Get a Fluke DMM

[Magura]

Originally posted by anatech
Hi Jason,

So invest in some test equipment when you can. It's not like you can't afford a scope if you shop wisely and take your time. You do know how useful they can be.

-Chris

Hey I got my scope for free...and it's tube based

Works fine for anything analog, and most digital circuits as well.

It's a very old Advance Instruments OS25A, wasn't it you Chris whom has one of those as well ?

Magura

[jleaman]

I could possibly get one from a company in Vancouver. Is having a hand-held worth it ? maybe a 20mhz ?

[mpmarino]

How to get a scope for free :

Offer to help your widowed neighbor with an electrical problem in her basement. Notice the 'scope' sitting in the corner of said basement - you know, the tek 465b complete with meter, 10 probes, 2 temp probes and an operator manual. You say: Hey, you got a nice tek there!

Woman hands you the scope before it goes in the dumpster.


This happened to me last week - really.

[anatech]

Hi mpmarino,
See, being a nice guy has it's rewards.

Hi Jason,

Is having a hand-held worth it ?

No. Better than nothing, but almost worth that much due to a lack of detail.

Hi Magura,

It's a very old Advance Instruments OS25A, wasn't it you Chris whom has one of those as well ?

It is an Advance OS 255, 15 MHz. Strangely, I like the old beastie. I also have some old Heathkit and Stark models I am trying to restore. I think I have the Heathkit working now (10-102). I started with an old military Stark. Good for about 500 KHz I think. Way back when I sold it for $100 to a friend. He got a good deal actually. Believe it or not, it was stolen out of his car before he had a chance to use it.

-Chris

[jleaman]

anatech, can you recommend any where in Canada that sells these brand new ? something like a 20mhz or a 40. ? I remember future active used to sell this stuff but no longer, weird.

Jase

[anatech]

Hi Jason,
My thought is to look on Ebay for a Canadian seller with good feedback. One fella lucked into a 100 MHz Hitachi with cursors for $20 (not Ebay). I saw it last week. Deals like that can happen some times.

A new 20 MHz 'scope would be more than good for any work you are likely to do. They have horizontal rates of 0.5uS these days on 20 MHz 'scopes. Amazing.

Some electronic jobbers will have those new inexpensive 'scopes. Just keep your eye's and ears open. Take your time.

-Chris

[Salas]

Hi Chris! I guess that I got lucky. A relative who is big in electronics import business gave me this as a present, brand new. I was totally without a meter since the Metex died, so I went to buy a cheap crap spare one until I get the Fluke, and he handed me the one in the URL. Do you know anything about it? Is it decent? Has a calibration seal even, for what it is worth.

[woody]

Well a long while ago I bought a Fluke but as luck would have it
I got a dud. Returned it to the factory and they returned it still
not fixed. Well I still have my defective meter and found out what was wrong. It seems the ic chip needs to be resoldered but I
am not up to this task. Any chance of geting FREE factory service
on a 25 year old meter?

[anatech]

Hi Salas,
Cool! It looks like a good meter. I'm not familiar with the brand but it does look to be very useful. 50,000 count is excellent. The only questions would be the attenuator accuracy and frequency response.

Definitely a keeper and much better than you had. Enjoy! Some time later, a Fluke just for basic accuracy. You can check you calibration with the Fluke later on. Either that or save up for a great bench meter like an HP. The meter you have now is better than what most people have, so there is no knocking it.

-Chris

[anatech]

Hi Woody,
Your meter is easy to fix.

If I lived close to you I'd do it for a beer (you'd be drinking one too).

Any good technicians close to you?

-Chris