Micronta stuff was relatively well made for the era. It was usually imported stuff that had some QA added around it and a decent manual written. To be honest they were good value and that's usually what mattered to most people before the ubiquity of credit. If you couldn't afford a Simpson 260 or a Fluke 8020A then their products were a good option.
Yep, grew up with a Micronta analog meter at home. I think it met its demise when doing the tango with the mains outlet.
Kikusui was a bit classy for TandySo you think I may be wrong then? Just that I seem to keep thinking every time I look at it that it reminds me of a Tandy meter, albeit all ones I can find pictures of have different fascias, but I still have niggling thought about. Maybe its my mind playing tricks on me, never mind.
Yep, grew up with a Micronta analog meter at home. I think it met its demise when doing the tango with the mains outlet.
Yes that’s what happened to my first one. It got put on DC mode in an AC socket and basically smashed the needle back and forwards at 50Hz until it fell off. Then it caught fire. Then I left it to see what happened. It melted. Then I got told off for blowing stuff up. Again.
It was interesting to note that in that photo of George Dobbs, I saw that he too has an Avo meter and the same RF signal generator I have as well, which fine for AM radio, just wish I could find an affordable AM/FM one
Yep, grew up with a Micronta analog meter at home. I think it met its demise when doing the tango with the mains outlet.
Yes that’s what happened to my first one. It got put on DC mode in an AC socket and basically smashed the needle back and forwards at 50Hz until it fell off. Then it caught fire. Then I left it to see what happened. It melted. Then I got told off for blowing stuff up. Again.
Oh, that's quite the way to go. I had heard that ours went pop and the probe tips melted. I suspect it was in current mode.
Yep, grew up with a Micronta analog meter at home. I think it met its demise when doing the tango with the mains outlet.
Yes that’s what happened to my first one. It got put on DC mode in an AC socket and basically smashed the needle back and forwards at 50Hz until it fell off. Then it caught fire. Then I left it to see what happened. It melted. Then I got told off for blowing stuff up. Again.
Oh, that's quite the way to go. I had heard that ours went pop and the probe tips melted. I suspect it was in current mode.
Should I be embarrassed that I own a couple Micronta meters as well? Back in the day when there was a 'shack on every 3rd street corner, they rebadged meters made by reputable manufacturers. My first digital meter was one of these 22-171 pocket calculator models. Literally handy as a pocket on a shirt. I had one of their 22-182 models with serial out, and in a box somewhere in the garage, I still have one of their 22-193 clamshell and one of their 22-220 FET Analog models. Might still have the 22-182, but I haven't seen it since like 2 moves ago.
The best meter is the one you have when you need it; as long as you know how to use it and you know it isn't just completely out to lunch inaccurate.
mnem
*Back to the bench*
Gotta love that 22-220 FET analogue meter it really looks good
Embarrassed by owning a Micronta meter, why the hell would you be, as far as I know (never knowingly owned one) there was nothing wrong with them back in the day and over they were sold under I believe a few names during the time, two of them being Realistic and Micronta, and the shops were called Tandy and they certainly weren't cheap either.
(SNIP)Yep, grew up with a Micronta analog meter at home. I think it met its demise when doing the tango with the mains outlet.
Yes that’s what happened to my first one. It got put on DC mode in an AC socket and basically smashed the needle back and forwards at 50Hz until it fell off. Then it caught fire. Then I left it to see what happened. It melted. Then I got told off for blowing stuff up. Again.
Oh, that's quite the way to go. I had heard that ours went pop and the probe tips melted. I suspect it was in current mode.
The probes on them are made from chinesium. If you stuck them up your butt they would melt. Mine were properly mangled.
Yep, grew up with a Micronta analog meter at home. I think it met its demise when doing the tango with the mains outlet.
Yes that’s what happened to my first one. It got put on DC mode in an AC socket and basically smashed the needle back and forwards at 50Hz until it fell off. Then it caught fire. Then I left it to see what happened. It melted. Then I got told off for blowing stuff up. Again.
Oh, that's quite the way to go. I had heard that ours went pop and the probe tips melted. I suspect it was in current mode.Hmm, I'm getting the distinct impression here that you two have had a checkered career in destruction of our beloved test gear, I don't recall that I can make any such claim in my life, I like to offer them a safe haven in my protective care
mnem
"Oww... oww... owwdammit OWWW!" ~ me, more than once.
Owners of crusty Analogue meters ID the probe inserts and are the wire links from a meter?
Would it be embarrassing to admit I have two?
They are nowhere near as pristine as this. Both are battle scarred and one has a shot LCD.
I recently got a pair of Pomona itty bitties with pogo tips that should be just the ticket if I ever have to extract information from people rather than circuitry. Just hook them up to the PSU instead of the meter. I've already had one up a finger nail, when they do finally lose grip you're exerting a fair amount of force. I'd confess to the Great Train Robbery rather than have that happen again.
Are you pleased with your meter?
[EDIT for Clarification]
...I sharpen them sparingly now to keep these last few alive as long as possible, and to dampen their taste for blood a little.
[[/EDIT]
mnem
"Oww... oww... owwdammit OWWW!" ~ me, more than once.
Yeah, same, after purchasing a couple sets of ProbeMaster DMM probes.
I recently got a pair of Pomona itty bitties with pogo tips that should be just the ticket if I ever have to extract information from people rather than circuitry. Just hook them up to the PSU instead of the meter. I've already had one up a finger nail, when they do finally lose grip you're exerting a fair amount of force. I'd confess to the Great Train Robbery rather than have that happen again.
Watch out for naked telecom glass fibres: they insert themselves and then break off. If you are lucky it emerges a few weeks later of it own accord.
...I sharpen them sparingly now to keep these last few alive as long as possible, and to dampen their taste for blood a little.
mnem
"Oww... oww... owwdammit OWWW!" ~ me, more than once.
Yeah, same, after purchasing a couple sets of ProbeMaster DMM probes.
Similar taste for blood to mine, or cost?
I've added a bunch of PoI to the first post. Thanks to those who've PM'ed candidates to me thus far.
I was looking for the closeup pic of a dot LED character that I think Pat posted, but haven't successfully found it yet. If anyone sees it, send me the URL. Thanks!
I stuck those in the macro gallery - images 51 through 66. Gallery link:
https://pmanning.smugmug.com/Macro
Edit to add - unless you meant the pics of them lit up; those are in the 8662A gallery:
https://pmanning.smugmug.com/Electronics/HP-8662A-Synthesized-Signal-Generator
Thanks, Pat. I was trying to find your post in this thread that included the closeup of it lit. Maybe it wasn't in this thread? I'm pretty sure it was.
Ahh! Found it! It was in the 'what did you buy today' thread.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/what-did-you-buy-today-post-your-latest-purchase!/msg1429850/#msg1429850
Yep that's the SMF search engine FAILING like I mentioned a few days ago. Root searches work 'ok' but unless Dave adds a few mods (there is issues with that too) to the SMF basic platform Google site search is still best.