What to do with obsoleted/non-functioning equipment? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: jmoreland79
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2014, 03:29:55 pm
content: The owner of the company requested the old equipment sitting around the factory and the lab be cataloged and either repaired or scrapped if beyond economic repair.The list includes:1 - Tektronix 465 scope - unknown1 - Tektronix TDS 410A scope - does not power up1 - Tektronix TDS 460 scope - does not power up1 - Tektronix TAS 465 scope - does not power up2 - Hameg HM205 scopes - 1 unknown, other does not power up1 - Hameg HM305 scope - does not power up1 - HP 3585A SA - unknown1 - HP 6812A AC Power Source - labeled as bad, unsure of problem1 - Anritsu MG443B1 Synthesizer - unknown7 - Voltech PM100 Power Analyzers - labeled as bad, unsure of problem2 - Voltech PM1000 Power Analyzers - unknown1 - Associated Research 3565D Hipot tester - unknown2 - Fluke 8021A Multimeters - unknown1 - Valhalla Scientific 2100 Power Analyzer - unknownNone of the equipment is worth repairing to us as it has long been replaced (in some cases, several times over) with upgraded equipment.However, I don't think most of the equipment should be scrapped either. The HP AC Power Source is probably beyond economic repair as I don't think it would have sat in disrepair as it is still a very viable, expensive piece of equipment. But the scopes and power analyzers were all used in a professional environment, so I don't think they would require any extensive repairs.So instead of scrapping, I would prefer to give the equipment away to students or hobbyists that maybe can't afford to buy such equipment right now. But the obvious problem is that shipping most of it would be somewhat pricey given the equipment is in an unknown functioning state. I would hate for someone to spend $40-$50 to have something shipped only to find it needs a couple hundred dollars in repairs.Any thoughts?

author: jmoreland79
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2014, 03:31:50 pm
content: Photos

author: jmoreland79
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2014, 03:32:31 pm
content: Photos 2

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2014, 03:45:11 pm
content: You could always put it on ebay and clearly mark it "condition unknown" or "for spares or repair". The buyer won't pay much and will pay the shipping. You may also be surprised at how much known broken equipment fetches, e.g. the Tek 465. Many buyers gamble that they can easily rectigy failts such as faulty batteries or electrolytic caps.On ebay you can see the realised sale price & description of items that sold recently - under "advanced search" tick the "completed listings" box.Alternatively a nearby hackspace or equivalent will usually take such stuff.

author: idpromnut
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 23, 2014, 04:01:04 pm
content: You can also throw it on the Buy/Sell thread on the forum; but basically if it is in unknown condition, probably the easy way is to ask for the buyer to pay for basically shipping. Heck even if you're going to throw it, see if some people here will take it for spare or a repair project.Oh, and ship with USPS for all your Northern Canadian buddies!

author: Skimask
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2014, 04:10:33 pm
content: Should let everybody know what State you're in.Hell, if you were next door, I'd zip over and take a shot at them...only because I've got a lot of spare time these days

author: mazurov
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2014, 04:12:14 pm
content: Quote from: idpromnut on September 23, 2014, 04:01:04 pmTwo price increases ago USPS charged ~$60 for Tek 475 shipped from Colorado to New York. Should be about twice as much to Canada. That's retail though; eBay sellers often have wholesale agreement with the shipper and can likely ship for less.

author: plus6dbE
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2014, 07:00:13 pm
content: Quote from: Skimask on September 23, 2014, 04:10:33 pmI'll second that!

author: HiTech
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2014, 12:47:39 am
content: It's a two-fold meaning: first to attempt to repair it and if that doesn't work out then shoot the d@mn thing with a gun.

author: idpromnut
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 24, 2014, 02:21:49 am
content: Quote from: mazurov on September 23, 2014, 04:12:14 pmI've seen quotes for UPS for 300-400$ CDN for shipping something of that bulk to Canada, whereas USPS is a more "reasonable" 100-120$.

author: plus6dbE
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2014, 02:34:38 am
content: Amazing to see such nice gear "obsoleted." Really drives home how sadly behind the state-of-the-art my little hobby lab is!

author: VK5RC
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 24, 2014, 02:46:12 am
content: plus6dB, no, the only people who have state-of-the-art electronics are the military or universities! Plus a few 'gear nuts', which I mean in a nice way.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2014, 02:50:25 am
content: Quote from: VK5RC on September 24, 2014, 02:46:12 amWith the exception of Bell Labs and Biomolecular companies.Edit: Well CERN might have nice equipment as well as NASA and the European Space Agency.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 24, 2014, 02:57:07 am
content: Perhaps donate it all to the nearest hacker space?I'm sure there would be one within driving distance that will happily come pick it all up?Then the group and try to repair them and use in the space for benefit of all.

author: orion242
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 24, 2014, 03:01:35 am
content: I would like one or both (if unknown condition) of the PM100s and happily cover shipping.

