Test Equipment Anonymous

To us techs on the production area these 8000A's were "the Bomb". The "bees knees". Greatest thing since sliced bread. We had never seen or used a small and compact DMM with LED's. So all these many years later I wanted one and then found out what a piece of crap it was. This was...

Bulgin plugs. Memories of Quad ESL 57 speakers there. Anyways, the Fluke 8000A multimeter is a disappointment. This is not the sort of product you'd expect to see the Fluke name on. Micronta or some other Radio Shack branding, sure, but not fluke. I guess every company releases a basketcase of junk...

Zenith wrote: ↑Mon May 19, 2025 10:40 pm They have a savage grandeur which many find fascinating. Valve scopes are probably now a bit too savage for most.

Give me savage or give me death.

Based on this thread, shouldn't we declare Fluke products as a crap shoot..... Gimme a mo to grab my hat and coat.... I have several Flukes here. 8600A, 8010A, 8050A, 8800A and they all perform well. In addition to hand helded 8021B, 8060A, and 87. The 8000A is the only dud . Yup, all brands have t...

tautech wrote: ↑Mon May 19, 2025 10:02 pm Based on this thread, shouldn't we declare Fluke products as a crap shoot.....
Gimme a mo to grab my hat and coat....

I have several Flukes here. 8600A, 8010A, 8050A, 8800A and they all perform well. In addition to hand helded 8021B, 8060A, and 87. The 8000A is the only dud.

Look more closely, especially at the other side of the connector (with Fluke blue shroud reinstalled) and see there is a shroud made of - wait for it - perforated card?! Involuntary shudder, as I remember Bulgin connectors. Bulgin plugs. Memories of Quad ESL 57 speakers there. Anyways, the Fluke 80...

Funnily enough I just mentioned my 8000A in Discord in relation to fitting some new NiCd D cells. Naturally Chris wanted me to set fire to it instead, but I prefer to try Med's mod EDIT: Just occured to me to observe that the 8125A which I have more interest in resurrecting the battery option in, i...

Rather than searching through my records I opened up the 8000A and took a fresh photo. It's a tight squeeze but the separate +5V supply is in there. I also modified the +15V and -15V supplies with 7815 and 7915. The result was a much more stable instrument. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/92...

You're not done. The +5V supply is barely +4.7V and not regulated. Results in lots of short term drift. Solution? Another small transformer and a proper 7805 regulator. I have pictures somewhere and I'll see if I can find them.

Just like the schematic the female connector in the 5110 is arranged with Pin 1 at the bottom with +200V on the left. I just wanted to verify the orientation although it doesn't really matter. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/922/aTzMmL.jpg https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/924/XvDZjW.j...

Pins 1 and 2 no longer tied together. Same with Pins 3 and 4. A Dremel with a mini rasp bit was the tool to separate the traces. I also verified that the cabling does not swap side to side. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/924/LCGJ3I.jpg Still to do: Verify orientation of the 5110 interface. ...

When I got back into the hobby 15 or so years ago DSO's were completely foreign to me. I had never seen nor used one. So once I got myself acclimated and current with the latest tech I decided to dip my feet in the shallow end of the pool and buy a low end model. I've learned to use it and I see the...

I've had a hard day of lusting after birds in the bedroom window, then lusting after squirrels in the lab window. Leave me alone.

Pat, you are correct. Just looked at mine and it's the same. Yes, they need to be separated.

What are these siamesed pads that you are referring to? I don't see any connected together although I have not verified that with an ohm meter. Or are some cables swapped side to side male to female? https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/922/pUPR6d.jpg Yes, I do have a TM series. This TM503. I was...

This is the interface in the 5110 (female connector). At first glance it appears that the JAMMA is going to need considerable rework to avoid magic smoke. What I need to determine right away is the interface on the 5110 numbered from the bottom up or top down? And then which is left side vs right si...

There are European Starlings (imported pest) and English Sparrows (another imported pest) nesting in and about our building which has got Harley's tail in knot. He is beside himself. If the screens weren't down I swear he'd jump out the window. :lol: Serves you right for importing our sparrows, :lo...

So doing Spring cleaning which involves an annual cleaning of the windows. So I pull out the shelving unit blocking the window to gain access. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/922/U3OBed.jpg What do I find on the floor behind it? You get no clues. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/922/0...

So it appears that the only real solution is the purchase a proper hp branded spectrum analyzer. I'll put it on my "wish" list.

So it's basically just eye candy?

My crusty old eyeballs are better TE.

I suppose this is much more meaningful?

OK gang, here it is. I have really no clue what it all means. Comments welcome. https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq70/923/pI9ECK.jpg You require a slower timebase setting on Siglent DSO’s when doing FFT. Experiment with 50 or more cycles on the display. If required I’ll pull out a DL when home in...

OK gang, here it is. I have really no clue what it all means. Comments welcome.

You guys kill me. Suggesting I go down all sorts of rabbit holes.

My Siglent SDS1052DL does have some basic FFT functions but I trust my crusty old eyeballs.

Calibration was a bit fiddly but finally fell into place. Will burn-in for at least 2 hours then this project is complete. Oh no it isn't! Not until the spectral purity of that sine wave is checked out on a spectrum analyzer! No gots a spectrum analyzer. My tired old eyeballs are good enough. :D