I found this in the work dumpster...  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: moepower
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2013, 03:37:42 am
content: Hi,I rescued this from the work's dumpster. Is it of any value? It still works so I'm not sure why they threw it out. Looks vintage. The asset number (removed) indicates it is from the 40's or 50's...Anyone have any more information on this?Cheers.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2013, 03:42:24 am
content: It's an ancient LCR bridge. They threw it out because they are massively tedious to use (though I still use one!)Useful if you don't have (and can't afford) a proper LCR meter.Or did you know what it is? I may have misread your post. I don't know anything about that particular model, though I've never seen an impedance bridge sell for much.

author: moepower
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2013, 03:50:37 am
content: Hi c4757p,Yep, I don't have an LCR meter. I knew what it was but not how to use it. Looks really cool when it's powered up. I really like old equipment design. Something this elegant should never be thrown out.Cheers.

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2013, 03:58:57 am
content: Quote from: moepower on December 15, 2013, 03:50:37 amYou've got the bottom switches in the right places. Now put a component across one of the pairs of terminals (they're labeled, L/R and C) and select a range with the range switch on the right.Now go back and forth, adjusting the value dial on the bottom and the D/Q dial on the left to zero the meter. You can turn up the sensitivity as you get closer to zero. When you're as close to zero as possible, you can read the inductance/capacitance (if you're using this for resistance you are loony) off the value dial, and you can compute D or Q from the D/Q dial (though I don't remember how off the top of my head).You'll have to play with the controls a bit to see what they all do. Mine's a bit simpler. (And uglier.)

author: moepower
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2013, 04:05:55 am
content: Thanks c4757p.. I'll give that a try. No, I wasn't going to use it for Resistance haha. Yours looks pretty good too. How old is yours? Cheers

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2013, 04:10:20 am
content: Looks like it's from the 70s to me, though I haven't been able to find a date code (without ripping it apart, that is)It certainly is a lot more portable than yours!

author: moepower
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2013, 04:14:30 am
content: Sure is... I think mine still uses vacuum tubes according to google!

author: Vgkid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2013, 05:30:13 am
content: You have an ESI 250DA, the tube based version of the ESI 250DE, the manual is on BAMA. I do recall that they use a cats eye tube?? to determine balance.manual here:http://bama.edebris.com/manuals/esi/250da

author: moepower
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2013, 05:43:36 am
content: Fantastic. Thanks!I was just watching a star trek episode and I heard the quote from the Chief Engineer, "Just because something's old doesn't mean you throw it away. " A notion that I share.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2013, 05:52:49 am
content: sheesh. that thing is 10 years older than i am. donate it to a museum.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2013, 08:19:54 am
content: I have a Yokogawa resistance bridge that I got at a flea market. A little rough outside but inside perfect aside from corroded battery holders. Measures 1mR to10M with 4 digits, and is more accurate than any other meter I have. residual error is only measurable on the 1R range as being about 2milliohms, mostly due to the wire inside and the flat copper plate I use as a shorting bar.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2013, 12:46:39 pm
content: That multiturn knob itself is probably worth quite a bit... any more pictures of the inside?

author: minime72706
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2013, 05:04:45 pm
content: I shuddered when I saw the sexy magic eye tube display. SHIIIIT YEAH

author: PedroDaGr8
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2013, 05:07:58 pm
content: Quote from: amyk on December 15, 2013, 12:46:39 pmI think that's a decastat/decapot from ESI.Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk

author: Mr Smiley
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2013, 08:23:42 pm
content: Quote from: c4757p on December 15, 2013, 03:42:24 amIt IS a proper LCR meter

author: c4757p
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 15, 2013, 08:29:21 pm
content: Yes, in the same way that a Go Kart is a proper car.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2013, 05:19:50 am
content: It is a proper LCR meter, and gives all parameters exactly as you get of an automatic LCR meter. Only thing is it needs that thing called a brain and reading instructions, along with a small amount of simple calculation on paper so as to get an accurate measurement out of it, and will be slightly slower.

author: moepower
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2013, 06:39:26 am
content: Quote from: amyk on December 15, 2013, 12:46:39 pmI can't see even one PCB on this.

author: moepower
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2013, 06:40:53 am
content: Quote from: amyk on December 15, 2013, 12:46:39 pmVery nice indeed. If I had waited a day, the dumpster would have copped a heavy downpour. There were rains the day before I got it too. Lucky that it survived.

author: M0BSW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 16, 2013, 07:53:13 am
content: Oh you lucky chap, all I ve find is pc monitors of the old crt type, going to have to change jobs.