List your test equipment "scores" here! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: xwarp
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 02:07:35 am
content: (I don't recall seeing a thread in the past 156 pages of threads where "scores" were the topic of discussion, so on with the topic!)We are all always looking for bargains, so what was your cheapest score?Mine, and I have several:Tek 2246A scope with 4 10x probes with manual in great shape for $80.HP 8013B pulse generator missing fuse cap for $3.HP 3311A Function Generator $5.ETA:Tek 485 scope for $50.For the automotive types, a near mint Heath Kit CI-1080 Exhaust Analyzer for $5.A Fluke 10 DVM for $5 that I later modded to use the hidden Capacitance and Min/Max features.That is all I can think of at the moment.How about you?

author: Vgkid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 02:10:48 am
content: Does free count...

author: xwarp
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 02:14:19 am
content: Quote from: Vgkid on April 21, 2014, 02:10:48 amBRING IT!

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 02:20:50 am
content: Power Designs 1570 - 3kV 120W linear power supply for $30Hmm...a Tektronix TDS-380 for $140, not quite a steal, but a decent bargain for 400 MHz, 2 GSa/s...Numerous old Fluke bench DMMs in the $5-15 range needing small repairsCan't think of anything else particularly good at the moment.

author: Vgkid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 02:37:27 am
content: Free- InheritedFluke 87-1, working, until I killed it somewhatWeller Wcc101, works greatSimpson 260-6?, will use ocassionallyFree - Cant mentionGenrad 1658, worksGenrad 1689, dead as a doornail, when I got it it gave every error message. Still broken BTW.Tek 2246, workstek 2430, would have liked to kept it, except upon opening it up, I realized that it was dropped.not freeTrygon power supply $20 totHp5335A - $90 totBallantine 323-07 - $35 tot, the manual cost almost as much as what I bought it for ($25)Solartron 7065 - $80 tot, long story. It will have one in a few weeks.Fluke 1952B $20 tot + 20 $manual, will fix someday.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 02:59:19 am
content: Free:Agilent 33120APaid, but good deals: HP 6114A. $60 (broken)Agilent 3478A $20, can't mention how

author: georges80
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 03:13:52 am
content: All free, perfect condition, some with much less than 50 hours use:Agilent 33250ATek 1103 + P6246 diff probeFluke 8845AAgilent E3611A x 2Tek TDS2014 + probesMisc other lab equipment of lesser value.Yes, I scored wellcheers,george.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 03:51:30 am
content: Quote from: georges80 on April 21, 2014, 03:13:52 amFrom your "job"?

author: skipjackrc4
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 04:02:11 am
content: My best deal to date is a set of 8 standard resistors and 5 standard capacitors for $50. The caps are worth several times that individually. There have been other good deals, but none as good as that one.

author: ixfd64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 04:03:17 am
content: How did you all get such good deals? Garage sales? Dumpster diving? Donations?I don't have much test equipment to begin with, but I did receive a free >200 mW green laser from Wicked Lasers in exchange for a review several years ago. That particular model was sold for around $1,000 at the time.

author: Vgkid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 04:11:13 am
content: I will go with donations...

author: georges80
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 04:16:53 am
content: Quote from: echen1024 on April 21, 2014, 03:51:30 amPlace I contracted for a couple of years. They closed down a year or more after I left, the local 'equipment companies' offered $0 and not to charge recycling fees - so I got 1st dibs on anything I wanted... The phrase kid at a candy store was close to how I felt that day.cheers,george.

author: iloveelectronics
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 11:22:27 am
content: Not sure if this counts as a "score" seeing all others incredible deals, but this one just arrived today:It's a Korean made 100kHz-220MHz signal generator. Got it for about $100 shipped to my door. Not in the best of cosmetic shapes but seems to function correctly. No idea about its accuracy but I'm not bothered. It's the only equipment I have now that can generate frequency higher than 25MHz. I hope it will help me run some basic tests to judge quality when I start doing sourcing of things like BNC cables, etc.

author: VK5RC
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 12:29:54 pm
content: Hi Frankie, there is something about the look of that Freq gen that reminds me of some older vintage HP gear I have esp the modulation type leds, its not an old HP rebadge is it?

author: iloveelectronics
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 12:55:32 pm
content: Quote from: VK5RC on April 21, 2014, 12:29:54 pmIt says "Made in Korea" at the back so I doubt it's an HP rebadge. Older HP equipment were mostly (if not all) made in the USA, weren't they?

author: peter.mitchell
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 01:02:06 pm
content: I wonder how much power output it can do...

author: G0HZU
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 01:06:43 pm
content: I've bought lots of bargains over the years but here's a few of the biggest bargains:Freebies:HP431C power meter with HP478A thermistor headThurlby PL320 triple PSUThurlby PL320 dual PSURF Test GearHP8714B 3GHz VNA fully loaded all internal options and external options (probes/test set etc etc) £250HP8568B 1500MHz Spectrum Analyser £125Advantest TR4172 1800MHz Spectrum analyser/VNA £400Advantest TR4172 1800MHz Spectrum analyser/VNA faulty for £250 (bought for spares but was easy to repair)Anritsu MF1603A 3GHz 11 digit counter with top options fitted for GPIB and HS oven £65Anritsu 18GHz power meter with 18GHz thermocouple power head £210Misc:T-Tech 7000S PCB milling system with tools and software and extraction system £880T-Tech 7000S PCB milling system with lots of tools plus software and extraction system £650There's loads and loads of microwave band accessories (eg attenuators, couplers, cables) I've bought on ebay for peanuts where the seller doesn't know the correct description/value. Too many to list...

author: iloveelectronics
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 01:18:43 pm
content: Quote from: peter.mitchell on April 21, 2014, 01:02:06 pmHere are the specs from the manufacturer's site:http://www.unisource21.com/tSG-8150.html

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 01:23:06 pm
content: My best score was a practically as-new recently calibrated Audio Precision 2700 for $500http://www.ap.com/products/2700Sold on ebay for $14KWasn't supposed to get it, but was in the right place at the right time with cash.From the same score I got other bargain like a portable TDR still in cal for $20, sold for $1500 or so I think on ebay.An Agilent 54622D (not the one recently) for $100 and resold on ebay for $2200 or so.

author: leppie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 01:37:34 pm
content: Not electronic test equipment, but I scored a Nikon S-Ke and Wild M40 microscope plus a bunch of accessories for around US$45 a week ago(ebay indicates a value of at least US$1000)Sadly, still trying to figure them outA few months back, I picked up a Philips PM3209 (with original probes and manual) plus a Escort EGC-2230 function gen (fixed it with $6 replacement chip from ebay), also around US$45.Also, bought a Tek TDS340 (with a single original probe) for US$270 (oops brain fart, not 135), but it was a dud (faulty memory I think), but managed to resurrect it with a TDS360 mainboard I managed to get for US$90 from ebay (200MHz now!!)

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 01:58:19 pm
content: I've never tried to "score" with a piece of test equipment. That's taking the fetish a little too far, IMO.

author: deth502
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 02:16:12 pm
content: is a nib fluke 199 scope meter with all the accys and hard case for $175 considered a "score"??

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 02:27:02 pm
content: Latest is a Fluke 1900A I picked up recently for $20. Aside from being dusty, and having one cracked display hold down ball it is otherwise perfect.

author: xwarp
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 02:29:34 pm
content: Quote from: GK on April 21, 2014, 01:58:19 pmI think I'd rather try "scoring" with a variac than that bird in your picture.....

author: GK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 21, 2014, 02:44:33 pm
content: Quote from: xwarp on April 21, 2014, 02:29:34 pmGeez! Aren't you weird!