Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[orin]

Zazzle has my favorite version of this T-shirt; but their prices are so damned high on everything.

Not too bad with 25% off today with SAVETODAYZAZ code...

[mnementh]

My wife actually bought me a PEBKAC T shirt years ago. Sadly discontinued this one:




http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/6692/

Oh, they got that all wrong; that meme is the original HellDesk shirt. smeesh. I had one back in the '90s.

Love that xkcd flowchart! It should be included with every computer.

bitseeker
Consultants don't have to know everything, just more than their clients.

Don't let MicroSpank hear you say that; they'll come nuke all your hard drives with an EMP cannon. 

Maxim 38: Just because it's easy for you doesn't mean it can't be hard on your clients.

Zazzle has my favorite version of this T-shirt; but their prices are so damned high on everything.

Not too bad with 25% off today with SAVETODAYZAZ code...

Not as good a deal as letting your wife get it for you for Father's day.


mnem
Now how much would you pay?

[beanflying]

So today is starting off rather well. I seem to have scored two working brand new (still in plastic) Muirhead Weston Cells in a box of RF/electronic junk for not mentioned on the original evilbay listing

sort of a repost I put in Metrology for those who don't stop in there.

[Neomys Sapiens]

The 7045 is an ol' reliable one.
There is a RMS module for it, but I've never seen it offered. If anywhere, it should be findable in the UK, because the meter was in widespread usage by HM armed forces for a time. I would like to have one for mine too.

[Neomys Sapiens]

Keep forgetting about the shit weather. I’ve got a ton of stuff from China that’s going to take even longer.  Also ordered a book from Germany so that’s going to be screwed. This whole country falls over if a single snow flake drops. Last time it snowed they ran out of bog roll within 24 hours at the local supermarket.

Years ago, I worked in the Atlanta region with á Siemens team. It was about mid-december and most of the time just right for short sleeves. Then the weather changed for about two days with a very fine layer of snow appearing repeatedly, but of course not accumulating. I never again saw such funny driving!

[Brumby]

What price would you pull the trigger on this?  /tempted

Would it be embarrassing to admit I have two?

They are nowhere near as pristine as this.  Both are battle scarred and one has a shot LCD.

[bitseeker]

Wow, that one really does look like new.

[Specmaster]

The 7045 is an ol' reliable one.
There is a RMS module for it, but I've never seen it offered. If anywhere, it should be findable in the UK, because the meter was in widespread usage by HM armed forces for a time. I would like to have one for mine too.

Yep, mine is ex MOD not sure at this stage which of the forces it was with.

[GerryBags]

In general, what would you say is the likely condition of ex-MOD test gear? Hard used due to decades of budget cuts or well maintained, on average? I've seen my share of marine diesel engines that have been decommissioned after long years of service and they tend to fall into the latter category. Cosmetics are nearly always... unfortunate, but mechanically sound. I was just wondering if it was a similar story for the electronics?

I'm kicking myself on a regular basis over some of the missed opportunities to look at/acquire some naval electronics, but for most of my life electricity and it's doings were like sorcery. Adult learning rocks, even/especially if it is unofficial.

[Specmaster]

In general, what would you say is the likely condition of ex-MOD test gear? Hard used due to decades of budget cuts or well maintained, on average? I've seen my share of marine diesel engines that have been decommissioned after long years of service and they tend to fall into the latter category. Cosmetics are nearly always... unfortunate, but mechanically sound. I was just wondering if it was a similar story for the electronics?

I'm kicking myself on a regular basis over some of the missed opportunities to look at/acquire some naval electronics, but for most of my life electricity and it's doings were like sorcery. Adult learning rocks, even/especially if it is unofficial.

I have a number ex forces Fluke 25s and while some have seen some harsh handling, generally they are in good shape. Electronically they are spot on calibration wise and one or two have slight LCD flicker on open circuit resistance range so the display reads O/L, once it reads a resistance within its range, display is rock solid.

So I would say that ex military electronics tend to be good.

[neo]

In general, what would you say is the likely condition of ex-MOD test gear? Hard used due to decades of budget cuts or well maintained, on average? I've seen my share of marine diesel engines that have been decommissioned after long years of service and they tend to fall into the latter category. Cosmetics are nearly always... unfortunate, but mechanically sound. I was just wondering if it was a similar story for the electronics?

I'm kicking myself on a regular basis over some of the missed opportunities to look at/acquire some naval electronics, but for most of my life electricity and it's doings were like sorcery. Adult learning rocks, even/especially if it is unofficial.

