Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[med6753]

Amazed at how nice this unit is and works. Plenty more details to follow.

So it seems your strategy is not to build a complete lab, but to just buy all the test equipment.

I like that it doesn't look terribly beat up like many do.

Your point? So what if he does.  It saves valuable test equipment from certain destruction or other undesirable fates. It will be properly cared for. And don't ALL of us in this group do that to a certain extent? After all, I don't NEED all the Tek scopes that I currently have and soon to acquire more.   

[Mr. Scram]

Your point? So what if he does.  It saves valuable test equipment from certain destruction or other undesirable fates. It will be properly cared for. And don't ALL of us in this group do that to a certain extent? After all, I don't NEED all the Tek scopes that I currently have and soon to acquire more. 

It was a joke, commenting on the recent buying spree. Choices are for wussies. Just buy everything!

[Inverted18650]

Amazed at how nice this unit is and works. Plenty more details to follow.

So it seems your strategy is not to build a complete lab, but to just buy all the test equipment.

I like that it doesn't look terribly beat up like many do.

  Maybe...
But my real goal is to keep one analogue AC & DC unit and acquire and keep one digital AC & DC CAL unit as well, for my lab.
(at least until I can afford one the $25k "all-in-one" modern units)

[Inverted18650]

The 5440A passed all built-in tests and is ready for some baseline samples...looks very promising considering it only cost me >$500! 

[Mr. Scram]

The 5440B passed all built-in tests and is ready for some baseline samples...looks very promising considering it only cost me >$500! 

Okay, now I'm envious.

[Inverted18650]

A bit shaky on the lower ranges but rock solid at 10V. I believe the internal CAl uses the 22V line for self calibration.

edit** now that the units are warming up and have not been touched in a while, the 1V range is coming back to normal. I will let it settle for a couple more hours and then recheck the 1mV range as well.

[beanflying]

So you won't be needing your 335D then? 

[Inverted18650]

So you won't be needing your 335D then? 

Correct. I have four of the 3XX units that need new homes. The sooner the better. Ill review any and all offers, (1st come, 1st cash) just need the space and some cash back.

I have the Fluke 332B, 332D, 335A, 335D, and 5200A that all need homes.

edit** I am going to list this for $2k for all of it, but TEA users get 25% off, only $1500. Trying to spread the love to you all!

[mnementh]

The 5440B passed all built-in tests and is ready for some baseline samples...looks very promising considering it only cost me >$500! 

Okay, now I'm envious.

Ditto. But then, I'm envious of that guy with a DMMCheckPlus, too. 

mnem
You know, the one we saw... in that thing... a while back...

[Inverted18650]

Now I have to buy a DMMCHeckPLus...    I am going to do it too!

[bitseeker]

I have spent hundreds, maybe a thousand or more hours, at the bench with just (LI-ION) 18650's...

Ha ha, I guessed that from your username that you had spent a lot time with 18650s[emoji106]

Yep, although I originally thought that maybe  he used/built them upside-down.

[bitseeker]

You'd need a 30-40A 6S BMS board. But most sub-c based batteries do not cooperate with 18650 repacks; you wind up having to cut the bottom off to get some dimension you need.  By the time you repack with high-discharge cells and buy the board, you'll be halfway or more to a brand-new brushless model from Loews. You won't believe the difference; the power/weight is unrEAL.

My wife bought me this kit for Father's Day 2017; it was $129. That 1/2" drill feels like a 3/8", has the power of a 1/2" corded. That 1/4" impact driver has 110 Ft/lbs torque; it will take lugnuts off a car!

Batteries are $10/1.5AH, $20/2.0AH and $45/4.0AH. 3-year warranty on batteries and 5 years on the tools.

Best sales are Father's Day & Christmas.

Wow. OK, so I guess this Christmas it's bye-bye to my old NiCd-powered Makita driver. *sniff*

I've been a Makita diehard ever since I built my first barn with one. I like these Kobalt tools better. More torque, and the HF motor controllers are so smoooth. Go to Lowes, test drive them.

Last year, I grabbed one of their wrench/socket "mechanics" sets with toolbox. I think it was between Christmas and New Year for really cheap. I like the large laser-etched size markings and the red and blue bands clearly identifying metric and SAE sockets. Nice touches. I wonder how durable the laser etching is, but it's not like I'm using them everyday.

