Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[BU508A]

Still got Netflix and TEA. How the hell else am I going to watch Star Trek on demand? 

Isn't it more like to keep your descendants calm?   

[Sam Spastic]

I think I found out why the TI-95 won't power up. 

My AKG wireless system recommended

• 8.5. Battery Life
  Use fresh AA size 1.5-V batteries only!We recommend
  the following IEC LR61 (AA size) alkaline battery types:
  Dry batteries
  BRAND guaranteed typical
  DURACELL 12 hrs. 12 hrs. 30 min.
  PANASONIC 12 hrs. 14 hrs.
  VARTA 10 hrs. 12 hrs.
  If you intend to use any batteries other than those given in the
  above table, contact AKG Vienna.
  Rechargeable batteries (fully charged)
  TYPE guaranteed typical
  NiCd 4 hrs. 4 hrs. 30 min.
  NiMH 6 hrs. 30 min. 7 hrs.

In my old paper manual they listed Ray-O-Vac as up to 6hrs.

[med6753]

Still got Netflix and TEA. How the hell else am I going to watch Star Trek on demand? 

Netflix and Amazon Prime Video here. I gave my cable TV the boot about a year ago and don't miss it a bit.....including the nearly $50 USD/mo they were charging for crap channel selection.

[med6753]

I think I found out why the TI-95 won't power up. 

My AKG wireless system recommended

• 8.5. Battery Life
  Use fresh AA size 1.5-V batteries only!We recommend
  the following IEC LR61 (AA size) alkaline battery types:
  Dry batteries
  BRAND guaranteed typical
  DURACELL 12 hrs. 12 hrs. 30 min.
  PANASONIC 12 hrs. 14 hrs.
  VARTA 10 hrs. 12 hrs.
  If you intend to use any batteries other than those given in the
  above table, contact AKG Vienna.
  Rechargeable batteries (fully charged)
  TYPE guaranteed typical
  NiCd 4 hrs. 4 hrs. 30 min.
  NiMH 6 hrs. 30 min. 7 hrs.

In my old paper manual they listed Ray-O-Vac as up to 6hrs.

They can list whatever they want.  I also had pulled the memory card as mentioned by mnem and the damn thing is still tits up so it went into the parts bin.   

[med6753]

I'm retired. *    Normally I think about the day before what I'm going to do the next day. But today I got nothing.  I think tomorrow I'm going to toss the two 485's on the bench and fix that trigger issue. But today...nada. So I guess I'll hang here and see what kind of chaos I can create. 

* I know I keep bringing this up and rubbing it in. But you know what, I got my first part time job in 1969 and basically from that point until January of this year I worked. 50 years.  I have to keep reminding myself that I don't have to do a freaking thing if I don't want to.     

[bd139]

I'm being paid to eat Stroopwafels at the moment. That's how you work 

[med6753]

I'm being paid to eat Stroopwafels at the moment. That's how you work 

There you go sending me off the google again. This is too much like work. 

Look delicious. 

[factory]

Sometimes ago I realized I could only measure resistance to about 1-2 GOhm with my best multimeter. This was completely unacceptable and I decided to correct the situation. I looked quickly at the cheap insulation tester from China but decided against it, because of the limited range and accuracy. I ended up finding something a lot better but also heavier

Got myself a General Radio 1644a. At the core, this is a self-contained wheatstone bridge designed to measure high value resistors. I can now measure up to a Peta Ohm (1000 Tera Ohm)  The device can also be used for insulation testing and test capacitor for leakage.



The interesting part about the Genrad 1644a is the self-calibration feature. You don't need super expensive equipment to calibrate and adjust the instrument. I serviced the instrument according to the manual and everything is now in specs. The main rheostat is quite impressive and can be adjusted with its 8 adjustment screws.

Very nice, it even has three vacuum bulbs, not seen much using those wire ended miniature ones either.
I finally found a Yokogawa built HP 4329A (with test leads) for my collection this year, plus there is a Levell TM14 here which is a toy in comparison with your Genrad one.

David

[Sam Spastic]

That is a Maglite sacrificed to the CRL gods.

[bd139]

I'm being paid to eat Stroopwafels at the moment. That's how you work 

There you go sending me off the google again. This is too much like work. 

Look delicious. 

They're amazing. Should be easy to get in the US as well seeing as it is someone from the US who got me hooked on them 

Currently humming and hawing over going to "The National Hamfest" here on 28th. It's a 3.5 hour drive though which I'm not sure I can be arsed with. Plus it's in a place I know very well, perhaps unfortunately, as I used to work there in 2002-ish as a sysadmin. But but but there might be goodies there and it's the dead season for hamfests now here

edit: might wild camp the night before and make it a two day thing.

