Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Vince]

I am no HP expert so I Googled for HP 220A and it's 100% clear that it's a toner cartridge for an HP laser printer.

I didn't think one would have to resort to bidding on Ebay, and import from the US, just to get ink for his printer ?! What a world we live in !

I guess back in the day it used to be a piece of TE, but Google erased it from the collective memory.... it no longer exists....

[factory]

Bloody modern junk toner crap from HeaP, there is one of the toner cartridge boxes at work with a recycled HP product number. 

Here you are Vince, everything you didn't want to know about the real HP 220A (manual attached below), a square wave generator from the 1960s.



I also have the HP 221A, which I had to import too, I don't think either are very common these days.









David

[Vince]

Thanks, that's more like it  ! 

[Vince]

Bummer !!!   

Just found this, posted today at 10AM.... probably sold within 20ms or a second tops :

https://www.leboncoin.fr/ad/bricolage/2901786201


A Metrix MX56 (0.025%) DMM for 15 Euros instead of 150 usually !! 

OK it's missing the jack safety cover and the rubber holster but still 

I would be way more frustrated of course, had I not already a few of those + a few MX54 and a dozen MX53, granted.... 

[Robert763]

I have a 221A :-)

[m k]

Seems that my head can't do a correct mental image of that A2 dome top center.
Finally not much metal either, but still double sided that A2.

[factory]

The A2 dome? it's one of those epoxy dome transistors that were made by Fairchild, or as Shango066 puts it "those crappy epoxy dome transistors that like to fail", this comment is mentioned nearly every time he sees those transistors, but I can't actually remember him having to change one, yesterdays video was no exception, the dead transistor wasn't epoxy based. 

Anyone looking for a 221A? there is another one on ePay in Germany;
https://www.ebay.de/itm/296880984875
Looks in slightly better shape than the one in Israel.

David

[vk6zgo]

The A2 dome? it's one of those epoxy dome transistors that were made by Fairchild, or as Shango066 puts it "those crappy epoxy dome transistors that like to fail", this comment is mentioned nearly every time he sees those transistors, but I can't actually remember him having to change one, yesterdays video was no exception, the dead transistor wasn't epoxy based. 

Anyone looking for a 221A? there is another one on ePay in Germany;
https://www.ebay.de/itm/296880984875
Looks in slightly better shape than the one in Israel.

David

Shango066 is "A legend in his own lunchbox", so I wouldn't put much trust on any of his dribblings.

You may have received the impression that I don't like him!

[coppercone2]

I saw them break

[TERRA Operative]

Y'all stop bidding on any and all 3458A's on Yahoo Auctions.

With a bit of luck, it's gonna be my Merry Christmas this year!

[factory]

There no danger of me bidding against you, firstly yahoo-auctions geo-blocking is worse than ePay and secondly I've bypassed the 3458A & gone straight for the 3459A, something which a couple of threads on here deny the existence of. 

David

[tggzzz]

Fleabay question...

I recently tried to sell something in the UK to a USA buyer. The buyer got partway through the process and fleabay said "shan't", via this message (provided by the buyer).



It is antique bit of wood and metal value listed in Collectables & Art>Scientific Collectables>Scientific Instruments>Other Scientific Instruments. Hence not a weapon (any more than a pencil is a weapon) , and I can't see there being any reason for import/export restrictions.

It was listed using GSP, with many countries excluded but the USA exclusion box not ticked.

Anybody got any clue what might cause that? I've since sold the item to someone in the UK, so it would be an exercise in futility to try to get fleabay CSRs to give an answer

[factory]

With GSP wood can be classed as a prohibited item under their stupid rules. Probably just as well it didn't get to the GSP warehouse, as they would have destroyed/disposed of it.

Edit, I agree it's a waste of time calling ePay CSR, as GSP is run by Pitney Bowes.

David

[tggzzz]

With GSP wood can be classed as a prohibited item under their stupid rules. Probably just as well it didn't get to the GSP warehouse, as they would have destroyed/disposed of it.

Edit, I agree it's a waste of time calling ePay CSR, as GSP is run by Pitney Bowes.

David

Urgh!

I can't see "wood" anywhere on https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/selling/posting-items/setting-postage-options/global-shipping-programme?id=4646&st=3&pos=3&query=Global%20Shipping%20Programme&intent=sell%20wood%20gsp&lucenceai=lucenceai&docId=HELP1348#section5

The fleabay electronics https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/electronic-equipment-policy?id=4302 prohibitions probably means that some of the stuff we buy/sell is not allowed "Devices that fail to meet the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994", e.g. Tek 191

[timeandfrequency]

Export restriction...

A few years ago, I wanted to buy a genuine transport case for a Fluke Scopemeter
MouserKey answered that they could not ship to France due to export restriction regarding military equipement
It's just an empty suitcase with an inlay for a portable scope 
Did the Federal Agency in charge with export restriction actually confuse with this C190 ?

