Author Topic: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread  (Read 14550557 times)

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Offline mnementh

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15600 on: August 29, 2018, 07:56:52 pm »
If you're ready for lunch I can have a menu sent up; or would you prefer to kill something fresh yourself today?
    No lunch, Cerebus is going to be in conference for a few hours preparing for this evening's Diamondback game.
Good choice, sir; Brandi has quite the talented tongue. Will you be keeping the empty cart for your winnings then?

*Prepares several clean buckets and "Next of Kin" notifications in case tonight's game turns kill-y*

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Online factory

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15601 on: August 29, 2018, 08:06:56 pm »
Boat anchor alert. Tektronix time mark generator UK pick up Christchurch

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F283129809294

Don’t think I can afford to run that  :-DD

Nice find, I missed out on the smaller version to that Tek TMG a few years ago, couldn't get into the surplus rally quick enough. Sadly that one's bit far away for me and I can't move at the moment in the shed, been having to use the Kitchen worktop as a temporary bench recently followed by some JENGA to retrieve TED's.

David
 

Offline mnementh

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15602 on: August 29, 2018, 08:12:07 pm »
Yeah, for an icon, definitely simplified.

We gotta get that added to the emoticons! If you don't ask I will!  :-DD


:-+

mnem
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Offline Specmaster

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15603 on: August 29, 2018, 08:28:21 pm »
Yeah, for an icon, definitely simplified.

We gotta get that added to the emoticons! If you don't ask I will!  :-DD


:-+

mnem
*Faster than lint*

+1  :-DD
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Offline bd139

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15604 on: August 29, 2018, 08:39:33 pm »
Fixing shit updates ...

Heathkit VTVM ... changed mains cable, fitted earth. This is now waiting for a probe kit to arrive from the US.

Tektronix 465. Now this one is sick by the looks. I changed the graticule bulbs out and all is good there. See picture below. BUT the vertical amp is fecked. Channel 1 has no signal at all now. Channel 2 is jumping all over the place the moment you connect a signal. I will dismantle it and see where the hell it is knackered soon. Can't be bothered tonight. Hoepfully it's just an issue with the channel switch and not the attenuators being borked. I'll probably still have to take the channel switch board out though which is going to be a dick of the highest level. I get the feeling this one is going to give me an arse ache.

Tektronix 7603. Fixed X10 mag calibration on that. It was totally out. The rest of the plugins appear to be fine. Had to pull the 7B53A out, change the trimmer, stick it back in, test it, repeat I think 6 times before I got it anywhere as the thing is on the inside edge of the plugin module and I don't any extenders. When the knob comes for this I will strip the panel and clean it inside and out.

Anyway, the only interesting picture. One graticule showing two dead channels...

 

Offline Specmaster

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15605 on: August 29, 2018, 09:15:59 pm »
Oh bummer about the 465, maybe they're like getting to the stage like old cars when you interfere with them and put new parts in them etc, it puts strain on the others parts, just moving them can sometimes upset things. Maybe the time is right to leap forward a decade or so in terms of fixer uppers and sell on again scopes?
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Offline URI

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15606 on: August 29, 2018, 09:28:37 pm »
HP 3478A owners that are interested in hacking their DMMs might like to check out this microcontroller-based extension project:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/project-extending-hp3478a-functionality/

I don't belong to the group of HP 3478A owners but I really do appreciate that interesting and smart modification through the GPIB port. Well done, kirill_ka!   :-+

Even though I don't have a 3478A I bookmarked the link immediately after having seen the video of the extension working.  :)

Thanks for the hint, bitseeker!   :-+

Always happy to share interesting stuff.

Uh, oh. Does that mean there's a 3478A on your shopping list now? ;D

Hmm. Noo. I'm quiet happy with my three 3456A boatanchors and don't have any need for it nor space...
A step below my 3456As by means of accuracy/noise I already have a 3457A..   >:D
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Offline Specmaster

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15607 on: August 29, 2018, 09:44:35 pm »
Hmm. Noo. I'm quiet happy with my three 3456A boatanchors and don't have any need for it nor space...
A step below my 3456As by means of accuracy/noise I already have a 3457A..   >:D
Well now here's a thought seeing the size of your 3 boat anchors, you could actually get I reckon about 7 maybe 8  of the 3478A's in the same space as your 3 3456A's so if you only wanted 3 meters, thats a significant amount of space reclaimed. Is there going to be any 3478A's on your list now?  :-DD
« Last Edit: August 29, 2018, 10:03:10 pm by Specmaster »
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Offline bitseekerTopic starter

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15608 on: August 29, 2018, 10:23:43 pm »
HP 3478A owners that are interested in hacking their DMMs might like to check out this microcontroller-based extension project:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/project-extending-hp3478a-functionality/

I don't belong to the group of HP 3478A owners but I really do appreciate that interesting and smart modification through the GPIB port. Well done, kirill_ka!   :-+

Uh, oh. Does that mean there's a 3478A on your shopping list now? ;D

Hmm. Noo. I'm quiet happy with my three 3456A boatanchors and don't have any need for it nor space...
A step below my 3456As by means of accuracy/noise I already have a 3457A..   >:D

Well, if you're going to keep the 3456As, you could get them to show their full 7.5-digit potential:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/adventures-in-retrocomputing-hacking-a-7-5-digit-hp-3456a/
TEA is the way. | TEA Time channel
 

Offline bitseekerTopic starter

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15609 on: August 29, 2018, 10:29:43 pm »
Yeah, for an icon, definitely simplified.