I have a number ex forces Fluke 25s and while some have seen some harsh handling, generally they are in good shape. Electronically they are spot on calibration wise and one or two have slight LCD flicker on open circuit resistance range so the display reads O/L, once it reads a resistance within its range, display is rock solid.

So I would say that ex military electronics tend to be good.

Really in my opinion it is a crapshoot. I got a Fluke 8300A practically brand new, previously property of the USAF. But then i have a HP 608C from the USN beat almost to hell.

[bd139]

Ex MoD kit is usually well looked after if it was bench stuff. If it was field kit then you’re taking a gamble. Most of the damage actually appears at the muppets who sell it off who mistake it as being made as the same stuff as Land Rover wolf vehicles.

Service kit is funny. A squaddie can fuck up anything.  I don’t know how they do it.

[tggzzz]

In general, what would you say is the likely condition of ex-MOD test gear? Hard used due to decades of budget cuts or well maintained, on average? I've seen my share of marine diesel engines that have been decommissioned after long years of service and they tend to fall into the latter category. Cosmetics are nearly always... unfortunate, but mechanically sound. I was just wondering if it was a similar story for the electronics?

It can vary widely, from very solid through to junk. Consider the apochryphal advert for "Land Rover, only 2000 miles on clock but parachute failed to open", or stuff left lying in a storeroom for a decade.

I'm kicking myself on a regular basis over some of the missed opportunities to look at/acquire some naval electronics, but for most of my life electricity and it's doings were like sorcery. Adult learning rocks, even/especially if it is unofficial.

Have fun, safely. There will be more stuff along tomorrow.

If a test instrument works, then it can aid learning.
If it is broken then it is a learning experience.
If it is partially working then you don't know whether the fault is in your understanding or in the equipment.

[Cubdriver]

I've added a bunch of PoI to the first post. Thanks to those who've PM'ed candidates to me thus far.

I was looking for the closeup pic of a dot LED character that I think Pat posted, but haven't successfully found it yet. If anyone sees it, send me the URL. Thanks!

I stuck those in the macro gallery - images 51 through 66.  Gallery link:
https://pmanning.smugmug.com/Macro

Edit to add - unless you meant the pics of them lit up; those are in the 8662A gallery:
https://pmanning.smugmug.com/Electronics/HP-8662A-Synthesized-Signal-Generator

-Pat

[Cerebus]

Ex MoD kit is usually well looked after if it was bench stuff. If it was field kit then you’re taking a gamble. Most of the damage actually appears at the muppets who sell it off who mistake it as being made as the same stuff as Land Rover wolf vehicles.

Service kit is funny. A squaddie can fuck up anything.  I don’t know how they do it.

Based on my experience, and anecdotal evidence from colleagues and friends over the years, there is scale of reliability and toughness for equipment that goes thus:

A higher number implies tougher.

Level 0 - Suitable for use by the general population
Level 1 - Schoolboy proof
Level 2 - Squaddie proof
Level 3 - Policeman proof
Level 4 - Actor and musician proof

Level 4 is similar to Chimpanzee proof. Actors and Chimps have a lot in common: intelligent, curious and completely sex obsessed.

A zoologist one told me that given a piece of equipment a Chimp would smash it apart to see what was inside, a Gorilla would take it apart neatly to see how it worked, an Orangutan  would take it apart and put it back together again, and a Gibbon would take it apart, put it back together again and hand you a list of improvements that they'd noticed could be made along the way.

[Neomys Sapiens]

My 7045 also came (around 2000) from the UK MoD via a large batch that Rosenkranz aquired from base closures. It was spot on even when I had it checked at a workplace 10 years later, came with a immaculate leather case and was nice and clean except for one soldering iron scorchmark on the top side.
Here it sits on the articulated arm in an old picture from 2004.

It is still around, so if someone encounters the RMS module, it would find good use!
Or does someone have the information to recreate it?

[Specmaster]

Nice, so thats the carrying case that it was supposed to be kept in eh? I wonder why they wanted it to be kept inits case at all times, would have that it would have allowed heat build up to occur and maybe affect its calibration?

I know that the plastic case is supposed to be their weakest part and that the case on the one I just won on eBay has some issues in that dept, so maybe thats why they wanted to keep it in the carrying case?

Are you pleased with your meter?

EDIT Mine has a label on the back that says it was made in April 1979.

[mnementh]

What price would you pull the trigger on this?  /tempted

Would it be embarrassing to admit I have two?

They are nowhere near as pristine as this.  Both are battle scarred and one has a shot LCD.

