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 <ehsjr@verizon.net>
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: <uva2gt$23u8t$1@news.eternal-september.org>
References: <9k7j0jlnbhs8qfg5m17pium0835meean83@4ax.com>
 <l7m8vhFmum2U2@mid.individual.net>
 <cmjd1jd40b916a64nl9r5a6da3f5skjko6@4ax.com>
 <l7ob7sF1vu3U1@mid.individual.net>
 <24979c04-3d96-6fdb-1763-e1a6f9f0a6d1@electrooptical.net>
 <t66g1jd4qcct958gquah682jtelrom29mh@4ax.com>
 <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
>> <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.
> 
> 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
>