Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[grizewald]

Hmmm...

That Datron 1281 I'm looking at has gone up to 5600kr (£450).

What do you TEA addicts reckon a dead (but probably easy to fix) Datron 1281 is worth?

Ni, I'd keep the money in my pocket, there's going to be bigger and better bargains coming along with the current lockdown beginning to bite for some people.

You may have a good point there, but I can't imagine this kind of high end meter coming up very often, even if people are strapped for cash as I'd assume most of the 8.5 digit meters are probably owned by people who no longer have to work.

If my 8000kr bid doesn't win, then so be it, but it will be a disappointment.

[bd139]

Don't forget the mysterious gender bender bender who ensures you never have the right gender bender for the job by changing what ones you thought you had on the fly 

That's Andrew Logan channelling the spirit of Derek Jarman come to fuck with your straight mind by climbing through your window, wearing a pink tutu and a nun's veil, and out again while you're out of the room. You'll know if it's him if you're lucky enough to find one of his hand sculpted 26 pin D connectors in purple and gold lamé.

Hahaha I'd forgotten about Andrew Logan. My mother was slightly obsessed with him in the 80s 

[BU508A]

If you are looking for a decent 8.5 digit DMM, perhaps this could be interesting. No affiliation with the seller.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184044642421

Picture from the auction:

[McBryce]

So this morning (before having enough coffee), I accidentally blew my Hao Qi Xin voltage reference by connecting it to the wrong charger. It now no longer charges or turns on (even after manually charging the Lipo back up). Is there a schematic floating around for this device, or is it not worth repairing, ie: cheaper to buy a new one?

Do you mean one of those?

https://www.markhennessy.co.uk/ad584_references/

Yes, the top one with the plexiglas case.

McBryce.

[grizewald]

If you are looking for a decent 8.5 digit DMM, perhaps this could be interesting. No affiliation with the seller.

Nice, but way outside my capabilities to purchase as it works out to about 18,000kr before import duty and VAT. Total price would be at least 22,500kr.

[Specmaster]

Hmmm...

That Datron 1281 I'm looking at has gone up to 5600kr (£450).

What do you TEA addicts reckon a dead (but probably easy to fix) Datron 1281 is worth?

Ni, I'd keep the money in my pocket, there's going to be bigger and better bargains coming along with the current lockdown beginning to bite for some people.

You may have a good point there, but I can't imagine this kind of high end meter coming up very often, even if people are strapped for cash as I'd assume most of the 8.5 digit meters are probably owned by people who no longer have to work.

If my 8000kr bid doesn't win, then so be it, but it will be a disappointment.

You'll be surprised at the bargains that will be out there real soon.

[BU508A]

You'll be surprised at the bargains that will be out there real soon.

What exactly do you mean?

[McBryce]

You'll be surprised at the bargains that will be out there real soon.

What exactly do you mean?

I think he means that the market will be flooded with equipment from companies that have gone out of business.

McBryce.

[grizewald]

You'll be surprised at the bargains that will be out there real soon.

What exactly do you mean?

I think he means that the market will be flooded with equipment from companies that have gone out of business.

McBryce.

Well, if "real soon" means "in about three months", I'd probably agree. Any sooner than that would sound unlikely as going out of business and liquidating any remaining assets isn't exactly a fast process.

[bd139]

You'll be surprised at the bargains that will be out there real soon.

What exactly do you mean?

I think he means that the market will be flooded with equipment from companies that have gone out of business.

McBryce.

And the silent key sales 

[med6753]

So this morning (before having enough coffee), I accidentally blew my Hao Qi Xin voltage reference by connecting it to the wrong charger. It now no longer charges or turns on (even after manually charging the Lipo back up). Is there a schematic floating around for this device, or is it not worth repairing, ie: cheaper to buy a new one?

Do you mean one of those?

https://www.markhennessy.co.uk/ad584_references/

Yes, the top one with the plexiglas case.

McBryce.

I have 2 of those KKMoon references and they are accurate and stable at room temperature.

[BU508A]

So this morning (before having enough coffee), I accidentally blew my Hao Qi Xin voltage reference by connecting it to the wrong charger. It now no longer charges or turns on (even after manually charging the Lipo back up). Is there a schematic floating around for this device, or is it not worth repairing, ie: cheaper to buy a new one?

