Maxim makes an opamp, MAX44280, that has a specified input capacitance of 0.4 pF. That would be great in some apps where Cin causes noise-gain peaking. I figured I'd give Maxim another chance, after being s*****d by them in the past. So I went online and filled out their sample request. The process makes no sense, website runaround, but eventually I got it done. Two days later I got an email to the effect that the sample request was waiting for a product-line manager approval. I responded and asked why, and was told that it was standard internal procedure and would take only another 24 hours. OK, a week later I got two samples, packaged in a short tube and wrapped in a ball of sticky masking tape. These opamps, like most Maxim parts, have nonstandard pinout. I built a test fixture to measure Cin. With power off, I measured 1.4 pF on the non-inverting input pin. I powered it up and the opamp didn't act anything like an opamp. I checked everything three times and figured the amp was blown, so I tried to replace it. It's an SC70, really tiny, and my tweezers slipped and I pogoed it into the carpet, never to be seen again. The sales engineer emailed me to see how the samples were coming along, and I told him the situation. He promised to get me 10 more ASAP. Then he called back with a technical guy. I explained my setup. I'm using +-2.5 volt supplies, and the technical guy said that this is a single-supply opamp and might not be qualified for dual-supply operation. He said he'd contact the designers or something. I asked him how they defined and measured the 0.4 pF Cin, and he said he'd find out. They were due to call me last Monday. So far, no more parts, no call. -- John Larkin Highland Technology Inc www.highlandtechnology.com jlarkin at highlandtechnology dot com Precision electronic instrumentation Picosecond-resolution Digital Delay and Pulse generators Custom timing and laser controllers Photonics and fiberoptic TTL data links VME analog, thermocouple, LVDT, synchro, tachometer Multichannel arbitrary waveform generators
Never Buy Maxim (again)
Started by ●October 13, 2013
Reply by ●October 13, 20132013-10-13
On Sunday, October 13, 2013 3:34:32 PM UTC-4, John Larkin wrote:> Maxim makes an opamp, MAX44280, that has a specified input capacitance of 0.4 > > pF. That would be great in some apps where Cin causes noise-gain peaking. > > > > I figured I'd give Maxim another chance, after being s*****d by them in the > > past. > > > > So I went online and filled out their sample request. The process makes no > > sense, website runaround, but eventually I got it done. > > > > Two days later I got an email to the effect that the sample request was waiting > > for a product-line manager approval. I responded and asked why, and was told > > that it was standard internal procedure and would take only another 24 hours. > > > > OK, a week later I got two samples, packaged in a short tube and wrapped in a > > ball of sticky masking tape. > > > > These opamps, like most Maxim parts, have nonstandard pinout. I built a test > > fixture to measure Cin. With power off, I measured 1.4 pF on the non-inverting > > input pin. I powered it up and the opamp didn't act anything like an opamp. I > > checked everything three times and figured the amp was blown, so I tried to > > replace it. It's an SC70, really tiny, and my tweezers slipped and I pogoed it > > into the carpet, never to be seen again. > > > > The sales engineer emailed me to see how the samples were coming along, and I > > told him the situation. He promised to get me 10 more ASAP. Then he called back > > with a technical guy. I explained my setup. I'm using +-2.5 volt supplies, and > > the technical guy said that this is a single-supply opamp and might not be > > qualified for dual-supply operation. He said he'd contact the designers or > > something. I asked him how they defined and measured the 0.4 pF Cin, and he said > > he'd find out. They were due to call me last Monday. > > > > So far, no more parts, no call. > > > > > > -- > > > > John Larkin Highland Technology Inc > > www.highlandtechnology.com jlarkin at highlandtechnology dot com > > > > Precision electronic instrumentation > > Picosecond-resolution Digital Delay and Pulse generators > > Custom timing and laser controllers > > Photonics and fiberoptic TTL data links > > VME analog, thermocouple, LVDT, synchro, tachometer > > Multichannel arbitrary waveform generatorsMaybe try something novel like buying them next time: http://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Keyword=MAX44280
