Used analog oscilloscopes for sale lacking probes and even power cords? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Tristram
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2018, 06:49:07 am
content: Hello everyoneAfter browsing through the used analog oscilloscopes on eBay for a week or two, I have noticed a trend. A large number of them do not come with probes and even more baffling is that some even lack power cords! I am curious about where are all the probes and power cords are disappearing to! Are they easily lost, are they just being sold separately to reap greater profit, or is there something else afoot?

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2018, 07:00:43 am
content: Most people already have surplus "kettle leads" for mains power, and shipping them with a scope risks their damaging the scope.Probes break.There are many different classes of probe necessary for different tasks.Decent working probes are more expensive than you would expect.

author: Harb
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2018, 07:02:39 am
content: Power cords are plentiful and probes are usually kept for the next scope or used for something else......

author: Tristram
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2018, 07:17:51 am
content: Quote from: Harb on June 22, 2018, 07:02:39 amBut don't the new scopes usually come with them these days? Or are probes just one of those things you can never have enough of? I haven't yet raised the funds to purchase an oscilloscope yet so I don't really know

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2018, 07:33:44 am
content: Scope probes are consumables. Most have been destroyed. I’ve bought a couple of old scopes with probes and they are always knackered.If I sell one on I usually chuck some cheap probes in with it.I don’t ship mains leads with anything I sell on eBay myself as the U.K. plug is a deadly weapon. However you package it, destruction will ensue.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2018, 07:37:58 am
content: Quote from: Tristram on June 22, 2018, 06:49:07 amIf you're buying a used analog oscilloscope on eBay then the seller assumes you have a big room full of other test gear to diagnose/maintain it. Probes and power cords won't be a problem for you.If you'resellinga used analog oscilloscope on eBay then youneedthose leads for all the other test gear in your room. The leads that were attached to it aren't the original leads anyway, so...And (c): A lot of them come from companies and had all the leads detached and put in a big box when they were moved to storage. The contents of the box will have been pilfered/lost in the ensuing decade.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2018, 07:41:09 am
content: On your point C I’ve seen disposal companies come in, isolate the power and just cut all the cables. Their objective is to clean out quick. Stuff that’s boxy and has buttons gets chucked in a van. Wires’n’shit go in the skip. Then someone comes along to turd polish it when they sell it.Low brow terminology there as that’s the people who are doing it.Whole 100 seat office cleaned out in 2 hours.

author: Tristram
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2018, 08:38:19 am
content: Hmm, things make a lot more sense now. Thank you all for your prompt replies!

author: precaud
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2018, 12:12:42 pm
content: For items that a large institution of the gov't sort are "excessing", it's mostly like what bd139 said. Stuff immediately gets handled based on what path it takes in the disposal process. Furniture goes one way. Office machinery and computers another. Paper gets shredded. There is potential liability associated with selling some things like probes and interconnects, so they get binned along with other wires of any sort. Electronic/scientific equipment goes through a final inspector, who determines a) if there's a storage device inside and removes and destroys it if there is, and b) if an item is on an inter-agency loan pool list, it gets routed to a warehouse where it sits for 90 days or more so that other institutions can use or obtain it. (Universities who work with DOD/DOE get a lot of their high-end stuff this way). Everything else gets handed to some company (a materials handler) they've contracted with to remove it from the site and sell it, either in local auctions or in some cases it goes straight to eBay. They get paid to pick it up, and keep a percentage of the final sales prices for their service.So unless they've been attached to the unit, things like cables, probes, manuals, etc will always get separated from their respective piece. I can buy cords and probes. But I have to buy a huge container with a ton or more of all sorts of wire to get them. The scrap dealers make their living dealing with this stuff and pay dearly for it.It's a sad but true story.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2018, 01:09:48 pm
content: You want the accessories, like probes and power cables? Gee, next you'll be asking where all the manuals went.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2018, 05:23:53 pm
content: Quote from: Tristram on June 22, 2018, 06:49:07 amUsed probes are like used underwear. I don't want them!It is beyond me why people are so obsessed about having probes together with an oscilloscope. When I sell a scope I buy some $5 probes from Aliexpress to sell with it because the sale price immediately rises by $200. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow.

