What test equipment do you own/use
I thought it might be interesting to hear what other members have in their workshop, but specifically what instruments they use on a regular basis.
Don't know if this has been done before, but I couldn't see anything. I'll set the ball rolling by listing what I regularly use in my hobby, as being the owner of an electrical business, I have over 100 instruments, some duplicated, of course. Oscilloscopes Telequipment D54 Telequipment D65 Telequipment DM64 (storage scope) Cossor 4000 Multimeters Avo 7 Mk2 Avo 40 Mk2 Signal Generators HP 205AG Advance J1B Advance J3B Wayne Kerr S121 Valve Testers Avo valve characteristic meter Mk2 Avo valve characteristic meter Mk3 Precision Apparatus Co. Dynamic Electronometer Valve Tester Type 920 Bridges Digimess LRC100 Wayne Kerr B221 Yokogawa 2755 Miscellaneous Clare Instruments PAT tester A255 Mk2 Biddle PAT tester 235303 Biddle decade resistor box 724330-7 Numerous soldering irons - mostly Weller temp. controlled. The PAT testers usually used when repairing equipment, to check for electrical safety before proceeding. I've probably left a lot out, but I hope this will have sparked some interest. Cheers, Dave. |
Re: What test equipment do you own/use
Sure beats the hell out of my cheapo tandy's multimeter and a wet finger!:)
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Re: What test equipment do you own/use
I work mainly with AM stuff so don't need anything very sophisticated. The main thing I use is a cheap Chinese multimeter which includes capacitance, inductance and frequency ranges. If that's not enough, I have an ancient 20MHz scope. I also have a cheap Chinese signal generator which when calibrated using the multimeter is fine for alignment. Then there's a bird's nest of components which on a good day reforms electrolytics. Valve testers have become so expensive that it's easier just to buy another valve and if the original one was OK then I have a spare.
Stuart |
Re: What test equipment do you own/use
If I were just involved in the hobby, I doubt very much if I would have a fraction of the kit listed, but as I said, running an electrical business I tend to be rather spoilt for instrumentation.
Our test lab is full of weird and wonderful equipment, but as my hobby revolves around audio thermionics, I have listed those instruments which I am most familiar with and which I reach for as a matter of habit - and of course can easily use at home. I only tend to work in the lab if I am on a big repair or project. This thread was simply initiated out of interest, and certainly those of us who possess a minimum of kit should be applauded in what they can achieve. There is a famous saying amongst engineers: "We have been doing so much with so little for so long, that we can now do anything with nothing for ever".:-D Cheers to all, Dave. |
Re: What test equipment do you own/use
All used regularly
AVO 7 Meter Fluke 75 Meter TakedaRiken RMS meter Hunting Hivolt EHT meter Heathkit IT-28 Bridge AVO Bridge HUNTS CRB-3 Bridge Marconi TF893A output meter AVO 2 panel valve tester Zenith Variac ISO T/X ALtai Bench PSU Leader LCT 910a CRT Tester Weller WTCP-50 Iron Charles Austen Desolder station Intend to start using a soon Telequipment D52 Scope Not used much AVO All wave OSC Solartron CT426 Heathkit V7AU VVM Cossor 1044K VVM Taylor Model 22 fault tracer Nombrex 27 Sig Gen Chris |
Re: What test equipment do you own/use
there was a similar theme some while back
here |
Re: What test equipment do you own/use
This is an interesting idea. My problem is that a lot of old equipment finds it's way into my shed, usually behind my back (or perhaps my wife's). I spend a bit of time getting it working initially, and then find I have to do maintenance to keep it working. Thirty or forty year old equipment seems to fail when you turn your back on it. Small things like switch contacts, or a transistor expiring from old age.
