Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[factory]

If they do burst into flames it would be wise to never leave one running unattended either, better still bin it and get a decent one.

Are these compact Xantrex/Sorensen XPD 60V 9A PSU's any good? I bought this one to eventually replace my cheap Rapid Electronics one and provide a higher voltage range, I did briefly have the Xantrex version but it was DOA (stuck in current limit), thankfully the seller was able to replace it with the Sorensen one, which is indentical apart from the output terminals/binding posts.

[attach=1]

David

Personally I wouldn't give it bench space, it is just such a crude unit, doesn't even support a fine and a course adjustment on either the current or the voltage sections.

Like mnem says you are better off with a far higher quality unit, but and here's the rub, I fully expect that even with a top flight unit such as a TTi etc there is always going to be a possible failure mode that could result in damage to the DUT, nothing and I mean nothing apart from using batteries to power the equipment, could result in an over voltage situation in the event of a failure occurring, so its best to never leave anything connected to power supply unattended. 

The Xantrex/Sorensen unit does have multi-turn voltage & current controls.
It's got to be slightly better than the Rapid Electronics unit (I seem to be lacking in pictures of that), which only has single turn controls, plus crappy hard to see LCD's and the binding posts are shit too. 
If I had space I would have something like a HP 6274B under the bench.

David

[bd139]

It wasn’t a Rapid HY1803D was it? That was the least bad Mastech I fixed 

[factory]

I had a search of my emails, it's part #85-1706 30V 10A with fixed 5V & 12V outputs that I never used, here is a picture snurched from the web.
[attach=1]

It's currently still on my bench under a stack of Pace soldering equipment.

David

[bd139]

That's a Manson NP-9625. Not too bad. I had its ancesor, the Manson ep-601 running my dodgy CB activities for a bit in the 90s 

[Brumby]

I spend far too much time in here.

I get too many ideas - plus I have acquired more gear over the last couple of years than I have over the last couple of decades... and the same can be said about my EE related spend.  My skills of correlation between space available and item placement are getting honed nearly every day.  So why am I still here?



I'll be back.... 

[beanflying]

That's a Manson NP-9625. Not too bad. I had its ancesor, the Manson ep-601 running my dodgy CB activities for a bit in the 90s 

Mansons are really good bits of well engineered gear. They are very much a Taiwanese/Hong Kong product as distinct from a mainland Chinese one. My 0-15V 60A one is well under 20mV ripple under load.

[lowimpedance]

Recovered thanks to the power of Coffee and a yapping muttley that needed a walk before it drove me nuts.

5 minute test and teardown of the newly arrived Gertsch RT-11H Decade Ratio Transformer. Arrived very well packed for it's $17USD frieght bill  eBay auction: #264459255508 Seller has some other interesting items of TEA (mainly HP) and prosthetic legs for sale 

Hooked it up to the AC Calibrator and 121GW instead of dropping one of the bench DMM's over but looks like it is a winner and still very accurate. Full play later with some more care and better meters. Inside not much to see and the main trickery is buried under potting compound. Switch clean and lube is about all there is to play with.

Eventual use - Occasional like my straight resistance Ratio divider 

@beanflying
 As you are now the proud owner of a Gertsch, I scanned some info I have relating to it etc that you may find helpful. And maybe others too !, see below.

[beanflying]

Thanks for the uploads. I found an 8mB PDF on the Gerstch range a few weeks ago with some maintenance and other general info too. Just uploaded it to my Google Drive account here https://drive.google.com/file/d/17hsrkVnfot3DR_uwqyCidLDtzv2Kf4dh/view?usp=sharing if anyone else is interested.

[bd139]

That's a Manson NP-9625. Not too bad. I had its ancesor, the Manson ep-601 running my dodgy CB activities for a bit in the 90s 

Mansons are really good bits of well engineered gear. They are very much a Taiwanese/Hong Kong product as distinct from a mainland Chinese one. My 0-15V 60A one is well under 20mV ripple under load.

Yep well were well engineered what with China at HK at the moment.

[beanflying]

What is the TEA version of gambling?

