How NOT to 'repair' precision measurement equipment (Keithley 6517A), R18+

[TiN]

Well, I didn't think before that I could say "unit is beyound economical repair" about any of Keithley Instruments device I got.
But like they say, never say never. My kindness lured me into the trap, I thought I'd give some help to Jxw6637 and get my hands on 6517A to get some content for my site.

I was not prepared at all for what was coming... 



Unit was packed poorly, just janked into cardboard box with few foam sheets, on the side.



As one can guess from white getter spots, VFD glass is definately ruined. This photo was taken after some IPA cleaning already, it was filthy and dirty.
It's beyound me how some owners treat instrument that cost more than $5000 USD.



What happen to mains jack?! 



Removing covers for eye-watering sightseeing.. 



Digital boards look okay, no butchery detected there. Firmware is B13-version, RTC battery is good, no burnt parts, everything original.



Front panel is same as one used in Keithley 2002, with onboard royer DC-AC-DC converter to drive VFD glass elements.



You can see, there is no vacuum in the display. Did it happen from shipping damage due to poor packing, or was like this prior to that, I don't know.



Issue is clear, vacuum seal nipple is cracked and destroyed, letting the air in.



Nice AUGAT collet sockets for firmware chips and usual Motorola 68000 processor system.



This unit had blown transformer, so now it have replaced one. Transformer alone for K6517 cost over $600+ USD. Do not make mistakes like this plugging instrument switched to 110V into 230V mains.





No problems here on digital board. 

I hooked my K2400 front panel board to digital board alone and powered it by Keysight E36312A. Board went online, taking +5V 0.7A. No problems with digital board.



As of analog board assembly...

I don't have words left to describe, so I'll just let you see on your own... 











































 

[Samogon]

Speechless 

[MadTux]

Lol, judging from all that delamination, I presume that one got professionally raped by plumber iron and reckless use of industrial heat gun  .
BTW, first time I've seen a PIC used in test (or any other industrial) equipment.

[Zucca]

If not you, nobody can do that miracle here....

[RobK_NL]

This just hurts ... 

[HighVoltage]

Nobody would believe it without pictures.
Unreal!

[Ash]

This must be what it feels like to be a forensic investigator at your first murder scene..

The horror.

RIP K6517A. 

[saturnin]

Given the extend of the damage, I would consider replacing the whole analog board instead of component level repair. Here is one for sale: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Keithley-6517-102-04D-PCB-use-on-6517-electrometer-high-resistance-system/372215905349?hash=item56a9cbfc45:g:QZ4AAOSwL9paZW4t. Seller claims it is in working condition.

In case the ADC board will be a leftover after swapping boards, I would be interested in 

[Muxr]

I've seen horrible repairs on TVs or other consumer electronics gear. But why would someone butcher a piece of expensive test equipment like that? Wow. Thanks for sharing.

[kelchm]

What kind of person owns a piece of gear like this and is also so incompetent at repair? The mind boggles.

[andy2000]

It makes you wonder what they were trying to repair because it looks like the removed and reinstalled virtually every component on the board! 

[Samogon]

It makes you wonder what they were trying to repair because it looks like the removed and reinstalled virtually every component on the board!

That is what ya do when has no DMM and oscilloscope.

[rsjsouza]

That's quite a horrid job. In my early days of electronics I have butchered electronic circuits - I can't recall if it was that bad, but it certainly wasn't something >$50 range.

[ElektroQuark]

Tin, why do you call that a repair?
It's clear to me it's a torture.

[Neomys Sapiens]

Well, when and if the brown wire with the missing insulation coming from the AC input module touches the bare top of the cap, the problems will evaporate. So will the instrument. 

[lowimpedance]

Oh the pain the pain..... my eyes are on fire............. must look away now.

Seriously  , clearly whom ever did that has no idea when its time to stop, so sad.

I see the PCB assembly linked above on Ebay has sold !. That wasn't you TiN ?.

[bitseeker]

* runs away screaming *

That's TErrorism.

Thanks for sharing, TiN. Can't wait to see it resurrected.

[joeqsmith]

Reminds me when Dave took the Dremel tool to the old LeCroy scope.   My sister could have done a better job and she's never touched a soldering iron!  Looks like the display was working in the previous thread.

[imidis]

I didn't know there were pro's kit branded meters.

As to the subject at hand the horror. 

[ArdWar]

They must be trying really hard when "repairing" it that they managed to damage the chip's package.

[Cyberdragon]

Waiter...my chip is chipped! Also, I didn't order mushrooms on my board, or my IEC well welded!

Bah...cosmetic damage by rednecks! Come back when it's been flooded!

(...or set on fire, or however you wish to destroy it)

[Paul Moir]

or my IEC well welded!

As someone who knows welds, those are not welds.  Those are short circuits!

[nidlaX]

Interesting. I think I might've done a similar job on my first day of learning how to use a non temp controlled soldering iron. Maybe the previous owner was a newbie who got the equipment for ~free and wasn't interested in making a profit? A mis-guided exercise if that.

[technogeeky]

What is that bubble in bubble shaped thing? Is that the PCB internally delaminating?

Also, with the tremendous amount of damage on this board, there's something poetic about the fact there is still solder in the big electrolytic vias despite the large amount of damage done in those areas. It's like failure and abandonment frozen in time.

[bitseeker]

Yeah, board is delaminating in many places. Oof!