What did you buy today? Post your latest purchase!

[Falkra]

I don't have an account, but I'll try. I just registered, they use manual account validation, so I'll have to wait (they even ask for real name and adress).

[mtdoc]

Recent purchase from the local Goodwill thrift store.  Auto Stac 1500 VA voltage regulator - also works as 110/220 V step-up or step-down transformer.

I happened upon this and couldn't pass it up for only $10.  I don't need the voltage regulation but can use the 110-220 step up capability.  Also, I was curious how it works and wanted to open it up.

Hooked it up to my variac and it works well. By pushing the input up to 130V I can get the output up to about 230V for step-up use.

[Cubdriver]

Wow!!  For $10, you stole that!  Nice find.   

-Pat

[bitseeker]

That should be in the "scores" thread.

So, it appears that this regulator is a variac with a servo-controlled wiper. Interesting.

[mtdoc]

That should be in the "scores" thread.

Yeah, I thought about the scores thread but it's not exactly test equipment.

So, it appears that this regulator is a variac with a servo-controlled wiper. Interesting.

Yeah, exactly. Fun watching the servo work while I change the input voltage.

It's got one heavy hunk of toroidal copper.

I've heard of people using these in 3rd world countries with poor grid regulation.  Not sure how this came to end up in a US thrift store - especially with the Euro plugs.

[bitseeker]

People immigrate here from all over the place. If it's a CEE 7/16 Europlug, perhaps the prior owner lived in Cuba and needed the step-up for some 220V devices. The voltage regulation was probably handy as well.

[BFX]

I don't have an account, but I'll try. I just registered, they use manual account validation, so I'll have to wait (they even ask for real name and adress).

Thank you very much I hope this guy is still active

[Cubdriver]

That should be in the "scores" thread.

Yeah, I thought about the scores thread but it's not exactly test equipment.

Yeah, but it is definitely a score!   

So, it appears that this regulator is a variac with a servo-controlled wiper. Interesting.

Yeah, exactly. Fun watching the servo work while I change the input voltage.

It's got one heavy hunk of toroidal copper.

I've heard of people using these in 3rd world countries with poor grid regulation.  Not sure how this came to end up in a US thrift store - especially with the Euro plugs.

That's a good question, but I'll bet the Euro plugs helped you to get such a great deal on it - they had NO idea what it might be.  Regardless, a cool piece of kit.

-Pat

[vk6zgo]

That should be in the "scores" thread.

Yeah, I thought about the scores thread but it's not exactly test equipment.

So, it appears that this regulator is a variac with a servo-controlled wiper. Interesting.

Yeah, exactly. Fun watching the servo work while I change the input voltage.



It's got one heavy hunk of toroidal copper.

I've heard of people using these in 3rd world countries with poor grid regulation.  Not sure how this came to end up in a US thrift store - especially with the Euro plugs.

The Stabilac equivalent was common in a lot of remote area Radiocom stuff in West Oz,back in the 1960s.

TV  & Radio Broadcast Tx sites used their VERY big brothers to stabilise the 3 phase incoming.
They had a crank handle you stuck in the top .
To test if they were working,you cranked it a bit off the correct setting,& it would motor back to where it should be.

[japasetelagoas]

Just wanted to post that most of the items that I bought from Aliexpress arrived.




Electrolytic and ceramic caps kit, trimmer kit, test probes, transistors kit, zener diodes kit (not shown), Xilinx Spartan-6 FPGA development board (which I forgot to buy the JTAG-USB adapter for notebooks), Mastech Multimeter (posted a few weeks ago).

I'm quite happy with this new addition to my lab, even though I had to pay a sh... stupid load of taxes for somes items, but that's how Brazilian customs works.

Thanks

[McBryce]

Recent purchase from the local Goodwill thrift store.  Auto Stac 1500 VA voltage regulator - also works as 110/220 V step-up or step-down transformer.

I happened upon this and couldn't pass it up for only $10.  I don't need the voltage regulation but can use the 110-220 step up capability.  Also, I was curious how it works and wanted to open it up.

Hooked it up to my variac and it works well. By pushing the input up to 130V I can get the output up to about 230V for step-up use.

That is a score, the copper alone is worth more than $10!

McBryce.

[Sbampato12]

Just because I'm lazy...

