Products > Test Equipment
Old'ish vs New'ish test equipment
tggzzz:
--- Quote from: Finderbinder on February 06, 2023, 09:29:49 pm ---
--- Quote from: xrunner on February 06, 2023, 01:45:43 pm ---...In the pic you see two 90's hp kit alongside a very new Siglent scope (SDS2202X-E).
In the second pic you see two units of the bulky / heavy class of which you speak. The Agilent 8648A RF generator cannot be replaced with a new item of the same caliber of design for the same money. You'd have to spend a whole lot more for brand new so I make room for that. Below it is an hp 5334B frequency counter.
--- End quote ---
Ok, I have to agree, if you can stack units nicely on each other at least it looks neat and visually takes less space :-+
But when all units are of various dimensions that looks like a bunch of crap :wtf:
Is it possible/easy to choose a needed/wanted equipment with identical dimensions (mostly width, and some depth)? ::)
--- End quote ---
That can be a problem with newer equipment, where manufacturers have "incompatible" cases that don't stack well.
Older equipment tends to be bigger, and have standard widths (e.g. 19" ) and standard heights (1U, 2U,3U, etc)
Racks to contain such equipment is widely available. Not so with "random" small modern equipment.
xrunner:
--- Quote from: Finderbinder on February 06, 2023, 09:29:49 pm ---Ok, I have to agree, if you can stack units nicely on each other at least it looks neat and visually takes less space :-+
--- End quote ---
Thanks.
--- Quote ---But when all units are of various dimensions that looks like a bunch of crap :wtf:
Is it possible/easy to choose a needed/wanted equipment with identical dimensions (mostly width, and some depth)? ::)
--- End quote ---
For the older stuff I was referring to, such as hp, you can choose other types of gear that do various functions, that stack together neatly. For example in the pictures I have a 3457A DMM, which could fit in a 19" rack. Then on top we have two smaller units that are half the distance across - a 5384A freq. counter and a 3468B DMM. All these are two rack units in height (1.75"). But if you do not rack mount them they have feet which match the notches on top of the units, and can allow stacking without slipping off.
The modern stuff of various manufacturers, which has various designs of rubber bumpers and other such feet as their designers favored for one reason or another, is not really standardized to sit well with other makes. While they may stack up within the same manufacturers line of kit, there is no guarantee it will sit well on top of another different manufacturer's line. Such is life. I can't really lock myself into only one manufacturer just because I want it all to stack up nicely. But given all that, it's possible to do a decent job if you try. :)
0culus:
--- Quote from: chilternview on February 06, 2023, 05:50:43 pm ---
--- Quote from: Finderbinder on February 04, 2023, 09:02:25 pm ---Is there a serious reason to pack valuable space with a high level but bulky and heavy old benchtop test equipment (like 90' HP, Agilent, Keithley and so on)? :popcorn: Besides that, old equipment have a less informative displays, consumes more electricity, is less compatible with nowadays technologies.
Finally mentally it makes you feel stuck in the past :scared:
Or... I am wrong? :-//
--- End quote ---
Well, I haven't seen a modern version of my trusty HP4145B that either (a) I can afford or (b) is even available from those Chinese vendors. Yes its large and the user interface is very 80's but it does the job and nothing seems to come close.
--- End quote ---
Love mine too...you can do a lot of interesting analysis with it that is difficult with a traditional curve tracer.
Keysight still offers something in the vein of the 4145/4155/4156 though: https://www.keysight.com/us/en/products/parameter-device-analyzers-curve-tracer/precision-current-voltage-analyzers/b1500a-semiconductor-device-parameter-analyzer.html
I have a feeling the price is also "if you have to ask, you can't afford one".
chilternview:
--- Quote from: 0culus on February 10, 2023, 04:15:32 am ---
Keysight still offers something in the vein of the 4145/4155/4156 though: https://www.keysight.com/us/en/products/parameter-device-analyzers-curve-tracer/precision-current-voltage-analyzers/b1500a-semiconductor-device-parameter-analyzer.html
I have a feeling the price is also "if you have to ask, you can't afford one".
--- End quote ---
There is a secondhand B1500A on eBay for £51000 - goodness knows how much a new one is.
wd5jfr:
Which thermal camera did you buy and what are the pros & cons of your model. I'd like to get one for general use for finding what's hot and whatever else it can do.
Thanks
Hank
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