What’s your latest test equipment acquisition?

[Cubdriver]

BK Precision 1655A combo variac and isolated power supply. got it pretty cheap. Needed a little adjustment to meter, but that was it. Was toying with the idea of an isolated power supply for a while as a safety measure and this gives me the ability to slowly power up a device or work on 100v equip as well. Note: The outlets on the unit itself have ground pins that are NOT isolated, but the hot and neutral plugs are indeed isolated from power plug ground. Did not come with the leakage probe, but may have to do some research and figure out how to make my own.

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I got the digital meter Sencore version years ago after seeing it on Shahriar's Signal Path channel - they're REALLY great for running things up for a first time - it's nice to be able to monitor the current being drawn accurately and without having to jury rig a meter into the circuit. I think you'll be very happy with it!

-Pat

 

[MFRD]

BK Precision 1655A combo variac and isolated power supply. got it pretty cheap. Needed a little adjustment to meter, but that was it. Was toying with the idea of an isolated power supply for a while as a safety measure and this gives me the ability to slowly power up a device or work on 100v equip as well. Note: The outlets on the unit itself have ground pins that are NOT isolated, but the hot and neutral plugs are indeed isolated from power plug ground. Did not come with the leakage probe, but may have to do some research and figure out how to make my own.

View attachment 3859046

I have one of these too. I had a thread going on here about it a while back. BTW, the solder temperature knob makes a good speed control for a single-speed Dremel

M

Thread 'B&K 1655 With Issue: Incorrect Dial Readings'

Mar 30, 2026

Hi all, I just found this B&K 1655 isolation transformer / variac in a (self-identified) junk shop:



I was told it works and it does, but the analog dial reads way off. If there's 120V at the output per DMM, the dial will only indicate 55V or so. If there's 40V at the output the dial will read maybe 16V, and so on. The meter reacts to input changes, and the indicated voltage is proportional to the output voltage, so the meter itself seems OK.

I looked around and found this thread and this video (best watch it at 2x) that looked promising. There is also a helpful...

• MFRD
• Replies: 10
• Forum: Test Equipment

• 

 

[saabracer23]

I have a soft spot for CD players and transports, hence my latest acquisition:

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Nice, I picked up one of those a few months back. It’s been extremely useful. Ordered it straight from Japan.

Dan

 

[KeithTr]

I use mine all the time. I have my DBT plugged into it so it's always on. And my DBT has an AC meter on it so I use that to set the voltage
out of the B&K .

Athanasios

 

[Bill Ferris]

A Tek SG 505 Option 2 low distortion oscillator in a TM 501 power module.

The source impedance switch is buggered up internally; the handle flops back and forth without actuating the contacts inside.

It's a bog standard center off DPDT miniature paddle-handled toggle switch; I'm sure I have one in one of my parts stashes; the trick will be finding it...

-Pat

FWIW, IMO/E since ordering from Tek directly purchasing in 1986, I`ve been happily using that excellent performing very low THD+N distortion SG 505 Tek audio generator, also with the IMD option, & balanced outputs.

I use it in conjunction with the excellent HQ/resolution Tek AA 501 audio analyzer with the IMD & balanced input option as very high performance audio test set for all low distortion high resolution SS audio amplification testing, both units installed in either a 500 or 5000 series power supply.

After several decades of reliable daily issue free use on my primary bench, I tracked down several complete SG 505/AA 501 duplicates to outfit my secondary repair bench after going through the eBay purchases via the owner/service manuals using the Tek test/service flexible ribbon cable remote power supply connection extenders that I also earlier tracked down & purchased also on eBay !

Shame about the oscillator`s load selector switches mild bat handle lever getting impacted at some point, though should hopefully be fairly easy to source & replace.

 

[MFRD]

Ordered it straight from Japan.

Did it cost significantly less than from the US? Just curious

 

[Adaboy5]

Battery operated and it still works. It was name your price on last day of Estate sale. $5

 

[saabracer23]

Did it cost significantly less than from the US? Just curious

I mean, I don’t think it was a huge amount. I think the price was actually right around the same, the reason I chose to order it directly from Japan was reduced shipping time. I remember looking at Amazon and it was possible for me to get the one directly from Japan like a week earlier and I was in need of it.

Dan

 

[MFRD]

the reason I chose to order it directly from Japan was reduced shipping time.

One wouldn't think it's faster to ship from Japan to the US than from the US to the US, and yet I've had the same experience too.

I got my LP10 from Zoro, they keep sending me these coupons so it was 15% off with free shipping.

 

[pac1085]

HP 11722A probe for my HP 8902a measuring receiver.
The ebay seller did a bait in switch with reusing listing photos and the one I received was in much worse condition that the one in the picture. It had a hole in it and was held together by packing tape. After confirming that it functioned fine, I was able to get a very hefty refund from them since the item wasn't as described. So, I ended up with a working probe at a very good price. I was able to clean it up, epoxy the cracks/broken screw mounts, and just neatly taped up the hole... good enough. These things go for a huge amount of $$$ normally, so I can't complain too much.