Filename: http://www.mbzponton.org/n2awa/equipment.txt Revised: 23-oct-2020 Created: 14-may-2006 -------------------------- Test Equipment References: -------------------------- Test Equipment Supplies: MCM Electronics http://www.mcmelectronics.com Mouser Electronic Supply http://www.mouser.com Caltronix / Calibration and Metrology Services 235 Middle Road Suite 100 Henrietta NY 14467 585-359-3780 www.caltronixinc.com customerservice@caltronixinc.com Instrument calibration services. Including analog VOM repair and calibration. Brought my Triplett 630-APL Bakelite VOM to them for repair on 13-oct-2004. Caltronix was recommended by Goldcrest Electronics. Results of repair and calibration: Notified on 05-nov-2004 that the meter was ready. They gave me a detailed list of what was done and a certificate of calibration. Breakdown of costs: $34 for calibration, $65 for repair. Total cost including repair (order and replace 3 resistors) and calibration: $101.81. ----------------------------------- Workshop Test Equipment & Supplies: ----------------------------------- Is a VTVM (Vacuum tube Volt Meter) better than a VOM (Volt Ohm Meter)? My old Triplett and Simpson VOMs may not be the best choice for working with vacuum tube radios. With an input impedance of only 20,000 ohms per Vdc and 5,000 ohms per Vac, the meter acts as a voltage divider and loads the circuit under test and throws the measurement off. A better choice for vintage tube radio work is an old VTVM. The input impedance is closer to 10M ohm per volt and is less likely to load the test circuit and throw off the measurement. Popular VTVM models are made by Eico, Hewlett-Packard, Heath, Knight, RCA Senior "VoltOhmyst" and RCA Junior "VoltOhmyst". These brands are pretty much all the same. The newer solid state voltmeters all use FET input transistors for a high input impedance. Believe it or not, the $2.99 item from Harbor Freight is not bad at all. Buy two or three! DMM (includes capacitance meter): Craftsman Model 82139 "auto ranging multimeter". Measures capacitance, volts, ohms, temperature (type K thermocouple sold separately), diode check, current: uA, mA, A. Input impedance: 7.5 M ohm (Vdc and Vac). $25 in 2006. Still available as of 08-oct-2007. Two AA batteries. H-P Type 606A / $25 + $13 (freight) = $38 (US Army surplus). Arrived 23-nov-2004, but was missing two front panel fuses and the fuse caps (covers). F1 (B+) = Type 313.150 (0.15A - slow blow). F101 (line) = Type MDX 2A (2A 250V - slow blow). The HP 11507A (load terminator / accessory) was damaged during shipment, so he sent a replacement unit (arrived 02-dec-2004). The H-P 606A originally sold for $1,300-$1,800 in the 1960s. Robert Mozeleski moz@ncx.com Scranton, PA 18505. Instruction Manual for the HP 606A: http://bama.edebris.com/manuals/hp/606a Digikey Electronic Supply has the slow blow fuses. Power Supply: Kepco model: MSK 40-2.5M. DC output: 0-40Vdc, Amps: 0-2.5A, Power: 0-100W. Sells new for $810 (as of spring 2006). Test lead (BNC to alligator clips, or similar). H-P 606A requires a BNC test lead. Description 1 (used to search web): RG-58U test cable with a molded strain relief BNC connector on one end and red & black test clips on the other. RG-58 cable is 3ft long with an additional 7" of red & black wire from a strain relief to the clips. Description 2 (used to search web): BNC Male to Dual Minigrabber Clip. 15-nov-2004: Stancor model # GIS-1000, Isolation Transformer (1000VA / 8 Amps out). This Stancor isolation transformer has a 3 wire cord, and a AC outlet receptacle. It has an electrostatic screen/shield connected to the third wire ground. No box necessary, although it will get hot under load. Bought one from M&M Electrical Surplus for $25. M&M Electrical Surplus 217 Border City Road Geneva, NY 14456-1971 315-781-5326 17-nov-2004: Variable transformer / Powerstat 10A (Variac style). Powerful enough