Author Topic: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread  (Read 14563361 times)

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Offline bitseekerTopic starter

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #900 on: March 27, 2017, 09:40:01 pm »
I've been on the hunt for a spectrum analyzer for a while, but the cost is just too much for the sake of curiosity or the occasional repair that might benefit from it. For example, I'd use one right away to adjust the THD of sine output on my analog function generator.

So, I finally got myself an Analog Discovery 2. Of course, then I discovered some neat stuff related to it. Jaxbird has an audio analysis software suite for it and an in-progress impedance analyzer program with DIY fixture hardware.

More test equipment! :-DD
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Offline Brumby

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #901 on: March 28, 2017, 01:53:25 am »
IHEG  I Have Enough Gear.  We don't understand what this means.  It seems to be associated with people who have had an inordinate amount of pressure from outsiders, such as spouse and family.  From the scant reports available, it is rarely spoken and, if so, is done in hushed tones.  The structure of the term is haphazard and all indications are that it is an alien import that has been forced into place.
« Last Edit: March 28, 2017, 01:55:31 am by Brumby »
 

Offline MarvinTheMartian

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #902 on: March 28, 2017, 02:46:33 am »
IHEG  I Have Enough Gear.
Utter blasphemy!   |O

I nearly blurted my coffee all over my bench when I read this.   :scared:

What sort of sick person even imagined that this may be a legitimate term?  ;)
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Online xrunner

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #903 on: March 28, 2017, 02:51:35 am »
IHEG  I Have Enough Gear.
Utter blasphemy!   |O

I nearly blurted my coffee all over my bench when I read this.   :scared:

What sort of sick person even imagined that this may be a legitimate term?  ;)

IHEG?  :wtf:

I want to know who this person is. They need help.
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Offline AF6LJ

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #904 on: March 28, 2017, 02:55:57 am »
IHEG  I Have Enough Gear.
Utter blasphemy!   |O

I nearly blurted my coffee all over my bench when I read this.   :scared:

What sort of sick person even imagined that this may be a legitimate term?  ;)

IHEG?  :wtf:

I want to know who this person is. They need help.
You can never have enough gear....
That's just simply insanity.....
It's like you can never have too much money, that would be foolish...
You need it to buy more gear.... :palm: :palm: :palm:
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Online BravoV

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #905 on: March 28, 2017, 03:23:37 am »
We're all BUSTED  :palm:

Bought Unnecessary Shitload of Test Equipment Devices  :scared:
 
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Offline Brumby

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #906 on: March 28, 2017, 03:27:43 am »
IHEG  I Have Enough Gear.
Utter blasphemy!   |O

I nearly blurted my coffee all over my bench when I read this.   :scared:

What sort of sick person even imagined that this may be a legitimate term?  ;)

IHEG?  :wtf:

I want to know who this person is. They need help.
You can never have enough gear....
That's just simply insanity.....
It's like you can never have too much money, that would be foolish...
You need it to buy more gear.... :palm: :palm: :palm:

Oh good.  I'm not the only one who felt off-colour with this term.

I still don't know what it means, though.
 

Offline bitseekerTopic starter

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #907 on: March 28, 2017, 03:28:39 am »
Added IHEG and BUSTED.

IHEG is a concept thrust upon those with TEA, not adopted by the ones who have TEA.
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Offline Brumby

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #908 on: March 28, 2017, 03:30:16 am »
We're all BUSTED  :palm:

Bought Unnecessary Shitload of Test Equipment Devices  :scared:

Thank you for that down-to-earth relief!

Things were getting weird.
 

Offline Brumby

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #909 on: March 28, 2017, 03:32:13 am »
IHEG is a concept thrust upon those with TEA, not adopted by the ones who have TEA.

That was the only clear indication - the meaning itself is still confusing.
 

Offline bitseekerTopic starter

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #910 on: March 28, 2017, 03:37:34 am »
It's OK, Brumby. Nothing you have to worry about. Concepts like that are meant for other people. :-DD
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Offline Cubdriver

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #911 on: March 28, 2017, 03:58:56 am »
IHEG  I Have Enough Gear.  We don't understand what this means.  It seems to be associated with people who have had an inordinate amount of pressure from outsiders, such as spouse and family.  From the scant reports available, it is rarely spoken and, if so, is done in hushed tones.  The structure of the term is haphazard and all indications are that it is an alien import that has been forced into place.

I think we all, at least subconsciously, understand what it means, it's simply that none of us has reached that (likely unattainable) nirvana.  It's something that in theory could be achieved, but like practical room temperature superconductivity, I doubt any of us here will see it in our lifetimes.

-Pat
If it jams, force it.  If it breaks, you needed a new one anyway...
 

Offline mmagin

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #912 on: March 28, 2017, 04:02:42 am »
Finally I got a capacitor leakage tester, err, Keithley 237 at a reasonable price.  8)

Now I just need to find my stash of triax stuff and replace the FUBAR fan in the thing while taking a look for possibly bad caps.  Aside from that, a quick poke at it suggests it's mechanically and electrically sound.

(Yes, I have many more plans for it, and I've always wanted an SMU, especially a high voltage one.   The HP 4142B is huge and the high voltage card for it appears to be rare, so the 237 it is.)

Also, the shields inside the thing have like this fake leather vinyl on them!
« Last Edit: March 28, 2017, 04:18:37 am by mmagin »
 

Online Berni

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #913 on: March 28, 2017, 05:13:14 am »
That is a nice SMU score.