But some stuff in my workshop does seem reliable (in my hands), perhaps because is physically small and fits around my bench, so I use it more frequently. So I'll list that: Avo 8 MkII (wouldn't be without it), Fluke 77 DVM, Solartron 7040 DVM. Variac 1A and Isolation transformer. Weller TCP50, and Antex soldering and de-soldering irons. Tin of old fashioned original Fluxite for re-tinning old joints and components. Oscilloscopes. I find my SE Labs(EMI) SM111/TF2204 at 20Mhz a reliable delight to use. Otherwise HP1707 75Mhz very fine traces, Tek 2230 100Mhz digital storage, HP181 storage+various plug ins up to 1Ghz sampling. Power supplies. Oltronix B403 triple output 40v/20v/6v, Farnell LT30, dual 30v. AF signal gen: Farnell FG1 function generator. RF signal generator: Marconi TF2016 AM/FM covering MF to 120Mhz, and TF2015 AM/FM covering VHF to 500Mhz. Pulse and Square wave: HP8012 50Mhz or Philps PM5570 100 Mhz Oscilloscope Calibrator: Bradley 192, Cossor 1097 millimicrosecond pulse generator. Frequency meter/counter: PM6614 500 Mhz. Marconi TF2700 component bridge. Avo CT160 valve tester, Avo TT537 transistor tester. Waddington transistor tester (Wireless World June 1970). Very useful, shows how it failed, and Waddington Fet tester. Mainly used for maintenance of my collection of oscilloscopes which cover the whole technical history of the analogue scope 1935 to 1985. Some day I may write a book, including pictures, circuits and servicing information so that other people can keep theirs' going. Otherwise any other test gear, signal generators and old radios, Roberts, Hacker or almost anything electronic. Bill m0wpn |
Re: What test equipment do you own/use
a little Tek Collection,
in use 323, my on the road scope from 1967, 2x 422 (the best looking screens ever) 453 (50mc) 556 with a collection of plugins (heavy) to restore: 305DMM (portable with DMM), 567, (classic Tek digital readout) 555, (the king, heating the workroom?) 570, (heavy tube tester) 515, (nice 15mc tube) 485, (high bandwith) 519 (I dont know how to use this old wonder..) 221 (pocket) other, warm: Telequipment S51B, (a nice english tube scope) R+S SMLR HF Generator <30mc Plisch GM300 HF Generator <300mc Heatkit VTVM Sennheiser RV55 (vt mVm) cold: Counter, 100mc Grundig Nixi Counter 2mc, some pocket testers greetings Martin |
Re: What test equipment do you own/use
I haven't much but here goes...
Hameg HM203e oscilloscope Maplin SM PSU - 0-20V 0-5A Fluke 77 Multimeter Maplin WG021 Multimeter Black Star 600MHz frequency counter Black Star audio signal generator Variac ..and a poorly Weir 413D PSU in the process of fixing! Chris |
Re: What test equipment do you own/use
Test equipment used regularly:
Hameg HM604 'scope Levell AC Microvoltmeter TM3B Farnell LF1 audio generator Advance B4B RF signal generator Thurlby-Thandar TF810 frequency counter Farnell E30/2 variable PSU Wier 4000 variable PSU 5A Variac in case with meters 2 homebuilt active PSU loads Iso-Tech 9053 LCR meter TMK TEM-1555B/2 insulation tester Peak mosfet analyser Peak transistor analyser Beckman DVM Home constructed zener tester 500W isolating transformer 750W 110V auto transformer Less regularly used: Racal-Dana 9901 counter VC-350-120B HV variable PSU Black Star Orion TV pattern generator RS 610-281 EHT probe HI-LO Systems Prüfer-20 IC tester Maplin DVM Tenma analog multimeter Home constructed analog transistor tester Under construction: ESR meter Capacitor reformer |
Re: What test equipment do you own/use
The stuff I use as primary equipment...
GMB multimeter Mk-4 Advance DVM5 (backing up for recently faulty Hung Chan 6010 digital multimeter) Tek 2465 (recently replaced Tek 585A) Marconi TF2701 in-situ bridge Lafayette TE46 bridge+leakage tester Marconi TF2002B signal generator + ENI 310L amplifier for more power Racal 836 frerquency counter GMB field and balance meter Welz SP220 VSWR meter MFJ 259B aerial analyser Megger Major insulation tester GPO 18A tester (insulation and low resistance) 15A Variac Farnell SSA1000A spectrum analyser HP3400A true RMS meter Also used from time to time... Tek 549 (for storage) - with many plugins General Radio 1230A electrometer HP428B clip-on DC current meter Advance 77B millivoltmeter HP5405A vector voltmeter HP5328A frequency counter Mullard MTB Mullard HSVT GMB audio signal generator GMB dual 20V psu Jason PP20 HT PSU ..and a load of others too numerous to mention, used for special purposes. |
Re: What test equipment do you own/use
For what it's worth....
