Oh crap, I am a test equipment addict - look what I found in the lab today ! - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2016, 08:00:44 pm
content: Well, its official, I am a self confessed test equipment addictI started clearing out another cupboard in my lab today. I knew that the cupboard contained lots of new boxed test equipment but I had not fully appreciated exactly how much of it there was.Take a look at the pictures. This is just one of my stashes of test equipment that I have not used so has been stored awaiting a need.I know there is more to be discovered in other storage areas as wellThe list of what is in the pictures:UNI-TUT-58CUT-61EUT-70BUT-81BUT-201UT-603ISO-Tech (Radio Spares)ICA-32NIDM-63NIDM-105NIDM-303IDM-305IEK-10RS 1315 (thermometer)300XP (printer)AVOM7029M8037B131 (LCR)TENMA (Farnell)72-960 (Same as AVO B131)TTiPFM1300 (frequency counter)AlphatekTEK435DUOYIDY294Generic brands:Intelligent RS232 multimeter MAS343Humidity & Temperature meterMini Sound level meterLux meterPen RC tweezer meterLet us hope I can overcome this addictionFraser

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2016, 08:20:27 pm
content: Holy ****, I thought the Marconi stuff was bad enough. You seriously need an intervention!...and this is on top of being able to view objects in any wavelength known to mankind!

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2016, 08:28:26 pm
content: Yep, its bad I know.And this is only the new (or nearly new) test meters that I have not been using ! I have piles of test kit that I do use, or use more often. It is very scary I admit. I love my hobby but used to do a high responsibility and stressful job, so suspect many purchases were really retail therapyI am retired now and to be honest cannot understand why I bought so much test equipment. I have multiple duplications of some test kit as well.Fraser

author: Nuno_pt
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2016, 08:33:46 pm
content: Plus one for the intervention.Or maybe or can try a new therapy, sell the ones that you don´t need.

author: Maxlor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2016, 08:38:12 pm
content: Don't think of yourself as an addict. Think of yourself as acollector. And suddenly, it's wonderful

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2016, 08:41:54 pm
content: Quote from: Fraser on May 27, 2016, 08:28:26 pmBad!!?? The amount of gear you have is jaw dropping!

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2016, 09:04:46 pm
content: Just be careful. There are many dangers here. If you clear this stuff out you will enable more shopping. If you cure this addiction your wife will wonder if someone else has come into your life.

author: Cerebus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2016, 09:22:07 pm
content: Quote from: CatalinaWOW on May 27, 2016, 09:04:46 pmThere probably will be - Miss Mass-Spectrometer.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 27, 2016, 09:47:11 pm
content: I have always fancied owning an Electron MicroscopeI have a professional Ultrawave Hygea ultrasonic cleaning bath and another 'Metal Mickey' Bosch MIC-412 dual tech thermal CCTV camera en-route at the moment.... that will get me into enough trouble with my wifeFraser

author: CatalinaWOW
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2016, 03:17:27 am
content: A friend of mines wife said she wished her husband would chase after another woman. She knew how to compete with that. She had no idea how to compete with the toys in the shop.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2016, 06:48:11 am
content: Fraser, time to contact Toploser and have a sale or tyhree on here, and get some space back to put that Eye of Sauron, and the forthcoming Varian collection.

author: hopski
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2016, 07:00:09 am
content: Definately yard sale time! It's not an addiction if you recycle.