[factory]

If the damaged knob for the 3460A is part # 0370-0104 I may be able to help, if I can find it of course.

Yes, that is exactly the knob. In my case the one for the "Rear - Front" switching.
Much appreciated if you can find one. Thanks. 

I've spent quite a while looking but still haven't found those #0370-0104, annoyingly they are not in the tub with all the others, which can only mean I used one and forgot to put the rest back.  All I have left is the sellers picture from 9 years ago.


If they do turn up I will let you know.

David

[med6753]

I'm being paid to eat Stroopwafels at the moment. That's how you work 

There you go sending me off the google again. This is too much like work. 

Look delicious. 

They're amazing. Should be easy to get in the US as well seeing as it is someone from the US who got me hooked on them 

Currently humming and hawing over going to "The National Hamfest" here on 28th. It's a 3.5 hour drive though which I'm not sure I can be arsed with. Plus it's in a place I know very well, perhaps unfortunately, as I used to work there in 2002-ish as a sysadmin. But but but there might be goodies there and it's the dead season for hamfests now here

edit: might wild camp the night before and make it a two day thing.

Turns out I can get them at Target:

https://www.target.com/p/daelmans-stroopwafels-with-caramel-10-94oz/-/A-16972579?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df&fndsrc=tgtao&CPNG=PLA_Grocery%2BShopping_Local&adgroup=SC_Grocery&LID=700000001170770pgs&network=g&device=c&location=9004843&ds_rl=1246978&ds_rl=1247077&ds_rl=1246978&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI08mP9bzf5AIVi5-zCh1vqw-eEAQYASABEgInp_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I plan on going to a big hamfest on Oct 13th in Connecticut.

Oh....and just so my attitude today is clear. I present....   

[Kosmic]

Does it also measure air humidity and fingerprint conductivity?

With the right jig it's probably possible yes. I need to learn how to make my own ceramic substrate 

Are you going to be going down the PTFE wire insulation route now?

Don't worry I’m already cover. Got multiple bobbins of PTFE cables of different diameters in the lot I bought from the silent keys in Vermont. Right now with the cable and connectors hanging from the instrument, air is doing a good job at isolating the unknown terminals.

[bd139]

Oh....and just so my attitude today is clear. I present....   

Hahahaha 

And I though it was Bezos' flying wang:

[Kosmic]

I looked around ebay and found this, not cheap, though:   

Divide that price by 10 and it's around what I paid for mine

It looks also very different than the one from Kosmic. 

I think the Genrad 1644 was introduced in the late 60s and they stopped production somewhere in the 80s I think. The black one are the old version. The one I got (light grey) was built around 1974. Same instrument though.

[Kosmic]

I'm retired. *    Normally I think about the day before what I'm going to do the next day. But today I got nothing.  I think tomorrow I'm going to toss the two 485's on the bench and fix that trigger issue. But today...nada. So I guess I'll hang here and see what kind of chaos I can create. 

* I know I keep bringing this up and rubbing it in. But you know what, I got my first part time job in 1969 and basically from that point until January of this year I worked. 50 years.  I have to keep reminding myself that I don't have to do a freaking thing if I don't want to. 

I completely approve, sometimes it's just fun to do nothing 

[factory]

Worked on the 3400A tonight. Powers up. Reads correctly on the .1 to 3V scales, doesn't do so well on the others. A lot of erratic meter movement. I just printed schematics for it, so I don't know much but I am wondering if one or both of the thermocouples has been fried... has anyone here tested the thermocouples on one of these?

That's the first question. The second is, does anyone have a parts mule? I need to replace the plug socket and fuse holder (worst case) or the whole back panel assembly (best case).  The plug socket is the old oval shape, so a back panel assembly with a modern plug socket would be ideal. PM me if you have something I might be able to use.

There is a parts mule here, it may even have one of those awful IEC connectors too. The previous owner EOLed the thermocouples and because they couldn't be arsed to fully screw it back together or pack it properly, the meter got busted on it's journey here.

David

[BU508A]

If the damaged knob for the 3460A is part # 0370-0104 I may be able to help, if I can find it of course.

Yes, that is exactly the knob. In my case the one for the "Rear - Front" switching.
Much appreciated if you can find one. Thanks. 

I've spent quite a while looking but still haven't found those #0370-0104, annoyingly they are not in the tub with all the others, which can only mean I used one and forgot to put the rest back.  All I have left is the sellers picture from 9 years ago.
(Attachment Link)

If they do turn up I will let you know.

