Author Topic: List your test equipment "scores" here!  (Read 775080 times)

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Offline xrunner

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #850 on: August 14, 2016, 12:14:05 am »
Good work I got a counter like that and it's a good unit.  :-+
I told my friends I could teach them to be funny, but they all just laughed at me.
 
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Offline VK5RC

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #851 on: August 14, 2016, 11:36:03 am »
Some while ago bought a Marconi 2024 2.4GHz counter with a broken (but just readable) for USD$500 but thank to grumpydoc et al found a used but working LCD, 30mins work later a nice working 2.4GHz freq gen! A small crack in the perspex remains off to the LHS but I'm ok with that for the price.
Has the high power option and harmonics are below the -40dBc :-+

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/quick-repair-project-marconi-2024/
Whoah! Watch where that landed we might need it later.
 

Offline Electro Fan

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #852 on: August 14, 2016, 02:28:36 pm »
.
The instrument came alive, thermal camera also didn't detect any overly stressed parts:


What thermal camera did you use?
« Last Edit: August 14, 2016, 02:33:56 pm by Electro Fan »
 

Offline Muxr

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #853 on: August 14, 2016, 02:40:10 pm »
What thermal camera did you use?
FLIR One on my iPhone.
 

Offline bitseeker

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #854 on: August 14, 2016, 08:51:56 pm »
Looks like a FLIR One has just made its way into my shopping list.
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Offline Muxr

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #855 on: August 14, 2016, 10:31:25 pm »
Looks like a FLIR One has just made its way into my shopping list.
Thermal camera is a really useful tool, I bought it when it first came out, and I can say I've relied on it more often than I thought I would. I've been pretty happy with my FLIR One.
 
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Offline deepskyridge

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #856 on: August 15, 2016, 03:01:08 pm »
I recently picked up a couple of Instruments off Ebay.

1. HP 5334B Counter, $35 and works great, needed cleaning.

2. HP 8591E Spectrum Analyzer, $200. Needed a new CRT. Found the entire unit on ebay for $50 (New). Passes confidence test, works well.

Gary
 
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Offline Muxr

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #857 on: August 15, 2016, 03:27:54 pm »
@deepskyridge those are some awesome bargains.
 

Offline Falkra

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #858 on: August 15, 2016, 04:53:11 pm »
Indeed,  nice catch !  :D
Were they sold for parts, out of order, untested ?
 

Offline deepskyridge

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #859 on: August 15, 2016, 05:22:28 pm »
Indeed,  nice catch !  :D
Were they sold for parts, out of order, untested ?

Yes, they were sold for parts or needs repair.

FYI if anyone needs a new display module for the 8590 series of SA. Here is a ebay listing for the one I bought.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-Qty-LOT-NEW-HP-Agilent-2090-0539-CRT-Display-Section-for-8590-Spectrum-Analyze-/351781522402?hash=item51e7d00be2:g:oEYAAOSw~FNUY7~q

They have more than 10.

Gary
 
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Offline dxl

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #860 on: August 16, 2016, 07:53:45 pm »
Scored a HP 66000A MPS Mainframe with modules for 150US$ + shipping:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Agilent-66000A-Modular-Power-System-Mainframe-four-66101A-two-66102A-READ-/152182747515?hash=item236ecc717b%3Ag%3AqEEAAOSwn8FXR46p&nma=true&si=qb6HlkEm%252B6ickmJrNFDqhcqC6uw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

The seller stated that the modules are not working, but it turned out that the modules are not dead - they where just all configured with the DIP switches either in calibration or in Production only mode. Turning back the switches recovered most of them but one. That one had just a disconnected display cable :)

The mainframe itself did not work with keyboard connected. I've started looking for the problem, and figured out that one of the PALCE16V8 wasn't working. That PAL did some clock dividing to provide different clock signals for various stuff. Looked into my old box with all the EPROMs and such stuff from the 90s, and found a PEEL18CV8. Not exactly the same, but after installing Software to generate bitstreams for those devices, i got it running again. That was probably the first time i worked with PAL/GAL stuff since the 90's ;)
 

Offline AF6LJ

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #861 on: August 16, 2016, 10:57:22 pm »
I recently picked up a couple of Instruments off Ebay.

1. HP 5334B Counter, $35 and works great, needed cleaning.

2. HP 8591E Spectrum Analyzer, $200. Needed a new CRT. Found the entire unit on ebay for $50 (New). Passes confidence test, works well.

Gary
Nice Score.  :-+ :-+
Sue AF6LJ
 

Offline karoru

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #862 on: August 16, 2016, 11:07:25 pm »
Nothing like that, I don't know of any hacks for it. I bought it to re-sell. Figure I'll make $500 or so. Current MSRP is about $7K. Crazy.

It has to be device that is an industry standard for measuring something esoteric that you need to either repair/buy another one if it smokes or rebuild and recertify your whole test setup and redo all paperwork, spending stupid amount of money.

It happens, and that's why for example you can still buy brand new 25 MHz generic TV-repair era analog scopes from some companies (eg Voltcraft) for pretty hefty price. Or analog meters (in microwave ovens industry procedures still call for AVOmeter rated for 2500V RMS to measure secondary of transformer...).
« Last Edit: August 16, 2016, 11:09:35 pm by karoru »
 

Offline orin

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #863 on: August 18, 2016, 05:37:02 am »
So here's the 8753C that came with a blown A sampler mentioned in the 8753C repair thread, shown doing an S11 measurement using a 11667A power splitter and Mini Circuits directional coupler.  Kirkby Microwave female calibration standards are on the left.

[Yes, I know there is something wrong with this picture, but note that vertical scale is 1dB/div.  I'm still working out why...]
 