Reply by ●October 13, 20132013-10-13
On Sun, 13 Oct 2013 12:42:54 -0700 (PDT), bloggs.fredbloggs.fred@gmail.com wrote:>On Sunday, October 13, 2013 3:34:32 PM UTC-4, John Larkin wrote: >> Maxim makes an opamp, MAX44280, that has a specified input capacitance of 0.4 >> >> pF. That would be great in some apps where Cin causes noise-gain peaking. >> >> >> >> I figured I'd give Maxim another chance, after being s*****d by them in the >> >> past. >> >> >> >> So I went online and filled out their sample request. The process makes no >> >> sense, website runaround, but eventually I got it done. >> >> >> >> Two days later I got an email to the effect that the sample request was waiting >> >> for a product-line manager approval. I responded and asked why, and was told >> >> that it was standard internal procedure and would take only another 24 hours. >> >> >> >> OK, a week later I got two samples, packaged in a short tube and wrapped in a >> >> ball of sticky masking tape. >> >> >> >> These opamps, like most Maxim parts, have nonstandard pinout. I built a test >> >> fixture to measure Cin. With power off, I measured 1.4 pF on the non-inverting >> >> input pin. I powered it up and the opamp didn't act anything like an opamp. I >> >> checked everything three times and figured the amp was blown, so I tried to >> >> replace it. It's an SC70, really tiny, and my tweezers slipped and I pogoed it >> >> into the carpet, never to be seen again. >> >> >> >> The sales engineer emailed me to see how the samples were coming along, and I >> >> told him the situation. He promised to get me 10 more ASAP. Then he called back >> >> with a technical guy. I explained my setup. I'm using +-2.5 volt supplies, and >> >> the technical guy said that this is a single-supply opamp and might not be >> >> qualified for dual-supply operation. He said he'd contact the designers or >> >> something. I asked him how they defined and measured the 0.4 pF Cin, and he said >> >> he'd find out. They were due to call me last Monday. >> >> >> >> So far, no more parts, no call. >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> >> >> John Larkin Highland Technology Inc >> >> www.highlandtechnology.com jlarkin at highlandtechnology dot com >> >> >> >> Precision electronic instrumentation >> >> Picosecond-resolution Digital Delay and Pulse generators >> >> Custom timing and laser controllers >> >> Photonics and fiberoptic TTL data links >> >> VME analog, thermocouple, LVDT, synchro, tachometer >> >> Multichannel arbitrary waveform generators > >Maybe try something novel like buying them next time: >http://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Keyword=MAX44280And miss out on all that tech support? -- John Larkin Highland Technology Inc www.highlandtechnology.com jlarkin at highlandtechnology dot com Precision electronic instrumentation Picosecond-resolution Digital Delay and Pulse generators Custom timing and laser controllers Photonics and fiberoptic TTL data links VME analog, thermocouple, LVDT, synchro, tachometer Multichannel arbitrary waveform generators
Reply by ●October 13, 20132013-10-13
