Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Berni]

I noticed a company throwing out some huge industrial pick and place machines with the feeders on it and all for cheap. If only i had a place to put the 2 ton monstrosity.

[AF6LJ]

The equivalent to this in amateur radio is when a ham buys a broadcast transmitter.

Ah, yes. Doesn't Paul Carlson have one or a part of one? I think it was a night transmitter or something.

yes, and the TWO Tek 500 series scopes hanging from the ceiling, that guy's shack is off the freaking hook

I have a friend who has a whole house full of amateur radio gear.
Something on the order of 1300+ radios, test equipment, and enough antennas to blacken the sky.

[neo]

i am not sure if i belong here or not... well let's see.

20 Power supplies,     5 of which adjustable. Notable, two standard power cps-500 which is 23 volts at 20 amps and forty pounds each.
2 Oscilloscopes,         Hitachi V-1065A & a Ballantine 1066S which is currently only displaying a static dot on the screen
6 Multi-meters,          Fairchild 7050 Nixie tube multimeter which i got for 30 bucks due to misplaced listing (it is dead on in the lowest range but gets inaccurate as it goes higher in the ranges, any ideas? 20v off in the KV range);  2 Fluke multi-meters a plain 8010a and a 8000a with batteries that i got for 5 bucks at hamfest; a 410b HP VTVM; and a  Instek 8034 which is currently non functioning
3 Frequency gens,      A rack mount HP 608c currently untested;  a Simpson 415A also untested; & a Instek 8020H
2 Freq. counters,       Bel merit FC-200 & a HP 5340A which is on the way.
An analogue pyrometer,  Omega 8020.
My soldering iron is a Metcal STSS-002.

I seem to demand a higher than readily available quality.

All that and i ain't even really begun. In summary nixie tubes and other vintage technology rules.

[alm]

2 Oscilloscopes,         Hitachi V-1065A & a Ballantine 1066S which is currently only displaying a static dot on the screen

Make sure to defocus the Ballantine and do not leave it on too long like that. A focused dot that does not move can burn in a CRT in no time.

[neo]

2 Oscilloscopes,         Hitachi V-1065A & a Ballantine 1066S which is currently only displaying a static dot on the screen

Make sure to defocus the Ballantine and do not leave it on too long like that. A focused dot that does not move can burn in a CRT in no time.

Thank you, i know i do not even have it plugged in current. It is actually a funny story as i perceive it, i think some lab in Colorado literally was going to throw it away but then they though of selling it on ebay because it technically works, of course i complained when i realized that all it did was turn on and display a static dot. I got most of my money back and only paid 20 bucks for it all in all which was less than shipping.

Also besides the collection i am also very strongly a volt-nut, i once spent 7 hours fine tuning resistors to get an analog meter as dead on as i could get it.

[slurry]

I'm think i'm a TEN, Test Equipment Nut, but my wife think i'm just nuts.

[Cubdriver]

i am not sure if i belong here or not... well let's see.

20 Power supplies,     5 of which adjustable. Notable, two standard power cps-500 which is 23 volts at 20 amps and forty pounds each.
2 Oscilloscopes,         Hitachi V-1065A & a Ballantine 1066S which is currently only displaying a static dot on the screen
6 Multi-meters,          Fairchild 7050 Nixie tube multimeter which i got for 30 bucks due to misplaced listing (it is dead on in the lowest range but gets inaccurate as it goes higher in the ranges, any ideas? 20v off in the KV range);  2 Fluke multi-meters a plain 8010a and a 8000a with batteries that i got for 5 bucks at hamfest; a 410b HP VTVM; and a  Instek 8034 which is currently non functioning
3 Frequency gens,      A rack mount HP 608c currently untested;  a Simpson 415A also untested; & a Instek 8020H
2 Freq. counters,       Bel merit FC-200 & a HP 5340A which is on the way.
An analogue pyrometer,  Omega 8020.
My soldering iron is a Metcal STSS-002.

I seem to demand a higher than readily available.

All that and i ain't even really begun. In summary nixie tubes and other vintage technology rules.

You need more oscilloscopes.  You're about 18 short.   

If you want to get in trouble, look at the 60s-70s era HP catalogs.  You'll find lots of addictive nixie goodness therein to inspire evilBay searches, cause your credit card pain, and save your friendly UPS/FedEx/USPS guy money on the gym membership he'll no longer need.   

-Pat

[bitseeker]

Welcome neo and slurry.

Neo, I look forward to seeing more of your fully loaded 5340A when it arrives.

[neo]

i am not sure if i belong here or not... well let's see.

