Okay fellas, now that hurts! Getting equipment like that in Canada is expensive and difficult.
-Chris
-Chris
Bought some cheap equipment. Now to the average person that looks in my office will think I know what I'm doing. Lol!
Hantek dso5102p - Oscilloscope
Aliexpress Power Supply 30v 10amp
Feeltech FY6600 - Signal Generator
Hantek dso5102p - Oscilloscope
Aliexpress Power Supply 30v 10amp
Feeltech FY6600 - Signal Generator
Hi HatlessChimp,
Your equipment is actually a good assortment that will allow you to do most of what is expected in this hobby. All you need now is a good bench meter and a distortion analyser. Even an HP 331A would work well for your needs. Get the best meter you can afford though. If you can stretch it to a Keysight 5 1/2 digit meter, that would be ideal. With that you can calibrate other meters. It also has some extremely functions hidden in the menus. A meter is the one instrument where you will either be helped by, or severely lied to. I'm recommending a current product. I bought a 34401A when they first came out and still use it every day. Probably the best purchase I ever made.
-Chris
Your equipment is actually a good assortment that will allow you to do most of what is expected in this hobby. All you need now is a good bench meter and a distortion analyser. Even an HP 331A would work well for your needs. Get the best meter you can afford though. If you can stretch it to a Keysight 5 1/2 digit meter, that would be ideal. With that you can calibrate other meters. It also has some extremely functions hidden in the menus. A meter is the one instrument where you will either be helped by, or severely lied to. I'm recommending a current product. I bought a 34401A when they first came out and still use it every day. Probably the best purchase I ever made.
-Chris
Oh gerhard!
What a lovely bench, even for professional work. Do you have a list of what is there by chance? What kind of work do you do during the day?
-Chris
What a lovely bench, even for professional work. Do you have a list of what is there by chance? What kind of work do you do during the day?
-Chris
Yeah one of them would be great. No way can I afford one now but. 🙁
I will have to squirrel a little bit away and see.
Hi HatlessChimp,
That's how I did it. One piece at a time. I started out with a 500 KHz 'scope, tubes and a single trace, recurrent sweep (no triggering). You good get a healthy shock between that and what you wee working on. It really mattered which way the power cord was plugged in. The 'scope you have is so far beyond what mine was you can't even compare the two. However, I managed to pick up a Fluke 8200 (?) multimeter with the AC, DC millivolts and ohms cards installed. It had a nixie tube display and was deadly accurate. It wasn't until years later that I discovered how lucky I was with that score. I used it all through high school and university and for a while in my business I started (audio repairs). It finally died due to a display problem as did the other two I had later bought. My bench is 40 years or so in the making, and I have spent a lot for it. You have time.
-Chris
That's how I did it. One piece at a time. I started out with a 500 KHz 'scope, tubes and a single trace, recurrent sweep (no triggering). You good get a healthy shock between that and what you wee working on. It really mattered which way the power cord was plugged in. The 'scope you have is so far beyond what mine was you can't even compare the two. However, I managed to pick up a Fluke 8200 (?) multimeter with the AC, DC millivolts and ohms cards installed. It had a nixie tube display and was deadly accurate. It wasn't until years later that I discovered how lucky I was with that score. I used it all through high school and university and for a while in my business I started (audio repairs). It finally died due to a display problem as did the other two I had later bought. My bench is 40 years or so in the making, and I have spent a lot for it. You have time.
-Chris
Hi amplidude,
Nice area to work in. I see an RTD resistor box and a B&K 530 semiconductor tester (I have one too). The large variac was a wise investment. I also see a Fluke scopemeter or process calibrator? And of course, the Weller station. I'm not sure what else you have there.
-Chris
Nice area to work in. I see an RTD resistor box and a B&K 530 semiconductor tester (I have one too). The large variac was a wise investment. I also see a Fluke scopemeter or process calibrator? And of course, the Weller station. I'm not sure what else you have there.
-Chris
Hi anatech.
Yes you're right there are three decade boxes one resistor one capacitance and one inductor, out of picture are also one delta elektronika power supply 60v 10a and two variable psu, and a Tektronix scope. I'm quite happy. Have you shown your workspace?