We gotta get that added to the emoticons! If you don't ask I will!  :-DD



If you can get approval for it, then I can make a version that's small enough to fit. The shortcut for it could be

Code: [Select]
+-)
I'd actually like to have it as a post icon, which appears to the left of the post's title.
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Online xrunner

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15610 on: August 29, 2018, 10:55:29 pm »
If you can get approval for it, then I can make a version that's small enough to fit.

Message sent.  :popcorn:
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Offline neo

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15611 on: August 29, 2018, 11:46:45 pm »
Yeah, for an icon, definitely simplified.

We gotta get that added to the emoticons! If you don't ask I will!  :-DD



If you can get approval for it, then I can make a version that's small enough to fit. The shortcut for it could be

Code: [Select]
+-)
I'd actually like to have it as a post icon, which appears to the left of the post's title.
+1 i like the idea of that emote.
A hopeless addict (and slave) to TEA and a firm believer that high frequency is little more than modern hoodoo.
 

Offline Cerebus

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15612 on: August 29, 2018, 11:51:35 pm »
*Prepares several clean buckets and "Next of Kin" notifications in case tonight's game turns kill-y*

Now be fair, that only properly happened once, when one of Bran Mac Muffin's men had two, two priestess cards tucked into his breachclout. What makes it all the more annoying is that Cerebus was all set to empty Weishauptt's pockets fair and square until that barbarian idiot slapped an extra priestess onto the table. Seeing the look on Weishauptt's face would have been much more enjoyable than the sword-fight, probably. But yes, you're most probably right -  for good measure, best add a couple of barrels of sawdust too.
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Offline neo

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15613 on: August 29, 2018, 11:59:53 pm »
*Prepares several clean buckets and "Next of Kin" notifications in case tonight's game turns kill-y*

Now be fair, that only properly happened once, when one of Bran Mac Muffin's men had two, two priestess cards tucked into his breachclout. What makes it all the more annoying is that Cerebus was all set to empty Weishauptt's pockets fair and square until that barbarian idiot slapped an extra priestess onto the table. Seeing the look on Weishauptt's face would have been much more enjoyable than the sword-fight, probably. But yes, you're most probably right -  for good measure, best add a couple of barrels of sawdust too.

I can supply that, i actually have that much sawdust.  :-DD
A hopeless addict (and slave) to TEA and a firm believer that high frequency is little more than modern hoodoo.
 

Offline med6753

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15614 on: August 30, 2018, 12:16:19 am »
Yeah, for an icon, definitely simplified.

We gotta get that added to the emoticons! If you don't ask I will!  :-DD


:-+

mnem
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+1  :-DD

That is perfect!  :-+
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Offline mnementh

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15615 on: August 30, 2018, 12:16:45 am »
*Prepares several clean buckets and "Next of Kin" notifications in case tonight's game turns kill-y*

Now be fair, that only properly happened once, when one of Bran Mac Muffin's men had two, two priestess cards tucked into his breachclout. What makes it all the more annoying is that Cerebus was all set to empty Weishauptt's pockets fair and square until that barbarian idiot slapped an extra priestess onto the table. Seeing the look on Weishauptt's face would have been much more enjoyable than the sword-fight, probably. But yes, you're most probably right -  for good measure, best add a couple of barrels of sawdust too.

I can supply that, I actually have that much sawdust.  :-DD



I think I have that much stuck to my forearms...  :-DD

mnem
*Mental note: Cerebus maintains a broad and varietal catalog of "kill-y"*
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Offline bitseekerTopic starter

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15616 on: August 30, 2018, 12:22:05 am »


I think I have that much stuck to my forearms...  :-DD

Impressive! :-DD
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Offline Mr. Scram

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15617 on: August 30, 2018, 12:23:30 am »
That lab in the background looks much too clean!
 

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15618 on: August 30, 2018, 12:27:12 am »
Sawdust is NOT supposed to be the end result of using the saw - it's a table or birdhouse ...  :palm:
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Offline bitseekerTopic starter

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15619 on: August 30, 2018, 12:35:48 am »
Maybe it's a DIY particle board project for his YT channel. :popcorn:
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Offline Specmaster

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15620 on: August 30, 2018, 12:50:09 am »
If you're ready for lunch I can have a menu sent up; or would you prefer to kill something fresh yourself today?
    No lunch, Cerebus is going to be in conference for a few hours preparing for this evening's Diamondback game.
Good choice, sir; Brandi has quite the talented tongue. Will you be keeping the empty cart for your winnings then?

