Path: ...!2.eu.feeder.erje.net!feeder.erje.net!eternal-september.org!feeder3.eternal-september.org!news.eternal-september.org!news.eternal-september.org!.POSTED!not-for-mail From: ehsjr Newsgroups: sci.electronics.design,sci.electronics.repair Subject: Re: Favourite Test Equipment Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2024 21:24:44 -0400 Organization: A noiseless patient Spider Lines: 86 Message-ID: References: <9k7j0jlnbhs8qfg5m17pium0835meean83@4ax.com> <24979c04-3d96-6fdb-1763-e1a6f9f0a6d1@electrooptical.net> <1fe9efa7-ea1a-7579-88ac-543ce48ff46e@electrooptical.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Injection-Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2024 03:24:45 +0200 (CEST) Injection-Info: news.eternal-september.org; posting-host="2508cfb108cb73c4e7b99e15787090f9"; logging-data="2226461"; mail-complaints-to="abuse@eternal-september.org"; posting-account="U2FsdGVkX18aysFZcAKq27lVP+K9kCX6" User-Agent: Mozilla Thunderbird Cancel-Lock: sha1:bkZqcJQX5tdhR3MHmtSMNOv5K74= In-Reply-To: <1fe9efa7-ea1a-7579-88ac-543ce48ff46e@electrooptical.net> Content-Language: en-US Bytes: 4482 On 4/11/2024 3:42 PM, Phil Hobbs wrote: > On 2024-04-11 13:11, john larkin wrote: >> On Thu, 11 Apr 2024 09:55:18 -0400, Phil Hobbs >> wrote: >> >>> On 2024-04-10 16:30, Trevor Wilson wrote: >>>> On 11/04/2024 3:42 am, Cursitor Doom wrote: >>>>> On Wed, 10 Apr 2024 11:40:02 +1000, Trevor Wilson >>>>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> On 1/04/2024 4:41 am, Cursitor Doom wrote: >>>>>>> Hi all, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> I'm starting to get a bit fed up with having my test equipment >>>>>>> blow up >>>>>>> just when it's needed. This is the drawback with vintage gear; if >>>>>>> it's >>>>>>> not used frequently then it can go *bang* the next time you >>>>>>> switch it >>>>>>> on. It makes for good practice in repairing stuff, but wastes a >>>>>>> lot of >>>>>>> time which could be better spent doing other things. >>>>>>> I think it's time I modernised my test gear. I was just wondering if >>>>>>> anyone has any recommendations they can share. Is there a particular >>>>>>> piece of test equipment you couldn't live without? Something you're >>>>>>> particularly impressed with? I'd be interested to know so I can >>>>>>> perhaps acquire said item and thereby reduce the number of >>>>>>> explosions >>>>>>> I experience. >>>>>>> >>>>>>> Thanks, >>>>>>> >>>>>>> CD. >>>>>> >>>>>> **In my 55 years of servicing, I've only blown up one thing: A >>>>>> Micronta >>>>>> DMM, which I connected to a laser power supply. I should not have >>>>>> done >>>>>> it. Clear operator failure. Everything else works just fine. Even my >>>>>> first multimeter. A Sanwa U-50D my dad gave me on my 14th birthday. >>>>>> Still works fine. My first DMM. A cheap 'n cheerful SOAR. Works just >>>>>> fine. My first Fluke meter. A 40 year old Fluke 85. Works fine. >>>>>> I've had >>>>>> to clean the switch a few times. Otherwise, no problems. Ditto my >>>>>> other >>>>>> 15 or so meters. Same deal with my 'scopes. >>>>>> >>>>>> I don't know what your problem is. Test equipment, when treated >>>>>> properly >>>>>> lasts a long time. >>>>> >>>>> To be fair, these "explosions" are typically capacitors: old, dried >>>>> -out electrolytics in test gear that hasn't been used in a long time >>>>> go bang when the power's switched on - as do old X2 safety caps. Those >>>>> are the chief culprits IME. >>>> >>>> **Oh, I see. You ignore regular maintenance. That makes sense. I >>>> hope no >>>> one buys a car from you. >>>> >>> >>> Whereas all you Ozites are 100% rational reasonable polite beings who >>> are always on top of everything, including predicting the exact date >>> when an old cap will give up the ghost. >>> >>> Silly me for forgetting. ;) >>> >>> Cheers >>> >>> Phil Hobbs >> >> You don't routinely replace caps in all your test gear? I'm shocked, >> shocked. > > Sad but true. ;) Sad, yes, but look at the bright side: at least you won't be shocked by a charged cap you are replacing... Ed > > Cheers > > Phil Hobbs >