Should I be embarrassed that I own a couple Micronta meters as well? Back in the day when there was a 'shack on every 3rd street corner, they rebadged meters made by reputable manufacturers. My first digital meter was one of these 22-171 pocket calculator models. Literally handy as a pocket on a shirt.  I had one of their 22-182 models with serial out, and in a box somewhere in the garage, I still have one of their 22-193 clamshell and one of their 22-220 FET Analog models. Might still have the 22-182, but I haven't seen it since like 2 moves ago.

The best meter is the one you have when you need it; as long as you know how to use it and you know it isn't just completely out to lunch inaccurate.

I've added a bunch of PoI to the first post. Thanks to those who've PM'ed candidates to me thus far.

I was looking for the closeup pic of a dot LED character that I think Pat posted, but haven't successfully found it yet. If anyone sees it, send me the URL. Thanks!

I stuck those in the macro gallery - images 51 through 66.  Gallery link:
https://pmanning.smugmug.com/Macro

Edit to add - unless you meant the pics of them lit up; those are in the 8662A gallery:
https://pmanning.smugmug.com/Electronics/HP-8662A-Synthesized-Signal-Generator

-Pat

Nice photography; interesting subject matter, good composition.

Did you buy the T-16 or build it yourself? One of my great eBay regrets was hovering over the BIN button on one of the last untouched kits in captivity for just a minute ( a minute too long ); I had the money, I knew I wanted it, and I knew it was a steal. 


Cheers,

mnem
*Back to the bench*

[Specmaster]

Should I be embarrassed that I own a couple Micronta meters as well? Back in the day when there was a 'shack on every 3rd street corner, they rebadged meters made by reputable manufacturers. My first digital meter was one of these 22-171 pocket calculator models. Literally handy as a pocket on a shirt.  I had one of their 22-182 models with serial out, and in a box somewhere in the garage, I still have one of their 22-193 clamshell and one of their 22-220 FET Analog models. Might still have the 22-182, but I haven't seen it since like 2 moves ago.

The best meter is the one you have when you need it; as long as you know how to use it and you know it isn't just completely out to lunch inaccurate.

mnem
*Back to the bench*

Gotta love that 22-220 FET analogue meter it really looks good

Embarrassed by owning a Micronta meter, why the hell would you be, as far as I know (never knowingly owned one) there was nothing wrong with them back in the day and over they were sold under I believe a few names during the time, two of them being Realistic and Micronta, and the shops were called Tandy and they certainly weren't cheap either.

[bd139]

Micronta stuff was relatively well made for the era. It was usually imported stuff that had some QA added around it and a decent manual written. To be honest they were good value and that's usually what mattered to most people before the ubiquity of credit. If you couldn't afford a Simpson 260 or a Fluke 8020A then their products were a good option.

I tried recently to obtain a Micronta VOM but the seller sent it to someone else who appears not to have sent it back 

Some people like to poop on the party and say bad things but they do the job. Turn up all over the place. G3RJV, George Dobbs still has one on his bench (note the TTi counter as well)

[Specmaster]

I'm not 100% sure but I think that one of the Micronta meters was a rebadge of this model by Kikusui 1502 which was my first bench meter and is spot calibration as well, but its a manual ranger so it doesn't get used much these days.
 

[bd139]

Kikusui was a bit classy for Tandy

[bitseeker]

Micronta stuff was relatively well made for the era. It was usually imported stuff that had some QA added around it and a decent manual written. To be honest they were good value and that's usually what mattered to most people before the ubiquity of credit. If you couldn't afford a Simpson 260 or a Fluke 8020A then their products were a good option.

Yep, grew up with a Micronta analog meter at home. I think it met its demise when doing the tango with the mains outlet.

[Specmaster]

Kikusui was a bit classy for Tandy

So you think I may be wrong then? Just that I seem to keep thinking every time I look at it that it reminds me of a Tandy meter, albeit all ones I can find pictures of have different fascias, but I still have niggling thought about. Maybe its my mind playing tricks on me, never mind. 

[bitseeker]

I've added a bunch of PoI to the first post. Thanks to those who've PM'ed candidates to me thus far.

I was looking for the closeup pic of a dot LED character that I think Pat posted, but haven't successfully found it yet. If anyone sees it, send me the URL. Thanks!

I stuck those in the macro gallery - images 51 through 66.  Gallery link:
https://pmanning.smugmug.com/Macro

Edit to add - unless you meant the pics of them lit up; those are in the 8662A gallery:
https://pmanning.smugmug.com/Electronics/HP-8662A-Synthesized-Signal-Generator

Thanks, Pat. I was trying to find your post in this thread that included the closeup of it lit. Maybe it wasn't in this thread? I'm pretty sure it was.