Feuerzange« - a utensil for preparing »Feuerzangenbowle«

»Feuerzangenbowle« is usually prepared in autumn / winter, when it is cold, wet and dark outside.

You take a pot, fill it with a dry red wine, season it with sliced oranges and lemon, cinnamon sticks, star anise and cloves, then warm it up on the stove (do not cook!).

The most important part: Invite a lot of friends!

Finally, when everyone is gathered around, take your »Feuerzange«, put it over the pot, place a »Zuckerhut« (sugar loaf, lit. "sugar hat") on top, pour some rum - at least 54% alc. (100° proof and above) and light the rum on fire. 80% rum will give you the best result in regard to caramelization of the sugar!
While the sugar slowly caramelizes and melts away, keep on pouring rum with a scoop if necessary, enjoy watching the flames and have a splendid time anticipating the finalization of the »Bowle« together with your friends.

When the sugar has completely melted away, fill into cups and pass it to your friends.

Fun fact: The »Zuckerhut« has been the defacto standard for trading sugar from medieval times up until the 19th / early 20th century.

this needs bump

[mendip_discovery]

eBay + work bonus = I just bought a Beamex TC303 Thermocouple Test Set.

Already found the manuals, just need to find a spec sheet.

[gamalot]

An Agilent 4288A capacitance meter that reported an E15 error. I'm trying to fix it.   

It's fixed! An LT1129-3.3 LDO (U152) was damaged and DigiKey was asking for over A$10 each. I built a replacement using the LM1117-ADJ I had on hand and it works perfectly now.

[w.v.s.]

An Agilent 4288A capacitance meter that reported an E15 error. I'm trying to fix it.   

It's fixed! An LT1129-3.3 LDO was damaged and DigiKey was asking for over A$10 each. I built a replacement using the LM1117-ADJ I had on hand and it works perfectly now.

Congratutions!

[Dan_8123]

A used Keysight EL34143A but I have to wait 6 more days to get it delivered 

[Smoky]

Still going through boxes of stuff my friend gave away during his move a couple of weeks ago

Here are two huge 6v batteries that weigh an absolute ton!





What the heck to do with them

Hell, I still have a Delta woodworking bandsaw sitting in the middle of my kitchen

[Kim Christensen]

Here are two huge 6v batteries that weigh an absolute ton!
What the heck to do with them

I'm sure someone with an RV, boat, or golf cart would be interested in them.