*Prepares several clean buckets and "Next of Kin" notifications in case tonight's game turns kill-y*

mnem
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Offline Cerebus

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15621 on: August 30, 2018, 12:52:05 am »
I think I have that much stuck to my forearms...  :-DD

I have a set of cocobolo guitar backs and sides. Cocobolo is very hard and very resinous wood. The wood arrives sawn and needs reducing to final thickness. Normally you'd just take a plane to it and be done. The cocobolo wouldn't play, my plane blunted in about five swipes and after quite a bit of plane fettling I had to take the ignominious route of just sanding it to thickness, about 1/16" off each face of each piece. The resulting sawdust was very fine and very sticky, even with a vacuum line directly on the sander I still ended up covered head to foot and I'm still finding cocobolo dust in the crevices of any tools I had out that day.

The battle was so exhausting that the wood went into the 'ongoing projects' pile and it really is about time that I dug it out and finished that guitar.
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Offline mnementh

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15622 on: August 30, 2018, 02:30:39 am »
That lab in the background looks much too clean!
That, sir, is one of my walls of JENGA; which I am actually in process of dismantling "brick" by "brick". On the other side of that wall is the laundry and a 1982 Yamaha Maxim on a motorcycle lift. Before that sees the light of day, I shall have to mine through ~5 meters of said JENGA, then fight my way past a 2.4 Ecotec engine, the Wubb Club Big Box o' Fun™, gardening tools and recycle /trash bins.  :palm:

I think I have that much stuck to my forearms...  :-DD

I have a set of cocobolo guitar backs and sides. Cocobolo is very hard and very resinous wood. The wood arrives sawn and needs reducing to final thickness. Normally you'd just take a plane to it and be done. The cocobolo wouldn't play, my plane blunted in about five swipes and after quite a bit of plane fettling I had to take the ignominious route of just sanding it to thickness, about 1/16" off each face of each piece. The resulting sawdust was very fine and very sticky, even with a vacuum line directly on the sander I still ended up covered head to foot and I'm still finding cocobolo dust in the crevices of any tools I had out that day.

The battle was so exhausting that the wood went into the 'ongoing projects' pile and it really is about time that I dug it out and finished that guitar.

 

That pic was from my "recycled tropical hardwood for recycled patio chairs cut on a recycled table saw" project this spring. I got all the slats cut for two chairs, then the hot & humid weather hit.

I have a couple lengths of the darker wood I need to make foot rungs and armrests out of, and all the slats need to be routed with a 3/8" roundover, but I haven't built the "recycled wood and recycled routers" router table. I'll have another few weeks here soon when I COULD finish them; not sure if I'll have time with the current hoeing-out.

Alternately, I may just clamp a 4x4 to the deck and try routing them on my drill press... it is geared way high for metal, so might be just fast enough.

mnem
I believe I hear a bed calling my name...
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Offline VK5RC

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15623 on: August 30, 2018, 02:48:02 am »
A comment I got back a while re switch cleaning was to use a good cartridge paper, thin strip with your favourite contact cleaner, it is very slightly abrasive - but only subtly so.
Rob
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Offline URI

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #15624 on: August 30, 2018, 05:53:01 am »
Hmm. Noo. I'm quiet happy with my three 3456A boatanchors and don't have any need for it nor space...
A step below my 3456As by means of accuracy/noise I already have a 3457A..   >:D
Well now here's a thought seeing the size of your 3 boat anchors, you could actually get I reckon about 7 maybe 8  of the 3478A's in the same space as your 3 3456A's so if you only wanted 3 meters, thats a significant amount of space reclaimed. Is there going to be any 3478A's on your list now?  :-DD

You're trying to tempt me..   :scared:

Oh, no -I'll stick to those 3456As. If I would want to replace them with smaller devices that would be Voltmeters/DMMs that are of a smaller form factor and are better than the 3456A.
E.g. a Keithley 2010 or 2002.. Or replace one 3456A by a 3458A (dreamin').
I have to channel my addiction a bit..    :palm:




Hmm. Noo. I'm quiet happy with my three 3456A boatanchors and don't have any need for it nor space...
A step below my 3456As by means of accuracy/noise I already have a 3457A..   >:D

Well, if you're going to keep the 3456As, you could get them to show their full 7.5-digit potential:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/adventures-in-retrocomputing-hacking-a-7-5-digit-hp-3456a/

Thank you again!   :)
Already bookmarked that for one of my 3456As that's in my repair queue for throwing errors probably caused by a faulty power section. Along with that repair I plan to replace the quartz for suppressing line interference (I only have American 3456As with quartzes for 60Hz line frequency and already acquired quartzes for 50Hz line frequency..)   :-/O

I'm confident that the 7th digit of a 3456A is more stable than that one of a 3457A you can readout over GPIB..    ;)
« Last Edit: August 30, 2018, 05:54:58 am by URI »
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