to drive the 8A Stancor isolation transformer. Bought on eBay (item 3853137435) $69.00 + $15.00 shipping = $84.00 03-dec-2004: Purchased two sets (eBay item 3857394904) of BNC-to-test-clip leads ($4.00 each plus shipping) from... Zipski Circuits & Surplus (www.zipski.com) 205 Edinburgh Bolingbrook, Illinois 60440 October 2005: TV-10B/U electron vacuum tube tester / Serial number 223 Maunfactured for Navy Department - Bureau of Ships Was missing the bias fuse and fuse cover* Courtesy: Bill Burlingame (WA2LVP) 12-jul-2011: In an effort to get the TV-10B/U tube tester functional, found the bias fuse and fuse cover. Courtesy: Roy Wildermuth (W2IT) 02-jun-2006: Rochester Hamfest (Dome Arena) Linear Power Supply Westcom (designed by Astron / Irvine, California) Model RS-12A Probably dates from late 1970s or early 1980s 12V/12A (9A continuous output) $20.00 / Ed Gable (K2MP) (AWA curator) Capable of powering a 2m/70cm amateur mobile rig in the shack Measured output 15.5 VDC (unloaded) Adjusted output (internal potentiometer) to 13.8VDC (03-jun-2006) Replaced power cord (03-jun-2006) Fuse: 3A 250V slow-blow 29-oct-2006: B&K (B+K) Precision Model 1460 oscilloscope with 1:1 probe. This scope has a 10 MHz frequency response. Circa 1970. Original instruction manual was included. Courtesy: Tim (WB2PAY). 24-aug-2007: AWA Conference flea market Weller model "8250A" (250 watt) soldering iron Price: $18. Weller replacement tips can be found at "Debbie Supply" (East Rochester) for $5.00 18-nov-2007: Heath Cantenna HN-31 (1961-1983) dummy load. Courtesy: Len (WA2ZNC) The impedance of the load measured 45 ohms. Original specification was 50 ohms (with a tolerance of 45 - 55 ohms). Measurement was by putting the common lead of an ohm meter on the top of the can and the positive lead into the center of the SO-239 connector. 21-nov-2007: Gallon of new transformer oil. Courtesy: RG&E 22-nov-2007: Heath Cantenna HN-31 (1961-1983) dummy load. Courtesy: Paul (K2DB) The impedance of the load measured exactly 50 ohms. Original specification was 50 ohms (with a tolerance of 45 - 55 ohms). Measurement was by putting the common lead of an ohm meter on the top of the can and the positive lead into the center of the SO-239 connector. 03-mar-2009: Tektronix model T922 dual trace oscilloscope with 10:1 probe. The T922 is a dual-trace, mono time base oscilloscope that displays channel 1 and channel 2 signals simultaneously. DC response is to at least 15 MHz at 2 mV/div sensitivity. Sweep mode, alternate or chopped, is automatically selected. Traded a Kenwood model PS30 power supply for the Tektronix T922 with Lynn (W2BSN). Lynn picked up the scope at a garage sale about 1.5 years earlier. Manual not included. 20-may-2011: Knight (kit) "KG-680" capacitor checker. Great condition. Needed some cleaning. Has magic eye tube. Purchased for $5.00 at Kimberly Marie Antiques at 91-93 Main Street in Phelps, NY on the way to Ithaca, NY for the weekend. Tel. 315-759-8484 or 315-777-5657. kimberlymaries@yahoo.com 11-jun-2011: Update on the Knight (kit) "KG-680" capacitor checker. Brought it up on a variable transformer and the magic eye tube lit up. Attached a known good capacitor to the leads and it tested good. Cleaned the unit and opened it up to find two tubes: Type 6E5 (magic eye) Made for Knight by RCA Type 6C4 Made for Knight by RCA The Type 6C4 (courtesy: http://www.r-type.org/exhib/aam0043.htm) The 6C4 triode was specified as both an amplifier and an RF power valve. In the latter role it would deliver 5.5 Watts. With a very small electrode size in a small envelope volume, this would make it ideal for hand portable equipment. In larger apparatus it could deliver enough drive power for much larger PA's. According to an advertisement in the catalog, the original price of the KG-680 kit was $14.95 (with the test leads). Thanks to Jim Addie of the knight kit web page (www.knightkit.com) for the .pdf of the advertisement. 