author: ZeTeX
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2016, 09:28:48 am
content: I would give you 20$ and my steam library, and I'm taking a huge risk here.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2016, 09:36:32 am
content: Quote from: CatalinaWOW on May 28, 2016, 03:17:27 amThe same is true with the sexiest flying machines: high performance gliders.Objoke. Q: why should all engineers have a mistress? A: So they can tell the wife they are with the mistress, the mistress they are with the wife -- and then go and have fun in the lab.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2016, 10:18:12 am
content: With regard to recovering some of the money spent on this surplus stuff..... I think selling it is a good idea. Sadly the market is awash with such test kit so I doubt it would be worth the effort. I have some far more interesting and valuable test equipment that will likely go on eBay as I have no idea of current values. There is one heck of a disposal sale coming up with all the kit I have re-discovered over the past few months. Sadly many of the 19" rack mount test equipment has already gone to the recycling centre as it was not worth the hassle to sell and ship it. I did get back some useful space in the garage though.......... Just enough for my second Faxitron X-Ray machineAt last count I have 17 Hameg CRT oscilloscopes ranging from 20MHz up to 200MHz, some with digital storage. Then there is the Hameg modular test equipment and bench top test equipment. I have yet to decide which I will keep and which must go.Then there is the pile of PICO Technology test equipment, DSO's, environmental monitoring, Pen Oscilloscope, and multi channel ADC'sThen there is all the non test equipment to be sorted. Piles and piles of RF parts and connectors. I have a 10" X 12" X 14" box filled with new Quality Silver plated N connectors for RG8 / Westflex ..... It just seems wrong to bin them. But have you ever tried selling connectors on eBay with all the thousands of other sellers ? Not worth the effort me thinks.I have collected all this 'stuff' over many years and suspect it will take quite some time to sort through and rehome or bin.Oh well, now that I am retired, I have the timeIf it raises some money for new purchases, all the better.I may continue to post pictures of collections of kit to give you all a good laugh or even tempt you to make me an offer for anything that appealsNow back to the lab for more sorting...... The last cupboard awaits and I know that it is full of RF test gear, probes, Sinad meters and thermal printers ! Some of the RF probes are VERY niceFraser

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2016, 10:42:54 am
content: Me thinks you'll have to ask the mods to move this thread to the Buy/Sell/Wanted.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2016, 11:05:15 am
content: Do not worry, I already thought of that. I may produce a long list of available test equipment for people to trawl through and make offers on. That will definitely sit in the buy/sell area to gain greatest exposureThis thread is more of a warning to youngsters about not buying more than you actually need. Doing so could be classed as an addictionFraser

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2016, 11:11:57 am
content: Quote from: Fraser on May 28, 2016, 11:05:15 amNEVERI'm told there are far worse.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2016, 11:26:54 am
content: Less hassle can be important.Have you considered finding a local, or not so local, HackSpace/Makerpace? They might have a use for some of it, or their members might want one for home use. My local Hackspace doesn't want more 20MHz scopes, but occasionally (new) members say they are looking for one. I suspect quite a few people would pay £1/MHz for a working scope.Are there any hamfests near you? Working equipment and generic components seem to sell. Fill up a car, take a table, pay ~£10, and see what happens.http://rsgb.org/main/news/rallies/and make a day out of it.You can always advertise on ebay/gumtree and say "for collection only". Lower prices, but would that really matter?

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2016, 11:49:22 am
content: Thanks for the suggestions.I have just posted a new topic asking for comments on how best to rehome my excess test equipment hilts recovering some of its value. I will add your comments to whatever that post generates.Thanks againFraser

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2016, 02:54:32 pm
content: I'msoglad you're in the UK, just so that we can help with the 'intervention' you understand.

author: mrjoda
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2016, 03:05:31 pm
content: so much crapy instruments at one place ?it is not possible... i smell fake

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2016, 04:03:22 pm
content: Oh I don't know about that. The IDM303 and 305 are decent enough. The AVO kit is also pretty good. I use my Fluke 87 III most often but some of the good ISO-tech gear is as well made and accurate.The UNI-T stuff...... Well it was cheapI didn't expect anything amazing but their products certainly meet the needs of many a hobbyist so I will not knock them.I have never been a test equipment snob so have bought whatever caught my interest. That has resulted in a very good cross section of stock, ranging from no name kit that serves a specific purpose (such as an RS232 logging multimeter) to a R&S SMG RF signal generator for more demanding requirements. It is all the same to meFraser