Fixed a 7D20 (70 MHz DSO for Tektronix 7K mainframes) that was failing several attenuator relay tests. "Discovered" that it can do XY while I was reading the manual.

Crappy picture. I had to use about a 20 second exposure because storage area for that scope has little lighting and I turned most of it off to take a picture of the CRT.

A couple of the front panel LEDs are burned out. They're not going to get fixed because it requires major disassembly to get to them.

 

I believe that I have the circuit schematics for that B+K curve tracer somewhere, if you need it.

 

I believe that I have the circuit schematics for that B+K curve tracer somewhere, if you need it.

I have it. Used it when I bought the unit about 20 years ago. It was non-functional and I needed to replace the 7432.

 

wifi stopped, first reboot router, nope. Reboot comcast box no wifi onboard, nope. 3rd reboot main channel box comcast. Works lol

I’ve also found my Ipad won’t connect, so I reboot the wifi in settings.

kv

 

I repaired a Casio LK-270 keyboard that would not power on (with no schematics to be found).

 

Furnace stopped again today, last time the motor connected to a relay, I suspected it might be. Once I had those soldered again I reinforced it with solder wick, old trick.

This time it was the relay to the glow bar, both 120vac you come to a quick idea what it is. Sure enough one pin cleaned and re-soldered, now working just fine.

Saving a board at $499, used $170. Nice to be retired and able.

kv

 

My tenant called as the HVAC thermostat died. Showed me the AA batteries she removed. Very corroded ends, 2 months old Duracells. She put new ones; nothing. The contacts inside the thermostat contaminated with corrosion. Scraped well to shiny, works.

 

I don’t have a fancy thermostat, don’t have to worry about that, the new ones are likely to be smart thermostat’s. Smart Home Security Thermostat’s, they require batteries.

kv

 

I fixed the rattle on the car's exhaust. I'd been meaning to do it for quite a while, but it's been so rainy in Britain this autumn that every where is muddy and I didn't fancy lying on the ground to look under the car.
Anyway, I found this was loose:

It is 50mm in diameter and weighs 500g.
I thought it was a resilient mounting, but it was bolted to the front end of the rear silencer, but to nothing else. After cleaning the mud off, I googled the part code and found that it was an "exhaust damper". It seems as though its main function is to add extra mass to the silencer to take the resonance below 23Hz (4 cylinder engine at 700 rpm idle). The mass is supported on a lossy rubber spring so at higher frequencies it acts like a snubber network to absorb the vibration.
Anyway, to paraphrase a certain high street food store, this isn't an ordinary rubber weight, this is a Jaguar rubber weight, which is why a new one costs forty quid.

 

Pressure relief valve in hot water tank.

1. diagnose: 1 min
2. look it up: 5 min
3. drive to Lowes: 5 min
3. locate replacement: 10 min
4. drive home: 5 min
5. replace: 5 min

 

Pressure relief valve in hot water tank.

1. diagnose: 1 min
2. look it up: 5 min
3. drive to Lowes: 5 min
3. locate replacement: 10 min
4. drive home: 5 min
5. replace: 5 min


View attachment 310192

Interesting to note that the task that took the longest was finding it in the store.

 

Pressure relief valve in hot water tank.

1. diagnose: 1 min
2. look it up: 5 min
3. drive to Lowes: 5 min
3. locate replacement: 10 min
4. drive home: 5 min
5. replace: 5 min


View attachment 310192

6. Save money.

 

4ft workshop LED lights went on the blink.
Now repurposed as two 2ft grow lights.

 

6. Save money.

My original 6 was:

6. Call plumber.

When I presented the project plan to the lovely wife Morticia.

 

My original 6 was:

6. Call plumber.

When I presented the project plan to the lovely wife Morticia.

Take the money you saved and have a nice dinner, I guess you can take her too.

 

Take the money you saved and have a nice dinnerbeer...

 

Take the money you saved and have a nice dinnerbeer...

Quite a few at the rate plumbers get around here. If I remember correctly, $125 just to come to the house if they do nothing else.

The difference between what Lowes charged for the part ($30) and what the plumber would have charged would be worth several beers.

Having a plumber do this job would have set me back at least $200.

 

Quite a few at the rate plumbers get around here. If I remember correctly, $125 just to come to the house if they do nothing else.

The difference between what Lowes charged for the part ($30) and what the plumber would have charged would be worth several beers.

Having a plumber do this job would have set me back at least $200.

Have you seen the price of Guinness lately?

 

Have you seen the price of Guinness lately?

Just looked it up at my nearest liquor store.

$16.99 for a 12 pack. So my savings would buy me about 120 of them.

 

Just looked it up at my nearest liquor store.

$16.99 for a 12 pack. So my savings would buy me about 120 of them.

Guinness?

Down here: