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Re: wrenching ( was: Capacitor sniffing) OT
Yeah, I had a friend in high school who used to buy cheap tools at the swap meet.? The infamous "lead-head" hammer that got dents in it after pounding in nails and the ratchet extender that twisted at the ratchet end but didn't move at the socket end come to mind.? ?I kept telling him that he was going to get hurt using crappy tools.? Not sure whatever happened to that guy...? Poor quality tools are not only false economy, they can be dangerous.
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Jim F Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone -------- Original message --------From: "Michael A. Terrell" <mike.terrell@...> Date: 12/8/18 7:33 PM (GMT-08:00) To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [TekScopes] wrenching ( was: Capacitor sniffing) OT
I don't use the same tools for Electronics and automotive work. I do have several large adjustable wrenches, but they are New Britain. The smaller ones for electronics are Xcelite, and they do have plastic coated handles. I've also been told that no real mechanic ever uses an adjustable wrench because he has all the proper tools to work on a vehicle. If that wrench still stinks, it had to stink when he bought it. If so, he should have bought something else. I had someone give me a buncuh of Japanese tools made in the '60s and '70s. They were made of pot metal, and the drill bits were so soft that they unwound while drilling plastic. They were quickly tossed in the scrap for recycling. I agree about throwing out crap tools, or gather them all up, and only loan them to people instead of your good tools. The only cheap tools that I have had were either given as cheap gifts, or will be part of what I clean out of my dad's house as we get it ready to sell. He got them from a neighbor who had passed away. I started buying good quality tools as a teenager, and I still have some of them, 50 years later. The only ones that ever broke, were sold as tools for mechanics. The rest of what is missing were stolen from my truck, or at job sites. -----Original Message-----
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Re: wrenching ( was: Capacitor sniffing) OT
On 12/8/2018 10:42 PM, Chuck Harris wrote:
If by stink, you mean smell, a lot of plastics start outHello, Chuck-- I have a set of those, too. A set of screwdrivers from that time don't smell like much of anything. 73-- Brad AA1IP |
Re: Mod on horizontal plug-in 7B80
Are you sure you didn't mod it yourself?? Maybe the GB stands for Gary Bosworth?! ;)
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Jim F Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone -------- Original message --------From: Gary Robert Bosworth <grbosworth@...> Date: 12/8/18 7:17 PM (GMT-08:00) To: [email protected] Subject: [TekScopes] Mod on horizontal plug-in 7B80
This is a tough one. I have a Tek Plug-In number 7B80. It is mod GB. I see no mention of this modification in the manuals. Anyone out there super knowledgeable who can give me the low down on mod GB? |
Re: wrenching ( was: Capacitor sniffing) OT
Yeh, I don't use the mechanic tools for electronic's either have specialized tools with plastic handles, coverings for that. I had about 20 grand of Snap On tools for the mechanic side, some Craftman's and Proto. That was my job in one form or another for 60 yrs.
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Jim O On December 8, 2018 at 7:33 PM "Michael A. Terrell" <mike.terrell@... mailto:mike.terrell@... > wrote: |
Re: Mod on horizontal plug-in 7B80
Have you compared it to a standard 7B80?? Sometimes the mods are obvious.
-Dave From: Gary Robert Bosworth <grbosworth@...> To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, December 8, 2018 7:17 PM Subject: [TekScopes] Mod on horizontal plug-in 7B80 This is a tough one. I have a Tek Plug-In number 7B80. It is mod GB. I see no mention of this modification in the manuals. Anyone out there super knowledgeable who can give me the low down on mod GB? |
Re: wrenching ( was: Capacitor sniffing) OT
Chuck Harris
If by stink, you mean smell, a lot of plastics start out
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benign, and end up really smelly. I have a set of Craftsman nutdrivers from the 1970's that woke up one day and smelled like vomit. And, have ever since. I don't know if it is something the acrylic handles were exposed to, or perhaps a plasticizer that was put in them to make them less brittle, but I do know it stinks. As to plastic dipped wrench handles. I think that in many cases if you removed the plastic you would find the handle was thin and spindly with sharp edges.... The plastic is there to hide manufacturing economies. -Chuck Harris Michael A. Terrell wrote: I don't use the same tools for Electronics and automotive work. I do have several large adjustable wrenches, but they are New Britain. The smaller ones for electronics are Xcelite, and they do have plastic coated handles. |
Re: Capacitor sniffing
On 12/8/2018 8:23 PM, Dave Seiter wrote:
I got a new Gerber lock blade knife as a gift about 20 years ago which had very strong perfume smell. After ten years it still smelled, but I just checked it and it now has no smell, so now I can actually use it! Hello-- And in olden times, the dark-brown phenolic PC boards used in consumer-grade products smelled like warm horse manure when the product heated up.... The problem with using scent as a diagnostic tool is its subjectivity. If you're skeptical, line up a few bottles of wine and see if you can discern the various scents and tastes listed on the labels-- for example... "...Exhibits lively aromas of black cherry, ripe currant, fresh herbs and lightly roasted coffee. Supple tannins and balanced acidity support core flavors of blackberry, black cherry and toasty oak, intertwined with spicy black pepper accents...." See Monty Python's Australian review.... 73-- Brad AA1IP |
Re: wrenching ( was: Capacitor sniffing) OT
I don't use the same tools for Electronics and automotive work. I do have several large adjustable wrenches, but they are New Britain. The smaller ones for electronics are Xcelite, and they do have plastic coated handles.
