Author Topic: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread  (Read 14575429 times)

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Offline bd139

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40050 on: September 29, 2019, 08:55:42 am »
I think we should have an old fashioned Victorian style fist fight  :box:
 
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Online BU508A

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40051 on: September 29, 2019, 09:01:49 am »
As promised, here are some pictures of my new Meratronik V540.

Meratronik is a company in Poland which produced such equipment.
They are still around, as per the look on their website:
http://www.meratronik.pl/

The Meratronik V540 is a DMM which can measure only DC voltage up to 1000V.
My V540 was built around 1979.

The V541 can measure DC and AC. Here are some more detailed information
about the V541:
http://danyk.cz/meratronik_en.html

The V543 then can measure DC, AC and Ohms.
Here can be found some pictures:
http://multimetry.tzok.eu/multimetr.php?typ=V543

Manuals, schematics etc. can be found here:
http://bee.mif.pg.gda.pl/Oktoda/index.php/Polskie_przyrz%C4%85dy_pomiarowe

One thing I really like at those meters is that they are using
this very nice and huge Nixie tubes made by RFT in the GDR.
The V540 contains one ZM567M which can display "+", "-" and "~".
The other five tubes are ZM566M which displays all the digits from 0 to 9.
The height of the digits is 30mm.
Technical details can be found here (sorry, it's in German):
http://www.tube-tester.com/sites/nixie/data/V600/Z566M/z566m.htm

But now the pictures:

This guy has to go to the bin:


Plugged the V540 to my variac to do some measurements:

Inputs shortened:


Four D-cells in series (sorry for the reflection):


5V applied from a DMM check from Mr. Malone, compared with a BM235 - 10V range:


5V in the 100V range:


5V in the 1000V range:


One D-cell, opened and filter removed with a ruler for comparison:


Nixie beauties lined up:


Top view, it's a bit dusty there:


Backside:



Inside the V540:

Recapping ahead (part of the PSU):


The top side of the suspicious caps:


The PSU module pcb and more suspicious looking caps:


PSU module removed:


Backside of the PSU module:


Module with a thermocoupled thingie:


Detailed view of this thermocoupler:


Backside of the thermocoupler pcb:


Next module (didn't checked what it is doing, perhaps it is the ADC):


From the left:


Mainboard top view, modules removed:
On the lower left, those guys are impulse transformers which are prone to fail.


Backside:


Nixies removed:


No, these guys aren't BD139 nor the three Lion Kings (BF457):


Nixie tubes, cleaned. The contacts are looking very nice, no sign of corrosion:


Some cableing porn:


I hope you've enjoyed this.
And, just as a side note: these meters are really really rare in the states.
If you should find one: get it immediatly! :D
« Last Edit: September 29, 2019, 09:14:09 am by BU508A »
“Chaos is found in greatest abundance wherever order is being sought. It always defeats order, because it is better organized.”            - Terry Pratchett -
 
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Offline med6753

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40052 on: September 29, 2019, 09:06:17 am »
Love those huge nixies!  :-+
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Offline med6753

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40053 on: September 29, 2019, 09:09:04 am »
I think we should have an old fashioned Victorian style fist fight  :box:

?
?
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Offline AVGresponding

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40054 on: September 29, 2019, 09:16:38 am »
Siemens, Sanyo, ST (or rather SGS) were out of the selection because of that 'S'. Of some others I know the logos and some are obscure. I just wanted to see how far he was.
With 'SIT' you meant STI, I presume. And there is Sussex Semiconductor.


Nope, STI is Semiconductor Technology Inc, SIT is Silicon Transistor Corporation (also STC and STT).  ;D

Never heard of Sussex Semi  :o
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Offline bd139

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40055 on: September 29, 2019, 09:16:48 am »
@med: tggzzz vs beanflying

@bu508: that’s rather nice. Eastern bloc design that one. Always cool to see.
 
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Online BU508A

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40056 on: September 29, 2019, 09:24:03 am »
@med: tggzzz vs beanflying

Reminds me of these two guys. The topic may be different (is the fish really fresh?) but besides that ...  :-DD

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Offline med6753

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40057 on: September 29, 2019, 09:35:18 am »
An old gray beard with an attitude.
 
