Which is your favorite piece of Test Equipment? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Fried Chicken
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 31, 2024, 03:59:05 pm
content: And what's its story?For me it's hands down my Hioki Multimeter:I got it years and years ago, and it's the first time I dropped "significant" money on a piece of test equipment. I got it in a kit with a clamp meter, AC voltage detector pen, and non-contact IR thermometer. Of those only the AC detector pen is worth writing home about, but the star of the show is easily the little Hioki. I got the kit intending to resell it and make money, but I quickly found myself constantly using the multimeter.... CONSTANTLY. The idea of reselling it to make money quickly got scrapped. Pro tip: if trying to make money reselling stuff, don't buy stuff you could potentially want/need.The unit does this affectionate beeping while acquiring a signal that hioki just nailed perfectly. I'm sure in the manual it describes what the beeping indicates. I've never looked it up, but while using it I justknowwhen I'm on the thing I'm testing, and when there's a readout. I just know. Its continuity is faster than any scope I've ever tested. The word "instant" is thrown around a lot, but this one is really "instant".It recognizes my clumsiness somehow perfectly and has an auto-power-save that's somehownevergotten in my way, but always works when I need it to; when I've left it on and forgotten about it, then go back and see "APS" on the display. One click in any direction and it's instantly back. Hioki just nailed it. Truly. It's on its original battery and still has 2 out of 3 bars of battery. This is after half a decade. Wow.The test leads are also somehow perfect. Their material is great, but especially the 600v tip covers click on and off so nicely, they just feel right, and I keep them on for 99% of my probing.The whole thing has been through the ringer. The display is covered in lacquer overspray b/c it lives in my garage. Its only black mark is Hioki sticking the finger to 3rd party repair/calibration. No calibration manuals, no service manuals, no nothing published. The instruction manual even says "3rd party repairs not possible" or something like that. It's for that reason my next meter will probably be a Fluke. I wish I'd gotten the version with direct current measurement, but I've never found myself needing that feature.None of this takes away from my other pieces of test equipment, including those you see in the background on the bench, this Hioki was just first and has stood the test of time.What's your personal favorite piece of test equipment? What's its story?

author: Fried Chicken
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2025, 10:45:31 pm
content: I guess nobody loves their test equipment....

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2025, 10:47:36 pm
content: SVA1032X

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 01, 2025, 11:08:34 pm
content: Quote from: Fried Chicken on January 01, 2025, 10:45:31 pmIt's not that easy to choose. Besides, if the TEAS is strong enough, it might be the gear you're getting next. 😉

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 12:42:46 am
content: Tough question... I'm gravitating towards my Tektronix TLA715 logic analyser because it is so very powerful in finding rare problems and it is a piece of quality gear from Tektronix. Unfortunately it hasn't seen much use the last couple of years.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 01:58:57 am
content: My favorite piece of test gear is a Tektronix 2232 combination analog and digital storage oscilloscope.

author: coppercone2
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 02:08:04 am
content: 34401a

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 02:22:51 am
content: Quote from: Fried Chicken on December 31, 2024, 03:59:05 pmWinning! The little things which you don't notice until they get in the way.

author: KE5FX
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 02:42:08 am
content: Quote from: nctnico on January 02, 2025, 12:42:46 amFor me, any day that involves the use of a logic analyzer is probably not a good day. Most likely, it started to suck in the morning, or sometime the day before, and didn't get any better.So that brings some unjustified prejudice to the question.Many boxes within arm's reach could qualify as a favorite, though. Almost all of them say "HP" on the front, with a date code circa 1990 or earlier. Not all, but most.

author: purplxed
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 03:39:52 am
content: For me I think it'd have to be my Fluke 6690, lots of awesome functionality packed into a small package. I know some consider it sacrilege to say, but I prefer it over my Agilent 53131A.

author: bdunham7
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 05:12:11 am
content: My favorites are all ones that I've repaired myself, or in some cases salvaged from junk. I think this is still my current "favorite".

author: vmax
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 06:15:19 am
content: It must be a second-hand, repaired, low-cost or DIY device, preferably fully utilized, rather than a brand new one with far more functions than needed.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 06:31:53 am
content: Quote from: vmax on January 02, 2025, 06:15:19 amFTFY.