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I've also been told that no real mechanic ever uses an adjustable wrench because he has all the proper tools to work on a vehicle. If that wrench still stinks, it had to stink when he bought it. If so, he should have bought something else. I had someone give me a buncuh of Japanese tools made in the '60s and '70s. They were made of pot metal, and the drill bits were so soft that they unwound while drilling plastic. They were quickly tossed in the scrap for recycling. I agree about throwing out crap tools, or gather them all up, and only loan them to people instead of your good tools. The only cheap tools that I have had were either given as cheap gifts, or will be part of what I clean out of my dad's house as we get it ready to sell. He got them from a neighbor who had passed away. I started buying good quality tools as a teenager, and I still have some of them, 50 years later. The only ones that ever broke, were sold as tools for mechanics. The rest of what is missing were stolen from my truck, or at job sites. -----Original Message-----
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Re: wrenching ( was: Capacitor sniffing) OT
An oily cover on a Cresecent wrench or just oily slippery hands on the thing becomes a deadly weapon when under the car on the skate board doing something with an adjustable wrench you shouldn't be doing. Be there done that hurry ups are dangerous critters.
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Jim O On December 8, 2018 at 6:29 PM John Griessen <john@... mailto:john@... > wrote: |
Re: Succession plans and wills - Re: [TekScopes] How Many Scopes?
As an estate and probate attorney and one who has handled several
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significant estates from engineers who continued to work well past retirement (and thus had more than a casual amount of stuff), the assumptions that most testators (people that are making a plan for passing and dealing with their stuff), make regarding the desirability and marketability of their stuff is sadly inaccurate. As an example, several times I've had clients tell me that their computer collections are worth quite a lot and they'll just donate for a tax benefit. And I agree that some of the collections have rare items and are indeed quite extensive. I suggest to them to go get an appraisal (like if they would be getting it insured) as well as having a frank discussion with organizations that they'd have their executor donate to. I do this because mostly no one thinks at all about the executor having to actually deal with the stuff (or the attorney for that matter) and presume that everyone is as knowledgeable and aware as they are about their stuff. The results of that investigation usually disabuse people of the notion that 1) any organization wants more than a few select pieces of a collection, and/or 2) it's worth even a fraction of what they think it is. When organizations are willing to take more than a small bit, it's usually to sell the other items to raise cash. I'm also the attorney for a number of smaller non-profits so I see the other side of the equation and most groups don't have the volunteer expertise and time to deal with the items that are proposed to be dumped off on them. Often the cost of dealing with the 'donations' and the hassle of discarding electronics created policies of not accepting 'enmasss' donations. Collections of parts is an even worse situation. In fact I've been dealing with one for going on two years as a charity case and this collection of test gear, hardware, intellectual property, and parts was of substantial value (purchase prices.) Who actually wants to buy a bank of parts drawers containing resistors, capacitors, transistors, etc.? Pretty much no one. They'll take it for free and add to their mess... that someone else down the road will have to deal with and pass on yet again. In the case of this estate, I'd estimate that in one set of drawers there is something close to $20,000 retail of various kinds of newer* memory devices. I've tried shopping it around and pretty much had no serious takers. Offers of "we'll pay shipping" or "ship it to us and we'll appraise it and send you a check..." Another set of drawers and boxes has CPUs and microprocessors a plenty.... Other drawers hold other current production devices. Same answers for most all the stuff. I had similar results (pennies on the