Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[khs]

Ahh that makes sense. I just finished a successful transaction to get the 585A and plug-in adapter + plugins + manuals. Unfortunately it seems to have developed a short but it’s very clean and shiny. Pics once I get home!

A quick photo for now...

(Attachment Link)

And a few more...look at all those 'bugle boys' safe from the prying hands of audiophools. 

Damn, that scope is clean.

I think it's worth to be noted this old plug-in allows DC-coupled measurements of small signals with large DC offsets with up to 40,000 to 1.

This is about 15 bit resolution with a bandwidth of 13 Mhz 60 years ago

[0culus]

Ahh that makes sense. I just finished a successful transaction to get the 585A and plug-in adapter + plugins + manuals. Unfortunately it seems to have developed a short but it’s very clean and shiny. Pics once I get home!

A quick photo for now...

(Attachment Link)

And a few more...look at all those 'bugle boys' safe from the prying hands of audiophools. 

Damn, that scope is clean.

I think it's worth to be noted this old plug-in allows DC-coupled measurements of small signals with large DC offsets with up to 40,000 to 1.

This is about 15 bit resolution with a bandwidth of 13 Mhz 60 years ago

Yeah, it's a neat plugin...I also got a Type 1A1, Type CA, and Type B plugins with the deal.

[SilverSolder]

Ahh that makes sense. I just finished a successful transaction to get the 585A and plug-in adapter + plugins + manuals. Unfortunately it seems to have developed a short but it’s very clean and shiny. Pics once I get home!

A quick photo for now...

(Attachment Link)

And a few more...look at all those 'bugle boys' safe from the prying hands of audiophools. 

Damn, that scope is clean.

I think it's worth to be noted this old plug-in allows DC-coupled measurements of small signals with large DC offsets with up to 40,000 to 1.

This is about 15 bit resolution with a bandwidth of 13 Mhz 60 years ago

Our ancestors had some good and precise equipment, but it wasn't necessarily easy to use.  I got a couple of second hand ratio transformers to play with.  They are absolutely capable of sub-PPM measurements, which - even today - is not bad at all.   What they lack is convenience (and portability!).

[bitseeker]

Immutable TEA Law #0: TEA will always expand to fill the available space. 

Actually, it's Law #1... but if we renumbered them zero-index fashion, we could still have our 10 Laws and not lose any.... Hmmmmm... bitseeker...? Whaddayoothink...?

mnem
 

But, but..."these go to 11." 

[0culus]

0-11. 

Continuing my visual inspect of the 585A...I may have identified a capacitor in the vertical amplifier that is beginning to vomit it's guts.

[mnementh]

Pooooor bitseeker.... he's STILL a week (and 22 pages) behind... 

mnem
Will he catch up before it's time to go to work on Monday...?

[Cubdriver]

All I can say is, thank **** they invented ScotchLocks. The prospect of the stink of one of these betraying your presence does not inspire confidence...

FFS, the goddamned directions are like 8 steps on a tiny piece of paper.  Why the fuck would you light one of them off BEFORE reading all of the steps?      Jesus!     I was watching and figuring that it would say something like "push the wires in when the solder melts", and it did, but of course numbnuts didn't read that part till too late.  "These things are really hard to find, and I've been looking for them for years!  Here, let's waste one by setting if off without first reading the directions!!"  WTF?

-Pat

[mnementh]

Well, yes; he's been looking for them for years exppressly so he could make a video ABOUT wasting one... 

Personally, I'm impressed; it actually appears to have properly wetted even on the inside of that crunky-crusty-ass copper tube... 

mnem
 

[AVGresponding]

Can't fix stoopid.

Can only hope Darwin takes care of it...

[SilverSolder]

Can't fix stoopid.

Can only hope Darwin takes care of it...

Darwin is a very overworked guy...

[Neomys Sapiens]

Orbix screws:
https://www.oscsales.co.uk/orbix/products

For when you really don't give a fuck

Just to be clear, a proper thread forming screw like this tri-lobular one:


isn't the same as the evil and ubiquitous 'self tapper' like those from Orbix:

Ours are a bit different - it does not feel as smooth as a thread cut with a proper tap, but you can fit a normal screw in the thread.

[worsthorse]

Back from my trip south... I visited with a ex-HP engineer who collected a whole lot of test gear over the years. Interesting guy with some good stories and a warehouse space that was packed with TE and components. To say the place was a warren is an understatement. Based on my phone conversations with him, I didn't have high expectations; it was more like buying a raffle ticket. Here's what I came back with:



A TM504 frame, a bunch of TM plugins, including several that I've been searching for, and three 485s.  Oh yeah, a HP programmable attenuator, a manual attenuator, and a directional coupler.  Did any of it work? Other than physically inspecting the plugins, I had no idea. Like I said, treasure hunt.

Did some preliminary testing when I got home. The three 485s each have different issues or missing parts but probably can be merged to make one good unit.  The TM405 frame, along with five of the plugins, works. Six of the plugins don't but none are damaged and therefore, probably repairable.  Given what I paid for the pile, not a surprise and, all in all, well worth the trip.