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 07:44:10 am
content: Mine is a powerful mixed signal analysis system, with integrated thermal, optical, and acoustic sensors (sadly, some bw degradation has occurred over the years)

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 08:44:05 am
content: hmm.. Favorite.. which ever piece of equipment is doing the best job at solving whatever problem I happen to be working on in that moment? I know that's cheating.I will say that the piece of equipment that is the best value for what I paid for it is probably an HP6632B, which I routinely use as both a pretty good power supply and a pretty good load. That thing does get employee of the month fairly often.

author: Aldo22
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 10:44:16 am
content: I haven't been buying test equipment for that long, but I've had one device for at least 15 years and I wouldn't want to be without it for one reason:It's probably unbeatable as a continuity tester.My BT-22 (aka UT123).As a continuity tester, it has a reasonably loud beep plus an LED.The LED can take two colors.Green and beep: < 30 OhmRed without beep: 30-420 OhmThe response time was measured as 15ms (not by me).I measured the full cycle (acoustic) myself and came up with 13Hz.So you can test 13 connections per second (Turbo leads recommended).

author: H713
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 02:24:29 pm
content: HP 3325B and HP 8657B. Can't pick one or the other since they cover different frequency ranges and uses, but they're the best general-purpose signal generators I've ever used. Every so often I get to play around with a super-modern Keysight or Tektronix arbitrary waveform generator, and it doesn't make me want to run out and buy one for myself.HP knew better than anyone else how to make user-friendly test equipment. Good feature set, good performance, and a good user interface.

author: mankan
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 02:40:02 pm
content: HP8753D 6GHz VNA, use it a lot, also spent much time on repairs as well. Will soon receive Gotek floppy upgrade.

author: kblue
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 02:43:46 pm
content: Would be my THS720A (modded to be a 720P for more useful features). It's quite useful ... the only thing missing would be 'Amps'.

author: BILLPOD
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 02:58:26 pm
content: DANG, I wrote up a rather lengthy description of my favorite piece of test gear; then I clicked on 'Post' and got a pop-up, in red, that there have been 3 replies since I wrote mine,which didn't seem to matter to me, so I clicked on 'Post' again, and my write up DISAPPEARED!! WTF!!!! does anyone know where my post may be hiding?So disheartening. :'(

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 03:23:15 pm
content: Okay, fine I'll play. It's a toss up between my FUtracer vacuum tube curve tracer / tester and my Hioki IM3570.

author: Fried Chicken
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 03:26:04 pm
content: Quote from: BILLPOD on January 02, 2025, 02:58:26 pmThat's happened more than a few times to me, moreso in the "old days" when computers were more ruthless.Damn that sucks to hear. I've adtoped the happut of doing ctrl + a and ctrl + c before posting b/c of how many times I've gotten screwed like this. Sometimes I'll even write long posts in a text editor, saving as I go.Damn.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 03:49:19 pm
content: Eyes,ears, nose and fingers,no batterys need and they often lead you to the fault rather rapidly

author: gdewitte
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 03:51:56 pm
content: Chex-Zit Continuity Tester LS-57-500 (https://www.grisk.com/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/Chex-Zit%20LS-57-500.pdf). I've had one for a bazillion years (mine is labeled "SODER-WICK ELECTRONIC TESTER").

author: Fried Chicken
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 04:18:59 pm
content: Quote from: gdewitte on January 02, 2025, 03:51:56 pmWait... what?No way!