'Escort' digital multimeter (CPC). Philips analogue multimeter PM2502. Advance B4 RF sig generator Advance type 63 AM/FM sig generator. Philips PM5324 RF sig generator Philips AF sig generator also doubles as an LF frequency counter Philips SBC519 0-30V power supply (good for car radio's) Taylor 45B valve tester Philips PM3110 'scope Marconi TF2700 LCR bridge Stereo FM signal generator (Homebrew) ESR meter (under construction) ------------------------------------------ Basic bench equipment Weller 40W soldering station RS bench lamp with magnifier 250W isolation transformer 5 amp variac Then there are the numerous tools and essential bits and bobs that you aquire over 30 odd years..... SB |
Re: What test equipment do you own/use
Wow, what a lot of test equipment people use. My list is much less impressive. :)
Fluke 79 MK3 Multimeter Hameg 1005 'Scope B&K 467 Tube Bopper Rank CTV Degausser Fluke 30KV Probe Philips PM5519 Pattern Generator An old no-brand 1950s Toaster That's it I think... Kind regards. From Mike. |
Re: What test equipment do you own/use
Regular everyday repair gear, primarily aimed at transistor equipment :
Keithley 179A True RMS bench DVM IsoTech handheld DVM Peak atlas ESR meter HP 3325A signal generator (with ovenised ref and high voltage OP) Fluke 1953A counter/timer Tek 7603 scope with 7A26 / 7A22 / 7B53a Antex 50w tc iron Skytronic 0-30V linear psu 8A Variac 2,4,8 & 16 ohm homemade dummy load with forced cooling (made from 64 off 15R @ 5W wire-wound) More specialised gear, rarely used : Tek AA501 / SG505 with IMD options pico ADC216 (for 16 bit FFT) Fug 0-350V linear PSU Meguro stereo FM modulator Marconi 2022E signal generator Tek 7934 storage scope with 7A13 / 7A24 / 7A19 / 7B15 / 7B92A wayne kerr b424 LCR meter dc |
Re: What test equipment do you own/use
Quote:
Measurement; AVO 9 MkIV Philips PM2517E (DMM) Solartron 7150+ (Bench DMM) Marconi TF 2700 (LCR bridge) Marconi 893C (AF power meter) Power supply; Farnell E350 (0-350V plus a selection of heater voltages) ISO-Tech IPS1603D (0-60V 3A) Signal sources; Philips PM5324 (RF Generator - AM/FM 100kHz - 110MHz) Philips PM5132 (Function Generator 0.1Hz - 2MHz) Philips PM5519 (TV Pattern generator) Thandar TG105 (Pulse generator) Oscilloscope; Tektronix 475 (200MHz) Miscellaneous; Philips PM6307 (Wow and flutter meter) Bradley 192 (Oscilloscope calibrator) AVO Mk2 VCM Heathkit IT1B (Transistor tester). Homebrew ESR meter Homebrew Capacitor reformer Homebrew remote control tester Homebrew crystal checker. Then there are several other 'scopes, meters and other stuff not in daily use. |
Re: What test equipment do you own/use
Such an interesting plethora of test equipment!
Thanks to everyone who took the trouble to contribute to this thread. I was aware of the earlier similar thread, but that one was more centred on members' workshops, sheds or dens, so to speak, rather than focussing on the actual test equipment used. We all have our favourite pieces of test kit, and equally have different approaches, I'm sure. I find it just as much fun and inspiring maintaining the test gear, as I do restoring amplifiers etc. Cheers, Dave. |
Re: What test equipment do you own/use
1 £5 DMM and a scope
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Re: What test equipment do you own/use
Here goes.