11-jul-2011: Purchased the following items... Sencore "Mighty Mite II" tube tester Bulk shipment (160+) miniature European vacuum tubes Eico model "377" audio signal generator 12 ceramic replacement 9 pin tube sockets Seller: Karl Horst / British Columbia, Canada Price: $330 plus shipping ($38) = $368 15-jul-2011: 7-pin Pomona TVS-7 socket adapter (tube extender) Radio Daze (p/n: SKA-7-A) $4.00 Tube and parts extractor (forcep style) Radio Daze (p/n: GC5092) $1.50 28-jan-2012: Purchased from Bob (N2PWP) at the Lockport Hamfest: Field strength meter (passive, bridge) with a nice large ľA meter, gain control knob, and telescoping antenna with BNC connector - all packaged in a clean, gray "bud box" (project box). $20. 17-oct-2020: B+K 1803C 100 MHz frequency counter - eBay $69 + $10 freight. Excellent condition, included original box. No manual. Purchased to use with the Viking Valiant transmitter to see what frequency it was on. Use with BNC connector and rubber ducky antenna. It was slightly off frequency, so on 22-oct-2020, emailed Caltronix (Henrietta, NY) to get a quote to calibrate. Sent email to: customerservice@caltronixinc.com. Connie Corwin (Operations Manager) replied (ccorwin@caltronixinc.com) Cost to calibrate: $68. Dropped it off around 3:00 p.m. on 23-oct-2020. ETA 1-2 weeks. ----------- Watch List: ----------- Watch List: VTVM (Vacuum Tube Volt Meter). High input impedance so does not load the circuit under test. VTVM brands/models of interest: Eico - models: (249, 232, etc.) Heatkit - models: (V6, etc.) Hewlett-Packard - models: (410B, etc.) Make sure to get the probes, and owner's manual. Watch List: B&K model "707" tube tester. Lynn (W2BSN) has one, and it is capable of testing the European miniature tubes common in German radios of the 1950s - 1960s. Watch List: Hickock-designed "TV-7" (ex-Navy) tube tester. Roy (W2IT) has one. They have a good reputation, but sell for crazy money. The model TV-10 is an upscale version of the TV-7, but not as well known, and consequently less valuable. Watch List: Tube socket adaper kit "MX-1258". Contained in a small gray metal box and matches (compliments) the TV-7 and TV-10 tube testers. Watch List: Capacitance meter: AES (www.tubesandmore.com) p/n: S-Z150 $59.95. Watch List: DMM: high input impedance (10M ohm +) digital multi-meter: MCM Electronics p/n: 72-7720 Tenma meter $25. Note this meter will read Peak AC volts and not RMS. Will have to multiply a non-sinusoidal voltage by 0.707 to get rough RMS. AES p/n: S-Z3220 $49.95. Watch List: AES (www.tubesandmore.com) high input impedance DMM: Part number: S-Z3220, 2007 Catalog, page 111. MULTIMETER, DIGITAL, Ergonomically designed. Uses one 9V battery, included. 0.5% basic DC accuracy audible continuity test. 3 1/2 digit LCD, 0.625" high 10M ohm input resistance. 1.5" x 3" x 7.5"(w/o rubber case), verload protection. capacitance to 20 uFD, polarity indicator, frequency to 10 MHz, over range indicator, 10 A (AC or DC), low battery indicator, hFE and diode test, tilt stand and case, 1.6 lbs. $49.95 Watch List: RF signal generator (if the H-P 606A ever bites the dust): AES p/n: S-MFRGEN $159. MCM Electronics: p/n: 2005B B&K Precision $231.29. Watch List: Oscilloscope: Watch for Tektronics Type 465 and 466 scopes. Both are 100MHz. Watch List: GFI outlets: Home Depot. Watch List: Rubber floor pad: Try Home Depot. Watch List: 01-sep-2007: Watch for the European tube testers by Neuberger (model: RPG-375) Watch List: Frequency counter for ham band frequencies and general coverage. [540 kc to 28 MHz (10 meters)] Watch List: Watt Meter (Bird, etc.) with slug/s for ham bands. Watch List: Crystals (FT-243 style) (frequencies desired - TBD) Watch List: 75 meter dipole antenna 1/8 inch polyester antenna rope "dog bone" end insulators --------------------- The Quest Never Ends. ---------------------