Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Specmaster]

I just dropped my BM22s three times on purpose from the desk. Now go do that with an Avo 

Well now I'm so glad you said "on purpose" because I was just about to say "P**** Fingers" strikes again. Try doing the same thing with a HP 3400A and see what happens 

[factory]

And now back on topic again, I've just noticed that one of the small panel mounted sockets for component leads is actually broken and the missing piece of plastic is actually missing otherwise I could just glue it back on. Does anyone know of where these may be available from, the smallest so far that I have come across has been 2mm and I think these are 1mm. They look to be pretty corroded anyway so it would be nice to replace all 4 of them.

The unit is so sensitive that if I use leads with 4mm bananas and crock clips on the other end (1m long) on lower values the meter can actually read the capacitance between the leads as well. I have a very short set of leads that could be used if necessary, but its so much better to just push the capacitors leads directly into the sockets. I like the way that they have arranged the sockets to provide maybe the 3 most common pitches between the leads to maximise the accuracy of the readings, awesome.

They look very familiar, do you still need some?

David

Yes I do still need some but PA0PBZ has some slightly different ones that he is kindly sending to me. But as a back up just in case, do you know where they are available from, I keep drawing a blank in my searches.

NOS I have in my spares, probably just as tarnished even though they haven't been used, remind me at the weekend if I haven't got back to you.

David

[bd139]

I just dropped my BM22s three times on purpose from the desk. Now go do that with an Avo 

Well now I'm so glad you said "on purpose" because I was just about to say "P**** Fingers" strikes again. Try doing the same thing with a HP 3400A and see what happens 

Dent in floor. Been there 

[Cerebus]

I just dropped my BM22s three times on purpose from the desk. Now go do that with an Avo 

No cheating cushioning it with your foot! 

[med6753]

You gotta watch this. A whole lot of stupid but he manages to fix it without killing himself or magic smoke. I wish sometimes I'd get that lucky. 

I've seen some of his past videos and he's definitely a hack but is usually successful.

[bd139]

Holy crap. I clicked three bits of that video randomly and saw:

1. Blue nylon gloves. Yeah that's not going to do much.
2. Foaming capacitor
3. Sign of a turd: PL259 adapter connected to front end 

Aaand I don't think I can watch the rest.

[tggzzz]

I just dropped my BM22s three times on purpose from the desk. Now go do that with an Avo 

A story from Martlesham Heath...

When LCD DVMs were new and untested, BT Labs invited salesmen to demo AvoMeter 8s and DVMs. At the end they were neck and neck, no significant difference, until... The DVM saleman threw his meter across the room, retrieved it, and invited the AvoMeter salesman to do the same.

[Specmaster]

I just dropped my BM22s three times on purpose from the desk. Now go do that with an Avo 

Well now I'm so glad you said "on purpose" because I was just about to say "P**** Fingers" strikes again. Try doing the same thing with a HP 3400A and see what happens 

Dent in floor. Been there 

Broken meter suspension?

[Specmaster]

I just dropped my BM22s three times on purpose from the desk. Now go do that with an Avo 

No cheating cushioning it with your foot! 

Not a hope in hell, I have more respect for my equipment and even more for my foot 

[Specmaster]

You gotta watch this. A whole lot of stupid but he manages to fix it without killing himself or magic smoke. I wish sometimes I'd get that lucky. 

I've seen some of his past videos and he's definitely a hack but is usually successful.

Yeah, seen this before, there are a few similar videos on there with dumpster finds.

[factory]

Holy crap. I clicked three bits of that video randomly and saw:

1. Blue nylon gloves. Yeah that's not going to do much.
2. Foaming capacitor
3. Sign of a turd: PL259 adapter connected to front end 

Aaand I don't think I can watch the rest.

You have to remember Shango mostly does resurrection videos not restoration.
He does have a lot of interesting vintage TEA that appears in his videos. I do watch most of his videos on TV, radios etc and the other channel with abandoned mine explorations. It's also amazing to see stuff that's been siting outside for 30-40 years in a mine dump made to work again.

David

[mansaxel]

Do not let it go, show up at school with a german tank, make clear what they are doing wrong and why you are pissed.

Thats a Tank Destroyer (Panzerjäger / Pansarvärnskanonvagn), not a tank. </nitpick>

[Zucca]

even better

[Specmaster]

Another old scope on Gumtree for the London boys https://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/dartron-d17-analogue-oscilloscope-dual-channel/1366698240?utm_source=savedsearches&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GT.TRIGGER.SA&utm_content=none&utm_source=salesforce&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Search_Alert&utm_content=EMAIL_ALERTS_TRACK_SINGLE

[bd139]

Literally 10 minutes from here. Noooo not doing it 

[Specmaster]

Dartron, thats a name I don't recall seeing before.

[Specmaster]

Here is a video that I believe will appeal to bd139 

[mnementh]

It's Oh-Dark-Thirty in the Fukkin' Morning and I'm Still Working on a New Project...

            


Here's a few TEAsers before I crawl off to bed.     

mnem
*the scrubbulous world of Dr. Agon*

Cooked shunts from a moving coil meter ?

