Author Topic: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread  (Read 14534879 times)

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Offline Specmaster

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7875 on: February 23, 2018, 08:16:57 pm »
Not sure how well known this IC cross reference is but from Page 6 onward HP owns up to compatible and or original manufacturers were (circa 1990)

http://www.hparchive.com/Bench_Briefs/HP-Bench-Briefs-1990-07-12.pdf
Many thanks for posting that table, very interesting and it goes into my reference folder for future use  :-+
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Offline tautech

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7876 on: February 23, 2018, 08:27:27 pm »
Not sure how well known this IC cross reference is but from Page 6 onward HP owns up to compatible and or original manufacturers were (circa 1990)

http://www.hparchive.com/Bench_Briefs/HP-Bench-Briefs-1990-07-12.pdf
Many thanks for posting that table, very interesting and it goes into my reference folder for future use  :-+
Dropped here too:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/repair-documents-and-links-sticky-me-please-mods/msg1434146/#msg1434146

Thanks Bean.
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Online beanflying

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7877 on: February 23, 2018, 10:26:50 pm »

Same here; right into my DataSheets folder. Thanks!  :-+

Unfortunately for you bean, the alternates don't appear to be much more helpful. I did a quick search on the A141A-100 and the A142A-100, and my most relevant hits were:


Not exactly hope-inspiring. I fear your only real source for the Option 001 kit may be to find a euckered unit that uses the same nixie and support ICs. Does anybody have anything posted that's like a Hollander's for HP test Gear?


mnem
*Currently nuking a Tek 2230*

When you check the manufacturers code out you actually get HP in this case. All sorted for this counter  ;D
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Offline mnementh

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7878 on: February 23, 2018, 11:57:30 pm »
Awresome!!!

Where'd you get the Nixie?

*Imagining all sorts of horrible HP on HP cannibalism*

mnem
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Online beanflying

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7879 on: February 24, 2018, 12:43:55 am »
To much money but it is a new one eBay auction: #162881401941
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Offline Neomys Sapiens

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7880 on: February 24, 2018, 12:53:54 am »
Bookmark and stay away!

Hmmm, how does that work? :-DD

I think it's a bit like the local Vicar having a map of all the nearby houses of ill repute so that he can avoid them, or pray for them, or catch rescue fallen women. Yea, something like that  :)
No member of my parish shall come closer than a mile to those cesspools of sin!
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Offline Specmaster

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7881 on: February 24, 2018, 02:06:06 am »
Coming back more on topic, Too took advantage of the recent Amazon clear out / price reduction on some of their DROK range of items like ChrisLX200 did and one of the items I got was this power meter £3.99, which as you can see from this link was normally priced at £44.11 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Multi-functional-Digital-Display-Voltmeter-Electric/dp/B017CZA9MY/ref=sr_1_98?ie=UTF8&qid=1519436960&sr=8-98&keywords=DROK.

I thought that I could stuff into an enclosure and use it to monitor the output from my Variac and or my isolation transformer to monitor the input voltage and power draw of a DUT in case of any problems.

So here is a photo of it use, it can measure the Voltage, Phase angle, Current, Watts, Hz, and Kwh, all of which I thought was useful. I mounted it in an enclosure that I got for £1.50. First photo shows Volts, Current and Watts, second one shows it displaying Phase angle (power factor), Hz and Kwh. Very handy device and reasonably accurate. :-+








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Online beanflying

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7882 on: February 24, 2018, 02:24:33 am »
From the ark comes a Growler protected by another Growler  :-DD
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Offline neo

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7883 on: February 24, 2018, 02:39:49 am »
I got a TEA related question, in the Hickok 209A what resistance needs to be in series with the meter?

I have two, a working one and a broken one. The broken one had the resistor inside the meter go toasty.

Internal resistance of the meter, after getting rid of the bad resistor, seems to be a little under 1k. The maximum voltage across it is 1.2 volts, so at 500 microamps that would be 2.4k ohms, the working one reads 2.24.

So my question is thus, how accurate does it need to be? Can i stick something close, 1k~1.5k, in there and have it work? I'm mainly asking because there is no "oops" on this if i blow it up.
A hopeless addict (and slave) to TEA and a firm believer that high frequency is little more than modern hoodoo.
 

Offline neo

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7884 on: February 24, 2018, 05:10:22 am »
I got a TEA related question, in the Hickok 209A what resistance needs to be in series with the meter?

I have two, a working one and a broken one. The broken one had the resistor inside the meter go toasty.

Internal resistance of the meter, after getting rid of the bad resistor, seems to be a little under 1k. The maximum voltage across it is 1.2 volts, so at 500 microamps that would be 2.4k ohms, the working one reads 2.24.