[HighVoltage]

I bought an Advantest R6144 Voltage/Current Source.
It is broken / dead and needs repair.
If I get it to work, it will be a good deal, if not it is wasted money.
Should be here in a few weeks.

[Cubdriver]

I think if there were any question as to my sanity (or, more precisely, lack thereof), it's been definitively answered it today.  I've officially lost my mind.   

Just bought an HP 740B DC Standard/Differential Voltmeter (described as 'used, cosmetic damage, powers on') and then an HP 4270A Automatic Capacitance Bridge ('doesn't power up, no means to test') on evilBay today.     Both from sellers I've dealt with before, so I'm reasonably confident that they'll be packed better than the poor 405CR was.

As usual, I'll post pics in a week or so when they arrive.  Now I have to head off to my NA (Nixies Anonymous) support group meeting...

-Pat

[Falkra]

I bought an Advantest R6144 Voltage/Current Source.
It is broken / dead and needs repair.
If I get it to work, it will be a good deal, if not it is wasted money.
Should be here in a few weeks.

Very nice unit, and it looks compact. Nice catch !

[poorchava]

Got a Razer Anansi keyboard. Used but in good overall condition. Price? 7PLN(1.5 EUR) at a flea market.

Gaming keyboard and mice with macro capability are great for CAD productivity (plus the obvious swag factor) [emoji1]

Sent from my HTC One M8s using Tapatalk.

[bitseeker]

Pat,

Soon, you'll need your own sub-forum. It'd be easier to keep up on all your cool nixie threads and projects.

[thisguy]

This just came.
I used a banggood coupon and got one of these plus an extra tip. For scale I put it next to some familiar objects in the last photo. My cheap Asus power adapter has a stiff, heavy cord that's a bit clunky, so I'm thinking of making something light and flexible from silicone wires when the 2.5mm plugs that I ordered come.

This works way better than my cheapo YiHua. It comes up to temp in under 10 sec with the power adapter I use, has configurable low temp standby and sleep timers, wakes from sleep when moved, etc.

[Skimask]

Not electronics related, too bad...

The shoulder will be liking the new electric power steering...
Also picked up, but not in the picture, 3 bin bagger, 50" 2 stage snow thrower, dump cart...
All in all, $5,000+ that day.

[karoru]

Got a Razer Anansi keyboard. Used but in good overall condition. Price? 7PLN(1.5 EUR) at a flea market.

Don't you feel bad for this teenager that got grounded for bad grades at school or whatever? His mum sold the keyboard on fleamarket, so his gaming life is over!

[poorchava]

Got a Razer Anansi keyboard. Used but in good overall condition. Price? 7PLN(1.5 EUR) at a flea market.

Don't you feel bad for this teenager that got grounded for bad grades at school or whatever? His mum sold the keyboard on fleamarket, so his gaming life is over!

Don't know. Don't care. First rule of a flea market here.

Sent from my HTC One M8s using Tapatalk.

[McBryce]

Got a Razer Anansi keyboard. Used but in good overall condition. Price? 7PLN(1.5 EUR) at a flea market.

Don't you feel bad for this teenager that got grounded for bad grades at school or whatever? His mum sold the keyboard on fleamarket, so his gaming life is over!

Or it could be from some rich kid that just upgraded to the latest / greatest version.

McBryce.

[vinicius.jlantunes]

Just because I'm lazy...

How much for that and where you bought it Sbampato12? I struggle with desoldering stuff, have been thinking about getting one of these. Is it good?

[bitseeker]

Not electronics related, too bad...

The shoulder will be liking the new electric power steering...

Hmm, battery, starter motor, electric power steering...close enough.

[canibalimao]

This just came.
I used a banggood coupon and got one of these plus an extra tip. For scale I put it next to some familiar objects in the last photo. My cheap Asus power adapter has a stiff, heavy cord that's a bit clunky, so I'm thinking of making something light and flexible from silicone wires when the 2.5mm plugs that I ordered come.

This works way better than my cheapo YiHua. It comes up to temp in under 10 sec with the power adapter I use, has configurable low temp standby and sleep timers, wakes from sleep when moved, etc.

Is it good to solder small electronics and wires? I've seen a few time ago that iron but I was affraid that it wasn't that good and ended using my good old uncontrolled mains connected iron...