Yes you're right there are three decade boxes one resistor one capacitance and one inductor, out of picture are also one delta elektronika power supply 60v 10a and two variable psu, and a Tektronix scope. I'm quite happy. Have you shown your workspace?
I use a HP 3478A DMM, actually have a few of them for spare parts, since they are so cheap these days, it is precision enough for me at <$100, without the additional expense of a 3458 or a 34401A etc.
I would not really recommend a HP 33x, it is best to get something with a good osc in it too. I use an Amber 3501 with all the options. I do not need an AP class instrument.
I do wonder about the load on those Ikea legs in gerhard's pic. Nice setup, I see he does smt work with that stereo microscope, that and the essential 2 soldering irons, nice..
I would not really recommend a HP 33x, it is best to get something with a good osc in it too. I use an Amber 3501 with all the options. I do not need an AP class instrument.
I do wonder about the load on those Ikea legs in gerhard's pic. Nice setup, I see he does smt work with that stereo microscope, that and the essential 2 soldering irons, nice..
Hi amplidude,
Yes, my workbench is back in the thread a bit. Post #312. I changes it a bit, so maybe a new picture is in order.
Old is fine as long as it works properly. My bench is a testament to that! 🙂
I have a pair of resistance decade boxes like yours in general style. They are worth a fortune. Maybe I'll run across a capacitance box. An inductor box is a good idea. Maybe I should make one.
Which Tek 'scope do you have?
-Chris
Yes, my workbench is back in the thread a bit. Post #312. I changes it a bit, so maybe a new picture is in order.
Old is fine as long as it works properly. My bench is a testament to that! 🙂
I have a pair of resistance decade boxes like yours in general style. They are worth a fortune. Maybe I'll run across a capacitance box. An inductor box is a good idea. Maybe I should make one.
Which Tek 'scope do you have?
-Chris
Yes I saw your bench,, just my style the scope is just an old tds, can't remember the digits, but it has gpib.
The three decades I bought last month... ( not decades ago)from a closing audio lab, fully functional and not a scratch, hold on to somthing they cost 100 US dollar in total , couldn't resist,
The three decades I bought last month... ( not decades ago)from a closing audio lab, fully functional and not a scratch, hold on to somthing they cost 100 US dollar in total , couldn't resist,
Hi rsavas,
I have a couple of those 3478A meters as well. 5 1/2 digit. You're right in that they are about as accurate as you need. But, they have a high voltage limit of 300 VDC whereas the 34401A and 3456A will take 1 KV. Since I work on tube equipment, I really don't want to blow one up by mistake. They do come out to play for certain things.
-Chris
I have a couple of those 3478A meters as well. 5 1/2 digit. You're right in that they are about as accurate as you need. But, they have a high voltage limit of 300 VDC whereas the 34401A and 3456A will take 1 KV. Since I work on tube equipment, I really don't want to blow one up by mistake. They do come out to play for certain things.
My dream meter! With that I could calibrate my meters. It isn't a "bench meter" really. It's a lab grade meter and is used as a standard in many labs. I have used one and learned to respect it beyond what an 8 1/2 digit meter might warrant. Fluke made an updated voltage reference for these, so my dream 3458A would contain that reference. These are still a current product. The closest thing I have would be a 3457A. Not even in the same ballpark!
Well, he has an arb, and probably a computer sound card. I guess an HP 339A would work too, they are not expensive. But I learned that you can do a lot with a 33xA THD meter too. For someone who has nothing, an HP33xA is a massive step up, and better than the Leader (and similar) products out there. Last time I looked, Amber products were rare, and pricey.
-Chris
The B&K 530 is an unusual instrument with its Ft measurement. HP made an instrument with similar capability but for 100X the cost. It has been very useful to get a real fix on oddball transistors. Its also a fine transistor tester. The three pin probe for it is a unique tool that seems less common but is great for in circuit testing.
Fine for tube gear 🙂
For HV stuff I use a Tek P5205, as at one time I was doing HID ballast work which has a HV pulse starter.
I have a brand new, never used Tek TCPA300 current probe amp with no probes, I'd trade it for a current probe that plugs directly into a Tek scope.
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