Now that I've been through the place once, I will likely make another trip to garner a few more goodies for my lab.

[xrunner]

Dang. Nice scores there!

[Neomys Sapiens]

Back from my trip south... I visited with a ex-HP engineer who collected a whole lot of test gear over the years. Interesting guy with some good stories and a warehouse space that was packed with TE and components. To say the place was a warren is an understatement. Based on my phone conversations with him, I didn't have high expectations; it was more like buying a raffle ticket. Here's what I came back with:


, including
A TM504 frame, a bunch of TM plugins, including several that I've been searching for, and three 485s.  Oh yeah, a HP programmable attenuator, a manual attenuator, and a directional coupler.  Did any of it work? Other than physically inspecting the plugins, I had no idea. Like I said, treasure hunt.

Did some preliminary testing when I got home. The three 485s each have different issues or missing parts but probably can be merged to make one good unit.  The TM405 frame, along with five of the plugins, works. Six of the plugins don't but none are damaged and therefore, probably repairable.  Given what I paid for the pile, not a surprise and, all in all, well worth the trip.

Now that I've been through the place once, I will likely make another trip to garner a few more goodies for my lab.

Whoa! Major TM500 grab! The PG508 and PG506 make 'several that I've been searching for' a real under-statement. But I hope that your FG504 will not have the dreaded contact problems, because your 'joy' at disassembly might turn the milk sour for 20 miles in all directions. They must have had guards in the factory at that time, because, frankly, I would fear the wrath of the assembly workers if I did design stuff like some of that with which we tinker here.

[med6753]

Back from my trip south... I visited with a ex-HP engineer who collected a whole lot of test gear over the years. Interesting guy with some good stories and a warehouse space that was packed with TE and components. To say the place was a warren is an understatement. Based on my phone conversations with him, I didn't have high expectations; it was more like buying a raffle ticket. Here's what I came back with:



A TM504 frame, a bunch of TM plugins, including several that I've been searching for, and three 485s.  Oh yeah, a HP programmable attenuator, a manual attenuator, and a directional coupler.  Did any of it work? Other than physically inspecting the plugins, I had no idea. Like I said, treasure hunt.

Did some preliminary testing when I got home. The three 485s each have different issues or missing parts but probably can be merged to make one good unit.  The TM405 frame, along with five of the plugins, works. Six of the plugins don't but none are damaged and therefore, probably repairable.  Given what I paid for the pile, not a surprise and, all in all, well worth the trip.

Now that I've been through the place once, I will likely make another trip to garner a few more goodies for my lab.

You suck!    Damn nice score! 

[Cubdriver]

Sweet haul, WH!  Well worth the trip, I'd say.  Congrats.

-Pat

[med6753]

0-11. 

Continuing my visual inspect of the 585A...I may have identified a capacitor in the vertical amplifier that is beginning to vomit it's guts.

Something you should be aware of. This is from Stan Griffith's book. Chances are your 585A is going to have at least some of this issue.

[worsthorse]

Back from my trip south... I visited with a ex-HP engineer who collected a whole lot of test gear over the years. Interesting guy with some good stories and a warehouse space that was packed with TE and components. To say the place was a warren is an understatement. Based on my phone conversations with him, I didn't have high expectations; it was more like buying a raffle ticket. Here's what I came back with:

A TM504 frame, a bunch of TM plugins, including several that I've been searching for, and three 485s.  Oh yeah, a HP programmable attenuator, a manual attenuator, and a directional coupler.  Did any of it work? Other than physically inspecting the plugins, I had no idea. Like I said, treasure hunt.

Did some preliminary testing when I got home. The three 485s each have different issues or missing parts but probably can be merged to make one good unit.  The TM405 frame, along with five of the plugins, works. Six of the plugins don't but none are damaged and therefore, probably repairable.  Given what I paid for the pile, not a surprise and, all in all, well worth the trip.

Now that I've been through the place once, I will likely make another trip to garner a few more goodies for my lab.

You suck!    Damn nice score! 

I am living proof that every dog finds a bone if he sniffs for long enough. 

And I will be bugging you when I decide to try to make a working 485 out of that pile of three...

[0culus]

0-11. 

Continuing my visual inspect of the 585A...I may have identified a capacitor in the vertical amplifier that is beginning to vomit it's guts.

Something you should be aware of. This is from Stan Griffith's book. Chances are your 585A is going to have at least some of this issue.

I purchased a copy of his book from vintagetek's ebay store not long before he passed, and had read about this...gotta get it powered up first to see if cathode interface will be an issue. 

[cyclin_al]

Orbix screws:
https://www.oscsales.co.uk/orbix/products

For when you really don't give a fuck

For when you hire muppets and you want it done^* by lunchtime.

mnem
*or at least LOOKING like it might be...

Thank goodness those are not what we call self-tapping screws here.

