Bought a couple of oscilloscope probes today to replace those damaged/lost. They don't fit, because the plastic surround exceeds the specified diameter for a BNC plug. My scope has a hole in its front plate to accommodate a standard BNC plug, but it's not big enough for this oversized plastic variant. This probably saves several cents per probe, but created a problem I didn't need. Sylvia.
Problems we don't need
Started by ●November 10, 2021
Reply by ●November 11, 20212021-11-11
Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote in news:iv3i4nFarmlU1@mid.individual.net:> Bought a couple of oscilloscope probes today to replace those > damaged/lost. > > They don't fit, because the plastic surround exceeds the specified > diameter for a BNC plug. My scope has a hole in its front plate to > accommodate a standard BNC plug, but it's not big enough for this > oversized plastic variant. > > This probably saves several cents per probe, but created a problem > I didn't need. > > Sylvia. >Dremel is your friend.
Reply by ●November 11, 20212021-11-11
On Thu, 11 Nov 2021 14:48:38 +1100, Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote:>Bought a couple of oscilloscope probes today to replace those damaged/lost. > >They don't fit, because the plastic surround exceeds the specified >diameter for a BNC plug. My scope has a hole in its front plate to >accommodate a standard BNC plug, but it's not big enough for this >oversized plastic variant. > >This probably saves several cents per probe, but created a problem I >didn't need. > >Sylvia.I had a similar problem with some long forgotten piece of SCADA hardware. The BNC plugs fit, but they were so close together that even the official insertion/removal tool didn't fit. However, this was using a 50 ohm system, not the much higher impedance of a scope probe. I created an adapter of sorts to elevate every other connector. It was a UG-88C/U plug with BNC panel mount receptacle crammed into the plug. A short piece of bare wire connected the center pins and an ugly solder blob connected the grounds: <https://www.newark.com/amphenol-rf/ug-88c-u/rf-coaxial-bnc-plug-50-ohm-cable/dp/04M6671> <https://www.newark.com/amphenol-rf/31-10/connector-bnc-bhd-jack-str-50/dp/38F1322?st=bnc%20panel> The resulting adapter added about 1 inch to the length of the 50 ohm connection. Whether the added capacitance will cause problems on your oscilloscope will need to be determined. If you want to just see if such an adapter has a chance of working, try connecting a BNC M-M adapter (UG-491A/U) to a BNC F-F adapter (UG-914/U). This will extend the line length by 1.75 inches. If it works, build a shorter adaptor. -- Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com PO Box 272 http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Ben Lomond CA 95005-0272 Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558
Reply by ●November 12, 20212021-11-12
On 12-Nov-21 1:01 pm, Jeff Liebermann wrote:> On Thu, 11 Nov 2021 14:48:38 +1100, Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> > wrote: > >> Bought a couple of oscilloscope probes today to replace those damaged/lost. >> >> They don't fit, because the plastic surround exceeds the specified >> diameter for a BNC plug. My scope has a hole in its front plate to >> accommodate a standard BNC plug, but it's not big enough for this >> oversized plastic variant. >> >> This probably saves several cents per probe, but created a problem I >> didn't need. >> >> Sylvia. > > I had a similar problem with some long forgotten piece of SCADA > hardware. The BNC plugs fit, but they were so close together that > even the official insertion/removal tool didn't fit. However, this > was using a 50 ohm system, not the much higher impedance of a scope > probe. > > I created an adapter of sorts to elevate every other connector. It > was a UG-88C/U plug with BNC panel mount receptacle crammed into the > plug. A short piece of bare wire connected the center pins and an > ugly solder blob connected the grounds: > <https://www.newark.com/amphenol-rf/ug-88c-u/rf-coaxial-bnc-plug-50-ohm-cable/dp/04M6671> > <https://www.newark.com/amphenol-rf/31-10/connector-bnc-bhd-jack-str-50/dp/38F1322?st=bnc%20panel> > The resulting adapter added about 1 inch to the length of the 50 ohm > connection. Whether the added capacitance will cause problems on your > oscilloscope will need to be determined. > > If you want to just see if such an adapter has a chance of working, > try connecting a BNC M-M adapter (UG-491A/U) to a BNC F-F adapter > (UG-914/U). This will extend the line length by 1.75 inches. If it > works, build a shorter adaptor. > >I bought a male to male adapter and a female to female adapter, and joined them together. Seems to work OK for the kinds of frequency I deal with - it's only a 20MHz scope anyway. The extra length of metal attached to the socket does make it easier to damage the socket though. Sylvia.
