Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[mnementh]

Adding new DNA letters make novel proteins possible

Well, hell... If you've ever wondered how the zombie apocalypse could REALLY happen, here it is.  This way to Raccoon City...

mnem
https://youtu.be/0Nz8YrCC9X8

"Gee... the lack of humility before nature that's being displayed here staggers me... Don't you see the danger, John, inherent in what you're doing here? Genetic power is the most awesome force the planet’s ever seen, but you wield it like a kid that’s found his dad’s gun…"

[bd139]

That's what my eldest is going to do at university. Molecular biology and bioengineering. She's the sort of person who would set up a lab under Racoon City 

[bd139]

that HP-141s Restoration,   

the power input filter box, made by Sprague, was shorted inside, So I was sitting in the dark with the first test.
Now the little problem is removed, another plug.

and then ..

the noise from a refrigerator is more exactly then the signal what I have used here for testing, but the harmonics are there, so I think the HP ist healthy.

Nice job. I have enjoyed looking at the photos you have posted on this and the outcome. I am tempted to get one myself now but alas nowhere to put it (yet!). Such is life

[tautech]

I seem to recall Cerebus saying something like he'd be away for a period but I can't recall why, or did I just dream that....? [emoji848]

Yup. Sed he was embarking on a new employment that would keep him away for a while. Still... this is where I know to look for him. 

mnem
I am Diogenes.

Just spotted one of his posts in another thread so checked his 'last active' date in profile:
January 12, 2019
So he's about here a bit, good luck for him to catch up on this thread. 

[capt bullshot]

Does anybody have a suitable meter to measure the voltage?

Tried to photograph some sparks of different kinds: http://wunderkis.de/spark/gallery/

[tggzzz]

That's what my eldest is going to do at university. Molecular biology and bioengineering.

If I was starting out again, that would be the direction I'd head in. That technology is still at the priests-wearing-white-lab-coats, which is where computing was (when I started. The micros had appeared and were clearly the future, trojans were known, but viruses weren't.

[tggzzz]

Does anybody have a suitable meter to measure the voltage?

I have a 40kV meter. The 2.5kV on a scope CRT is barely visible.

My scope probe only goes up to 12kV.

[tggzzz]

I found a tube of 74AC14's in the cupboard which make nice line drivers,

3*(74lvc1g14+143ohms) gives a 2.5V 250ps risetime into 50ohms.

Make sure the decoupling is good, though!


from https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/show-us-your-square-wave/msg1902941/#msg1902941

[bd139]

If I was starting out again, that would be the direction I'd head in. That technology is still at the priests-wearing-white-lab-coats, which is where computing was (when I started. The micros had appeared and were clearly the future, trojans were known, but viruses weren't.

Yes the same. It's the bleeding edge of the future for sure and will have a career that may do some good for humanity, something I have a lot of respect for.

I'm not sure the same applied to engineering or software if I'm honest. Depends who is at the helm. I spent the first half of my career helping to build killing machines, the middle bit stealing people's attention and the last half making vast swathes of people unemployed. I should have done medicine or something.

I found a tube of 74AC14's in the cupboard which make nice line drivers,

3*(74lvc1g14+143ohms) gives a 2.5V 250ps risetime into 50ohms.

Make sure the decoupling is good, though!

That's pretty damn good. I've got some slightly more manageable 74LVC14s here that might do the job as well and aren't horrid TH packages like my 74AC14 tube.

[Specmaster]

She can still follow in your footsteps and end up making biological weapons 

[bd139]

No one has come back in time to kill me yet so I think we’re ok there 

[beanflying]

Good news UK eBay lurkers. £1 listing weekend from Friday to Monday. That should clean up the test gear drought!

Just don't buy any slightly bent one owner Range Rovers that allow inspection by Appointment to Her Majesty 

[beanflying]

Yeah, until you discover that the measurement methodology used by the manufacturer differs materially in some several different ways from that used by your meter... If you can even figure out the details at all.

What was that about "uncertainty"?   

mnem
Confidence is high... that certainty will be low. 

Yeah well I just want to make sure it's not totally off. Not much interested in capacitance metrology 

Just whatever you do don't buy a single better % Cap to test the 'accuracy' of those 0.5% ones or you will be in the free falling rabbit hole with us other wannabe nuts of that there is real certainty

[mnementh]

No one has come back in time to kill me yet so I think we’re ok there 

"I'll take a phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range..."   

