Test Equipment Anonymous

Started to work on the variable speed motor set up for my "new" ML7 lathe. I'd bought a used Toshiba Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) aka inverter on ebay. It was actually the control box for an electric gate. Powered it up and it works, BUT the parameters are password protected. The passwo...

Started to work on the variable speed motor set up for my "new" ML7 lathe. I'd bought a used Toshiba Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) aka inverter on ebay. It was actually the control box for an electric gate. Powered it up and it works, BUT the parameters are password protected. The passwor...

Some plastic X capacitors arrived this morning. Delivered by a neighbour because Royal Mail can't find the right door.
My Farnell G15-4 is now cured of it's smoking habit. Now I need to work on the constant current control.

Anyway back to TEA. I got this little beauty for work. RS-RTC1002-scope.jpg It's a bit like a updated HP 54622D, one of my favorites. Seems pretty good. Very small but it's in a tiny "workshop" in what is mainly a "showpiece" new office. No tatty boat anchors there. Wait a secon...

I have a full set of Mini-Instruments 900 series meters GM and Scint.

I see Ice Tea is getting a couple of pallet loads of HP heavyweight gear. I was surprised at the interest in and price raised by the HP8922x GSM test sets. They are really only good for parts, unless I'm missing something. I bought a couple of items, A TTi TS3021S PSU and Philips PM5503 PAL video te...

I've not looked for means to upgrade. The BW is software locked. This one is pretty well specified already.

Robert .

My concern on variable rate is that rather than rewarding those who shift their loads with reductions they will penalise those who don't (or can't) with increases (and more profit) Smart meters are also the reason that the 3G phone system will outlast 4G, in the UK at least. Anyway back to TEA. I go...

Power meters. The UK news today revealled another reason why the electricity companies want you to have a "smart" meter. And why you should not get one. They can change you to a pre-payment system with a few taps of a computer keyboard. So much for the assurances that they would not use th...

I also watched another video which included the police giving out tickets to people who hadn't even tried to cross. Presumably there was a road closed sign they ignored. That was made a fixed penalty offence a few years ago. Combined with not taking reasonable precautions I would not be surprised if...

So I connected the two NOS RIFAs across the mains on test and after 5 minutes they exploded in clouds of smelly smoke.

I got another Farnell G series PSU out of the garage today. Mainly because I want to look at adding variable current limiting to them (looks possible). Plugged it in and guess what I've been RIFA'd :shock: So I had a look and it has two 100nF X capacitors. One let go. I've two NOS replacements but d...

That certainly isn't a quick project, but very cool that you could manually replicate a key. :thumbsup: The ability to take a lock apart and then make a key for it is a sign of either a fascination with and familiarity with the workings of mechanical objects, or the sign of a mis-spent youth. If yo...

On TE I also did a repair today, I think :? I'd mentioned in the other place that I had a bench PSU based on a Farnell G series "equipment" switchmode unit. And that it kept having mains switches welding in the on position. The original switch was a mianture toggle and lasted at least 15 y...

Today I decided to finally sort out the door and lock on a wooden "engineers" toolcase I've had for about 20 years. It came from the shack clearance of a good friend who died abut 20 years ago. He was a toolmaker by trade. The case is an 8 drawer made by Neslein. It was in poor shape Havin...

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I did pick up the Myford ML 7 lathe and have that in the garage on it's stand. Not fitted the motor unit yet though as I'm putting s new 3 phase motor and Variable Frequency Drive on it. The old(er) ML2 is in the overflow garage and will be on ebay shortly. Robert. Robert - We need pictures of the ...

Robert, what do you like most and least about the HP 3325A? I often see them for sale. They were a bit of a standard. Apart from the size there is nothing not to like for what it is. Still hard to beat for very low frequencies and few of the modern small units can match the 11 digit frequency and 0...

I've been too busy to even look at my National Hamfest purchases. A week in Washington DC, a bunch of domestic chores etc. Also the wid and rain has detered me opening the garage unless essential. Easier to let damp in tham get it out. I did pick up the Myford ML 7 lathe and have that in the garage ...

Rail Travel is not too bad if you live in London. From my home a few miles from Cambridge city center to get to a lot of places you have to go into london first. That means two buses, a train and the tube in the wrong direction before you even get on the train to your destination. Edinburgh is not t...

Picked up a little bit of TE recently. One of those odd things that you could build yourself but don't. It's a Behringer CT100 audio cable tester. detects opens, shorts as usual and also generates 440Hz or 1kHz test tones at 3 levels. This is enough to drive a pair of headphones. Also detects phanto...

Who are you calling an OF.
Just been fitting a bit of plasterboard while over-reaching on a small stepladder.....

The total cost of ownership is too high and utility is too low to consider keeping it. I added the sum of all expenses together, took off the current value and divided it by the number of miles I've done and it comes out at £0.39/mile just for incidental costs of it existing. Add fuel at current co...