Do you mean one of those?

https://www.markhennessy.co.uk/ad584_references/

Yes, the top one with the plexiglas case.

McBryce.

I have 2 of those KKMoon references and they are accurate and stable at room temperature.

And now you are having a proper instrument to measure them all day long. 

[factory]

Does anyone here have a HP3400A that they are willing to crack open and check something for me?

When I opened the meter to replace the power socket, I discovered that several of the wires in the power harness had broken free.  I also found an apparent difference between the schematic and the wiring. Here are my two questions:

1. There are two black wires in the harness. One is connected to the 115/230 VAC switch. Is the other connected to the center post of the power socket?

2. There is a sprague ceramic capacitor (three leads, two capacitors with a common lead in one package) across the power socket. Is the center lead connected to the center post of the power socket?

1). Just opened up a UK made 1969 vintage one and it only has a black wire to the ground of the power socket, NO black wire on the voltage switch. 

2). Yes the middle lead of the dual Sprague capacitor also goes to the ground of the power connector.

Will add some pictures later, got a second one to look at as well, which needs the power connector changing anyway (I have a NOS replacement).

David

OK here are pictures of the power connector wiring from two of my 3400A meters.

1969 UK made 3400A;


Older 1965/666 German made 3400A;




For reference both units have the Switchcraft AC3G power socket, this version has the ground pin connected to the outer shell, used with the PH-163 power cord.

Some sellers are wrongly claiming LAC3GD is the same, that version does not have the ground pin connected to the shell, it's used in some instruments with an inductor or resistor to connect this pin to ground, whether this was a good idea or not is your decision.

David

[URI]

@bd: Good news your feeling better!   

If you are looking for a decent 8.5 digit DMM, perhaps this could be interesting. No affiliation with the seller.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184044642421

Picture from the auction:

Yep, it's an interesting piece of TE indeed. Have read much of the available information on xdevs and linked sites including the thread on the eevblog forum.

Pros:
- It's in the league of the 3458A
- It's offers tend to around 1/3 of those for the 3458A
- Some specs are better than 3458A
- Very comprehensible UI
- Easy calibration (cost!)
- lightweight

Cons:
- Linearity seems to be "only" 2/3 of the 3458A
- some specs are worse the 3458A
- Documentation available in Japanese only
- no schematics available

Personal conclusion:
If it was available for 1K€-1.5k€ I wouldn't go for it because of the cons, especially the missing docs.
Spend more time to save money to get a 3458A later.      

[bd139]

Got a power supply bargain. Scored a new in box Meanwell 60W 24V DIN rail supply for £8.40 inc delivery. Usually £33-ish 

[mansaxel]

Number of DB9 gender changers thrown out in the last few years - several more than one.
Number of DB9 Gender changers found today when needed - NIL 

I never throw such things. Yes, hoarding. The first 2 years we lived in our house I did not buy any electrical equipment, like cables, conduit, connection boxes etc. I just picked from storage.

[BU508A]

Yep, it's an interesting piece of TE indeed. Have read much of the available information on xdevs and linked sites including the thread on the eevblog forum.

Pros:
- It's in the league of the 3458A
- It's offers tend to around 1/3 of those for the 3458A
- Some specs are better than 3458A
- Very comprehensible UI
- Easy calibration (cost!)
- lightweight

Cons:
- Linearity seems to be "only" 2/3 of the 3458A
- some specs are worse the 3458A
- Documentation available in Japanese only
- no schematics available

Personal conclusion:
If it was available for 1K€-1.5k€ I wouldn't go for it because of the cons, especially the missing docs.
Spend more time to save money to get a 3458A later.      

Same view here. The r6581t is a very nice DMM. But one of the biggest pros for a 3458A is its linearity. I'm not sure, if there is a better instrument available in this respect. Perhaps the Fluke 8508A but I'm not sure about this.

[grizewald]

- Documentation available in Japanese only
- no schematics available

Personal conclusion:
If it was available for 1K€-1.5k€ I wouldn't go for it because of the cons, especially the missing docs.
Spend more time to save money to get a 3458A later.      

The lack of schematics is a real issue with this kind of meter as it essentially makes it unrepairable except for the most basic of faults.
For the 1281, the service manual is one of the most detailed I have seen and weighs very strongly in its favour.

