Hi, I'm a TEA.
I just received the Fluke 8840A after some SAD. Paid ~$50 total US. I'm struggling not to buy more and already have items I need to pay for though almost DBA is helping to ease the struggle in purchasing more. Going through the logical mind RRT is helping with the wise mind and emotional magnification as well. Keeping the MIPS at bay... though I am craving bad. I exported the list to an xls just to be safe as always.
I actually paid for manuals too for some other equipment that I am wanting bad and not sharing since I don't own yet so suffering from SECRET. This is getting serious.
OK... deep breath... situational awareness... alternate thought...
The Fluke 8840A looked beat up like I'm not sure who didn't know how to use a philips head screwdriver and isn't a member of PETTE.
I powered this puppy (or older dog that is still a puppy to me) On after opening up to find the Front Rear Inputs button floating around inside along with a foot from the rear bottom right side. PETTE TEST moment.
Otherwise, everything looked right on the inside. Feels good... especially after some photos... even bad ones to zoom in and see if I spot any corrosion.
Then I panic'ed. I think I am inpatient... then not sure if patient enough... then forgot to read the manual to see if there is an auto self test calibration or something. Then found I just need to hold the SRQ button down for 3 seconds. Whew... no errors or is there some bs going on because the 200mV and 2V readings are not stable at all and keep going negative. Just continually drifting negative. Why negative? What in the environment, boundary or internal system is causing negative! Why negative?
20V does similar slower if I go in this order. If I go to 200V then down to 20V... no issues... spot on 0.
So, why is the 2V and 200mV reading going negative and all the self calibration tests pass or looks like passes (can error reporting be hidden?)?
I don't have a tolerance like some of the real hard core. I'm like off the wagon and back on thanks to a conservative administration that got lewd. Smiley kiss but nice wasn't helping and was like the BUSTED image with most the females in my life... though more aggressive with tranquilizers and I can't remember. One... it was really bad.
I'm back in a safer place with no support at least other than support that is considerably minding not my business as much. So I can play again like I'm an adult and somewhat serious... at least technically... indoors.
Any ideas? Am I premature expectationitis and need to slow down and wait for the test equipment to equillibriate or is my feeling that anxiety high is correct?
I need more practice... so I figured this is a safe environment even though public to ask.
Where on earth did you get your meter from, its been terribly beaten up in its time?
So Unicorn Poo a little Bondage for the day eclectic and just a little disturbing
Time to join @Inverted in getting back to TEA or more correctly TEA Support. Found the few minutes today to finish a little BNC-Scope probe adapter I started weeks ago. Suits 4.8-5mm barrel Probes so Hantek/Clones, Migsig and a bunch of others. I will most likely get around to a 'nice' version with a 3D printed sleeve to extend the probe support a bit more again.
BNC-SMA with the sma threads removed back to brass. 6mm Knurl Nut. A few inches of Nichrome (not worried about the tiny resistance in the scheme of things). Wind the spring to 4.5mm and solder one side. Unwind a few spots on the Knurl Nut so the probe takes a bit of a wiggle to insert and solder wire number 2 in that spot. Sweat the Knurl Nut onto the modded SMA section and use.
EDIT Rough as guts 3D printed cover for the prototype works a treat the bulges are caused by the dodgy lumps of solder
Quick test to 40 MHz looks good and even when bumped or wiggled still makes good contact. Waveform is full bandwidth no averaging so nice and noise free.
Please excuse this rant - but I'm really pissed off at the moment....
About 6 months ago, I lent some computer gear to a charity on an indefinite loan. They never used it. They also stopped being a charity.
About 3 weeks ago, I had a need that this equipment could fill, so I politely asked for it back. It took a couple of trips to get all the pieces, but just today I was in the process of putting this gear together and found the graphics card had been removed! Never lending shit again.
Made the mistake of following somebody's link to The Daily WTF?! on my way to bed... next thing I know, it's pushing midnight and my cynicism is at 110% overcharge.