author: Old Printer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2018, 05:42:06 pm
content: Many of these items come from large institutional closings and bankruptcy sales. T&M equipment is usually rectangular with flat tops and feet. They get stacked on a wood pallet like building blocks and wrapped with stretch wrap so they can be moved with a forklift or pallet jack. It makes for a nice neat package, but does not allow for things like cords, probes or manuals. At this level most goods are sold for pennies on the dollar and in exchange for a good price the extra stuff is left for the consumer to source.

author: Tristram
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2018, 06:27:44 pm
content: Quote from: coppice on June 22, 2018, 01:09:48 pmWell now that you mention it manuals seem to be missing even more than probes!

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2018, 06:33:15 pm
content: That’s because the cave trolls at Mauritron bought them all so they can sell you shitty scans for a small fortune instead.

author: exe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 22, 2018, 08:01:53 pm
content: A set of good probes costs an arm and a leg, often much more than the oscilloscope itself.I wouldn't mind getting used probes along with a 1GHz+ 'scope, even broken ones as sometimes it's possible to repair them. So, call it "wearing someone's underwear", but it may save a lot of money. Especially active or "intelligent" probes.

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 22, 2018, 08:37:34 pm
content: Quote from: exe on June 22, 2018, 08:01:53 pmWith a 1GHz+ scope the probes are active, and usually the only ones that work are the ones specifically designed for the particular scope. You really need to get those with the scope, as sourcing them separately is not just expensive. They are hard to find, unless the scope is still in production.

author: innkeeper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 23, 2018, 04:15:17 am
content: not unusual to not get probes or power chord with a used scope.I would be more worried about them selling it "as-is" or not accepting returns etc.just factor in probes into the total cost. 2 Chinese 100mhz 1x/10x probes can be had for 10 bucksstandard PC power chord fits most scopes.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2018, 05:50:31 am
content: Quote from: innkeeper on June 23, 2018, 04:15:17 am100 mhz probes are worthless !A pair of 100 MHz probes from eBay costs 10 bucks.

author: innkeeper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 23, 2018, 06:37:09 am
content: Quote from: tautech on June 23, 2018, 05:50:31 ambeating a small horse, very fitting ...

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2018, 10:31:53 am
content: Quote from: coppice on June 22, 2018, 08:37:34 pmNot true. You can also use generic active and passive >1GHz probes and they don't have to be expensive.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2018, 10:46:34 am
content: Quote from: coppice on June 22, 2018, 08:37:34 pmI have 1.5GHz passive probes that are at least 45 years old (i.e. a 1972 operating note). Some similar probes reach 9GHz, e.g.http://w140.com/tekwiki/wiki/P6150

author: exe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 23, 2018, 12:02:17 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on June 23, 2018, 10:31:53 amWhat do you call "not expensive active probe"?. Or you mean something like this one:http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-1GHz-Active-Probe-for-Under-20/?

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2018, 12:50:38 pm
content: Quote from: tggzzz on June 23, 2018, 10:46:34 amThat kind of probe is more like an input cable than what we more generally consider a scope probe. Its a high invasive connection to the system under test.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2018, 03:38:37 pm
content: Quote from: exe on June 23, 2018, 12:02:17 pmFor example, yes.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 23, 2018, 05:16:19 pm
content: Quote from: coppice on June 23, 2018, 12:50:38 pmNonsense.Or rather that depends on the system under test, and for many systems its affect is minimal and easily accounted for.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 24, 2018, 09:49:27 am
content: Quote from: coppice on June 23, 2018, 12:50:38 pmThere are exceptions, example this below 2.5GHz active probe, its really does look like a real scope's probe with the pointy tip etc, instead of just bunch of weird cables.