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News announcements and other topics => News => Topic started by: tim123 on September 19, 2013, 10:26:53 AM

Title: Satan's Test Equipment...
Post by: tim123 on September 19, 2013, 10:26:53 AM
Hi folks,
  I've noticed that when I switch on my bench power supply, the readout always starts off with 66.6v on both channels.  ???

It took a few goes, but I got a photo, attached below.

Does anyone else have test equipment that shows signs of evil tendencies?

:)
Tim
Title: Re: Satan's Test Equipment...
Post by: lumen on September 19, 2013, 10:40:34 AM
I suggest you buy a small GONG or bell and walk around the room ringing the gong and yelling OUT WITH YOU EVIL and see if the numbers change.
:o
Or just think 999 because someone put something in backwards.
;D
Title: Re: Satan's Test Equipment...
Post by: MileHigh on September 19, 2013, 07:08:33 PM
It's possible that it's an "Easter egg," you never know.  I read about 1960s minicomputers putting up smiley faces on the blinking lights that show you the registers when certain catastrophic hardware failures happened.   There are tons of them in computer lore.
Title: Re: Satan's Test Equipment...
Post by: magpwr on September 19, 2013, 10:09:16 PM
Quote from: tim123 on September 19, 2013, 10:26:53 AM
Hi folks,
  I've noticed that when I switch on my bench power supply, the readout always starts off with 66.6v on both channels.  ???

It took a few goes, but I got a photo, attached below.

Does anyone else have test equipment that shows signs of evil tendencies?

:)
Tim

hi tim123,

I wanted to laugh but then i suddenly remember since i like watching paranormal documentary eg:ghost or demon.It's where people go and search for evil presence in a haunted location.
Some groups had some EMF detector to detect it's presence But if it detects demons in the haunted vicinity the EMF will show reading as "6.66".

It's strange these unknown have a uncanny ability to meddle with electronic equipment."With the accuracy of 2 decimal place"

hahaha.Time to take out your bible and watch the reading again.Remember to ask question like if you are a demon....... >:( >:( >:(

Good luck and sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite.

hahaha........Oh Dear....
Title: Re: Satan's Test Equipment...
Post by: gyulasun on September 20, 2013, 06:04:11 AM
Quote from: tim123 on September 19, 2013, 10:26:53 AM
Hi folks,
  I've noticed that when I switch on my bench power supply, the readout always starts off with 66.6v on both channels.  ???

It took a few goes, but I got a photo, attached below.

Does anyone else have test equipment that shows signs of evil tendencies?

:)
Tim

Hi Tim,

I suppose this 66.6V is measurable at the output too, not just shown on the display only?
IF yes, then was it brand new when you got it and back then it started correctly?
A schematic would be good to see if you got such for the PSU but I found a link with some notices on issues  and inside images, so I think this is a normal linear power supply with one-one pass transistor per output channel. It seems that the puffer voltage of 66 V which developes across the biggest (in diameter and height) electrolytic capacitor and the pass transistor (mounted on the heat sink) is somehow able to let it go out to he output (if it is measurable there, that is).   
If you load the supply for say 10-15 minutes continuously (any one channel) normally with a few watts of lamp, resistor, whatever for instance, and then remove the load and check whether the supply starts again with the 66.6 V display (and output voltage).
If yes then some of the smaller electrolytic capacitors mainly in the control circuits (like 100 uF, 220 uF or even 470 uF etc) may have become leaky (or drying out). To check and find this cap would need an ESR capacitor meter, unfortunately.
The fact, that both channels show the same behaviour may mean the problem is in a circuit common to both channels, this would need studying the schematic diagram.
Here is the link with the images:  http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1030827 (http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1030827) 

rgds, Gyula
Title: Re: Satan's Test Equipment...
Post by: fritz on September 20, 2013, 08:39:01 AM
I would assume that somebody had a lot of fun to remove the display segment from the originally 88.8 display test pattern.
Its quite usual for 7-segment displays to lit all segments on power up.
Title: Re: Satan's Test Equipment...
Post by: tim123 on September 20, 2013, 08:43:27 AM
Quote from: gyulasun on September 20, 2013, 06:04:11 AM
I suppose this 66.6V is measurable at the output too, not just shown on the display only?

Hi Gyula :)

No, the supply has a button you have to press for output - and it's always initially off. It looks like its software sets the displays to 666 at power-up - as a kind of self-test. Like most LED displays would power up with 888.

QuoteIF yes, then was it brand new when you got it and back then it started correctly?

I bought it new, I think from Farnell. It has always done it. There's nothing wrong with the supply.

It is the Caltek PSM3/2A - as per the link you posted...
http://uk.farnell.com/caltek/psm3-2a/psu-laboratory/dp/1270466

I assumed they all did it...
Title: Re: Satan's Test Equipment...
Post by: tim123 on September 20, 2013, 09:49:20 AM
Quote from: fritz on September 20, 2013, 08:39:01 AM
I would assume that somebody had a lot of fun to remove the display segment from the originally 88.8 display test pattern.
Its quite usual for 7-segment displays to lit all segments on power up.

Hi Fritz :)
  yes, I think that is the most likely answer, and that's what I always assumed...

It would normally be 888, but either for fun, or perhaps for other reasons, the programmer used 6's.

However, I'm now beginning to wonder... Do all PSs of the same model (PSM3/2A) do this? Does anyone else out there have the same model?

Perhaps mine is... 'Special'?  :o
Title: Re: Satan's Test Equipment...
Post by: ty on September 20, 2013, 10:15:25 PM
Quote from: magpwr on September 19, 2013, 10:09:16 PM
hi tim123,

I wanted to laugh but then i suddenly remember since i like watching paranormal documentary eg:ghost or demon.It's where people go and search for evil presence in a haunted location.
Some groups had some EMF detector to detect it's presence But if it detects demons in the haunted vicinity the EMF will show reading as "6.66".

It's strange these unknown have a uncanny ability to meddle with electronic equipment."With the accuracy of 2 decimal place"

hahaha.Time to take out your bible and watch the reading again.Remember to ask question like if you are a demon....... >:( >:( >:(

Good luck and sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite.

hahaha........Oh Dear....

Hi Magpwr,

I'm trying to reach you to discuss some possibilities of the peltier project you had posted. also PM'ed you as well. hope you'll respond to this.

thanks
Title: Re: Satan's Test Equipment...
Post by: tim123 on September 30, 2013, 12:28:01 PM
I just spotted one - in the Pulse motor build-off...

The display goes to 666 as DiadonA switches on his multimeter at 0:31s:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0uDcmXM67M

:o