What I am familiar with is this sort of self-tapping screw:


These have a sharper thread, which works well for attaching metal to metal.  I have used these for attaching sheet metal, brackets or metal tubes to brackets up to 1/4" thickness.  They work very well for attaching plastic or steel to steel.  I would never use them for driving into wood, like is shown in the Orbix picture.  When dealing with aluminum, they can seize up as @Cerebus says, but only 1 out of 200.  Usually it is close enough to leave it as is, and the threads prevent play between the pieces unless high strength is important (in which case these should not be used in the first place).  As also said, these need to be driven at high RPM, but this type of head works very well with an impacter as AVG recommends using.  This head type seems to resist snapping off if overdriven; I have only snapped 3 in my life.  IME, never had issues stripping threads with this type.

Switching gears, I have not been able to find a B450 motherboard anywhere for my so-called budget build, which is well over budget  .  However, it is possible for me to pre-order a B550.  Any recommendations on a B550 or X570 motherboard that is sort of in a budget category?  I might as well look at choosing a good upgrade path if the budget path is not going to work out on this one.  Once I figure that out, the only part left is the RAM.  I thought RAM was a different type of animal than a rabbit, but this is a big rabbit hole for me.  Between choosing manufacturer, clock speed, latency, chip manufacturer, it is still a minefield of choices.  Saskia has given me some good hints, so I have learned a lot, but making that choice is still daunting.

[jxjbsd]

Back from my trip south... I visited with a ex-HP engineer who collected a whole lot of test gear over the years. Interesting guy with some good stories and a warehouse space that was packed with TE and components. To say the place was a warren is an understatement. Based on my phone conversations with him, I didn't have high expectations; it was more like buying a raffle ticket. Here's what I came back with:



A TM504 frame, a bunch of TM plugins, including several that I've been searching for, and three 485s.  Oh yeah, a HP programmable attenuator, a manual attenuator, and a directional coupler.  Did any of it work? Other than physically inspecting the plugins, I had no idea. Like I said, treasure hunt.

Did some preliminary testing when I got home. The three 485s each have different issues or missing parts but probably can be merged to make one good unit.  The TM405 frame, along with five of the plugins, works. Six of the plugins don't but none are damaged and therefore, probably repairable.  Given what I paid for the pile, not a surprise and, all in all, well worth the trip.

Now that I've been through the place once, I will likely make another trip to garner a few more goodies for my lab.

The harvest is full and I feel that this HP engineer is very partial to Tektronix equipment. 
 I just repaired 485, in fact it has no malfunctions, just a human error.  The original master short-circuited a line that triggered B to logic control.  As a result, B trigger and 5, 2, and 1nS cannot be triggered.  Now it is completely alive.

[Brumby]

Here's what I came back with:

I am impressed.  Well worth the trip.

I could also say I'm a bit jealous - but, then, I'd be saying that about 90% of the acquisitions reported here that occur in the northern hemisphere.

[0culus]

I think I found the short in the 585A. The two diodes that comprise what is called 'D702' in the low voltage (LOL) power supply are testing short. Now to figure out a suitable modern replacement and also find a source for silver bearing solder. I only have a very small supply of it in the 184.

[Brumby]

I must admit, though, that I've done well recently with a 453 added ... and currently in discussion with another member for some other bits of kit.


I blame the EEVblog for this.

Thank you! 

(Please note - the opinions expressed here are not necessarily those of management. )

[worsthorse]

Back from my trip south... I visited with a ex-HP engineer who collected a whole lot of test gear over the years. Interesting guy with some good stories and a warehouse space that was packed with TE and components. To say the place was a warren is an understatement. Based on my phone conversations with him, I didn't have high expectations; it was more like buying a raffle ticket. Here's what I came back with:


A TM504 frame, a bunch of TM plugins, including several that I've been searching for, and three 485s.  Oh yeah, a HP programmable attenuator, a manual attenuator, and a directional coupler.  Did any of it work? Other than physically inspecting the plugins, I had no idea. Like I said, treasure hunt.

Did some preliminary testing when I got home. The three 485s each have different issues or missing parts but probably can be merged to make one good unit.  The TM405 frame, along with five of the plugins, works. Six of the plugins don't but none are damaged and therefore, probably repairable.  Given what I paid for the pile, not a surprise and, all in all, well worth the trip.

Now that I've been through the place once, I will likely make another trip to garner a few more goodies for my lab.

Whoa! Major TM500 grab! The PG508 and PG506 make 'several that I've been searching for' a real under-statement. But I hope that your FG504 will not have the dreaded contact problems, because your 'joy' at disassembly might turn the milk sour for 20 miles in all directions. They must have had guards in the factory at that time, because, frankly, I would fear the wrath of the assembly workers if I did design stuff like some of that with which we tinker here.

Yeah, those two were wins.  This is my second FG504 and, unfortunately, the preliminary test suggests contact problems. It will probably go to the back of the repair line.