Den s=F8ndag den 13. oktober 2013 21.34.32 UTC+2 skrev John Larkin:> Maxim makes an opamp, MAX44280, that has a specified input capacitance of=0.4>=20 > pF. That would be great in some apps where Cin causes noise-gain peaking. >=20 >=20 >=20 > I figured I'd give Maxim another chance, after being s*****d by them in t=he>=20 > past. >=20 >=20 >=20 > So I went online and filled out their sample request. The process makes n=o>=20 > sense, website runaround, but eventually I got it done. >=20 >=20 >=20 > Two days later I got an email to the effect that the sample request was w=aiting>=20 > for a product-line manager approval. I responded and asked why, and was t=old>=20 > that it was standard internal procedure and would take only another 24 ho=urs.>=20 >=20 >=20 > OK, a week later I got two samples, packaged in a short tube and wrapped =in a>=20 > ball of sticky masking tape. >=20 >=20 >=20 > These opamps, like most Maxim parts, have nonstandard pinout. I built a t=est>=20 > fixture to measure Cin. With power off, I measured 1.4 pF on the non-inve=rting>=20 > input pin. I powered it up and the opamp didn't act anything like an opam=p. I>=20 > checked everything three times and figured the amp was blown, so I tried =to>=20 > replace it. It's an SC70, really tiny, and my tweezers slipped and I pogo=ed it>=20 > into the carpet, never to be seen again. >=20 >=20 >=20 > The sales engineer emailed me to see how the samples were coming along, a=nd I>=20 > told him the situation. He promised to get me 10 more ASAP. Then he calle=d back>=20 > with a technical guy. I explained my setup. I'm using +-2.5 volt supplies=, and>=20 > the technical guy said that this is a single-supply opamp and might not b=e>=20 > qualified for dual-supply operation. He said he'd contact the designers o=r>=20 > something. I asked him how they defined and measured the 0.4 pF Cin, and =he said>=20 > he'd find out. They were due to call me last Monday. >=20 >=20 >=20 > So far, no more parts, no call. >=20 >=20it uses a magic hidden ground pin to tell if it single or dual supply? -Lasse
Reply by ●October 13, 20132013-10-13
On Sun, 13 Oct 2013 12:34:32 -0700, John Larkin <jjlarkin@highNOTlandTHIStechnologyPART.com> wrote:> > >Maxim makes an opamp, MAX44280, that has a specified input capacitance of 0.4 >pF. That would be great in some apps where Cin causes noise-gain peaking. > >I figured I'd give Maxim another chance, after being s*****d by them in the >past. > >So I went online and filled out their sample request. The process makes no >sense, website runaround, but eventually I got it done. > >Two days later I got an email to the effect that the sample request was waiting >for a product-line manager approval. I responded and asked why, and was told >that it was standard internal procedure and would take only another 24 hours. > >OK, a week later I got two samples, packaged in a short tube and wrapped in a >ball of sticky masking tape. > >These opamps, like most Maxim parts, have nonstandard pinout. I built a test >fixture to measure Cin. With power off, I measured 1.4 pF on the non-inverting >input pin. I powered it up and the opamp didn't act anything like an opamp. I >checked everything three times and figured the amp was blown, so I tried to >replace it. It's an SC70, really tiny, and my tweezers slipped and I pogoed it >into the carpet, never to be seen again. > >The sales engineer emailed me to see how the samples were coming along, and I >told him the situation. He promised to get me 10 more ASAP. Then he called back >with a technical guy. I explained my setup. I'm using +-2.5 volt supplies, and >the technical guy said that this is a single-supply opamp and might not be >qualified for dual-supply operation. He said he'd contact the designers or >something. I asked him how they defined and measured the 0.4 pF Cin, and he said >he'd find out. They were due to call me last Monday. > >So far, no more parts, no call.Exceding device ratings again? VSS is not spec'd out for negative voltages. Cheers
Reply by ●October 13, 20132013-10-13
Den s=F8ndag den 13. oktober 2013 23.10.05 UTC+2 skrev Martin Riddle:> On Sun, 13 Oct 2013 12:34:32 -0700, John Larkin >=20 > <jjlarkin@highNOTlandTHIStechnologyPART.com> wrote: >=20 >=20 >=20 > > >=20 > > >=20 > >Maxim makes an opamp, MAX44280, that has a specified input capacitance o=f 0.4>=20 > >pF. That would be great in some apps where Cin causes noise-gain peaking=.>=20 > > >=20 > >I figured I'd give Maxim another chance, after being s*****d by them in =the>=20 > >past. >=20 > > >=20 > >So I went online and filled out their sample request. The process makes =no>=20 > >sense, website runaround, but eventually I got it done. >=20 > > >=20 > >Two days later I got an email to the effect that the sample request was =waiting>=20 > >for a product-line manager approval. I responded and asked why, and was =told>=20 > >that it was standard internal procedure and would take only another 24 h=ours.