Wavetek / Fluke ? SF10 short finder -A very useful tool if you can find it

[kripton2035]

I have six of these units and to date have only used one as it is well made and has yet to fail me. Maybe I should sell some of my excess ? 

I would be happy to buy one at a reasonable price ...

[Fraser]

The SF10 was £40 when still being sold. Mine are new in their packers and the later Meterman red cased model.

I am open to offers for one of mine.

Fraser

[Fraser]

Just an update on my SF10 ‘stock’ ...... all spare units have now been allocated to new homes where I hope they will provide many years of service. I remain surprised that this very useful tool was discontinued. Those lucky new owners of my spare SF10 units can now enjoy efficient efficient PCB track tracing when reverse engineering PCB’s 

Fraser

[kripton2035]

...and I will certainly finish the reverse engineering of this device and publish it so that other may profit.
thanks Fraser !

[Fraser]

 

[Fraser]

Getorix,

You mail box on the forum reporting full.

Your SF10 parcel was dispatched today. Tracking number will be sent when your mailbox is taking messages again.

Fraser

[kripton2035]

I just published the top and bottom pcb pictures, with the buzzer removed.



http://kripton2035.free.fr/Continuity%20Meters/sf10.html

[graybeard]

Mike Harrison of mikeselectricstuff posted a very simple solution about a year ago.

[marc.hickling]

Hi all we've just finished developing a version of this in partnership with a co-op out of Mohawk College. The new unit has the following advantages to the original unit:

Specifications
•   Output Voltage: 0.5VDC
•   Max Source Current: 100µA
•   Continuity Threshold: ADJUSTABLE (Approx. 4-43 Ω) - original was fixed resistance
•   Brush Material: Phosphorus Bronze Bristles, Stainless Steel Case - original was hard to replace -now it slots in
•   New version has a slider that allows for bristles to be protected - old did not
•   Battery Type: 1 x ½ AA Rechargeable Lithium-Ion 3.7/4.2V, 300mAh original was a fixed 2x AAA battery - new version charges via USB-C connector and does not need to be opened to change the battery like before
•   Switch is tactile and not slider like before - which we found wore on the original heavily after 10 years of use
•   Battery Life: typical 30 hours, under normal use

https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/ideaworks/epic-case-study-electronics-3d-design


https://www.enaelectronics.ca/blog/hamiltons-finest-mohawk-college-ena/

if anyone is interested in version which is fully available and we can make as many as we need then please let me know. We use them all the time in the reverse engineering lab for our R.E work and are loving it. Very handy. For anyone interested in some of the reverse engineering work we do at ena electronics then take a look at our site for past projects https://www.enaelectronics.ca/engineering/projects/

Marc

[Fraser]

Marc,

A very interesting development and refinement of the original design 

Is the unit being offered for sale ? If so I would be interested 

Fraser

[marc.hickling]

Absolutely available for sale. I have to work on some pricing (as we finished it about a month ago) and once I get pricing I'll add it here. Any questions feel free to ask or PM me :-)

I love reverse engineering and tools like this are invaluable.

UPDATE: We have decided that as the BOM cost is so expensive its better to open source this. Once I have the source link ill put it here!

[marc.hickling]

looks like I never posted about this:

https://www.enaelectronics.ca/blog/

https://www.enaelectronics.ca/blog/the-amazing-short-circuit-finding-brush-an-electronic-detective-part-i/
https://www.enaelectronics.ca/blog/short-circuit-finding-brush-part-ii/
https://www.enaelectronics.ca/blog/short-circuit-finding-brush-part-iii/

Try those links. I hope you find everything you need. We are still using all of ours in the lab, an awesomely useful tool!

[kripton2035]

how do you make the brush part ? do you have any part # number ?

[andreathepsyco]

The tool looks fantastic, and i really appreciate the fact that you decided to make the schematics publicly available. Is there any chance it is possible to buy it as a finished product somewhere?

[cunningfellow]

Did anyone keep a copy of the photos/schematics of this.  The images have all broken from the blog and wayback machine does not have them.

I am reviving an old project I never fully finished to make a continuity meter exactly as I want it and am just looking at what else is around.

[kripton2035]

I can't retrieve them on my drives, so I presume they have never really been published !
in that case I would have downloaded them...

[cunningfellow]

Ah - the image links have always been broken.  That is a shame.

So - I am guessing by your sig lines that "shorty" is your favourite continuity tester.

I have always liked the "Beepo" that was published in EA.  I am on a mission to make my own that has the features that I have liked from all of them.

Is there anything "shorty" does not do that you wish it did?

[hugo]

Did anyone keep a copy of the photos/schematics of this.  The images have all broken from the blog and wayback machine does not have them.

I am reviving an old project I never fully finished to make a continuity meter exactly as I want it and am just looking at what else is around.

There you go ...

[cunningfellow]

Thanks