[grizewald]

Got a power supply bargain. Scored a new in box Meanwell 60W 24V DIN rail supply for £8.40 inc delivery. Usually £33-ish 

 

[bd139]

Got a power supply bargain. Scored a new in box Meanwell 60W 24V DIN rail supply for £8.40 inc delivery. Usually £33-ish 

 

Yeah that's about 20 quid you owe me now 

[factory]

You'll be surprised at the bargains that will be out there real soon.

What exactly do you mean?

I think he means that the market will be flooded with equipment from companies that have gone out of business.

McBryce.

And the silent key sales 

Assuming it all doesn't end up at the council tip when relatives haven't got time to deal with it. Or they put it directly in the wheelie bin for the fortnightly collection, as the tips are all closed at the moment, which will probably happen even though e-waste isn't meant to go in the bin.

David

[URI]

BTW:

Since sniping works for me again and demand for TE seems to stagnate, my bank account suffers.       
Won some auctions on
a Fluke 80J-10 current shunt,
a HP 33322H attenuator 110dB 5V with accessories and
a HP Harrison 6824A DC Power Supply/Amplifier for parts
as the only bidder or was winning over only few other bidders with low max. bids.   

Also logging of that sniping AddIn is nice and extensive:
[...]
"Initialisierung: 0ms (seit start: 0ms, 1585558875900), Phase 1: Bietvorbereitung: 8.88ms (seit start: 8.88ms, 1585558875909), Phase 2: Gebotsabgabe: 1.17ms (seit start: 10.05ms, 1585558875910), Phase 3: Warte auf Zeitpunkt für Gebotsbestätigung: 830.35ms (seit start: 840.41ms, 1585558876741), Initialisierung: 2159.41ms (seit start: 2999.82ms, 1585558878900), Initialisierung: 3008.05ms (seit start: 6007.88ms, 1585558881908), Initialisierung: 2999.07ms (seit start: 9006.95ms, 1585558884907), Initialisierung: 2995.78ms (seit start: 12002.73ms, 1585558887903), Initialisierung: 3003.71ms (seit start: 15006.43ms, 1585558890907), Initialisierung: 2987.05ms (seit start: 17993.48ms, 1585558893894), Initialisierung: 3016.87ms (seit start: 21010.36ms, 1585558896911), Initialisierung: 3005.58ms (seit start: 24015.94ms, 1585558899916), Phase 4: Gebot wurde abgegeben: 792.96ms (seit start: 24808.90ms, 1585558900709), timeLeft = 2291ms (1585558903000 - 1585558899916)

Bietvorgang wurde 2287ms vor Auktionsende abgeschlossen"
[...]
 

[bd139]

And the silent key sales 

Assuming it all doesn't end up at the council tip when relatives haven't got time to deal with it. Or they put it directly in the wheelie bin for the fortnightly collection, as the tips are all closed at the moment, which will probably happen even though e-waste isn't meant to go in the bin.

David

That's a fair possibility. I bought some stuff of gumtree about 10 years ago (a couple of PL bench power supplies) and the woman was just selling the things that looked like they were worth something. There was a pile in the corner with a vintage Drake full line ham shack that was going to be disposed of because it was old . I did consider offering to dispose of it for her but I wasn't interested in ham radio then and didn't want the hassle but I explained how much it and all the other stuff around was worth and pointed her at ebay. I watched her sell it all for just short of £3k. I can imagine how much stuff just goes in a skip.

[mnementh]

grr. clog. furry print fail. going back to bed.

mnem
also, grr.

[med6753]

So this morning (before having enough coffee), I accidentally blew my Hao Qi Xin voltage reference by connecting it to the wrong charger. It now no longer charges or turns on (even after manually charging the Lipo back up). Is there a schematic floating around for this device, or is it not worth repairing, ie: cheaper to buy a new one?

Do you mean one of those?

https://www.markhennessy.co.uk/ad584_references/

Yes, the top one with the plexiglas case.

McBryce.

I have 2 of those KKMoon references and they are accurate and stable at room temperature.

And now you are having a proper instrument to measure them all day long. 

Indeed. And after I re-cap the power supply I'll do a similar comparison as shown in that link. The replacement capacitors will be delivered later today.