Inside of my HP4141B SMU i found the shield cans wrapped in"HP gray" fake leather too. I assumed that the cans are stamped from leftover material from making the case for it. Or that's what they want us to think and the material has some voodoo low leakage properties to protect the sensitive front end.
 

Offline SingedFingers

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #914 on: March 28, 2017, 09:28:29 am »
Having some IHEG here. I created a pile in the hall last night of things I have. I'm going to take things from it when I *need* them over the next 6 months (or until my wife gets fed up with the pile) and see what is left.
 
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Offline Housedad

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #915 on: March 28, 2017, 09:52:48 am »
Test equipment syndromes, illnesses, psychosis, Bah!

Let's face it.  We did not get enough presents and toys under the tree as we grew up.  We are just a pile of grown up toddlers that want more and more toys to play with even if it is only for a few minutes every few months.   

I've lived long enough that I'll be back in diapers soon, so what the hell.  I want my mommy and my boo boo bears!  ;D
« Last Edit: March 28, 2017, 09:55:19 am by Housedad »
At least I'm still older than my test equipment
 
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Online xrunner

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #916 on: March 28, 2017, 06:53:35 pm »
3478A arrived this morning. Cal looks OK. Inside a little dusty but not bad at all. No signs of any traumatic events.  :)

Needs cleanup so I'm disassembling it quite a bit. A little like a puzzle box to get it apart. Will also be replacing the backup battery.

PS: If you are working on this vintage HP remember the screws that look like Phillips are really Pozidriv and require that kind of bit.
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Offline bitseekerTopic starter

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #917 on: March 28, 2017, 07:24:46 pm »
Let's face it.  We did not get enough presents and toys under the tree as we grew up.  We are just a pile of grown up toddlers that want more and more toys to play with even if it is only for a few minutes every few months.   

Well, I've always been told that the difference between kids' and adults' toys is the price tag. So, it looks like situation normal.

Quote
I've lived long enough that I'll be back in diapers soon, so what the hell.  I want my mommy and my boo boo bears!  ;D

Yes, it's also been said that life is a bell curve. You end it the way you began -- apart from the overall size, of course.
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Offline mmagin

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #918 on: March 28, 2017, 07:25:48 pm »
I assume that version with the TO-3 regulator is newer, mine just has a TO-220 screwed to the side of the case.
 

Offline bitseekerTopic starter

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #919 on: March 28, 2017, 09:37:28 pm »
@xrunner: Thanks for the peek at your new addition. It can be a bit puzzling to take apart at first with the whole slide-everything-out-the-front-panel arrangement.

@mmagin: That 3478A looks to be an earlier model since it uses toroids for isolation between the two sides of the motherboard. The newer ones use optocouplers. Which does yours use?
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Offline mmagin

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #920 on: March 28, 2017, 09:40:25 pm »
@xrunner: Thanks for the peek at your new addition. It can be a bit puzzling to take apart at first with the whole slide-everything-out-the-front-panel arrangement.

@mmagin: That 3478A looks to be an earlier model since it uses toroids for isolation between the two sides of the motherboard. The newer ones use optocouplers. Which does yours use?

Oh, hmm.  Maybe the thermals of the TO-220 on the case are actually the better revision, even if it's a lower power dissipation package in general.  I'm not sure, not going to take mine apart at the moment :)
 

Online xrunner

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #921 on: March 28, 2017, 11:18:13 pm »
I'm reading date codes of 1984. The battery appears to never have been touched - reading 3.0V. It's going to be touched tomorrow.

There are already examples of various ways to change the battery without losing cal data out there, but I'm going to do it the same way I've done my HP 3468B and 3457A. I'm going to connect an external 3V from a PS in parallel to the existing one, then remove old battery and install new one. Nothing can go wrong ...  :P

Checked ohms and AC volts - all spot on. Mr. Hewlett and Mr. Packard would be pleased.

Edit: Now checked DCA - Current spot on also.
« Last Edit: March 29, 2017, 12:06:48 am by xrunner »
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Offline mtdoc

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #922 on: March 29, 2017, 12:21:41 am »
Nice score xrunner. :-+

My HP 3478A is my first and favorite bench meter. It has been rock solid accurate.

I changed out the battery while leaving it AC mains powered.   I used a small lighter fluid powered soldering iron. Lots of good ways to do it.
 

Online xrunner

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #923 on: March 29, 2017, 12:31:15 am »
Nice score xrunner. :-+

My HP 3478A is my first and favorite bench meter. It has been rock solid accurate.

It's a gud un that's for sure. It's interesting that they changed the firmware for the display indications between the 3478A and the 3468B. The 3478A indicates triggering by flickering the farthest right decimal point after the units designation, but the 3468B does not implement that (neither does a 3457A for that matter).

Quote
I changed out the battery while leaving it AC mains powered.   I used a small lighter fluid powered soldering iron. Lots of good ways to do it.

Yep, I considered that method at one time. I dunno, there's something about soldering on a mains powered device with a butane iron that made me want to do it another way - but hey - it's all good if it works for you.  :-+
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Offline Housedad

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #924 on: March 29, 2017, 02:49:42 am »
That's it!  I've gone insane.   I just ordered a Digital Discovery.   

Please make it stop, mommy.





At least I'm still older than my test equipment
 


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