author: BILLPOD
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 06:41:47 pm
content: Well, Fried Chicken, I'm going to give it a go.....AGAIN. My latest favorite is the UT117C.I heard of it's existence and Googled it and found it at Aliexpress, but like most of what they sell, the advertised price is for something somewhat related, but not the device you want. The price Ali gave was for a clamp meter accessory. The meter was around $72, and I had heard the meter was a clone of the Fluke 117, so I just had to have it, so I ordered it. It arrived in a couple weeks and after unboxing I was pleasantly surprised by the form factor, as it has a very nice fit & finish. I especially liked the function selector feel and the fact that it could be operated by the same hand that is holding it. I very much liked that it has a powerful magnet and hanging strap, which would be great for working under the hood of a vehicle. I love the bluetooth with the Uni-T app, that works flawlessly. I've had it for a while now, and am always comparing readings with one of my more expensive meters, like my BR869S, or my Fluke 189, and they are ALWAYS very close. It doesn't have mA or uA selections, but with the 60,000 count resolution, I can get down to the single digit milliamps. Besides I have several meters that have those capabilities. I see they are now close to $200, but I would buy again if something happened to the one I have. It really is a clone of the Fluke 117, which I've heard is manufactured in China. I'm going to hit 'Post' now, so hopefully this reply doesn't disappear.

author: edpalmer42
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 07:09:10 pm
content: I love all my test equipment equally. If I play favorites, somebody's going to pout and start throwing error codes.(But just between you and me, I have a soft spot for my LeCroy 9384L scope. 4 channel, 1 GHz, up to 10 G samples per second, and NO screen burn.)

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 07:17:58 pm
content: Quote from: Fried Chicken on December 31, 2024, 03:59:05 pmI have a Hioki 4282 - by far the best feature is super-fast autoranging - faster than any other meter I've used ( especially the 121GW which is just awful in this respect) .It does have one particularly dumb design feature though - There is a physical interlock between the range switch and the input terminals - you can't switch it to current if there is a plug in the voltage terminal, similarly you can't change to voltage ( or change current range) if something is plugged into a current terminal.Sounds reasonable ? Except that when in deep powerdown, the only way to wake it is by turning the range switch to off, which you can't do if there is a plug in acurrent terminal , so you need to unplug it. This could have easily been fixed by either having an extra "off" position at the right, having a small " allowing any button to wake it.An unnecessarily dumb feature of what is otherwise a really nice piece of kit.

author: Dr. Frank
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 08:03:00 pm
content: HP3458A, since 1989 and since 2009.Frank

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 10:31:56 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on January 02, 2025, 07:17:58 pmNone of the buttons will wake it up? How long ago did you purchase it? I wonder if a later one would have the same problem.***Downloading the latest manual it appears that this is still how the meter works.Auto power save function• Before shipping (In the default setting), the auto power savefunction is set to enabled. If the instrument has not been operatedfor approx. 15 minutes, it enters the sleep mode. (When theinstrument is in the sleep mode, press any key or turn the rotaryswitch to recover from the sleep mode.)When the sleep mode continues for approx. 45 minutes, the powerturns off automatically.• To recover from the power off state, set the rotary switch to OFFand then turn on the power again.• During current measurement, before setting the rotary switch toOFF, disconnect the test leads. If the rotary switch is forcibly turned,the shutter may be damaged.• If the instrument will be used for an extended period of time, disablethe auto power save function. (p. 70)• After use, set the rotary switch to OFF. The auto power save functionconsumes a small amount of current

author: thermistor-guy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 02, 2025, 11:59:27 pm
content: Fluke 8020 B, 3.5 digit multimeter. Still accurate according to my 6.5 digit DVMs.I've had it since new. It's still the first thing I reach for when troubleshooting.

author: Fried Chicken
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 01:38:44 am
content: Quote from: thermistor-guy on January 02, 2025, 11:59:27 pmThat's impressive

author: mwb1100
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 08:09:41 am
content: Quote from: Fried Chicken on January 02, 2025, 03:26:04 pmI do that as well. I also have a browser extension,Textarea Cache, that often helps (but sometimes something I expect to be saved in the cache isn't - I've never taken a deep dive to figure out what the deal is with that).

author: woody
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 10:10:13 am
content: A grey Fluke 25.On my desk for at least 30 years and the first thing I use when I want to know about a voltage, current, resistance or connection.Simple, unbreakable, accurate enough and its major advantage: it works forever on a 9V cell, even when I forget to switch it off. Which is often. All the more worrisome because it has two 'off' positions......Edit: sacked the Mayor.....