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Online Martin.M

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40058 on: September 29, 2019, 09:39:50 am »
very interesting.

The meratronik we have used at the makerfaire (owned by Matt) is a V543, seems to be the same.

Martin
 

Offline AVGresponding

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40059 on: September 29, 2019, 09:44:05 am »



The Enter/= debate has clearly gone too far with these chaps
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Offline bd139

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40060 on: September 29, 2019, 09:46:19 am »
Grey top is equals  :-DD
 

Offline med6753

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40061 on: September 29, 2019, 09:47:52 am »
An old gray beard with an attitude.
 

Offline bd139

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40062 on: September 29, 2019, 09:53:34 am »
It is a bit WTF indeed but very common.

UK is not classy. Realistic scene:



Visual cue guide: Manchester, Greggs, slags, drunks, criminals, coppers, graffiti, dodgy taxis, bend lamppost someone has probably driven into, overflowing bin...

 :-DD
« Last Edit: September 29, 2019, 09:55:20 am by bd139 »
 

Online BU508A

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40063 on: September 29, 2019, 09:53:59 am »
very interesting.

The meratronik we have used at the makerfaire (owned by Matt) is a V543, seems to be the same.

Martin

Jepp, I spotted it on this picture on your website (Makerfaire 2019 iirc). It's a really nice meter.  :-+  :)
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Offline med6753

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40064 on: September 29, 2019, 09:56:04 am »
It is a bit WTF indeed but very common.

UK is not classy. Realistic scene:


 :-DD

Hey, at least he didn't spill his beer.  :-DD
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Offline bd139

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40065 on: September 29, 2019, 10:02:36 am »
National skill that  :-DD

Well as of this morning I have ZERO Tektronix items in my collection. They are all gone. Down to two analogue scopes now as well, the HP 1740A and PM3217. Objectively I want to be in the situation where I have a mint 1740A and a DS1054Z on the bench and that's it. Oh and a spare 1740A in the cupboard!

HP fanboy mode enabled  :-+

On the want list is: 6237B, 427A, 3400A, 3312A, 4332A, 8640B, 432A and some power sensors that aren't duff and possibly a 141T/8559
« Last Edit: September 29, 2019, 10:06:35 am by bd139 »
 

Offline med6753

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40066 on: September 29, 2019, 11:19:12 am »
National skill that  :-DD

Well as of this morning I have ZERO Tektronix items in my collection. They are all gone. Down to two analogue scopes now as well, the HP 1740A and PM3217. Objectively I want to be in the situation where I have a mint 1740A and a DS1054Z on the bench and that's it. Oh and a spare 1740A in the cupboard!

HP fanboy mode enabled  :-+

On the want list is: 6237B, 427A, 3400A, 3312A, 4332A, 8640B, 432A and some power sensors that aren't duff and possibly a 141T/8559

So the 453 you talked about picking up is now off the table? And the 475 is sold?

Yep......we've been talking with a woman in disguise all this time.  :scared: ;D ;D
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Online BU508A

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40067 on: September 29, 2019, 11:26:45 am »
Yep......we've been talking with a woman in disguise all this time.  :scared: ;D ;D

With red hair, of course!  :-DD
“Chaos is found in greatest abundance wherever order is being sought. It always defeats order, because it is better organized.”            - Terry Pratchett -
 
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Offline xrunner

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40068 on: September 29, 2019, 11:37:44 am »

Reminds me of these two guys. The topic may be different (is the fish really fresh?) but besides that ...  :-DD


I was thinking of Street Fighter.  :)

How about this - OK guys grab your hp calculators, turn around, take ten steps and throw!

I told my friends I could teach them to be funny, but they all just laughed at me.
 

Offline nixiefreqq

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40069 on: September 29, 2019, 11:50:00 am »
National skill that  :-DD

Well as of this morning I have ZERO Tektronix items in my collection. They are all gone. Down to two analogue scopes now as well, the HP 1740A and PM3217. Objectively I want to be in the situation where I have a mint 1740A and a DS1054Z on the bench and that's it. Oh and a spare 1740A in the cupboard!