Offline TheSteve

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #864 on: August 21, 2016, 08:13:36 pm »
Late night surfing found another ebay deal.
Got five Tektronix P6139A 500 MHz probes, three Agilent 10074C probes and one 1160A(this one is parts only) for $55.00.
All of the probes work, about half of them are complete with ground clips and hooks.

the P6139A's are a great match for my TDS7104.
VE7FM
 

Offline rx8pilot

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #865 on: August 21, 2016, 08:45:37 pm »
Late night surfing found another ebay deal.
Got five Tektronix P6139A 500 MHz probes, three Agilent 10074C probes and one 1160A(this one is parts only) for $55.00.
All of the probes work, about half of them are complete with ground clips and hooks.

the P6139A's are a great match for my TDS7104.

Solid! I have spent quite a few hours with P6139A in my hand. Classics that still work great.
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Offline TheSteve

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #866 on: August 21, 2016, 09:25:37 pm »
Late night surfing found another ebay deal.
Got five Tektronix P6139A 500 MHz probes, three Agilent 10074C probes and one 1160A(this one is parts only) for $55.00.
All of the probes work, about half of them are complete with ground clips and hooks.

the P6139A's are a great match for my TDS7104.

Solid! I have spent quite a few hours with P6139A in my hand. Classics that still work great.

Yep, they are quite nice and seem to the later generation that are black. I was also able to use the Agilent 1160A as I already had a complete 1160A probe kit and they include a spare probe tip and sleeve.
VE7FM
 

Online Ice-Tea

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #867 on: August 22, 2016, 06:05:12 am »
Late night surfing found another ebay deal.
Got five Tektronix P6139A 500 MHz probes, three Agilent 10074C probes and one 1160A(this one is parts only) for $55.00.
All of the probes work, about half of them are complete with ground clips and hooks.

the P6139A's are a great match for my TDS7104.

For 55$? That is truly excellent!

Offline VK5RC

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #868 on: August 22, 2016, 10:40:12 am »
TEK 222. While not a real score (for the price I paid) it is in excellent condition, had the manual and the carry bag
When the Tek 200 series came out I was a young teenager and I was blown away by the small size. Was missing the earth clip (uses 2mm banana - so easy fix)  and had both probes. Dead battery (the weird 8V SLA - unobtanium) but will put some 18650 Li Ions holders in for portable use, if needed.
Whoah! Watch where that landed we might need it later.
 

Offline SoundTech-LG

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Offline SoundTech-LG

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #870 on: August 24, 2016, 04:28:00 pm »
About 6 months ago I picked up this HP 5385A Frequency Counter. The owner said it was blowing fuses. I finally had some time this weekend so I decided to take a look at it and see if I can fix it.



Armed with the service manual I dug into it.

Main board:

The cover actually has a battery and the battery charger as part of the included options (oven controlled oscillator was the other):

PWM DC-DC +5V main rail regulator section:

Probed around for obvious shorted capacitors or similar and found no issues. The fuse was the only thing that needed a replacement:

So I decided to disconnect the battery charger/battery module replace the fuse and give it a spin.

The instrument came alive, thermal camera also didn't detect any overly stressed parts:

The issue is probably related to the battery option, which I don't care about. So I will just remove the battery and remove the option.

I am currently not able to test 100Mhz + RF frequencies (I have just scored an RF Sig Gen as well, but it's not here yet) but at least the sub 100Mhz frequencies seem fine.


Not bad for $50.

$50 is a total steal. I think I paid $200 for mine. Nice photos, and troubleshooting.
 
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Offline CJay

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #871 on: August 25, 2016, 06:00:58 am »
TEK 222. While not a real score (for the price I paid) it is in excellent condition, had the manual and the carry bag
When the Tek 200 series came out I was a young teenager and I was blown away by the small size. Was missing the earth clip (uses 2mm banana - so easy fix)  and had both probes. Dead battery (the weird 8V SLA - unobtanium) but will put some 18650 Li Ions holders in for portable use, if needed.
Oh, they're cute.

I may be talking BS but check out the Hawker Energy Cyclon cells, they can be very handy if you're putting together a pack which needs non standard multiples of 2V cells and don't want to mess around with LiIon cells
 
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Offline mtdoc

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #872 on: August 25, 2016, 07:57:07 pm »
The hospital I work at puts out surplus equipment (no electronics  :( ) for auction that few people bid on. I saw these after the action ended so got them for 1/2 the minimum bid.  Total paid : $7.50.     $2.50 for a high quality chair for my bench and $5.00 for an awesome modular equipment cart with a smoke evacuation unit that was attached to it.  The smoke evacuator works great!  Overkill for solder fumes but not sure what else to do with it :-//.    "Breathing laser smoke is a smoke hazard" but alas, no lasers in my lab.
« Last Edit: August 25, 2016, 08:00:41 pm by mtdoc »
 

Offline MosherIV

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #873 on: August 25, 2016, 08:39:40 pm »
Hi

Just scored this



A Solatron 7060 Multimeter for £60, a 6.5 digit multimeter
According to the plate on the back, this is a full blown G version  8)

Only problem now is that it is showing there is a 40/50uV difference with my Thurlby 1905a 5.5 digit multimeter  >:(
Now, I am going to have to figure out which one is correct or pay for a calibration  :palm:
« Last Edit: August 25, 2016, 08:42:15 pm by MosherIV »
 

Offline bitseeker

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Re: List your test equipment "scores" here!
« Reply #874 on: August 25, 2016, 09:53:41 pm »
Only problem now is that it is showing there is a 40/50uV difference with my Thurlby 1905a 5.5 digit multimeter  >:(
Now, I am going to have to figure out which one is correct or pay for a calibration  :palm:

Or buy another and see which two agree, if at all...and so the collection begins. :-DMM
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