Search found 1235 matches

by tggzzz
Mon Jun 02, 2025 12:04 pm
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: RACAL-DANA 9084 synthesized signal generator
Replies: 15
Views: 4151

Re: RACAL-DANA 9084 synthesized signal generator

Heroic indeed!

That logic implementation is interestingly old-skool! I wonder if they really did it to keep the noise down? Conceivable, but a bit perverse.
by tggzzz
Thu May 29, 2025 8:40 am
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Interesting findings on the internet
Replies: 881
Views: 341028

Re: Interesting findings on the internet

Making google search suck slightly less, by removing the LLM slop
https://www.dedoimedo.com/computers/goo ... rview.html
Needs firefox, or another browser where you can add a different search engine.
by tggzzz
Tue May 27, 2025 9:44 pm
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) : Discussion and Group Therapy Thread
Replies: 3637
Views: 1651990

Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) : Discussion and Group Therapy Thread

Again, on behalf of all sane Americans... I'm sorry. :oops: We in the UK are prone to similar problems. Currently the name of the desperation fantasy is "Farage". They are neither the cause nor the cure but they are the manifestation of the desperation, cf Hitler in the 30s. To try and un...
by tggzzz
Tue May 27, 2025 5:34 am
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) : Discussion and Group Therapy Thread
Replies: 3637
Views: 1651990

Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) : Discussion and Group Therapy Thread

Interestingly, one of my favourite authors, J. Michael Straczynski who created Babylon 5, has spent most of his savings over the past 8 months trying to escape the US. That's unsurprising considering the history lessons he wove into B5. He's just managed to get UK residency, and is just setting up w...
by tggzzz
Tue May 27, 2025 5:24 am
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) : Discussion and Group Therapy Thread
Replies: 3637
Views: 1651990

Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) : Discussion and Group Therapy Thread

Again, on behalf of all sane Americans... I'm sorry. :oops: We in the UK are prone to similar problems. Currently the name of the desperation fantasy is "Farage". They are neither the cause nor the cure but they are the manifestation of the desperation, cf Hitler in the 30s. To try and un...
by tggzzz
Mon May 26, 2025 6:03 pm
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Fluke 8600A
Replies: 15
Views: 2029

Re: Fluke 8600A

I find the IEC socket flimsy and I feel uneasy about the way it flexes when the plug is inserted. It seems a surprisingly makeshift thing. The metal prongs are pretty thick and heavy in the direction in which the plug is inserted. I'd check whether it is the PCB flexing! Side to side the prongs are...
by tggzzz
Mon May 26, 2025 9:01 am
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Fluke 8600A
Replies: 15
Views: 2029

Re: Fluke 8600A

Zenith's second picture of his 8600 shows the same mains socket insulation made of perforated paper. So clearly it was an aberrant line rather than a specific meter :(
by tggzzz
Fri May 23, 2025 1:17 pm
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Fluke 8600A
Replies: 15
Views: 2029

Re: Fluke 8600A

That's generally similar to my 8000, same: switches; I'll bet it also routes naked mains to the front panel switch smoothing capacitors flex PCB EDIT: forgot to note the same novel attitude to safety w.r.t. that IEC socket but the solderless breadboard is missing (with trimpots and daughterboard in ...
by tggzzz
Thu May 22, 2025 10:08 am
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs
Replies: 50
Views: 6392

Re: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs

The other thing that followed me home were some Lindstrom pliers and full-flush side cutters. I still use them 44 years later. I also still have the side cutters and pliers I carefully chose and bought to take to university. The cutters are bigger and heavier than the Lindstrom, but are still used ...
by tggzzz
Thu May 22, 2025 7:53 am
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs
Replies: 50
Views: 6392

Re: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs

When I "went to the dark side" & started working in Commercial TV, I was presented with a Fluke 77, which "followed me home" when I left there, & is still doing sterling service. That's more like it! :) A Fluke 21 also followed me home. Decades later I've left it with my...
by tggzzz
Wed May 21, 2025 11:19 pm
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) : Discussion and Group Therapy Thread
Replies: 3637
Views: 1651990

Re: Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) : Discussion and Group Therapy Thread

hey tautech just watched a news video about nz politics. apparently you guys settle disagreements with some kind of dance where the participants make startling faces and wave their arms while singing and dancing. is that real......or was I fooled by some kind of ai generated fake? not saying your s...
by tggzzz
Tue May 20, 2025 6:35 pm
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs
Replies: 50
Views: 6392