[Hydron]

Had similar bs trying to buy a Keithley 228A from the states to UK, seller had allowed UK shipping and eBay let me offer and buy it, but then wouldn't let me checkout despite explicitly giving me a shipping-to-UK quote before purchase.
Seller chased and got told there were "customs restrictions", which makes about as much sense as the automated system only deciding it wasn't ok AFTER a purchase commitment was made.

Was especially annoying as the item cost and UK shipping quote was very reasonable, and instead I had to send it to a US based colleague and use half my luggage allowance (after taking it to bits) to get it to the UK next time I was stateside. At least when I got it it was absolutely spotless inside after 30 years of use, must have been in a clean room or something.

[Vince]

Please welcome my new friend !

Just picked it up an hour ago.

My second vintage HP scope, model 130C

Got my first HP, a 120B, 3 and half year ago, not because I was looking for an HP scope, but because it popped up and was advertised for free (mostly because al of its tubes had been removed), was in good nick, and I found it kinda cute, so I had to rescue its remains from the crusher.

I replaced all the tubes, cleaned it, but in the end the CRT was broken and the transformer is toast, at least the HV winding that's used for the CRT.
Factory told me the CRT was used in pretty much no other scope other than just one, forgot which one. So basically it was hopeless.

But... last week, another old HP scope for dirt cheap popped up, that 130C, for only 20 Euros for parts (guy lost the trace, he thinks HV is dead)

I know squat about HP scopes, but it looked so similar to my 120B, basically looked like a two channel version of the 120B, that I thought hey the CRT and transformer are probably the same !

Well, I popped the hood and... maybe the CRT is the same, I hope so, but the transformer looks completely different, big bummer there.
I was thinking maybe fix the 130C and give up on the 120B, but the 130C's internal construction looks horrible. Much more stuff than the 120B, much more compact, and arrange in a completely different way, with vertical boards. It looks like it would be a nightmare to try fix that one sadly !!! 

So overall I am not sure I made much progress. If the CRT is the same yeah that would be great, but I still need a transformer, or at least build a stand alone HV supply to replace the dead winding.

I will have a go at fixing it anyway of course, that would be the best option, might get lucky, but not holding my breath at all on that one 

Also, it's a lethal scope : at the back of it, it's missing the cover for the CRT neck connector !   
So if I do end up fixing and using that scope, I will have to fabricate a cover somehow.

[factory]

Vince, the 130C is the one other scope that uses the same CRT as the 120B.
There might be a CRT socket cover here somewhere.

David

[Vince]

Thanks a lot ! 

So at the least I got meself a CRT, great ! 

Now need to sort out the transformer part.

[Vince]

Bummer, just realised the seller didn't supply the power cord with it.. the scope still has its original american socket and I do'nt have that style of cord in stock... my HP 120B had a modern IEC socket, and my Tek scopes use a different, beefier type of socket, so my Tek cords are no go with the HP

I sent the seller a message, hopefully he will agree to send it to me...

[TERRA Operative]

That scope looks like something from the Fallout video games. I like it.

My vote is to get the 130C working, just because it is dual channel.

[Vince]

Yes that's my reasoning too.
Also, I intended to use these scopes for XY display mainly, and the 130C is better suited for that.
It's even like HP meant it to be an XY scope primarily : if you look closely at the face plate, you will see something that confused me at first !
--> the scale for the left channel attenuator is marked "Vertical", of course.. right ?
Well, look at the scale for the second channel on the right side of the CRT : it's marked HORIZONTAL !!! 

The 130C has also better specs than the 120B. The 120B is really extremely basic in its attenuator settings : 10mV, 100mV, 1V and 10V and that's it !
No 1-2-5 steps !    Never seen a scope that basic even considering it was most likely dedicated to the education market.
The 130C has a much wider range of sensitivities, goes both higher and lower : from as low as 0.2mV up to 20V , in 1-2-5 steps, on both channels.
So it's much more versatile.

Still love the 120B nonetheless, but I have only one good CRT for two scopes so... 
Maybe one day I will come across another CRT / scope donour.

Good luck : the seller just replied to me about the missing power cord. He apologised for forgetting to include it with the scope, and assured me he does have it and that it's in good nick. Said he would send it to me by mail quick, free of charge. That's one honest man... 
So with some luck I will receive it in time to start playing with the scope this week-end ! We shall see.

[Vince]

EDIT... this "Horizontal" marking kept bugging me... so I just downloaded the manual for that scope and oh my.... they ACTUALLY mean HORIZONTAL !
This scope does NOT have two (vertical) channels !  The second channel can only drive the horizontal deflection plates as the name implies.. and nothing else !
So this scope is either a single channel swept scope, or an XY scope... but you can't display two traces at the same time.   
This scope boggles the mind, HP scopes are weird ! 

OK so... as weird as it is, it makes it even more desirable to me : it is indeed by far the best candidate to use as an XY scope as it is DESIGNED as such  ! 

I really hope I can get it going... crossing fingers !

[TERRA Operative]

Would make a nice display for a curve tracer, or to hook up to an Asteroids emulator or something.

[44kgk1lkf6u]

You said that the cover was missing.  But why is there a hole next to the CRT in the first place?