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From: john larkin <jl@650pot.com>
Newsgroups: sci.electronics.design,sci.electronics.repair
Subject: Re: Favourite Test Equipment
Date: Thu, 11 Apr 2024 10:11:44 -0700
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On Thu, 11 Apr 2024 09:55:18 -0400, Phil Hobbs
<pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> 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

You don't routinely replace caps in all your test gear? I'm shocked,
shocked.

(My nice little HP6212A power supply must be 50 years old. It's never
been opened and works great.)