Jackpot at auction - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: markav2
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2019, 11:42:04 am
content: A few days ago I hit the mother load of equipment at auction. Paid a total of $205 for all listen equipment.Fluke 45 Dual Display Multimeter $37Hewlett Packard 66332A Dynamic Measurement DC Source $14Agilent Technologies E3632A DC Power Supply $110Kikusui PAB 18-1A Regulated DC Power Supply $7HP 6825A Bipolar Power Supply/Amplifier Calibration:7/16/2013 $18.50HP E3615A DC Power Supply, 0-20V, 0-3A; Calibration: 2/18/2000 $18.50None of it was listed as nonworking so hopefully, when I'm able to get it in a home shop and do some testing it will all be good.Anybody else have any massive auction scores?

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2019, 12:00:34 pm
content: Nice score.Even if some of it doesn't work, most of this equipment has excellent service manuals with full schematics so fixing it should not be too hard.There is a thread about it tho:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/list-your-test-equipment-score-here!/

author: //Matt//
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2019, 09:01:54 pm
content: Nice! I'm a bit jealous.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2019, 09:23:56 pm
content: Do we need a new forum section for gloating?

author: jmelson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2019, 09:33:07 pm
content: Quote from: markav2 on April 18, 2019, 11:42:04 amHoly S**T! Why have I never been to an auction like that? The ones I went to, there were entire tables of gear sold as one lot, and you are bidding against dealers. I just about never bought anything at auctions, but sometimes did buy stuff from the dealers, later.well, sure a nice gloat!!Jon

author: james_s
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2019, 10:12:50 pm
content: Nice scores, was that on ebay?Every once in a while I find a great bargain although I don't think I've ever found multiple scores like that at once. Auctions are funny like that though, lots of times I've seen a nice example of something sell for a fraction the price of a beat up worn out example a few days earlier. I've missed some good deals before simply because I wasn't actively seeking something and one sold for peanuts when I wasn't looking. It's all a matter of timing and who happens to be looking at the time.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 19, 2019, 11:12:22 pm
content: Nice score mate, hope it all works straight up(...slowly with a variac please!)I gave up on 'bricks and mortar' auctions ages ago, waste of time, petroland bruised anticipation to 'maybe' score some bargains, and or rare/retro gear, old school tools etc. etc.some here may know that deal... ?HOURS blown freezing ass, paired with dwindling excitement and patiencewhilst sipping on horrible supplied cheapest of the cheapest coffee, hot water from corrosion tasting urn vessels,paper cups made from recycled dunny paper (? )and powdered milk I suspect may have been swept up and saved plaster dust.I wasn't going to brave the sugar...some here may know that deal too... ?I went to a few before I finally worked out why I wasn't scoring anything worthwhile, and gave it a missTypical scenario:Grubby, kicked around, mostly non working 'it turns on..' gear, with pre-jurrasic calibration expiry dates, missing small but vital unobtanoium parts,with bids approaching new replacement pricesI am confident some bidder/buyers in the crowd were also getting a paycheck from the auctioneers to pump things up,and any unsold gear or stuff they won and didn't want, tossed back into the next auction pool.They had this shifty look, bid style and suss body language vibe about them toothe arrogant assholesWorse still, a LOT of fools there engaging in what seemed to be personal bids wars with other foolsLuckily Ebay and online auctions came alongfor battlers today to have half a chance to score a fair bargain,save on wasted petrol and time,and not catch death of cold in those clammy dog forsaken warehouses, somewhere in the back end of shyte creek shire

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 20, 2019, 03:22:35 am
content: Quote from: Richard Crowley on April 19, 2019, 09:23:56 pmThere isthisthread...List your test equipment "scores" here!

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2019, 07:47:47 am
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on April 19, 2019, 11:12:22 pmDon't power up an SMPS with a variac.SMPSs are designed to deliver a constant output power. The lower the input voltage, the higher the input current. High input currents can damage switching transistors.Do replace Rifa delayed action smoke generators on sight, before applying power.

author: Berni
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2019, 08:09:28 am
content: Yeah variacs and SMPS soft start circuits don't play nice. Slow variac power up is more suited for old tube equipment. Just make sure its on the right input voltage setting and plug it right in (Perhaps also measure the prongs on the mains plug with a multimeter that there is no short between L and N or to earth). The stuff is reasonably modern enough to not go bang when power is applied. Tho if there is any evidence of liquid dirt or something rattling inside definitely take it apart and have a look before applying power.But most of this gear still has oldschool iron transformers in them. A lot of it is also new enough to not have the horrible mains capacitors that catch fire.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2019, 08:43:19 am
content: Quote from: Berni on April 20, 2019, 08:09:28 amI don't know how similar these are to the old horrors:https://cpc.farnell.com/c/electronic-electrical-components/capacitors/rifa-capacitors

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2019, 08:48:41 am
content: Quote from: Brumby on April 20, 2019, 03:22:35 amYep and the OP would be entitled to this:The jammy git award.

author: Electro Detective
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2019, 09:20:28 am
content: Thanks to the gents pulling me over about the SMPS thingAfter tossing/replacing suspect The Exorcist style RIFA PITAswould an appropriate in line fuse and or light globe buffer be a safe enough turn on these post auction SMPS thingies?

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2019, 09:35:08 am
content: Quote from: Electro Detective on April 20, 2019, 09:20:28 amSome SMPS are dim bulb tolerant but some are not.Member bd139 warned me not to use a dim bulb tester on a SMPS Philips CRO I have but it takes little time to check the output caps and diodes plus also the few components on the hot side and then use the correct fuse so to not let too much magic smoke out.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 20, 2019, 11:20:52 am
content: Quote from: tggzzz on April 20, 2019, 08:43:19 amThey’re fine. I replace RIFA with RIFA. They just have an operational lifespan. I’ve never seen one blow in anything under about 25 years so I aim to replace every 15 years.