author: idpromnut
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 24, 2014, 03:14:43 am
content: I have to say, I'd love to take a crack at fixing the HP 3585A

author: Melt-O-Tronic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2014, 03:45:39 am
content: I'd love to take a shot* at one of those power analyzers, or maybe even the Tek 460.Donating to a local hacker space is a good idea though.*American, guilty as charged. But I mean for repair. LOL.

author: jmoreland79
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2014, 04:41:50 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on September 24, 2014, 02:57:07 amSadly I don't know what "hacker space" is, but it sounds like what I had in mind so I will give it a Google search!

author: jmoreland79
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2014, 04:45:27 pm
content: Quote from: orion242 on September 24, 2014, 03:01:35 amThere are 7 in total and they weigh out at about 8 lbs. apiece. If you provide a shipping label (add a few pounds for packaging) I will box them up for you.

author: jmoreland79
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2014, 04:49:30 pm
content: Quote from: Melt-O-Tronic on September 24, 2014, 03:45:39 amThe 460 is 20 lbs, and the power analyzer 8 lbs. If you want to send a shipping label it(they) are yours.

author: MadTux
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2014, 04:56:52 pm
content: Can I have the HP 3585A spectrum analyzer for the shipping costs to Europe?I found it quite simple to keep my stuff working. Simply get a few units (broken or functional) of the same type as cheap as possible. Usually each unit has a bad/missing component. Then take them apart and make one working unit from them. Now you can search for bad components by comparing voltages/waveforms between good and bad unit. In the end you usually end up with one junker unit and several working ones that you can keep or sell.Got an amazing 18 (yes eightteen) 3456A multimeters and and one junker unit that way for less money than a few new DVMs cost today.

author: guido
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2014, 06:36:15 pm
content: I'm drooling over the Anritsu. It's good enough to be used as working standard in reference labs...I have a DC standard, but no AC.Did some googling; 15kg, which seems to be 151 dollars from the US to the Netherlands (USPS).I would take it if you would go through the trouble of shipping it.It doesn't happen often that equipment like this becomes available over here for reasonable prices (and shipping only is more than reasonable!)

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2014, 07:54:38 pm
content: Sure about that Anritsu? The spec says that it's accuracy is 0.3dB which is worse than 3%.

author: guido
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2014, 09:50:31 pm
content: It's not an AC calibrator, that's true. But i guess it is good enough as "tranfer" in a working lab if you first hook it up to a known meter and set the output (0.01dB steps) to a specific value. Then connect the DUT and calibrate it to the value.It's basically what i can do at the moment with the DC calibrator and my 3456A. Not that i have a good "calibrated" AC meter at the moment (the 3456A isn't).But apart from this, it is a nice unit as signal gen; 10Hz to 30MHz with a choice of a lot of output impedances. Way better then anything i have available. But i could not find harmonic distortion specs though...

author: BillWojo
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2014, 10:47:16 pm
content: If you don't want to send the Anritsu overseas I'd love to have a signal generator like that. It would be shipping to zip 08016ThanksBillWojo

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 24, 2014, 11:55:13 pm
content: To answer the OP's question on what to do with the equipment: put it on Ebay and don't be afraid to ship overseas. It just takes an extra address line to state the destination country. I'm sure the money will be sufficient for lot's of pie or if it is a small company a real BBQ party

author: Napalm2002
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2014, 04:08:37 am
content: I would love the 2 fluke 8021's and a tektronix scope if u have one left. Pm me for my address and I will PayPal u money for shipping.Mike

author: psykok
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2014, 07:39:02 am
content: Hi,If you accept to ship the Tek 410 overseas I will be very happy to take it.Regards,Alex

author: jmoreland79
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2014, 01:36:37 pm
content: Quote from: nctnico on September 24, 2014, 11:55:13 pmThe problem I have with eBay is properly representing the state of the functioning equipment. For example, the Spectrum Analyzer weighs a ton, so I would hate to sell it as functioning only to find out later that this or that feature isn't working and get into a dispute with the buyer and have to deal with the cost of refunds and shipping it back.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2014, 02:09:31 pm
content: Quote from: jmoreland79 on September 25, 2014, 01:36:37 pmMany ebay descriptions indicate what is working and what is faulty. You can alwaye mark it "as is" or "for spares or repair"

author: idpromnut
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 25, 2014, 02:28:50 pm
content: Quote from: jmoreland79 on September 25, 2014, 01:36:37 pmGenerally this is the type of equipment that I look for when I'm looking for a project: not working, no clue what the fault is, pay the shipping and it's yours. Pretty-much the only reason I would be unable to take something like this is the shipping costs if it's too much. Since I'm up in Canada, I don't think it's as simple for me to print a shipping label (I refuse to use UPS or Fedex as their brokerage charges are astronomical!).

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 25, 2014, 08:37:11 pm
content: Quote from: jmoreland79 on September 25, 2014, 01:36:37 pmThere is a simple solution for that: explicitly sell on an 'as is' basis even though it powers up and it can measure a signal. People will bid accordingly and won't feel cheated. They know it is old equipment which could have faults.