20 Power supplies,     5 of which adjustable. Notable, two standard power cps-500 which is 23 volts at 20 amps and forty pounds each.
2 Oscilloscopes,         Hitachi V-1065A & a Ballantine 1066S which is currently only displaying a static dot on the screen
6 Multi-meters,          Fairchild 7050 Nixie tube multimeter which i got for 30 bucks due to misplaced listing (it is dead on in the lowest range but gets inaccurate as it goes higher in the ranges, any ideas? 20v off in the KV range);  2 Fluke multi-meters a plain 8010a and a 8000a with batteries that i got for 5 bucks at hamfest; a 410b HP VTVM; and a  Instek 8034 which is currently non functioning
3 Frequency gens,      A rack mount HP 608c currently untested;  a Simpson 415A also untested; & a Instek 8020H
2 Freq. counters,       Bel merit FC-200 & a HP 5340A which is on the way.
An analogue pyrometer,  Omega 8020.
My soldering iron is a Metcal STSS-002.

I seem to demand a higher than readily available.

All that and i ain't even really begun. In summary nixie tubes and other vintage technology rules.

You need more oscilloscopes.  You're about 18 short.   

If you want to get in trouble, look at the 60s-70s era HP catalogs.  You'll find lots of addictive nixie goodness therein to inspire evilBay searches, cause your credit card pain, and save your friendly UPS/FedEx/USPS guy money on the gym membership he'll no longer need.   

-Pat

Well my problem is i know enough models to have a list as long as my arm i am just all too fond of eating to buy more than a few things at once. Though i am going to go to hamfest later this year, so i might snag a good bit of kit there.

[bitseeker]

i am just all too fond of eating to buy more than a few things at once.

Impressive auto-regulator.

[neo]

i am just all too fond of eating to buy more than a few things at once.

Impressive auto-regulator.

Think that is impressive? It comes as a natural side effect to limited income blues! 

[xrunner]

Well my problem is i know enough models to have a list as long as my arm i am just all too fond of eating to buy more than a few things at once.

Do what I do get a case of Ramen and eat it for a month, There's lots of ways to spice it up cheaply, therefore leaving extra $$$ for moar scopes!

[neo]

Well my problem is i know enough models to have a list as long as my arm i am just all too fond of eating to buy more than a few things at once.

Do what I do get a case of Ramen and eat it for a month, There's lots of ways to spice it up cheaply, therefore leaving extra $$$ for moar scopes!

That might work very well if it was only my decision.

[bitseeker]

Ahhh. The many joys of GAS.

[neo]

I definitely have GAS but i also have LOS, love of shiny objects.

[neo]

You know i don't think this thread is about rehabilitation therapy help at all, directly because of it a tektronix 7904 oscilloscope mainframe has jumped to the top of my wish list.

[Brumby]

Rehabilitation?

That indicates there is a problem that needs to be remedied.  What problem is there?

This is a therapy thread.  It is for the support of anyone who finds their way here.

[neo]

Rehabilitation?

That indicates there is a problem that needs to be remedied.  What problem is there?

This is a therapy thread.  It is for the support of anyone who finds their way here.

Perhaps the problem is expense? Not everyone can be a Nigerian prince you know.

[Brumby]

I see that as a simple budget thing.   

[madires]

An insider tip for low budget GAS is the Transistor Tester. Cheap and lots of models with different displays and options. And soon we'll also have touch screen support. Resistance is futile

[neo]

At the risk of a potentially very stupid question that connector is GPIB, correct? How would i use it? Could i use to log data to my laptop, for instance?

[TheSteve]

At the risk of a potentially very stupid question that connector is GPIB, correct? How would i use it? Could i use to log data to my laptop, for instance?

Yes, that is a GPIB connector. The GPIB interface will allow you to control the counter remotely and log data from it. If you search a little around here you will find lots of information on GPIB interfaces. There are some fairly cheap ones you can build yourself.

*My replying to this message is not a public acknowledgement of any kind of test equipment addiction*

[bitseeker]

An insider tip for low budget GAS is the Transistor Tester. Cheap and lots of models with different displays and options. And soon we'll also have touch screen support. Resistance is futile

Perfect, madires. Of course, you'll need some equipment to test it after you finish assembly. Then, come the enhancements and associated gear for verifying performance. A 3D printer to make enclosures. What else? Well, there goes the "budget".

[bitseeker]

*My replying to this message is not a public acknowledgement of any kind of test equipment addiction*

It's OK, Steve. Denial is normal in the beginning. You'll get past it soon enough.

[bitseeker]

The HP 3469A arrived! It's crusty, sticky, dusty, and smells authentically vintage. After a quick check that the fuse is good, there's no short circuit at the AC input with the switch on, and no lingering odors of magic smoke, I powered it up.

It's alive! It's got a cool dot LED display! It's even close to being accurate (~40-50mV high @ 10V). I'm a happy camper.

I'll have to give it a thorough going over, but here's a preview pic.