HP fanboy mode enabled  :-+

On the want list is: 6237B, 427A, 3400A, 3312A, 4332A, 8640B, 432A and some power sensors that aren't duff and possibly a 141T/8559

put the 8640b at the top of your list.  you could not take mine even at gunpoint. (and they have DOT leds)

the 141T not so much.  loved the ones i had......when they were working.  arcing brittle ribbon cables to the storage tube that take out parts on other modules  (you hear the crack....and then "its dead jim"),  horiz driver transistors that kept popping, power supplies with drifty charred over stressed resistors.  every other time you turn the damn thing on they blow fuses in the power supply and you have to trouble shoot something new.  would rather have an rpn calculator than another 141T.

will let you know about the 8559.  am picking one up on monday.  will provide my impressions in a week or so.

ps  one redeeming thing to the 141T.  if the crt goes tits up you can take x y outputs out the back and feed your 1740.  it gets you back in business in a pinch.

edit  bought an 8569b not an 8559.  but they are pretty similar.
« Last Edit: September 29, 2019, 12:46:02 pm by nixiefreqq »
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Offline Specmaster

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40070 on: September 29, 2019, 12:18:17 pm »
 :-DD
It is a bit WTF indeed but very common.

UK is not classy. Realistic scene:



Visual cue guide: Manchester, Greggs, slags, drunks, criminals, coppers, graffiti, dodgy taxis, bend lamppost someone has probably driven into, overflowing bin...

 :-DD
And of course there's the obligatory picture of Jacob Rees Mogg reclining on the road

EDIT, possibly only the UK members will get the joke.
« Last Edit: September 29, 2019, 12:32:56 pm by Specmaster »
Who let Murphy in?

Brymen-Fluke-HP-Thurlby-Thander-Tek-Extech-Black Star-GW-Avo-Kyoritsu-Amprobe-ITT-Robin-TTi
 
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Offline FransW

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40071 on: September 29, 2019, 01:04:17 pm »
First part,
Aristo, Faber-Castell, Nestler a.o.
Various vintages, materials (plastic, wood) and sizes.
Too old now to be bothered any more.
« Last Edit: September 29, 2019, 01:07:54 pm by FransW »
PE1CCN, Systems Engineering, HP, Philips, TEK, BRYMAN, Fluke, Keithley
 
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Offline worsthorse

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40072 on: September 29, 2019, 01:09:08 pm »
It is a bit WTF indeed but very common.

UK is not classy. Realistic scene:



Visual cue guide: Manchester, Greggs, slags, drunks, criminals, coppers, graffiti, dodgy taxis, bend lamppost someone has probably driven into, overflowing bin...

 :-DD

note that the chap in blue is reaching for his beer.  :-DD
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Offline bd139

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40073 on: September 29, 2019, 01:17:14 pm »
@0culus: nice one with the avalanche pulse. If you didn't have any 2pF caps you can twist together two bits of 1/0.6 wire about an inch long. That works just as well.  Power supply: that's sad - what's happened.

@wch: nice one with the 114. Looking good.

@mansaxel: Hisssssss! ;)

@med: 475 sold. 453 I was asleep when it ended. Ooops. All I want is matching underwear, I mean test gear!

@xrunner: HADUKEN!

@nixiefreqq: Thanks - fingers crossed on the 8559. Am interested. Not sure I have room for a 141T if I'm honest. 8640B is at the top :)

@Specmaster: I may Photoshop Rees Mogg onto that. I suck at Photoshop though. Also thanks for the battery suggestion. This thread goes so fast it's easy to miss stuff!

Aaaaand back to clearing the house out ... one tip trip done so far.
 
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Offline ArthurDent

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Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread
« Reply #40074 on: September 29, 2019, 01:48:11 pm »
It's 2% at FSD

(Attachment Link)


The HP419A is still a useful piece of equipment and I recently used mine set up as a null meter to compare two 10.00000VDC standards. I was easily able to see that the two sources were within 1uV. An analog display like this is far superior to seeing variations like drift because we are visual animals and if you use digital readouts it is much harder, and slower, to continually do math between readings in your heads. Here is a very short YouTube video of my HP419A in action that demonstrates that.   https://youtu.be/wTGxBJNNhWc
« Last Edit: September 29, 2019, 02:16:02 pm by ArthurDent »
 


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