Reply by ●November 12, 20212021-11-12
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Reply by ●November 12, 20212021-11-12
On 13-Nov-21 2:59 am, John Robertson wrote:> > On 2021/11/11 11:31 p.m., Sylvia Else wrote: >> On 12-Nov-21 1:01 pm, Jeff Liebermann wrote: >>> On Thu, 11 Nov 2021 14:48:38 +1100, Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Bought a couple of oscilloscope probes today to replace those >>>> damaged/lost. >>>> >>>> They don't fit, because the plastic surround exceeds the specified >>>> diameter for a BNC plug. My scope has a hole in its front plate to >>>> accommodate a standard BNC plug, but it's not big enough for this >>>> oversized plastic variant. >>>> >>>> This probably saves several cents per probe, but created a problem I >>>> didn't need. >>>> >>>> Sylvia. >>> >>> I had a similar problem with some long forgotten piece of SCADA >>> hardware. The BNC plugs fit, but they were so close together that >>> even the official insertion/removal tool didn't fit. However, this >>> was using a 50 ohm system, not the much higher impedance of a scope >>> probe. >>> >>> I created an adapter of sorts to elevate every other connector. It >>> was a UG-88C/U plug with BNC panel mount receptacle crammed into the >>> plug. A short piece of bare wire connected the center pins and an >>> ugly solder blob connected the grounds: >>> <https://www.newark.com/amphenol-rf/ug-88c-u/rf-coaxial-bnc-plug-50-ohm-cable/dp/04M6671> >>> >>> <https://www.newark.com/amphenol-rf/31-10/connector-bnc-bhd-jack-str-50/dp/38F1322?st=bnc%20panel> >>> >>> The resulting adapter added about 1 inch to the length of the 50 ohm >>> connection. Whether the added capacitance will cause problems on your >>> oscilloscope will need to be determined. >>> >>> If you want to just see if such an adapter has a chance of working, >>> try connecting a BNC M-M adapter (UG-491A/U) to a BNC F-F adapter >>> (UG-914/U). This will extend the line length by 1.75 inches. If it >>> works, build a shorter adaptor. >>> >>> >> I bought a male to male adapter and a female to female adapter, and >> joined them together. Seems to work OK for the kinds of frequency I >> deal with - it's only a 20MHz scope anyway. >> >> The extra length of metal attached to the socket does make it easier >> to damage the socket though. >> >> Sylvia. > > How about just build a short BNC plug and receptacle extension, with a > short length of cable between them? As you say it is only 20mHz... > > John :-#)#Could do, but that would have added yet another thing to the stack of things I needed to do before I could get on with what I was actually wanting to do. Sylvia.
Reply by ●November 13, 20212021-11-13
On Fri, 12 Nov 2021 18:31:07 +1100, Sylvia Else <sylvia@email.invalid> wrote:>On 12-Nov-21 1:01 pm, Jeff Liebermann wrote: >> If you want to just see if such an adapter has a chance of working, >> try connecting a BNC M-M adapter (UG-491A/U) to a BNC F-F adapter >> (UG-914/U). This will extend the line length by 1.75 inches. If it >> works, build a shorter adaptor.>I bought a male to male adapter and a female to female adapter, and >joined them together. Seems to work OK for the kinds of frequency I deal >with - it's only a 20MHz scope anyway.Those are the connectors (UG-491a/u and UG-914/u) I suggested. At 20MHz, that added capacitance shouldn't create a major problem. My capacitance guesser indicates that the 1.75 inches of adapters adds 3.7pF.>The extra length of metal attached to the socket does make it easier to >damage the socket though.I should have mentioned that my suggestion was intended to be a temporary solution and sufficient only until you are able to either modify the plastic sleeve or replace the scope probes with something that fits. If the plastic locking sleeve can be removed, it might be possible to use a lathe to turn it down so that it fits. If a lathe is not available, a drill press and a hand file. Drivel: My favorite diversion from what I'm suppose to be doing is fixing my test equipment before I can use it. That's the price I pay for using 40 year old equipment and 1 year old imported junk. Good luck. -- Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com PO Box 272 http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Ben Lomond CA 95005-0272 Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558
Reply by ●November 13, 20212021-11-13