[bitseeker]

My camping expresso machine, a Phillips /Saeco at home, Nespresso at work.
Life is too short for bad coffee (and bad women!)

Cool portable espresso machine, Rob. At home, I also have a Saeco...and in true TEA fashion, I have a dead parts mule to keep the live one going.

[beanflying]

I got rid of my old 12v Brushed Hitachi NiCad drill last year in favour of this beasty. Makita Brushless Li-Ion 5Ah battery. Not shown is the 'free' Angle grinder that was part of the promotion. Battery life is insane and the torque available is crazy dangerous, currently nursing a bruised wrist from when a drill caught last week.

I went over the usual suspects list before going down the Makita path but Dewalt, AEG, Bosch, Milwaukee are not far off the mark and avoid Ryobi 

[Inverted18650]

I missed the battery repack thread..damn. I even started 3D printing my own battery packs for some drills. I have the STL files and will gladly share but I havent done a Kobalt yet, just Dewalt and Craftsman...I built extended life packs for both models using my 18650's and home brew BMS; right now I am focused on Calibration stuff anyway...

[bitseeker]

How I know when my infamous split-pea soup is done. Seriously. 

Mmm. I like the look of that. Tasty.

I prefer my coffee perc'd; or worse yet, ranch style (boil the grounds in the water, filter it through yer teeth). But there are mornings when I need my fix of caffeine to be able to brew a pot.

Hehe, I've done ranch/cowboy style while backpacking. If you take your time, you can pour quite a bit without the need for too much teeth filtering.

[Inverted18650]

here is a quick check of the 5440A on the 1V range after proper warm up. Ill see if it levels off and then restart the collection cycle (clear buffer) and get a new hour long graph, that is if its levels off.

[Mr. Scram]

Now I have to buy a DMMCHeckPLus...    I am going to do it too!

They're quite a nice sanity check to have around. Doug takes his time making sure they're right, which unfortunately means they can only occasionally be ordered. The product is worth the wait though, and Doug is a pleasure to deal with too.

[Neomys Sapiens]

I have spent hundreds, maybe a thousand or more hours, at the bench with just (LI-ION) 18650's...

Ha ha, I guessed that from your username that you had spent a lot time with 18650s[emoji106]

Yep, although I originally thought that maybe  he used/built them upside-down.

I also wondered. And LI-Ion being inside out is a bit scary.

[Inverted18650]

I have spent hundreds, maybe a thousand or more hours, at the bench with just (LI-ION) 18650's...

Ha ha, I guessed that from your username that you had spent a lot time with 18650s[emoji106]

Yep, although I originally thought that maybe  he used/built them upside-down.

I also wondered. And LI-Ion being inside out is a bit scary.

Only for about 3 secs then their energy is gone. I tried (and failed) to build my own vacuum chamber to open one without the O2 combustion, and ended up with a rocket bouncing around inside some glued together Plexiglas for about 30 secs. The vacuum worked, mildly, just enough to extended the chaos from 3 to 30 secs.

Inverted stems from using them with inverters..but upside or inside out is also fun to think about.

[Inverted18650]

If the Aussie users can get together and group buy the Fluke gear, I can put it on a pallet and DHL ship it to you. You will have it within about 5 days and can divide it up among yourselves. Split the cost for freight and the lot...too easy! DHL invoice will work in your favor, I promise.

[bitseeker]

Action shot replying to a post I made earlier. Wera bottle opener FTW:

I was wondering when that Wera was going to see some action. Cheers!

[beanflying]

If the Aussie users can get together and group buy the Fluke gear, I can put it on a pallet and DHL ship it to you. You will have it within about 5 days and can divide it up among yourselves. Split the cost for freight and the lot...too easy! DHL invoice will work in your favor, I promise.

Only is we can have it sent to Mrs SHMBO Brumby as the adressee. First Tea member to be tied by his bits to a Fluke Calibrator and thrown off the harbor bridge 

[Inverted18650]

 

[Inverted18650]

The crazy part is I gotta sell these 3xx BEFORE I can sell one of the 5440's...lol.