dollar) for some of the more expensive and unusual test and manufacturing equipment. As an example, there is a international power systems power supply that even includes 400Hz aircraft power in its capability. New units of similar design run around $2000 to 2600. This one would seem to appraise out at $900-1000, going for slightly more in the hands of a used equipment dealer (listing at $1600.) I got one offer for $100. *The engineer worked for a significant design and manufacturing company, and did so from his home lab as a subcontractor after her retired young and very well off. He died rather quickly (and young) with his parts inventory being substantial due to (his) low volume production of several new products ongoing. Based on a repeat of these sorts of stories and experiences my advice has been: get rid of stuff while you're still alive if you care about the stuff getting into hands of people that truly appreciate it. And if you don't, track down someone that understands the hardware and cares enough about you to not let the stuff get tipped into a dumpster once you're gone. That last thing has happened far more frequently than I like thinking about. Hope this gives people some food for thought. Grant On Sat, Dec 8, 2018 at 4:36 PM <toby@...> wrote:
On 2018-12-08 2:38 PM, oliver johnson via Groups.Io wrote:Hi all I for one have more scopes than i can or will ever use , but forsome strange reason i keep getting them . For me it just fixing them that i |
wrenching ( was: Capacitor sniffing) OT
John Griessen
On 12/8/18 8:07 PM, Michael A. Terrell wrote:
The plastic is there to reduce the chance of damaging the device awaiting you on your bench.Ummmmm.... I use Crescent wrenches from Jamestown NY mostly and none have plastic and I have a fine touch at mechanicing. I'd say a vinyl or other plastic coating or dip layer is just insulation against fine feel on a wrench. If it reeks, lose it. If it wiggles around randomly, lose it. |
Re: Capacitor sniffing
In that case, you only need a sledge hammer to look for intermittent problems, and a cold chisel to remove screws.
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Use the proper tool for the job, or forever be known as a butcher! The plastic is there to reduce the chance of damaging the device awaiting you on your bench. Michael A. Terrell -----Original Message-----
From: Jim Olson <v_12eng@...> |
Re: Succession plans and wills - Re: [TekScopes] How Many Scopes?
Hehe - the charity shops in the UK get all sorts, but I'm yet to find
any Tek or HP instruments :-( I have found an excellent Access Point, a camera, a scanner, and various other goodies all at silly prices. When I "pop my clogs" my executors have my suggestions as to what to do with my stuff but since I wont be there to care they can give it away if that gives them joy. My brother is a "ham" and develops covetous eyes when he visits but his wife keeps him on a short leash ;-) I am also a member of a ham radio club so I guess a "silent key" sale may be an option. Dave |
Re: Capacitor sniffing
You could make the Cresent (adjustable) into a proper mechanics wrench and take the d**n plastic cover off. No self respecting Cresent wrench would have a cover on it. hehe.
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Jim O On December 8, 2018 at 5:23 PM Dave Seiter <d.seiter@... mailto:d.seiter@... > wrote: |
Re: Succession plans and wills - Re: [TekScopes] How Many Scopes?
The fourth one is probably the most common.
-Dave From: John Griessen <john@...> To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, December 8, 2018 5:17 PM Subject: Re: Succession plans and wills - Re: [TekScopes] How Many Scopes? On 12/8/18 6:36 PM, toby@... wrote: The "wife seeks to get rid of 97 of husband's instruments by Sunday, WCS = surviving wife driving tractor over instruments? WCS = Son calling the "got junk?" company? WCS = survivors putting craigslist ad for $500 per instrument, and one sells, rest go to estate sale buyer for $75. WCS = daughter delegates to her daughter, who calls local donations nonprofit that is expert at appraising silverware and furniture and clothing.? Instruments go to Salvation Army and are forwarded to e-waste company. etc, etc... |
Re: Capacitor sniffing
I got a new Gerber lock blade knife as a gift about 20 years ago which had very strong perfume smell. After ten years it still smelled, but I just checked it and it now has no smell, so now I can actually use it!
