Surplus Equipment? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2013, 09:57:52 pm
content: Where do you guys in the US of A get your surplus test equipment? eBay is full of those dealers that sell old, crusty BS at blown up prices, and I was wondering if there was some government liquidation site with test equipment OTHER than govliquidation.com. Any help and tips would be appreciated.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2013, 11:11:32 pm
content: local stores. (silicon valley area)

author: westfw
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2013, 11:32:43 pm
content: @Free_electron: Which ones? They keep closing and moving on me!

author: PaulAm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2013, 12:34:26 am
content: I get almost all of my stuff from ebay, some from hamfests, some from contacts made through boards like this. It helps that I like to fix test equipment, so I buy items marked as broken cheaply and fix them up. My latest was a 577 curve tracer that appears to have one cracked knob, one broken toggle switch, a couple of dirty switches and is in otherwise perfect condition, although it was listed for parts or repair. Any other issues should show up in the calibration process.I have a HP 4262a LCR meter coming now that I was the only bidder on.Patience is the key; I spent about a year chasing an inexpensive SA (< $300 for an HP 8568b). You also need to be selective on what you bid on. I've been doing this since ebay originated and I can't think of a single instance where I've really been burned.If you want fully functional equipment with the possibility of a warranty, you'll pay for it.

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2013, 03:14:07 am
content: Only local store here in Houston is EPO Houston. They can get away with charging $1000+ for a Tek 2465. I wonder where the government surplus auctions are...

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2013, 07:19:58 am
content: Quote from: echen1024 on October 06, 2013, 03:14:07 amhttp://www.govliquidation.com/Listing for Tek 2465B with some other goodies (5pcs. total in the lot; 1x Tek 2465B, 1x HP 3400A, 3x Fluke 27's w/ accessories):http://www.govliquidation.com/auction/view?auctionId=6731314&convertTo=USD

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2013, 08:31:04 am
content: Quote from: nanofrog on October 06, 2013, 07:19:58 amAlways heart broken when everytime I visit this portal.

author: resistor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2013, 08:39:41 pm
content: Quote from: westfw on October 05, 2013, 11:32:43 pmI'm interested to know too. I've been to HSC and Weird Stuff, but I'm eager to find more.

author: ivaylo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 08:41:47 am
content: Quotehttp://www.junktronix.com/svss/The Excess Solutions one is kinda OK.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2013, 03:07:08 pm
content: If in the Orlando area, there's this place...http://www.skycraftsurplus.com/.

author: ElectricMan
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 09, 2013, 09:06:24 pm
content: Damnit! Every time I see things like this I want to visit USA and bring back a 40 feet container with stuff to Sweden.Here in Sweden it's almost impossible to find surplus...

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2013, 11:12:05 pm
content: Quote from: ElectricMan on October 09, 2013, 09:06:24 pmMight be worth making some friends in the US that have access to these places.

author: Napalm2002
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2013, 02:23:44 am
content: Quote from: ElectricMan on October 09, 2013, 09:06:24 pmI would ship to you. And you never know I may want some Swedish branded stuff. I do like Swedish fish!

author: RSTPhysics
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 10, 2013, 08:01:38 pm
content: Could send you some swedish meatballs.Biggest problem for me is that most of the stuff I would want to get from the states are often under export restrictions.. =(

author: neslekkim
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2013, 04:28:43 pm
content: Quote from: ElectricMan on October 09, 2013, 09:06:24 pmSame here in Norway, I even have asked some distributors of new equipment if they know if there is anywhere old/replaced equipment go, but nobody even want to answer.

author: Dongulus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2013, 04:53:29 pm
content: You can trypublicsurplus.com. They tons of online auctions for junk from all kinds of government facilities. Unfortunately, none of them seem to be military auctions, so there isn't a wealth of test equipment to find, but if you live near a university you may get lucky finding some.Note that all of these auctions are local pickup only, no shipping. It's a shame I didn't know about this before I graduated because I constantly see test equipment up for auction at my university yet I now live 200 miles away.

author: creexpert
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2013, 07:02:28 pm
content: http://www.govdeals.com/is a lot like publicsurplus.com but at least in my area, carries better quality items

author: TheInternetAddicted
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 15, 2013, 03:07:42 am
content: Anyone have any good places for used stuff in Canada?