[01101101] [01101110] [01100101] [01101101]

TARGET ACQUIRED: DEFENSE MODE LEVEL 69825

[Kosmic]

Just whatever you do don't buy a single better % Cap to test the 'accuracy' of those 0.5% ones or you will be in the free falling rabbit hole with us other wannabe nuts of that there is real certainty

Even if I wanted, it appear that it's almost impossible to find a capacitor with a tolerance lower than 0.5%.

There, problem solved 

[beanflying]

Wun Hung Low in the cooler morning air.

[GreyWoolfe]

Did you swap the databackup battery OK? If you did without having to do a recal then I'd be very surprised if it wasn't in spec.

There is no battery and ram in there. Also no real calibration procedure. The only thing you can do is adjusting the +-15V rail and zero the capacitance (usefull depending of the cable / connectors you use).

Yep, had a brain fart then, it should have been directed at greywolfe, sorry for the confusion, I'm taking myself outside now for a swift kicking now....thud....whack...slap...smack 

Spec, do we need to smack you on your nose with a rolled up newspaper?  Anyway, I haven't done the battery and RIFAs yet.  Waiting until payday next Friday to order the parts and some other odds and ends.  I am prepared.  Entire workbench is on a big UPS and I have an isolation transformer and power cable with the ground plug removed to plug my Hakko into for the surgery.  I know the battery has been replaced, it is the same one I installed in the first 3478 but there is no clue when it was done like I left myself on the first.

[ArthurDent]

beanflying, I had to replace the counter dial on my HP735A because it was binding and the numbers were peeling. I couldn't find an exact replacement but found one in my junk pile I could make work.

[beanflying]

beanflying, I had to replace the counter dial on my HP735A because it was binding and the numbers were peeling. I couldn't find an exact replacement but found one in my junk pile I could make work.

Mine seems to have lived in a good home for most of it's life. Since I got it apart from having a peek under the lid I haven't done anything to it.

Couple of things I want to look at is it is very sensitive to output loading, -0.1 mV depending on 10Meg to GigOhms on either the 34401A or Advantest. Not a major issue providing you are aware of it if being used as a transfer standard. I plan on having a look to see if it can be improved. Also need to go over the usual Cap type issues.

[mnementh]

In Other News...

I just got sucked into a job that required the purchase of a 3 ton chainfalls. Pray for me.

mnem
I love my family... I love my family... I love my family...

[Inverted18650]

In Other News...

I just got sucked into a job that required the purchase of a 3 ton chainfalls. Pray for me.

mnem
I love my family... I love my family... I love my family...

Pulling a damn SEMI motor?

[tautech]

In Other News...

I just got sucked into a job that required the purchase of a 3 ton chainfalls. Pray for me.

mnem
I love my family... I love my family... I love my family...

Oh, just lightweight stuff. 
Keep your toes out from underneath and you'll be right mate. 

Only 3 ton, hell I've busted anything I've had that could just handle that.
                                                                                               
Upgraded !

[med6753]

Let the fun begin this afternoon 

Winter Storm Warning
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Albany NY
331 PM EST Fri Jan 18 2019

Northern Litchfield-Southern Litchfield-Eastern Ulster-
Western Dutchess-Eastern Dutchess-

331 PM EST Fri Jan 18 2019

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM SATURDAY TO
4 PM EST SUNDAY...

* WHAT...Heavy snow and mixed precipitation of sleet and freezing
  rain expected. Total snow accumulations of 6 to 12 inches and
  ice accumulations of up to two tenths of an inch expected. Winds
  gusting 20 to 30 mph on Sunday afternoon.

* WHERE...In Connecticut, Northern Litchfield and Southern
  Litchfield Counties. In New York, Western Dutchess, Eastern
  Ulster and Eastern Dutchess Counties.

* WHEN...From 4 PM Saturday to 4 PM EST Sunday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Travel will be very difficult to impossible
  across the region Saturday night through Sunday morning with
  snow or ice covered roadways and very low visibility in heavy
  snow. Snowfall rates will be 1 to 2 inches an hour at times
  Saturday night into early Sunday. The potential for blowing and
  drifting snow will increase Sunday afternoon into the evening
  with wind chills falling below zero.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Storm Warning means significant amounts of snow, sleet
and ice will make travel very hazardous or impossible.

[tautech]

26C here today. 

Got your meds Med ?
Good luck buddy, hunker down and keep warm......where's your good lady ? 

[beanflying]

1/2 a world away time for Saturday evening Beer in the shack. Confessing my sin sometimes I drink Coronas when it warms up


_{must wash the window too}