On Friday, November 12, 2021 at 11:03:51 PM UTC-5, jeff.li...@gmail.com wrote:> On Fri, 12 Nov 2021 18:31:07 +1100, Sylvia Else <syl...@email.invalid> > wrote: > >On 12-Nov-21 1:01 pm, Jeff Liebermann wrote: > >> If you want to just see if such an adapter has a chance of working, > >> try connecting a BNC M-M adapter (UG-491A/U) to a BNC F-F adapter > >> (UG-914/U). This will extend the line length by 1.75 inches. If it > >> works, build a shorter adaptor. > > >I bought a male to male adapter and a female to female adapter, and > >joined them together. Seems to work OK for the kinds of frequency I deal > >with - it's only a 20MHz scope anyway. > Those are the connectors (UG-491a/u and UG-914/u) I suggested. At > 20MHz, that added capacitance shouldn't create a major problem. My > capacitance guesser indicates that the 1.75 inches of adapters adds > 3.7pF. > >The extra length of metal attached to the socket does make it easier to > >damage the socket though. > I should have mentioned that my suggestion was intended to be a > temporary solution and sufficient only until you are able to either > modify the plastic sleeve or replace the scope probes with something > that fits. If the plastic locking sleeve can be removed, it might be > possible to use a lathe to turn it down so that it fits. If a lathe > is not available, a drill press and a hand file. > > Drivel: My favorite diversion from what I'm suppose to be doing is > fixing my test equipment before I can use it. That's the price I pay > for using 40 year old equipment and 1 year old imported junk. > > Good luck. > -- > Jeff Liebermann je...@cruzio.com > PO Box 272 http://www.LearnByDestroying.com > Ben Lomond CA 95005-0272 > Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558Re: drivel: Just curious, What is your preference? I tend to fix my 40 yo 'junk'...Including tube testers, tek 7904 and 475, VTVM (who uses them anyway?) My one 'prize' is my Agilent mso-x0354 @ 1GHz..I'd hate to have to repair that if it became damaged. In some respects, repairing old gear is somewhat 'therapeutic'... To each their own... J
Reply by ●November 13, 20212021-11-13
On Sat, 13 Nov 2021 15:06:42 -0800 (PST), Three Jeeps <jjhudak4@gmail.com> wrote:>On Friday, November 12, 2021 at 11:03:51 PM UTC-5, jeff.li...@gmail.com wrote: >> Drivel: My favorite diversion from what I'm suppose to be doing is >> fixing my test equipment before I can use it. That's the price I pay >> for using 40 year old equipment and 1 year old imported junk.>Re: drivel: Just curious, What is your preference? >I tend to fix my 40 yo 'junk'...Including tube testers, tek 7904 and 475, VTVM (who uses them anyway?) >My one 'prize' is my Agilent mso-x0354 @ 1GHz..I'd hate to have to repair that if it became damaged. >In some respects, repairing old gear is somewhat 'therapeutic'... >To each their own... >J<http://www.learnbydestroying.com/jeffl/pics/home/test-equip-mess.jpg> <http://www.learnbydestroying.com/jeffl/crud/scopes-to-be-fixed.jpg> It's worse now. I closed my office at the end of last year and moved everything to my house. A year later, I'm still sorting through the junk, trying to find things, and fixing what I can. The workbenches are all buried under piles of junk. No sense in cleaning them up because there's no place to store the junk. Under such circumstances, the guiding principle is to not add anything new. I much prefer to fix the old test equipment. For my purposes, which is not state of the art, I don't need the latest test equipment. In the past, when I needed the latest greatest, there were friends and former employers who would allow me to use their labs or borrow their test equipment. During the Covid area, that's no longer possible. Since I can't afford to buy or rent new test equipment, my most economical option is to fix what I can get, and keep my equipment running. Second best is to buy something that may or may not do the job on eBay. I have a few Made in China pieces of test equipment (RF noise generator, sweep generator, cavities, VNA, LRC meter, battery discharge tester, etc). Most are under $100 which is much cheaper than the equivalent vintage or modern equipment. The problem is that fixing test equipment takes time away from paying projects. The deadline is always closer than predicted making diversions such as test equipment repair, a money losing proposition. When pressed, I often resort to borrowing what I need. Fortunately, I've been lucky to have friends with well equipped labs. Unfortunately, I usually end up exchanging the favor by fixing their chainsaws and emergency generators. There might have been a time when fixing old test equipment was "therapeutic" but currently, it's an exercise in frustration. Finding old repair components is becoming difficult and creative substitutions are becoming the norm. Bottom line: If you can, fix it and keep it out of the landfill. If you can't, borrow something similar. If you have time and money, buy new test equipment. -- Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com PO Box 272 http://www.LearnByDestroying.com Ben Lomond CA 95005-0272 Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558
Reply by ●November 13, 20212021-11-13