So my question is thus, how accurate does it need to be? Can i stick something close, 1k~1.5k, in there and have it work? I'm mainly asking because there is no "oops" on this if i blow it up.

After i sat on it and thought i realized i didn't have to jump off the metaphorical cliff to test it, i can just use a power supply. As well as testing the voltage on the meter leads just to be safe.

I now (should) have 2 working 209As just to solve the AC probe problem, as well as the dc probe problem on one.  Those being the lack thereof.
A hopeless addict (and slave) to TEA and a firm believer that high frequency is little more than modern hoodoo.
 

Offline Ero-Shan

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7885 on: February 24, 2018, 10:52:22 am »
Since it looked like my new Kontron counter needed only a little cleaning, I started doing that. No way I can live up to the marvelous pieces of restoration some of you perform, but at least get rid of most of the grime, especially on the front. Which means, of course, disassembly to allow decent cleaning.

Pic from above with cover removed:


My high repute I held for Kontron got a slight setback when I discovered that the brackets that held the PCB to the side panels where not threaded. My fault, unscrewing the PCB first would have given me access to the nuts. Next blunder: Int/Ext oscillator switch is soldered to the PCB and riveted to the back panel. I simple didn't notice this until it was brought to my attention - the switch was now the only thing holding the backplate, or, more precisely, not holding it any longer:  :--


Please take a close look: The layout guy placed the switch too close to the trimmer cap. What did they do? Make a new layout with a little more room? No! They just cut off one mounting flange of the switch and let it be.  :palm: Oh Kontron.
The disintegrated switch wasn't too bad, though. I often did that on purpose, they can easily be cleaned then. With well stained contacts, that's just what I did here. But I scratched the back badly getting that #*&$! rivet out.


On to the front. Here it was where my trust in Kontron workmanship suffered the most. Looking at the inner plate, no more words are needed. Some of the holes where not even chamferred at the back.


When opening a counter, it is my wont to look at the oscillator. But I couldn't see any of the usual suspects. My best bet is this: An 8-lead  TO-5 can labeled '0800 7000'. Pin 5 goes to the clock input of a 74LS196. Never seen a crystal oscillator in such a case.


Closing time. To test the prescaler input (>50 MHz) I built an oscillator with a shorted 74F14 for a quick check. Apart from the disappointing mechanical engineering of the thing, it works quite nicely.


Hope I didn't overdo with all those pictures.
 

Online Brumby

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7886 on: February 24, 2018, 11:24:47 am »
Pictures are always good!   :-+
 

Offline bd139

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7887 on: February 24, 2018, 12:13:58 pm »
Nice refurb job  :-+
 

Offline Ero-Shan

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7888 on: February 24, 2018, 02:16:29 pm »
Now that things seemed to go reasonably well, I decided to give my HP5325B another look.

Leaving it alone for several weeks served it apparently well:



The oscillators of the HP and Philips are almost frighteningly close.  :-+

This has been a good weekend already. The rest of it must be devoted to other things ...
 
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Offline bitseekerTopic starter

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7889 on: February 24, 2018, 09:23:38 pm »
Nice job on the counters, Ero-Shan. Thanks for all the pics.
TEA is the way. | TEA Time channel
 

Offline ChrisLX200

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7890 on: February 24, 2018, 11:49:03 pm »
Finding myself with an excess of DPS5015 buck converters I decided to add a second channel to my DIY bench PSU. It just shoehorns in (would have been easy to add if the fan was not in the way!). Only drawback is the front-mount power switch is now going to be a rear-mounted power switch -  yeah, I forgot about that slight detail..  :palm:





I used the miller to cut the apertures for the DPS5015 control units, autofeed with the endstops set for length of cut. It's no CNC machine but it does the job.



A rather pathetic video of the operation, you can see it's not a fast job - the tiny cutter demands a slow feed and light cut to avoid snapping it. Still a whole lot easier than drilling/filing/sawing though.

https://youtu.be/pANsixDNidw
 

Offline bitseekerTopic starter

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7891 on: February 25, 2018, 12:39:14 am »
Could the top-mounted fan be moved to the rear panel for more space, leaving the top grille as a passive inlet?
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Offline djos

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7892 on: February 25, 2018, 12:55:36 am »
Could the top-mounted fan be moved to the rear panel for more space, leaving the top grille as a passive inlet?

I must admit my first thought was "could the lid just be installed back to front so the fan is at the rear" too.

Offline ChrisLX200

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7893 on: February 25, 2018, 01:08:56 am »
No room really for those options and no clearance at the rear between mains PCB and back plate. In its current position the fan cools the DC-DC PCBs (at the front) before blowing air over the mains supply and out the back. However nothing is impossible - including mounting the fan on the outside, but a cunning plan might be to use a stiff rod connected to a latching push switch mounted on the rear panel. Seen that done on many pro devices. Will give it some thought. Stupid idea to plan it out so carefully then implement a half-baked modification. It was one of those 'Ahah!' moments that seemed like a good move at the time.
 

