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

[EC8010]

I periodically state that I have all the test gear I need. So, at 11:00 this morning a Keithley 2400 sourcemeter arrived from Fleabay. Very well packed, box within a box, and within a box. It will have spent the night in a cold warehouse, so it's on the top shelf but unpowered until any condensation has evaporated. It has already been plumbed into the GPIB bus. Now that I have two 2400, I can do curve tracing on semiconductors.

[Zenith]

I periodically state that I have all the test gear I need.

And that's why you post on here.

So, at 11:00 this morning a Keithley 2400 sourcemeter arrived from Fleabay. Very well packed, box within a box, and within a box. It will have spent the night in a cold warehouse, so it's on the top shelf but unpowered until any condensation has evaporated. It has already been plumbed into the GPIB bus. Now that I have two 2400, I can do curve tracing on semiconductors.

Exactly.

[EC8010]

It flies. All looks good except for the display which is a bit patchy; dim and dingy in places. That won't really matter much as I will only ever use it under computer control (yep, that works). It seems that the state of the (vacuum fluorescent) display is something to watch out for in beige (as opposed to grey) Keithleys that don't have "A Tektronix Company" under their front panel Keithley legend. I expect someone here can give chapter and verse on what that description means in terms of age. I'll probably whip the covers off at some point to determine its exact age. Having said that, the Tektronix rep (when quizzed) conceded that boards were populated way before a collection of boards was assembled to become an instrument for delivery, explaining why my "new" 2400's lithium coin cell died only five years after I bought the instrument from Tek.

[Zenith]

Just a thought, but you might try cleaning the VFD and its screen. It's probably been kept in a environment where a lot of grime hasn't built up, and so what you have is ageing, but it can make a difference.

VFDs and LCDs may have been made as generic parts for a specific market, such as clocks or stereo receivers, but they are most often specials for a particular product, so if they go wrong in something which has dropped off the price list and off the supported products list, you'll be lucky to find a straight replacement. It's just as well you intend to use it under computer control.

[EC8010]

Thanks for the thought, but the outside is remakably clean, so I suspect the VFD inside is also clean. But I'll take a look. A replacement VFD is almost certainly unobtainium, but it's not the end of the world.

What I have learned is that it's in a very good state of calibration. Which made me wonder about my other 2400. So I looked up calibration and discovered that the calibration coefficients are stored in RAM maintained by the lithium button cell; that'll be the one I replaced a few years ago. Looks like the other 2400 wants calibration. Doesn't look too daunting.

[MED6753]

Going to be a fun weekend. Frigid temps, winds, and snow.....lots of snow. Upwards of 2 feet predicted. That's a once in 5 to 10 year storm. We'll see if the predictions are accurate. I'll post photos from the balcony.

[Cubdriver]

I guess it's time to get the snowblower out and running... Haven't used it in years. No doubt the stores will be a mob scene on Saturday, and look like a plague of locusts have passed through.

On a different note, MGJ was the destination for my first dual cross country from Oxford, CT (OXC) back in 1985.

-Pat

[tautech]

Yup unpredictable weather cycles, hardly anything new and so much for GloBULL warming.

AKL high 20's back in November when we wouldn't expect them until now yet a 19 high and showers are forecast for today and much the same for the next few.
The 44C on Xmas day in Perth now seems like a dream from another life.....

[MED6753]

I guess it's time to get the snowblower out and running... Haven't used it in years. No doubt the stores will be a mob scene on Saturday, and look like a plague of locusts have passed through.

On a different note, MGJ was the destination for my first dual cross country from Oxford, CT (OXC) back in 1985.

-Pat

We were at grocery today and it was nuts.

[MED6753]

I guess it's time to get the snowblower out and running... Haven't used it in years. No doubt the stores will be a mob scene on Saturday, and look like a plague of locusts have passed through.

On a different note, MGJ was the destination for my first dual cross country from Oxford, CT (OXC) back in 1985.

-Pat

Pat, if it's a Tecumseh snow king engine good luck getting it started. Their carbs are notorious for gumming up even after sitting one season.