>=20 > > >=20 > >OK, a week later I got two samples, packaged in a short tube and wrapped=in a>=20 > >ball of sticky masking tape. >=20 > > >=20 > >These opamps, like most Maxim parts, have nonstandard pinout. I built a =test>=20 > >fixture to measure Cin. With power off, I measured 1.4 pF on the non-inv=erting>=20 > >input pin. I powered it up and the opamp didn't act anything like an opa=mp. I>=20 > >checked everything three times and figured the amp was blown, so I tried=to>=20 > >replace it. It's an SC70, really tiny, and my tweezers slipped and I pog=oed it>=20 > >into the carpet, never to be seen again. >=20 > > >=20 > >The sales engineer emailed me to see how the samples were coming along, =and I>=20 > >told him the situation. He promised to get me 10 more ASAP. Then he call=ed back>=20 > >with a technical guy. I explained my setup. I'm using +-2.5 volt supplie=s, and>=20 > >the technical guy said that this is a single-supply opamp and might not =be>=20 > >qualified for dual-supply operation. He said he'd contact the designers =or>=20 > >something. I asked him how they defined and measured the 0.4 pF Cin, and=he said>=20 > >he'd find out. They were due to call me last Monday. >=20 > > >=20 > >So far, no more parts, no call. >=20 >=20 >=20 > Exceding device ratings again? >=20 > VSS is not spec'd out for negative voltages. >=20it doesn't have a ground pin so negative in relation to what? -Lasse
Reply by ●October 13, 20132013-10-13
On Sun, 13 Oct 2013 17:10:05 -0400, Martin Riddle <martin_rid@verizon.net> wrote:>On Sun, 13 Oct 2013 12:34:32 -0700, John Larkin ><jjlarkin@highNOTlandTHIStechnologyPART.com> wrote: > >> >> >>Maxim makes an opamp, MAX44280, that has a specified input capacitance of 0.4 >>pF. That would be great in some apps where Cin causes noise-gain peaking. >> >>I figured I'd give Maxim another chance, after being s*****d by them in the >>past. >> >>So I went online and filled out their sample request. The process makes no >>sense, website runaround, but eventually I got it done. >> >>Two days later I got an email to the effect that the sample request was waiting >>for a product-line manager approval. I responded and asked why, and was told >>that it was standard internal procedure and would take only another 24 hours. >> >>OK, a week later I got two samples, packaged in a short tube and wrapped in a >>ball of sticky masking tape. >> >>These opamps, like most Maxim parts, have nonstandard pinout. I built a test >>fixture to measure Cin. With power off, I measured 1.4 pF on the non-inverting >>input pin. I powered it up and the opamp didn't act anything like an opamp. I >>checked everything three times and figured the amp was blown, so I tried to >>replace it. It's an SC70, really tiny, and my tweezers slipped and I pogoed it >>into the carpet, never to be seen again. >> >>The sales engineer emailed me to see how the samples were coming along, and I >>told him the situation. He promised to get me 10 more ASAP. Then he called back >>with a technical guy. I explained my setup. I'm using +-2.5 volt supplies, and >>the technical guy said that this is a single-supply opamp and might not be >>qualified for dual-supply operation. He said he'd contact the designers or >>something. I asked him how they defined and measured the 0.4 pF Cin, and he said >>he'd find out. They were due to call me last Monday. >> >>So far, no more parts, no call. > >Exceding device ratings again? >VSS is not spec'd out for negative voltages. > >CheersAh. Humor. Excellent. -- John Larkin Highland Technology Inc www.highlandtechnology.com jlarkin at highlandtechnology dot com Precision electronic instrumentation Picosecond-resolution Digital Delay and Pulse generators Custom timing and laser controllers Photonics and fiberoptic TTL data links VME analog, thermocouple, LVDT, synchro, tachometer Multichannel arbitrary waveform generators