Offline mnementh

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7894 on: February 25, 2018, 01:14:20 am »
Could the top-mounted fan be moved to the rear panel for more space, leaving the top grille as a passive inlet?

I must admit my first thought was "could the lid just be installed back to front so the fan is at the rear" too.

The screw holes don't align for the front panel or the center bracket. Moving the fan itself isn't a bad idea, but the current location is best for cooling those big switchers.

[EDIT]

No room really for those options and no clearance at the rear between mains PCB and back plate. In its current position the fan cools the DC-DC PCBs (at the front) before blowing air over the mains supply and out the back. However nothing is impossible - including mounting the fan on the outside, but a cunning plan might be to use a stiff rod connected to a latching push switch mounted on the rear panel. Seen that done on many pro devices. Will give it some thought. Stupid idea to plan it out so carefully then implement a half-baked modification. It was one of those 'Ahah!' moments that seemed like a good move at the time.

[/EDIT]



I suggest using carbon fiber rod as a pushrod to actuate a remote ratcheting switch. You've got plenty of room beside the panel meters to install like a 3-5mm rod, and they're cheap. Of course, a 1/4"-5/16" AL rod might be more in keeping with the overall style of the thing, and readily available from your nearby HomeOwner Hell if you don't have some in the scrap barrel.

In other news, my Tek 2230 lives again... but now it pops up a slew of errors apparently related the storage/acquisition board. Seems to be able to acquire & store samples normally once I punch past the POST errors however.

I've been poring over the service manual 'til my eyes water, trying to wrap my brain around the nuts & bolts of how the thing acquires and store signal so I can try to make sense of the error messages. Maybe I need to try a different tack... or let it percolate overnight and take a look in the morning when I'm fresh.


mnem
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« Last Edit: February 25, 2018, 01:26:35 am by mnementh »
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Offline Cerebus

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7895 on: February 25, 2018, 01:27:24 am »
I suggest using carbon fiber rod as a pushrod to actuate a remote ratcheting switch. You've got plenty of room beside the panel meters to install like a 3-5mm rod, and they're cheap.

I'd suggest not. The great advantage of remote mains switch pushrods (ala HP) is keeping the nasty high voltage angry pixies well away from the fingers. The great disadvantage of carbon fibre rod is that it's conductive or rather its conductivity is very poorly controlled and the one thing it most definitely is not is an insulator. Glass filled nylon rod or some other reliable insulator would be a better pick.
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Online Brumby

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7896 on: February 25, 2018, 02:51:04 am »
Only drawback is the front-mount power switch is now going to be a rear-mounted power switch -  yeah, I forgot about that slight detail..  :palm:

Oh - that is one of my top pet hates.

It irks me no end to not have the power switch on the front panel ... and a real one at that.
 

Offline mnementh

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7897 on: February 25, 2018, 02:58:48 am »
I suggest using carbon fiber rod as a pushrod to actuate a remote ratcheting switch. You've got plenty of room beside the panel meters to install like a 3-5mm rod, and they're cheap.

I'd suggest not. The great advantage of remote mains switch pushrods (ala HP) is keeping the nasty high voltage angry pixies well away from the fingers. The great disadvantage of carbon fibre rod is that it's conductive or rather its conductivity is very poorly controlled and the one thing it most definitely is not is an insulator. Glass filled nylon rod or some other reliable insulator would be a better pick.
Good lord man, look at the damn thing; it's a conductive brick. We had all-metal EVERYTHING... electronics, power tools, even lamps and  TVs made exactly this way ever since since Edison and Tesla first started feuding. The 4 year old electric range in my kitchen has a steel light switch pushrod made this way.

First, the angry pixies are on the other side of a metal-shrouded switch. Second, it will be in direct contact with the grounded metal of the case. Third, I'm pretty sure Chris is creative enough to either devise sufficient ground strap to ensure said AL or CF pushrod remains safely grounded and/or to devise an insulated button and/or shroud the thing under metal or insulative tubing.

Angry pixies can get as angry as they want inside a grounded metal box.  :-DD


mnem
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Offline bitseekerTopic starter

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7898 on: February 25, 2018, 03:04:11 am »
Are pixies all that angry at a couple hundred volts? They should lighten up or they'll really blow a lid when they end up in a CRT. :-DD
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Offline mnementh

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #7899 on: February 25, 2018, 03:54:29 am »
I guarantee you... Put a couple hundred volts on my wife, and you'll see one VERY angry pixie.  :-DD


mnem
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