Brought a Fluke 725 calibrator for about $350 AUD ($220 USD) delivered untested and with a faulty display. What could possibly go wrong  eBay auction: #401913574887 Bargain if it is a strip and clean of the zebra strips or a money pit to a write off for parts otherwise

[bd139]

I reckon you’ll be ok on that. Standard fluke failure.

[beanflying]

Hope so should be a little more accurate than the hacks I have been using.

Be it Kiwi or Welsh this is the Sheeps revenge on Ugg Boots, Velcro Gloves and tonight's preferred viewing option on the free to air idiot box

[McBryce]

What is the TEA version of gambling?

Standard purchasing process? Normal daily business?

Aren't most TEA purchases a gamble?

McBryce.

[bd139]

Yep. Worst ones are houses and cars. TEA membership is cheap even if you get it wrong.

[beanflying]

Unlike most other gambles so far this one is modern and not based around mainly discrete components. I have spent a lot more on modern secondhand gear but had a known working condition. So this is up there for a bit of kit with faults and bieng untested. Also I was looking at cheaper cheerful and Chinese for similar basic specs for less $ new.

Second triple Gin&T is doing the job so care factor is approaching zero. Should make food before the Gin puts me to bed.

[med6753]

Yep. Worst ones are houses and cars. TEA membership is cheap even if you get it wrong.

And usually to accompany the car/house (especially a house) is a woman ready to steal your dice. My worst TEA can't compare.   

[bd139]

Good point! Forgot about that one. I keep getting asked, so tritely "so when are you going back on the market?". They get the "fuck off do you think I am insane" glare.

[tautech]

All mine are on the market ! 

[bd139]

Advertising much? 

[Specmaster]

Good point! Forgot about that one. I keep getting asked, so tritely "so when are you going back on the market?". They get the "fuck off do you think I am insane" glare.

Yep, you can get plenty of free samples if your savvy 

[mnementh]

Unlike most other gambles so far this one is modern and not based around mainly discrete components. I have spent a lot more on modern secondhand gear but had a known working condition. So this is up there for a bit of kit with faults and bieng untested. Also I was looking at cheaper cheerful and Chinese for similar basic specs for less $ new.

Second triple Gin&T is doing the job so care factor is approaching zero. Should make food before the Gin puts me to bed.

That was exactly the case with my 189; a bit rich for a pig in a poke, but copious pics from a seller with excellent rep and general trust in the “squaddie-proof” nature of these series of Fluke products made it feel a fair gamble, even after buying/returning a “gutted for parts” 189 a few weeks prior.

Here’s hoping you hit the TEA lottery, buddy! 

mnem
”Safe as flurpee pudding...” ~ The Rocketeer

[mnementh]

Good point! Forgot about that one. I keep getting asked, so tritely "so when are you going back on the market?". They get the "fuck off do you think I am insane" glare.

Still hearing everything you say in Luci’s voice.

mnem
 

[mansaxel]

Well they say don't they, "Great minds think alike and fools seldom differ!"  Thing is by joining the club later, we can learn by others mistakes and so get it right. 

That is also the case for fast-evolving tech. I'm currently on my way home from visiting another company in my field (broadcast), and also doing some systems design work on whiteboard for a new possible media transport network. We agreed that it is possible to tell with a resolution of about 6 months when an install was done. Simply because the installs learn from each other.

[AVGresponding]

Time for me to share this ebay seller with the group, and get a good supply of popcorn in...   

Bought 4 items in a row from them in the last few days, first 2 have arrived, packed fit to survive the end of days, even
Damaging Packages Deliberately were unable to spoil my day.


Hameg 203-6, and Leitz Biomed microscope, £40 and £30 respectively, shipped. I took the pic of them together to show the size of the microscope, it's way bigger than I expected, and weighs about the same as the CRO   



Got more goodness on the way, two more Thurlby items, a dual channel 30v 1A linear psu, and a 1905A DMM, another £40 each shipped   

A couple of the little plastic clips that attach the pushrods to the switches on the Hameg are slightly broken; I could easily bodge them with resin, but I'd prefer to replace them outright, unless they are unobtainium ofc. Any suggestions?


And on a random note, here's a picture of a snail. It's on the inside of the lens...

[mnementh]

 

mnem