David

Wow! Thank you very much, appreciate it. 

This would be very cool if they would show up anyhow. Fingers crossed.

Let me know if I can do something for you. 

Mounty

[Kosmic]

Sometimes ago I realized I could only measure resistance to about 1-2 GOhm with my best multimeter. This was completely unacceptable and I decided to correct the situation. I looked quickly at the cheap insulation tester from China but decided against it, because of the limited range and accuracy. I ended up finding something a lot better but also heavier

Got myself a General Radio 1644a. At the core, this is a self-contained wheatstone bridge designed to measure high value resistors. I can now measure up to a Peta Ohm (1000 Tera Ohm)  The device can also be used for insulation testing and test capacitor for leakage.



The interesting part about the Genrad 1644a is the self-calibration feature. You don't need super expensive equipment to calibrate and adjust the instrument. I serviced the instrument according to the manual and everything is now in specs. The main rheostat is quite impressive and can be adjusted with its 8 adjustment screws.

Very nice, it even has three vacuum bulbs, not seen much using those wire ended miniature ones either.
I finally found a Yokogawa built HP 4329A (with test leads) for my collection this year, plus there is a Levell TM14 here which is a toy in comparison with your Genrad one.

David

The HP 4329A look like a fine instrument. kj7e got one I think and he posted some pictures a while ago. Just added to my search list

[med6753]

I'm retired. *    Normally I think about the day before what I'm going to do the next day. But today I got nothing.  I think tomorrow I'm going to toss the two 485's on the bench and fix that trigger issue. But today...nada. So I guess I'll hang here and see what kind of chaos I can create. 

* I know I keep bringing this up and rubbing it in. But you know what, I got my first part time job in 1969 and basically from that point until January of this year I worked. 50 years.  I have to keep reminding myself that I don't have to do a freaking thing if I don't want to. 

I completely approve, sometimes it's just fun to do nothing 

Well I did go out to the garage and pulled out the Civic and then swept the floor. And I do need to go into town and get a few provisions so I guess I'll take the Civic out for a drive and re-discover the pleasures of driving a manual gearbox. 

[nixiefreqq]

swmbo went out to do some shopping.

snuck into her secret cookie stash and was settling down to catch up on TEA.

almost choked when i saw bd's posting.   never heard of them till last week when swmbo went to a dutch store down in maryland.

what is this place....the twilight zone?

ps  in other south central pa news.   unit 1 at three mile island will go off line for good today.  (could not compete with an almost full staff and only one on line reactor)

[bd139]

Bingo. You are stroopwaffeled up  

[med6753]

swmbo went out to do some shopping.

snuck into her secret cookie stash and was settling down to catch up on TEA.

almost choked when i saw bd's posting.   never heard of them till last week when swmbo went to a dutch store down in maryland.

what is this place....the twilight zone?

[worsthorse]

If it works in one range, there's most likely nothing wrong with the video amplifier, the chopper amp and the thermo couple. Your problem is most likely a dirty range switch—simply clean it. And: Please don't mess with the thermo couple!

Thomas - thanks, that's on the list.  And I am not going to mess with the thermocouples, I am going to experiment with them. 

Seriously, if cleaning the range dial doesn't fix it and there's no obvious problem with the attenuator deck, I will follow the service manual procedure for testing the thermocouples.  As for the fuse holder, I've decided to replace the back panel, as this one is seriously bent and impossible to make right. As noted below, there's a parts mule on ebay that may serve the purpose. 

There is a parts mule here, it may even have one of those awful IEC connectors too. The previous owner EOLed the thermocouples and because they couldn't be arsed to fully screw it back together or pack it properly, the meter got busted on it's journey here.

David

David - thanks for checking your stock.  Last night, I found an ebay offering, as-is, two units for fifty usd shipped. They both have the "modern" AC socket, which I'd prefer. I am going to make an offer on them and see what happens. I will let you know if it doesn't work out.

[Cubdriver]

I'm retired. *    Normally I think about the day before what I'm going to do the next day. But today I got nothing.  I think tomorrow I'm going to toss the two 485's on the bench and fix that trigger issue. But today...nada. So I guess I'll hang here and see what kind of chaos I can create. 

* I know I keep bringing this up and rubbing it in. But you know what, I got my first part time job in 1969 and basically from that point until January of this year I worked. 50 years.  I have to keep reminding myself that I don't have to do a freaking thing if I don't want to. 

-Pat