   Yeah; one cooked shunt, one good. This is the Bach-Simpson 635 I got a few months back; finally getting it on the bench. Finding that it appears to be a bit of a bastard child; evidently their primary raison d'être was Canadian Military service. Can't find a service or even user manual on BAMA or RadioMuseum.org; of course Simpson is of no help for parts, but they evidently disavow all knowledge of the poor thing even in their legacy products section.

Pretty sure battery clips for a 260 Series 3 or so will work; but that roached shunt...  Take a look at the oddball current ranges this thing has.   As best I can gauge from the circuit, the 0.6 and 1.2A range shunts shown should be the same value; I may wind up having to make one from scratch. 

If anybody here knows of any lifelines, please toss one my way. I know about the 6KV 635 on Simpson260.com; trying to find out more from that source right now.

mnem
*currently nuking a PS3 with my son*

[med6753]

Holy crap. I clicked three bits of that video randomly and saw:

1. Blue nylon gloves. Yeah that's not going to do much.
2. Foaming capacitor
3. Sign of a turd: PL259 adapter connected to front end 

Aaand I don't think I can watch the rest.

You have to remember Shango mostly does resurrection videos not restoration.
He does have a lot of interesting vintage TEA that appears in his videos. I do watch most of his videos on TV, radios etc and the other channel with abandoned mine explorations. It's also amazing to see stuff that's been siting outside for 30-40 years in a mine dump made to work again.

David

Yep, I've watched many of his videos too and it is pretty amazing of the total crap he manages to get going again. But you have to remember he lives in Southern California where it is dry most of the year so while it has sat for 30-40 years it's not a rusty and useless hulk. That would not be the case here or by you in the UK. 

[tautech]

As best I can gauge from the circuit, the 0.6 and 1.2A range shunts shown should be the same value; I may wind up having to make one from scratch. 

Makes sense, paralleled for the higher current.
'Spose your constantan is still in your container ?

[mnementh]

I just dropped my BM22s three times on purpose from the desk. Now go do that with an Avo 

Well now I'm so glad you said "on purpose" because I was just about to say "P**** Fingers" strikes again. Try doing the same thing with a HP 3400A and see what happens 

You collect the 3400A from the basement unharmed, out the cellar doors with it on a hand truck, then head off to Homeowner Hell for flooring supplies...

mnem
...And when you get back, straight away to the ER with the missus or the furry kids after they fell through the hole...

[mnementh]

Somebody needs to take my credit card away...



Oh, and I bought a PS3 Slim just because it was complete for $25...   

mnem
 

[mnementh]

As best I can gauge from the circuit, the 0.6 and 1.2A range shunts shown should be the same value; I may wind up having to make one from scratch. 

Makes sense, paralleled for the higher current. 'Spose your constantan is still in your container ?

No, this is old school... all the shunts are in series, and the voltage drop is measured across the ends of the chain. Where you plug the (+) probe in determines the total resistance of the combined active shunts; the shunts that aren't actually shunting current just complete the circuit to measure the voltage drop. the steps are 12A, 1.2A, 0.6A. It is the 1.2A shunt that is toast, but that progression suggests that the 1.2 & 0.6A shunts are likely the same value.

I actually don't have any of this wire; last time I bought any was specific to a BOM and used all but a few CM, long lost. From what I can see, composition may not be Constantan alloy but tinned copper wire with wrapped 'glas insulator; construction is soldered, not welded to the leads.    I have some pretty small ga silicone insulated wire I MAY be able to fake it with IF I can get in the right neighborhood by measuring with my DE-5000 in DCR mode.

mnem
*toddles off to ded*

[beanflying]

Somebody needs to take my credit card away...



Oh, and I bought a PS3 Slim just because it was complete for $25...   

mnem
 

More like someone needs a fidgit spinner, 3D Printer or their real existing toy collection back under their wings again. Just remember all this extra crap you are adding now will be combined with the other at some point in the future

[Vgkid]

As best I can gauge from the circuit, the 0.6 and 1.2A range shunts shown should be the same value; I may wind up having to make one from scratch. 

Makes sense, paralleled for the higher current. 'Spose your constantan is still in your container ?

No, this is old school... all the shunts are in series, and the voltage drop is measured across the ends of the chain. Where you plug the (+) probe in determines the total resistance of the combined active shunts; the shunts that aren't actually shunting current just complete the circuit to measure the voltage drop. the steps are 12A, 1.2A, 0.6A. It is the 1.2A shunt that is toast, but that progression suggests that the 1.2 & 0.6A shunts are likely the same value.

I actually don't have any of this wire; last time I bought any was specific to a BOM and used all but a few CM, long lost. From what I can see, composition may not be Constantan alloy but tinned copper wire with wrapped 'glas insulator; construction is soldered, not welded to the leads.    I have some pretty small ga silicone insulated wire I MAY be able to fake it with IF I can get in the right neighborhood by measuring with my DE-5000 in DCR mode.

mnem
*toddles off to ded*

For a current shunt, it would be manganin wire.