Why drill holes on an instrument ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Back2Volts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 14, 2016, 11:50:58 pm
content: I and cleaning up some used gear I have collected over that last six months. One of the pieces, an HP 5314A Counter has one hole drilled on the top and one in the bottom. Why would anyone do that? The only I can think is some radical way of securing the unit so it does not walk out of the lab.Any thoughts?

author: vk6zgo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2016, 12:00:31 am
content: Access to trimmers?

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2016, 12:23:59 am
content: Quote from: Back2Volts on August 14, 2016, 11:50:58 pmIt ran too hot and needed additional venting?One of the worker threaded some cable through it and wore it as a necklace to the last company party?Someone thought it had a mental disorder and gave it a lobotomy?People are just stupid at times?I'm going with vk6zgo and guessing trimmers as well.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 15, 2016, 02:07:46 am
content: Trimmers are a possibility - but seeing as it is placed quite centrally, I do have to wonder about the security possibility.Are they both placed centrally?

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2016, 02:50:20 am
content: Speed holes?

author: heatbreak
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 15, 2016, 03:19:02 am
content: Quote from: Smokey on August 15, 2016, 02:50:20 amie Rigol hacking.

author: Back2Volts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 15, 2016, 04:02:30 am
content: Quote from: Brumby on August 15, 2016, 02:07:46 amYes, away from the sides..

author: Back2Volts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 15, 2016, 04:19:39 am
content: Quote from: vk6zgo on August 15, 2016, 12:00:31 amI have opened the instrument and it is almost empty. Just one board backing the front panel and the PS board by the back. The rest is so empty that I wondered if it was missing another board, but I found this herehttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/hp-5314a-universal-counter-teardown/So the holes are in the empty area, which would be occupied by the missing battery and TCXO options. I tend to believe this device was threaded to a steel cable tied to a bench somewhere.

author: Back2Volts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 16, 2016, 05:22:59 am
content: Quote from: blueskull on August 15, 2016, 05:27:03 amI guess anything is possible. I got it used early this year. A guy was selling some gear from his deceased father. This counter bundled with Simpson function generator and a Fluke 8050 meter.

author: grifftech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2016, 04:09:02 am
content: Quote from: blueskull on August 15, 2016, 05:27:03 amDoes it work? If so,that is not the case.

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2016, 05:36:02 am
content: Those rack mount kits do cost money you know

author: setq
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2016, 08:43:29 am
content: I worked for a company many years ago that drilled holes in the bottom of one of their VAX computers. When asked why, I was told it was to let the water out when the roof leaked...

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2016, 10:31:29 am
content: Quote from: setq on August 17, 2016, 08:43:29 amAn accountant probably made that decision. A hole costs nothing while fixing the roof costs a lot.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 17, 2016, 01:42:46 pm
content: Quote from: setq on August 17, 2016, 08:43:29 am

author: gfiber
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2016, 02:47:40 pm
content: In the 1980's I was working at a Marine Electronics store as a tech. One day a couple of men walked in and said their brand new King 7000 VHF marine radio did not work and could I take a look at it. The King 7000 had an angled front panel so one could mount it right side up or down using the mounting bracket. These guys determined it would be better to discard the mounting bracket for an alternative mounting on the overhead above the boats helm.So they removed the 4 case screws and proceeded to drill 4 holes through them and out of the top radio case. I suspect they then screwed the radio to the overhead. Likely saved an 1/2 to 3/4 inch in clearance. Well I opened the radio as it did not power up. When they drilled through the radio case holes they also drilled through the radio circuit board, I found many traces ripped off the circuit board as then use what I remember a 1/4 inch drill bit and did the drilling blindly. A brand new radio ruined too funny.Gary