A VFD arrived from China two weeks ago, and it's now outgassing on my porch because the smell is so strong.?? I much prefer the smell of working Tek gear!? You know, now that I think about, I do have a P6032 probe kit that has a fruity/medicinal smell.? -Dave From: Anthony via Groups.Io <keantoken@...> To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, December 8, 2018 4:13 PM Subject: Re: [TekScopes] Capacitor sniffing I think some electronics vendors perfume their stuff. I have gotten several appliances which had a soapy perfumy smell without the usual electronic smell which I guess is nice but makes me suspect they sprayed the inside with Febreeze or something that coats the electronics and keeps the smell inside. I had a failing computer mouse and I recognized the smell of a failing capacitor right away. It's a weirdly fruity, sickly sweet smell. If you want to know what that smells like then just hook up a capacitor backwards. As for other components, I think they are all loaded with fire retardants so usually you get an overwhelming smell of bromine. It smells similar to chlorine and iodine, which are on the same column in the periodic table. The other components of the smell are usually burnt plastic or burnt epoxy, which I suppose could be identified if you had some practice, but this isn't particularly helpful since almost all components are covered in epoxy or plastic. Enameled wire has it's own smell which can often be distinguished from the other smells. Another common smell is just the usual outgassing of cheap solvents used by Chinese manufacturers in their plastics. I have a cheap adjustable wrench which I never touch because the rubber handle cover reeks and I can't wash the smell off my hands after using it. Probably not useful for diagnostic purposes. A faulty switch, for instance in the flasher in the dash of a car tends to just be singed black plastic which does not really melt since the plastic used in quality switches isn't the kind that melts. The dielectric grease is usually fine and needs a higher temperature than the plastic to break down. The smell is not really like burnt plastic and more like the burning of something organic, but not really like burning leaves or wood. It's an easier smell to live with than the smell of burning plastic. ? ? On Saturday, December 8, 2018, 11:27:27 AM CST, Craig Cramb <electronixtoolbox@...> wrote: My experience with failing capacitor is the strong smell of raw fish.? Sometimes I can smell it as soon as the unit arrives or definitely during case removal. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve noticed a soap/perfume smell. Craig |
Re: Succession plans and wills - Re: [TekScopes] How Many Scopes?
John Griessen
On 12/8/18 6:36 PM, toby@... wrote:
The "wife seeks to get rid of 97 of husband's instruments by Sunday, WCS = surviving wife driving tractor over instruments? WCS = Son calling the "got junk?" company? WCS = survivors putting craigslist ad for $500 per instrument, and one sells, rest go to estate sale buyer for $75. WCS = daughter delegates to her daughter, who calls local donations nonprofit that is expert at appraising silverware and furniture and clothing. Instruments go to Salvation Army and are forwarded to e-waste company. etc, etc... |
Succession plans and wills - Re: [TekScopes] How Many Scopes?
On 2018-12-08 2:38 PM, oliver johnson via Groups.Io wrote:
Hi all?I for one have more scopes than i can or will ever use , but for some strange reason i keep getting them . For me it just fixing them that i enjoy and once fixed it goes in the pile that i have , speaking of pile i am looking for one last tek to complete my dual beam collection,? 7844 is the last tek needed for dual beam collection,? if anyone has one reasonable please let me know,? thanks and keep the hobby going . This thread really makes me wonder how many collectors have a succession plan for when we can't take care of them all any more. How many have lined up a Will, or executor who will successfully be able to rehome your collection to a museum or suitably responsible individual? The "wife seeks to get rid of 97 of husband's instruments by Sunday, local pickup only", that we see semi-regularly now, is far from the worst case scenario. --Toby Disclaimer: I haven't On Sat, Dec 8, 2018 at 1:39 PM, TomC<tomc@...> wrote: On 12/7/2018 3:15 PM, Craig Sawyers wrote:How?Now just what do I do if I have to display more than 12 waveforms at once ?Ah - you can do that with a single 7844 |
Re: Capacitor sniffing
I think some electronics vendors perfume their stuff. I have gotten several appliances which had a soapy perfumy smell without the usual electronic smell which I guess is nice but makes me suspect they sprayed the inside with Febreeze or something that coats the electronics and keeps the smell inside.
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I had a failing computer mouse and I recognized the smell of a failing capacitor right away. It's a weirdly fruity, sickly sweet smell. If you want to know what that smells like then just hook up a capacitor backwards. As for other components, I think they are all loaded with fire retardants so usually you get an overwhelming smell of bromine. It smells similar to chlorine and iodine, which are on the same column in the periodic table. The other components of the smell are usually burnt plastic or burnt epoxy, which I suppose could be identified if you had some practice, but this isn't particularly helpful since almost all components are covered in epoxy or plastic. Enameled wire has it's own smell which can often be distinguished from the other smells. Another common smell is just the usual outgassing of cheap solvents used by Chinese manufacturers in their plastics. I have a cheap adjustable wrench which I never touch because the rubber handle cover reeks and I can't wash the smell off my hands after using it. Probably not useful for diagnostic purposes. A faulty switch, for instance in the flasher in the dash of a car tends to just be singed black plastic which does not really melt since the plastic used in quality switches isn't the kind that melts. The dielectric grease is usually fine and needs a higher temperature than the plastic to break down. The smell is not really like burnt plastic and more like the burning of something organic, but not really like burning leaves or wood. It's an easier smell to live with than the smell of burning plastic. On Saturday, December 8, 2018, 11:27:27 AM CST, Craig Cramb <electronixtoolbox@...> wrote:
My experience with failing capacitor is the strong smell of raw fish.? Sometimes I can smell it as soon as the unit arrives or definitely during case removal. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve noticed a soap/perfume smell. Craig |
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