They have an RSS feed, thus making it easier to feel superior or "there but the grade of god go I", depending on your temperament.
For more serious and important points, there's nothing to beat comp.risks. It has been going since 1985, is well moderated, low volume, and the SNR is impressively high. Often the posts end with "What could possibly go wrong?".
Hi, I'm a TEA. I just received the Fluke 8840A after some SAD. Paid ~$50 total US. (SNIP)Where on earth did you get your meter from, its been terribly beaten up in its time?Yeah. Looks like someone used it as a wheel chock for their Humvee.
Speaking of winged-monkey carriers we also have to mention poorly packing sellers who seem to not give a damn in what condition the sent item might arrive at the buyer. Today my (second...) Agilent 34401A arrived. The box it was shipped in was nearly ok.
But it was only a bit higher than the instrument itself!
It seems I'm lucky as it seems to work fine; I've tested DCV, DCI, Ohms and it's spot on -even though the seller wrote it might need calibration(?). The Display is a bit dim so I might go for a NOS replacement from china.
I must admit to being pretty tight arsed when it comes to tools, my best mate is a real shocker when it comes to tools - his shed is just one big draw of semi-rusty stuff. No order, he never cleans a tool, everything is covered in paint splatters or grease. I remember driving into his farm property and finding several tools along the in road - he had left them on the back of the trailer - with the tail gate down, he has even left a chainsaw out overnight in rain!
But he would do anything to help you.
What up T.E.A.! I shoot 30 mins of footage for the new channel and will be able to finish the filming, edit, and upload it to the new YT channel. Pretty stoked to see how warmly/ coldly its received. The 1st video will cover a bit of kit nowhere else has featured yet so at least I'll have that going for me.
Hi, I'm a TEA.
I just received the Fluke 8840A after some SAD. Paid ~$50 total US. I'm struggling not to buy more and already have items I need to pay for though almost DBA is helping to ease the struggle in purchasing more.
So Unicorn Poo a little Bondage for the day eclectic and just a little disturbing
Time to join @Inverted in getting back to TEA or more correctly TEA Support. Found the few minutes today to finish a little BNC-Scope probe adapter I started weeks ago. Suits 4.8-5mm barrel Probes so Hantek/Clones, Migsig and a bunch of others. I will most likely get around to a 'nice' version with a 3D printed sleeve to extend the probe support a bit more again.
BNC-SMA with the sma threads removed back to brass. 6mm Knurl Nut. A few inches of Nichrome (not worried about the tiny resistance in the scheme of things). Wind the spring to 4.5mm and solder one side. Unwind a few spots on the Knurl Nut so the probe takes a bit of a wiggle to insert and solder wire number 2 in that spot. Sweat the Knurl Nut onto the modded SMA section and use.
EDIT Rough as guts 3D printed cover for the prototype works a treat the bulges are caused by the dodgy lumps of solder
Quick test to 40 MHz looks good and even when bumped or wiggled still makes good contact. Waveform is full bandwidth no averaging so nice and noise free.
Unicorns and bondage... Hmmm... Don't knock it till you've tried it.
Nicely MacGyver-fied adapter there. I'm so proud! And "butt-ugly butt it works 3DP" to round it out!Please excuse this rant - but I'm really pissed off at the moment....
About 6 months ago, I lent some computer gear to a charity on an indefinite loan. They never used it. They also stopped being a charity.
About 3 weeks ago, I had a need that this equipment could fill, so I politely asked for it back. It took a couple of trips to get all the pieces, but just today I was in the process of putting this gear together and found the graphics card had been removed! Never lending shit again.
*Sigh* I know this pain... all too well. My grandfather's advice still rings true, and it applies equally well to tools, money, time or anything else of value:
"Never lend anything you aren't prepared to make a gift of."
Even though I do my best to live this advice, it still isn't any less annoying each and every time it is reaffirmed.
mnem
"If you loan a man $20 and never see him again... you made a good deal." ~grandmomma