Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[bd139]

Yep windows 7 is quite frankly “fucking horrid” now.

[med6753]

Bench power supply / supplies and a Suitable current limiting resistor. They can have 20v drop across them easily.

Measure V across diode to get voltage drop and measure V across R to get whether or not the diode is fucked.

OK, what size current limiting resistor should I start with?

I would work on current first so stick a 1k resistor and ammeter in series and slowly ramp up the supply voltage until it reads 2mA or so in the right direction. It probably won’t do a lot until at least 10-20V.

Try it on a good diode first to make sure it works.

OK, thanks. In order to get those two HV boards out to check the resistors I have to unsolder all that wiring. 

[mnementh]

I’ve found this as well, but the last time I said anything to that effect I got dogpiled for using/suggesting folks use “contaminated” IPA. So now I just keep my mouth shut, and keep a spray bottle of each on the bench. 

mnem
 

Oh no, are you feeling feverish, have a headache, loss of taste and smell? You must be suffering from CVD19 (sounds of a klaxon horn going off to alert everyone). This is not the mnem that all know and love, can't be, keeping mouth shut  Get well soon please old buddy, its discord day today 

Ehhh... I keep my mouth shut about a LOT of things; YOU HAVE NO IDEA how hard it is sometimes.   

mnem
Old age has taught me to choose my battles; there's more than enough misery to go around without grabbing for more.

[Mr. Scram]

I've always remembered and applied a concept from James Clavell's "Noble House". A character in that novel, a lady executive has the objective to have “drop dead money”. The “drop dead money” is that amount of money that she calculates she needs so that she would have the freedom and the luxury to tell anyone to “drop dead” without worrying about her financial security.

Financial independence is something often discussed with friends. It can be a difficult balance. It's tempting to work towards the drop dead point with all your might except that if you were to drop dead beforehand, it's been all for nought and you may not have spent your time wisely. Finding the balance between now and future can be a challenge, although not continuously dealing with the now due to a lack of resources or unwise use of available resources is a great first step.

[mnementh]

@ BU508A: Condolences from the Dwagon's Cave as well, my friend.

mnem
"Time is a man's most precious resource; the one thing you can't buy, beg, borrow or steal." ~me

[mnementh]

Today I did the hot air gun repair to the 4503 meter and I'm very pleased to report that it worked a treat, suspect joints that under a microscope appeared to be flawed on the component side of the board (2 layer board) where perfect on the solder side and after treating the top of those joints with rosin and gently warming with the hot air gun, the joints flowed nicely. However, there were 2 slight casualties, 2 polyester caps 22nF each used as HF filters had their outer cases slightly blistered, but still work OK. I'll get these replaced soon with new ones arrive.

The residual 9Meg that resistance ranges were seeing has now completely been cured and the meter calibrated and is in complete agreement my other meters, "winner winner chicken dinner" as Dave would say. The photos below show it in resistance range with open leads and also measuring 4 x 10M resistors soldered together quickly to test the meters capability.

You can use Kapton tape to shield surrounding components.

Yes I could, I have some but the caps were some of the suspected bad joints that I needed to reflow from the top side and no way of getting on iron tip in there without actually touching them and other items.

Alternately, you can use the silicone rubber mat they give you for changing the tips on your MetCal as a heat shield; I've done it many times. 

Yeah, you've learned here the hard lesson of hot-air rework: Attack one problem at a time. Trying to get two birds with one stone often leads to eating burned feathers instead. 

mnem
I can mix metaphors with the best worst of 'em...

[mnementh]

   Incoming, hopefully arriving soon is another AVO model 8, Mk5, complete with all leads, manual and also a clamp on amp probe, a bit grubby but it will clean up nicely. Seller is a retired electrical engineer having a clear out to save his son from having it to do when the time comes, in other words a pre SK sale. This will bring my tally of Avo model 8's upto 3. It wont get used all that much, but at the price it would be rude not to and I'm sure that one day these fine lovable meters will escalate in value.

The attached photo is not actual meter, but it is however the same.

Whatcha doin' widdat hot-glue gun & clock gears there, Spec...? And you have it upside-down so it makes the AVO smiley-face... N0000000000000!!!!

mnem
*agitating-ily*

[bd139]

I've always remembered and applied a concept from James Clavell's "Noble House". A character in that novel, a lady executive has the objective to have “drop dead money”. The “drop dead money” is that amount of money that she calculates she needs so that she would have the freedom and the luxury to tell anyone to “drop dead” without worrying about her financial security.

Financial independence is something often discussed with friends. It can be a difficult balance. It's tempting to work towards the drop dead point with all your might except that if you were to drop dead beforehand, it's been all for nought and you may not have spent your time wisely. Finding the balance between now and future can be a challenge, although not continuously dealing with the now due to a lack of resources or unwise use of available resources is a great first step.

Also your ex wife might try and steal it before you get there 

That’s all I’m going to say on that matter.

[mnementh]

The Fluke 8125A .. looks pretty nice for age... not sure but from the 70's like me... omg that 50 years??

https://youtu.be/ko6Quk2e-F8

Yes i did open it.. )

That is a thing of beauty, Tony. Proper military-grade bulldozer-chic right there.

Don't forget to look for and evict any RIFAs and suspect tants... IIRC from another teardown, these have both.

mnem
 

[Mr. Scram]

Yep windows 7 is quite frankly “fucking horrid” now.

No! Windows 7 is perfect and Windows 10 is a shit show. Those are the rules of the internet. Saying anything else will invoke the mob and a lot of fist shaking.