Reply by ●October 13, 20132013-10-13
On Sun, 13 Oct 2013 17:10:05 -0400, Martin Riddle <martin_rid@verizon.net> wrote:>On Sun, 13 Oct 2013 12:34:32 -0700, John Larkin ><jjlarkin@highNOTlandTHIStechnologyPART.com> wrote: > >> >> >>Maxim makes an opamp, MAX44280, that has a specified input capacitance of 0.4 >>pF. That would be great in some apps where Cin causes noise-gain peaking. >> >>I figured I'd give Maxim another chance, after being s*****d by them in the >>past. >> >>So I went online and filled out their sample request. The process makes no >>sense, website runaround, but eventually I got it done. >> >>Two days later I got an email to the effect that the sample request was waiting >>for a product-line manager approval. I responded and asked why, and was told >>that it was standard internal procedure and would take only another 24 hours. >> >>OK, a week later I got two samples, packaged in a short tube and wrapped in a >>ball of sticky masking tape. >> >>These opamps, like most Maxim parts, have nonstandard pinout. I built a test >>fixture to measure Cin. With power off, I measured 1.4 pF on the non-inverting >>input pin. I powered it up and the opamp didn't act anything like an opamp. I >>checked everything three times and figured the amp was blown, so I tried to >>replace it. It's an SC70, really tiny, and my tweezers slipped and I pogoed it >>into the carpet, never to be seen again. >> >>The sales engineer emailed me to see how the samples were coming along, and I >>told him the situation. He promised to get me 10 more ASAP. Then he called back >>with a technical guy. I explained my setup. I'm using +-2.5 volt supplies, and >>the technical guy said that this is a single-supply opamp and might not be >>qualified for dual-supply operation. He said he'd contact the designers or >>something. I asked him how they defined and measured the 0.4 pF Cin, and he said >>he'd find out. They were due to call me last Monday. >> >>So far, no more parts, no call. > >Exceding device ratings again? >VSS is not spec'd out for negative voltages. > >CheersSno-o-o-ort >:-} ...Jim Thompson -- | James E.Thompson | mens | | Analog Innovations | et | | Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus | | San Tan Valley, AZ 85142 Skype: Contacts Only | | | Voice:(480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat | | E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 | I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.
Reply by ●October 13, 20132013-10-13
On Sun, 13 Oct 2013 13:08:03 -0700, the renowned John Larkin <jjlarkin@highNOTlandTHIStechnologyPART.com> wrote:>>Maybe try something novel like buying them next time: >>http://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Keyword=MAX44280 > >And miss out on all that tech support?They did inform you that you're trying to use a single-supply op-amp on dual supplies. That kind of advice is hard to put a value on. Best regards, Spehro Pefhany -- "it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward" speff@interlog.com Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com
Reply by ●October 13, 20132013-10-13
On Sun, 13 Oct 2013 20:28:45 -0400, Spehro Pefhany <speffSNIP@interlogDOTyou.knowwhat> wrote:>On Sun, 13 Oct 2013 13:08:03 -0700, the renowned John Larkin ><jjlarkin@highNOTlandTHIStechnologyPART.com> wrote: > > >>>Maybe try something novel like buying them next time: >>>http://www.mouser.com/Search/Refine.aspx?Keyword=MAX44280 >> >>And miss out on all that tech support? > >They did inform you that you're trying to use a single-supply op-amp >on dual supplies. That kind of advice is hard to put a value on. > > >Best regards, >Spehro PefhanyMakes you wonder about the technical competence of Maxim "tech support" staff AND the users of such crap. ...Jim Thompson -- | James E.Thompson | mens | | Analog Innovations | et | | Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus | | San Tan Valley, AZ 85142 Skype: Contacts Only | | | Voice:(480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat | | E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 | I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.