Re: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs

Or the earlier voltmeter with a digital readout, the 893A. Still my only meter that will read 1kV while taking zero current. None of the normal 0.1mA at 1kV crap :) Perhaps they were different companies, with rebadged low-end scopes, or equivalent to the Tek/Telequipment divide. Is that a null mete...
by tggzzz
Tue May 20, 2025 5:23 pm
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs
Replies: 50
Views: 6392

Re: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs

My other Flukes are stunningly good, much more so than I would have believed. When I get one I expect to have replace an electrolytic and/or clean a switch. If that is necessary, thereafter they are still spot on. Researching it further on the WWW, the 8000A seems to be a particularly crappy model....
by tggzzz
Tue May 20, 2025 8:50 am
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs
Replies: 50
Views: 6392

Re: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs

A working 3.5 digit bench DMM is OK. It doesn't run out of battery. If it doesn't work, it's in dustbin territory. However the processor is the same as used in better models, so if you are inclined to chuck it, remember me. I have an 8800A which I think has a shot controller IC. It has a strange IC...
by tggzzz
Tue May 20, 2025 8:15 am
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs
Replies: 50
Views: 6392

Re: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs

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...
by tggzzz
Tue May 20, 2025 8:11 am
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs
Replies: 50
Views: 6392

Re: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs

So are the prized by some CRO's of yesteryear yet their addition cost of ownership now is keeping them going..... They have a savage grandeur which many find fascinating. Valve scopes are probably now a bit too savage for most. Especially savage on the back :( There's only one hollow state scope I ...
by tggzzz
Tue May 20, 2025 7:53 am
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs
Replies: 50
Views: 6392

Re: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs

I've little appetite for polishing a boring 3.5 digit turd - and improving this is definitely whack-a-mole territory. A working 3.5 digit bench DMM is OK. It doesn't run out of battery. If it doesn't work, it's in dustbin territory. However the processor is the same as used in better models, so if ...
by tggzzz
Tue May 20, 2025 7:50 am
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs
Replies: 50
Views: 6392

Re: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs

Based on this thread, shouldn't we declare Fluke products as a crap shoot..... Gimme a mo to grab my hat and coat.... We are talking about bench DMMs about 50 years old , which were probably designed with a design life of maybe 10 years in mind. Then they sold for $$$s painful and now are bought fo...
by tggzzz
Tue May 20, 2025 7:44 am
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs
Replies: 50
Views: 6392

Re: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs

Based on this thread, shouldn't we declare Fluke products as a crap shoot..... Gimme a mo to grab my hat and coat.... We are talking about bench DMMs about 50 years old, which were probably designed with a design life of maybe 10 years in mind. Then they sold for $$$s painful and now are bought for...
by tggzzz
Tue May 20, 2025 7:37 am
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs
Replies: 50
Views: 6392

Re: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs

Based on this thread, shouldn't we declare Fluke products as a crap shoot..... Gimme a mo to grab my hat and coat.... Read the first sentence of my OP. The key phrase is "my long-standing high opinion of Fluke". It is also clear that consequently this construction was an unpleasant surpri...
by tggzzz
Mon May 19, 2025 9:52 pm
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs
Replies: 50
Views: 6392

Re: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs

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. When I replaced a fried transformer in a ...
by tggzzz
Mon May 19, 2025 9:33 pm
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs
Replies: 50
Views: 6392

Re: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs

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...
by tggzzz
Mon May 19, 2025 9:25 pm
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs
Replies: 50
Views: 6392

Re: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs

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. Job Done. Full stop :) I've little appetite for polishing a boring 3.5 ...
by tggzzz
Mon May 19, 2025 7:30 pm
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs
Replies: 50
Views: 6392

Fluke 8000A: makes me doubt my high opinions of Fluke DMMs

As mentioned elsewhere, I picked up a fully working broken Fluke 8000A for £5 at Dunstable Downs hamfest. I've got it working, but in the process my long-standing high opinion of Fluke has been dented. After a while it started showing signs of plausible life, but with completely unsteady readings an...
by tggzzz
Sun May 18, 2025 9:10 pm
Forum: Test Equipment
Topic: Interesting findings on the internet
Replies: 881
Views: 341028

Re: Interesting findings on the internet

From tekscopes, news of Sphere's HP and Tek inventory.... Tom Norman via groups.io to TekScopes 5 hours agoDetails As many may remember, Walter Shawlee II passed away September of 2023. Since that time, his wife Susan, and children, have been busying themselves with the task of liquidating much of t...