[mnementh]

My first law is simply: time is the only currency worth considering.

I've found that having some other currencies massively helps with having a say over the ultimate currency, although you can easily get lost gathering those other currencies.

I've always remembered and applied a concept from James Clavell's "Noble House". A character in that novel, a lady executive has the objective to have “drop dead money”. The “drop dead money” is that amount of money that she calculates she needs so that she would have the freedom and the luxury to tell anyone to “drop dead” without worrying about her financial security.

Yeah; the concept of "Fu** you money" has been around a lot longer than that novel.    How much that is greatly depends on the person involved, and how attached they are to their personal comforts and their "things".

mnem
"Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose; nothin' ain't worth nuthin, but it's free..."

[mnementh]

Yes, it's Saturday. I'll be on Discord at approx 2130 UTC.

I'll do my best to be there and harangue you as usual, buddy. I know how you need your regular dose of aggravation to feel alive. 

mnem
 

[Ice-Tea]

Why not just current limit the source? 

[mnementh]

And for those thinking that those drawers contained nothing but crap, one held these gems inside:      I even have an idea where to store the remaining 6 cabinets.

Fuuuuuuu... That's a £1000 worth of AD549s!  (Where's the gobsmacked emoji?)

Page 1140: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/test-equipment-anonymous-(tea)-group-therapy-thread/28475/

Here ya go, C:   

mnem
"Very helpful... very helpful indeed." Chibila thought to himself...

[med6753]

Bench power supply / supplies and a Suitable current limiting resistor. They can have 20v drop across them easily.

Measure V across diode to get voltage drop and measure V across R to get whether or not the diode is fucked.

OK, what size current limiting resistor should I start with?

I would work on current first so stick a 1k resistor and ammeter in series and slowly ramp up the supply voltage until it reads 2mA or so in the right direction. It probably won’t do a lot until at least 10-20V.

Try it on a good diode first to make sure it works.

OK, thanks. In order to get those two HV boards out to check the resistors I have to unsolder all that wiring. 

Update....and QService in Greece has 7 of them in stock in case they are bad....or I fubar them. 

[xrunner]

Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning ... 

[mnementh]

Yes, it's Saturday. I'll be on Discord at approx 2130 UTC.

I'll do my best to be there and harangue you as usual, buddy. I know how you need your regular dose of aggravation to feel alive. 

mnem
 

Why not just current limit the source? 

mnem

[mnementh]

Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning ...     

mnem
 

[mnementh]

Bench power supply / supplies and a Suitable current limiting resistor. They can have 20v drop across them easily. Measure V across diode to get voltage drop and measure V across R to get whether or not the diode is fucked.

Yup. That's because they aren't really a single diode, but a long chain of them encapsulated in epoxy. 

mnem
 

[bd139]

Bench power supply / supplies and a Suitable current limiting resistor. They can have 20v drop across them easily.

Measure V across diode to get voltage drop and measure V across R to get whether or not the diode is fucked.

OK, what size current limiting resistor should I start with?

I would work on current first so stick a 1k resistor and ammeter in series and slowly ramp up the supply voltage until it reads 2mA or so in the right direction. It probably won’t do a lot until at least 10-20V.

Try it on a good diode first to make sure it works.

OK, thanks. In order to get those two HV boards out to check the resistors I have to unsolder all that wiring. 

Update....and QService in Greece has 7 of them in stock in case they are bad....or I fubar them. 

Worth looking at hvstuff.com as well: http://hvstuff.com/high-voltage-diodes-and-rectifiers

[med6753]

Bench power supply / supplies and a Suitable current limiting resistor. They can have 20v drop across them easily. Measure V across diode to get voltage drop and measure V across R to get whether or not the diode is fucked.

Yup. That's because they aren't really a single diode, but a long chain of them encapsulated in epoxy. 

mnem
 

Yea, I figured it was something like that.

[Ice-Tea]

Why not just current limit the source? 

mnem

I either said something incredibly stupid or I produced the Columbus' egg. I honnestly can't figure out which one from your reaction

[Mr. Scram]

I just spotted what for all the world looks like a 87V while closing the hatch on the Dragon capsule. Looks like they they were using it in the ohms range or continuity mode. Maybe some kind of check to ensure the door's sealed and seated properly? Quite curious.



https://www.nasa.gov/nasalive

[Cerebus]

And for those thinking that those drawers contained nothing but crap, one held these gems inside:      I even have an idea where to store the remaining 6 cabinets.

Fuuuuuuu... That's a £1000 worth of AD549s!  (Where's the gobsmacked emoji?)

Page 1140: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/test-equipment-anonymous-(tea)-group-therapy-thread/28475/

Here ya go, C:   

mnem
"Very helpful... very helpful indeed." Chibila thought to himself...

Previous post amended.

[mnementh]

Yes, it's Saturday. I'll be on Discord at approx 2130 UTC.

I'll do my best to be there and harangue you as usual, buddy. I know how you need your regular dose of aggravation to feel alive. 

mnem
 

Why not just current limit the source? 

mnem

I either said something incredibly stupid or I produced the Columbus' egg. I honestly can't figure out which one from your reaction

It was the juxtaposition of your post directly under mine which I found amusing; so I decided to give you what (in that context) it seemed you were asking for: to current-limit the aggravation at the source.

So yes, you did in a way "produce the Columbus' egg"; you shut up the dwagon, at least for a moment.   

mnem