[mnementh]

Going to be a fun weekend. Frigid temps, winds, and snow.....lots of snow. Upwards of 2 feet predicted. That's a once in 5 to 10 year storm. We'll see if the predictions are accurate. I'll post photos from the balcony.

Yesterday's project: snowblower and generator dug out of the garden shed and test run, ready for when we need them, and gas cans filled at the ready…

mnem
Winter is coming. For me.

[mnementh]

mnem
And so... it begins.

[MED6753]

As of 0900 hours this morning. Snow started approx 0600 hours. For some reason the falling snow doesn't show up well on the camera. Predictions are still holding for upwards of 18 inches. Updated pix later today.

We are hunkered down and not going anywhere.

[MED6753]

Over the past 2 hours the intensity of the snow has really ramped up. There's a slight breeze and the temp is -14C. So the snow is very light and fluffy with little risk of collecting much on trees and power lines. So the risk of power outages is rather small....unless some idiot who shouldn't be out driving slides and smacks a pole.

[Cubdriver]

Coming down at a good clip here, and it's been steady at about 4~6° F (~-15° C) for at least the past twelve hours. Looks like at least 4"/100mm have come down so far.









For the moment at least there's little or no wind.

-Pat

[mnementh]

This morning over coffee:




Just now:



It was 4°F/-16°C this morning; now 14°F/-10°C. As Mike said; we're not goin' nowhere, just hunkered down for the duration.

mnem
*now up to my elbows in MacBook guts*

[MED6753]

1400 hour update. Been snowing all day. Forecast is for snow to continue until at least 0400 hours tomorrow morning. Total so far seems to be around 8 to 10 inches. 2nd pix shows my CR-V (With the wipers pulled forward) which hasn't moved all day. Gives a good indication at how deep the snow is currently. The site maintenance crew have been plowing the complex all day but it's proving difficult to stay ahead of it. They have a Ford F-350 4WD pickup with a plow and a medium sized Kabota 4WD tractor with a bucket.

Next picture will be tomorrow morning. Be prepared for a "holy shit". I know I will be.

[mnementh]

...and NOW:



And it is still BLIZZARD conditions... and some wingnut is out there in it down the street with a snowblower.

mnem

[Cubdriver]

13" here at the moment.


Just got home a few minutes ago from a 2-1/2 hr round trip to get my friend's wife from work because a tire on his truck has decided to start going flat in time with the nasty weather. It's usually about 40-45 mins each way to the place; today it took a bit longer.




Wind is beginning to pick up a bit, so I expect there will be some drifting, and not of the Tokyo kind...

Finally, a storm prediction that wasn't overblown!

-Pat

[MED6753]

0800 hours Monday. The snow stopped overnight. Local reports state we got 2 feet but I'm not so sure. 18 inches I'd say. Regardless it's a mess. All schools and many businesses are closed. Later I'll go out and clean off the CR-V. My Civic and Blondie's Accord will remain buried for a few days.

[MED6753]

Tuesday update. It's taken until today to get our complex totally dug out. The 18 year Kubota tractor broke down and they had to get an outside firm with a track loader to finish up. The piles of snow are enormous. The track loader was much more efficient at moving the snow anyway.

There are rumors of another big storm this weekend. If that happens I don't where they will put the additional snow.

[Cubdriver]

Mike, the snowblower does in fact have a Tecumseh Snow King engine, but I apparently ran it dry last time I used it - pulled the float bowl off and it was bone dry and clean, and the jet was pristine. Added some gas and it fired on the first pull without even the need for any Start, Ya Bastard! (I REALLY wish we could buy that brand here!!)

I spent 2-1/2 hours wrangling it yesterday afternoon (and my shoulders are not happy), but managed to clear a spot for the Jeep, room for the trash bins, and the mailbox. With things staying as cold as they have, it was still light enough to easily clear. Even the berms thrown up by the plow were digestible and I was able to get through them.

We'll have to see what the upcoming weekend brings - seems we're having a winter again for a change.



There had been some drifting overnight, so the thin spots were perhaps 10" deep and the deep parts a bit above my knees. I don't ski and it no longer gets me out of school, so I have much less use for snow at this point in life, but it comes with the territory in New England.