New Lab Fit Up

[tautech]

I've decided that this will go over bench 2 after I complete the modifications.

These modern LED fixtures are just amazing !
I have a single above my lathe on the adjustable stainless wires it came with and even thought it's a reasonably well lit workshop, OFF/ON is like night and day !

[mnementh]

Aside from the massive SMPS noise, yeah. I find myself randomly collecting old halogen lighting bits (the more compact the better) just to have something on hand in case I need a quick lash-up of quiet illumination over my bench at some point.

And IME, the LED "fluorescent choobs" are the worst offenders, at least on a "per-fixture" basis... I think it may be due to the huge antenna area inherent in the design, as well as being made of cheapest possible Chinesium...

mnem

[MED6753]

Some small but significant updates.

Scanner is now wired up and programmed. The move resulted in locating in a different county which required a complete wipe and reprogram of the frequencies. Also, the "Tek Banner" is now operational.



Laptop is now off the dining room table to it's permanent home in the lab.



Bench 2 is now fully wired. Everything powers up fine and will get extensive testing.

[tautech]

New firmware for your bench meter Mike that provides a new and much simpler User Cal:
https://int.siglent.com/upload_file/zip ... 7R2_EN.zip

Defpom did a vid on how to use it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gZZg605ioI

[MED6753]

Today the probe rack was installed.



Bench 1 now completely wired. Started some initial testing.



Same with bench 2.




Next is the TE closet. It's still a freaking wreck. I won't consider the lab done until this is neat and orderly.

[Cubdriver]

Looks like that top shelf in the closet could use some stiffening...

-Pat

[tautech]

Looks like that top shelf in the closet could use some stiffening...

-Pat

Better it's replaced. Mike has said it was like that when they moved in and to add a rib below would block the sight line to the coat hanger rail and a rib above could be a nuisance placing wide things on the shelf.....better it got flying lessons.

[MED6753]

Yep, it's cheap ass press board that's been overloaded by prior tenants. Master bedroom is same. I'm sure building maintenance noticed it when they painted the place and decided not to replace it. So it would be on my dime if I decided to rip it out and replace it with something more solid. I don't plan on loading the shelf with much heavy stuff so as far as I'm concerned it will remain as is.

[tautech]

Our you could complain to management it's not fit for purpose.....

[tautech]

Our you could complain to management it's not fit for purpose.....

I had the same issues some years back when building an entire new wardrobe with a high shelf and overhead cupboards.
The high shelf had to span some 6ft unsupported and also the coat hanger rail too but luckily there are solutions in the form of extruded alloy that fixes under the shelf to provide both a coat hanger rail and stiffening for the shelf.
Quite different to the image below but you get the idea,

[MED6753]

I invite building maintenance in to fix the shelves. They take one look at my equipment and think I'm the Unabomber reborn. Hilarity will ensue.

[tautech]

I invite building maintenance in to fix the shelves. They take one look at my equipment and think I'm the Unabomber reborn. Hilarity will ensue.

So ?
You could meet a like minded individual, would that not be of benefit ?
There are a few of us out there......

[mnementh]

"Scram gravy ain't wavy... but that shelf sure is..."

mnem
*impairing productivity since nineteen mumblety-mumble*

[MED6753]

Some more extensive testing.

10MHz reference.



Looks good. And the 7904 and the 7260A are happy.



The SDM 3055 is also happy. Next is bench standard hp 3456A plus all the Flukes on bench 1.



The left side of the TE closet is pretty much organized. The right side is still a wreck but slowly coming together. Once that's done then I have to straighten up and organize the storage unit which is currently a giant shit heap.

[25 CPS]

It looks like things are coming along nicely and you're getting settled in pretty quick. Any thoughts about what your first project is going to be once the lab is up fully and running?

[MED6753]

It looks like things are coming along nicely and you're getting settled in pretty quick. Any thoughts about what your first project is going to be once the lab is up fully and running?

First project will be to fix the 475A with the mangled Trigger control that was damaged during the fit up. Next will be installation of the baked out HV assembly in the third Type 547. Once that is done then a complete restoration of that same scope.

[BU508A]

While searching for something else Tektronix related, I've found a picture of young med6753:

[MED6753]

"Tectronix" ? Also, the picture is flipped. Finally, it's not a "storage" scope.

Too much partying.

[AVGresponding]

It's not flipped; it's a selfie taken using a mirror.

[25 CPS]

It looks like things are coming along nicely and you're getting settled in pretty quick. Any thoughts about what your first project is going to be once the lab is up fully and running?

First project will be to fix the 475A with the mangled Trigger control that was damaged during the fit up. Next will be installation of the baked out HV assembly in the third Type 547. Once that is done then a complete restoration of that same scope.

Sounds like a good plan. It's unfortunate it got damaged during the move but it'll be satisfying to have the repair done and out of the way and start a net-new project.

[MED6753]

Today was an important milestone. The lab plus all associated storage is now better than 95% complete.

The right half of the TE closet is now straightened up.



Spent the weekend getting our storage unit cleaned up and properly arranged. This unit is located below grade but has not shown any indication of moisture or flooding. And there is no mildew smell which would be a dead give away if there was. That's real important because there are apartments at the same grade. This area also has twin washers/dryers for tenant use.

The storage unit contains spare parts, junk units, books, Blondie's stuff, automotive stuff, and Blondie's twin grandson's bikes. It all fits and is readily accessible.




The next major item for the lab is the expansion of bench2. That's a project for next month.

[Specmaster]

Wow, so neat and tidy Mike, fancy doing mine next That is looking really good and no doubt you'll be sorted out that munted timebase switch shortly so that can go on the torture rack for a while as well.

[MED6753]

Wow, so neat and tidy Mike, fancy doing mine next That is looking really good and no doubt you'll be sorted out that munted timebase switch shortly so that can go on the torture rack for a while as well.

Thanks. Back when I started moving my junk Blondie had her doubts that it would all fit without overflow and sacrificing our living area. I assured her it would fit and I kept that promise. Needless to say the Queen of the house is happy. If she's happy, everyone is happy. If she isn't....well....you know the consequences.

And call me old fashion, even a neanderthal, but I am a sucker for a woman who knows how to, and enjoys, keeping a neat and tidy residence. Feminists may regard it as "slave labor" and demeaning but Blondie considers it a legitimate and noble profession. She hates clutter, as I do. And to demonstrate that here are some shots of the kitchen, dining area, living room, and balcony.

[Specmaster]

Hmm, all very neat and tidy, looks like a show house rather than a home that is lived in, everything has a place and is in it. Here we all have our own pastimes/hobbies and the house clearly shows it. My queen is into cake decorating, crocheting, knitting, and has in the past been into cross stitching, one son is into F1, has an extensive collection of 1:18 die-cast cars and half sized racing helmets, another is into Star Wars figures and also Marvel comic book figures, another is into Manchester United football shirts, and I'm, into repairing electronics, test gear, calculators and watches and there are signs of all of these almost everywhere you look. On top of that both I and the son who is into F1, also love military aviation, so we all tend to spend all our time totally engrossed in our hobbies.

[MED6753]

When her twin 3 year old grandson's come over the place looks trashed in about 30 seconds. But it cleans up easily. If you adopt the mindset that when you're done with something put it back in it's proper place immediately or clean up a spill, etc right away keeping a residence neat and tidy really takes no effort at all. It's when you let things go or get dirty that it takes more effort or work to clean it up. I apply the same to my bench. Can't stand to have shit scattered all over when it takes just a few minutes to straighten it up....even with a project in process.

Or you take the mindset of "aw fuck it" and before you know it.......