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 10:36:55 am
content: I'm still waiting for someone to say something that inspires me to go on an ebay buying spree..... Keep it up.(3458a doesn't count... I don't have that kind of budget)

author: Sorama
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 10:42:22 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on January 02, 2025, 07:17:58 pmthat's one quite expensive dmm!

author: guenthert
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 11:09:28 am
content: Quote from: Fried Chicken on December 31, 2024, 03:59:05 pmYou mean which piece do I want to sell next? j/kI like the concept of a Null meter and am unreasonably fond of my two -hp-419A (one fix-up in progress, the other donor), even though they are truly obsolete except in niche applications.The instrument I use the most however is my -hp-3457A. Those don't get much love around here, chiefly due to the low-contrast LCD display and the noisy 10V (30V) range. I use it mostly remotely though and hence don't care so much about the display (or that it is the instrument with the most buttons ever). The 1V (3V) and 100mV (300mV) ranges are however quite good and the precision of resistance measurement is decent. I like also that it doesn't need a fan (with still low tempco around pleasant temperatures) and draws little power. They are underrated IMHO. I got it for a low price on the secondary market in the US a few years ago. I opened it once to check on the battery, which is still good and it looks pristine inside.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 11:16:33 am
content: 1 dmm handhelds, sure i'm kinda gossen addicted27i 28s 29s 30m, metrahit x-tra, amprobe .... not much in the yellow "ish" anymore, had a few 1892 variables psu's, dont have enough3 scope Picoscope, old turd like tek 7254b 7404, siglents sds1000x siglent sig gens hf uhf ...4 bench dmm oldies 34410a5 solder equipment and all others you may need loll mostly Hakko stations, smd ones too, hot air ...

author: jonovid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 11:29:53 am
content: cheap Chinese all in one 3 pin component tester& the 2018 Jaycar analog multimeter get's most work.

author: m k
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 12:49:56 pm
content: Must be gray 77, been around since '80s.2nd is not exactly TE, but connected, noob Weller VP 801 EC from '90s.

author: 44kgk1lkf6u
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 03:21:50 pm
content: Quote from: guenthert on January 03, 2025, 11:09:28 amI like that the HP 3457A measures resistors using 3 V. Its resistance function measures diodes at 1 mA, 100 μA, 10 μA, 1 μA, and 100 nA. It is convenient for figuring out the ideality factor. The source also goes to about 8 V. So it can also light up a white LED.

author: Bobson
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 03:49:13 pm
content: Quote from: Fried Chicken on December 31, 2024, 03:59:05 pmI have never seen a scope with continuity function.My favorites are HP 3466A and Goertz Unigor 6e, both restored from junk.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 06:02:13 pm
content: Quote from: 44kgk1lkf6u on January 03, 2025, 03:21:50 pmAlso good for damaging BC550/BC560 low noise transistors. Care is needed with older multimeters that have high compliance voltage.

author: fourfathom
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 03, 2025, 06:13:41 pm
content: At the moment my favorite is the NanoVNA. I've been designing, building, testing, and selling lots of filters and filter/preamps (in the 1-100 MHz range) and even though I have several big and medium spectrum analyzers with tracking generators, that little VNA is awfully convenient. Having the VNA being able to measure return loss and other params is definitely helpful during the prototype fine-tuning process.

author: Robert763
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2025, 02:29:34 pm
content: Favorite, first I reach for and "you can only take 1" choice: Fluke 8060A 4.5 digit handheld DMM.Second Picoscope 3423 4 Ch 12 bit 'scope, third R&S FSH-3 23 with accessories.

author: armandine2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2025, 02:47:04 pm
content: ...I can't lie I do like something easy on the eye ..... apparently, even a rubber mallet has its place.