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From: Trevor Wilson <trevor@rageaudio.com.au>
Newsgroups: sci.electronics.design,sci.electronics.repair
Subject: Re: Favourite Test Equipment
Date: Fri, 12 Apr 2024 06:04:45 +1000
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On 11/04/2024 11:55 pm, 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
>>> <trevor@rageaudio.com.au> 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

**The FIRST thing I do, when I acquire a new (second hand) piece of 
equipment is to replace all the RIFA caps that are connected across the 
mains I find. Then I carefully look for any signs of distress from 
electros. After which, I experience no or few problems. Two items I 
recently acquired (a Sound Technology 1000A and HP339A) were COMPLETELY 
re-built with all new electros, as they are very old products. Most of 
the electros measured acceptably well, but some were well below spec 
(ESR). They now perform as new (better than new in the case of the 
339A). OTOH, my recently acquired Panasonic VP-7721A required nothing 
else but a new NiCad back-up battery. Performance was well beyond 
specification. No RIFA caps either.

Here is the distortion profile of 1kHz output from the Pana:

https://ibb.co/2yqM1S4


I have no idea why the OP has so many problems with decent test 
equipment, as test equipment tends to use superior quality components 
when compared to domestic equipment. With the exception of RIFA caps.

And the only product that ever failed when I switched on was a second 
hand Tektronix 2267B, I acquired from the Japan a few years back. It 
seems that the RIFA caps in the power supply had become accustomed to 
the Japanese 100VAC mains and 'chucked a wobbly' when connected to our 
Aussie mains supply. Much smoke and more than a little panic from me. 
Hence, I now replace ALL RIFA caps on sight.

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