Meters 3 DMMs, 1 AVO NATO pattern 1 Racal bench voltmeter HP and Solartron True RMS meters. RF generators HP8640A Advance SG62A function generator Thandar TG501. AF generators Philips PM5110 AWA G232 Marconi TF2103 Distortion factor meters Marconi TF2331 HP333A Bench PSU Altai EP-515 0-30V@2.5A plus 5 and 12V @0.5A valve tester AVO MKIV Variacs 2.5 and 8 amp. Frequency Meters Racal 9906A Racal 9921 Oscilloscopes Tek 475 200MHz HP 1744A 100MHz analogue storage Topward 20MHz 2 Solartron CD1400 others including Solartron and Telequipment. Universal Bridge Marconi TF2700 That's just most of the stuff that works and has been used or played with in the last couple of years. Pete. |
Re: What test equipment do you own/use
Well, here's my list:
1) Test Equipment in good order and regular use: AVO 8 MKlll in A1 order ESR & Low Ohms Meter (Built from kitset) BlackStar Meteor 600 frequency CounterStar B&K Model 162 Transistor/FET Tester Sekonic SS100F Chart Recorder (nail those intermittents!) Grundig FG5 Colour Pattern Generator for the odd TV repair Variac (no name) Cheapie 20 K-ohm/V analogue for Office Use Cheapie Digital for misc workshop use Sanwa P-2B 2000 Ohm/V analogue multimeter for 'nostalgia' Digitech QM-1523 Digital Multimter for garage use Digitech QM-1500 Digital Multimter for office use Digitech QM-1324 digital multimeter with L & C measurement Kyoritsu 3132 HV Insulation Tester & Low Ohms meter PicoScope ADC-200 Dual Channel Digital Scope Ikusu 3 Channel 40MHz Scope Sola 500 V/A Power Conditioner (for times when a stable voltage input would be nice) 2) Test Equipment for overhaul/restoration: 3 x AVO 8 (for restoration) 4 x HIOKI AS100D 100,000 ohms/volt (to make 1 or maybe 2 good examples) 2 x HIOKI L55 FET Multimeter (to make 1 pristine example) Kyoritsu Valve Tester working order, to be modified to test GM Precision Model 654 Valve tester, working order, needs refreshing Heathkit CM-1 Capacitor Checker (needs overhaul) Heathkit C3-U Capacitor Checker (needs overhaul) 2 x Sprague Model 500 Interference Locators 6-band 550kHz to 220MHz to make one wkg set. Paton Vintage Multimeter ex Australia for restoration Philips PM5300 Sig Gen (needs overhaul) I need the manual, can anybody help? Triplett 1632 Sig Gen (needs ovehaul, have manual). BK 3011B Function Generator Sanwa Transistor Checker 3) Other Test Equipment, Usually Work-Only but handy for all sorts of jobs: DSE Q1437 Dual Input/Dual Display Digital Thermometer Digitech Infra Red non-contact Digital Thermometer Exergen Infrared Heat scanner SE International Ionising radiation Meter (X-Ray, Gamma, Beta) YFE YF-1065 Digital Lux meter Seiko S11 Acoustic Distance Meter Maester M3005 Manometer Bruel & Kjaer 2232 Sound Level Meter FW Bell 4048 Gauss/Tesla Meter for Static & AC Fields 0-2 Tesla DESCO 50002 Surface Resistance Meter 0-10,000 Megohms Amprobe Advanced Cable Tracer Kit Model AT-2004 7 x magnetic and electric field meters recorders and loggers Mains earth impedance tester Fluke 87 Recording Digital Multimeter (rides in tool kit) Kyoritsu 2004 AC-DC Digital Clamp meter Digitech QM 1020 20 K-ohm/V (rides in tool kit) Fluke 43 Scopemeter Fluke 33 Digital Clamp Meter Simco FMX-002 Static Voltage Meter 0-20kV Fluke 971 Temperature & Humidity meter Cheers Billy |
Re: What test equipment do you own/use
what an impressive list - I only do Radios - no TVs!
mine are: various cheap DMMs Avo 7 Avo 8 Thandar 351 (thanks to Woodchips!) Radivet 211 another RF sig gen (buried somewhere!) Advance OS3500 Scope Mullard HSVT - undergoing restoration Avo VCM Mk4 - which will be for sale soon! Serial lamp limiter (most useful piece of equipment!) Regavolt variac - 2A, 0-270v my non-existant sense of smell, poor obervation skills and limited brain! Cheers Andy |
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