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Old 07-02-2023, 09:50   #46
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Re: Multimeter for the Boat

Quote:
Originally Posted by thomm225 View Post
I've used this old cheap meter for years now on the boat.

Works great.

No clamp on amp meter so far but maybe one day.

Had the boat for 11 years without needing one.
Hey Thomm, not picking on you specifically here, yours is just the most recent post :-)

There seems to be a lot of survivorship bias of the form "I've used cheap tool for X years therefore no reason to buy good tool"

That argument is more-or-less equivalent to "I have never been in a serious car-accident therefore you don't need to wear a seatbelt."


In the interests of maintaining a meaningful dialog, I'd suggest we remember that we do not have any substantive interest in claiming that high-levels of exotic functionality are required for boat-life -- just about any modern DMM will do just about anything you need (outside of the specific topic of clamp-meter vs normal DMM).

System failures are (usually) poisson processes and while those distributions may not have been quantified within this thread, I'd argue that it is the correct mental model to employ.

And now, just because it's funny: https://xkcd.com/1827/
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Old 07-02-2023, 10:01   #47
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Re: Multimeter for the Boat

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Originally Posted by kungfoo View Post
Hey Thomm, not picking on you specifically here, yours is just the most recent post :-)

There seems to be a lot of survivorship bias of the form "I've used cheap tool for X years therefore no reason to buy good tool"

That argument is more-or-less equivalent to "I have never been in a serious car-accident therefore you don't need to wear a seatbelt."


In the interests of maintaining a meaningful dialog, I'd suggest we remember that we do not have any substantive interest in claiming that high-levels of exotic functionality are required for boat-life -- just about any modern DMM will do just about anything you need (outside of the specific topic of clamp-meter vs normal DMM).

System failures are (usually) poisson processes and while those distributions may not have been quantified within this thread, I'd argue that it is the correct mental model to employ.

And now, just because it's funny: https://xkcd.com/1827/
That’s the thing, I can troubleshoot any system on my boat with that old inexpensive meter.

I was an electronics/computer tech for 20 years before becoming a tech manager.

Just renewed my computer tech cert also which is a requirement these days.

Soon we’ll all be required to be certified as cyber security techs and have to get that cert as well.

A boat’s systems are rather simple as compared to the flight and tactical simulators we maintain here at work.

To start we use 3 phase power at both 60 and 400 HZ
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Old 07-02-2023, 10:19   #48
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Re: Multimeter for the Boat

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Originally Posted by thomm225 View Post
That’s the thing, I can troubleshoot any system on my boat with that old inexpensive meter.

I was an electronics/computer tech for 20 years before becoming a tech manager.

Just renewed my computer tech cert also which is a requirement these days.

Soon we’ll all be required to be certified as cyber security techs and have to get that cert as well.

A boat’s systems are rather simple as compared to the flight and tactical simulators we maintain here at work.

To start we use 3 phase power at both 60 and 400 HZ


Great! Now tell us how to see if that big overload has damaged the battery shunt. [emoji848]
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Old 07-02-2023, 10:48   #49
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Re: Multimeter for the Boat

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Great! Now tell us how to see if that big overload has damaged the battery shunt. [emoji848]
It's like with everything else, I prepare for the things that I'm doing with my boat.

And with the boat's systems the same.

I don't have a battery shunt but if I ever get one I'll find a way to test it if need be. (or just remove it from the circuit if it's not needed and fails)

Looks like it's for battery monitoring so I wouldn't need it anyway.

I don't think you are getting it.

Old school tech like I was are used to troubleshooting a circuit to the component level either with meter or O'Scope

Plus know all the latest computer hardware etc.

Take a shot at repairing an old CRT monitor.

I use to actually enjoy troubleshooting those even as a manager just to get out of the office.

One page of the schematic pack included here. Get your favorite O'scope and have at it.

Like I said, a boat's systems are so much easier.

My first computer class was in 1982 on a UYK-20 Octal based switches on the inside front panel

https://www.ithistory.org/db/hardwar...-rand/anuyk-20
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Old 07-02-2023, 10:50   #50
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Multimeter for the Boat

Thomm. I built an oscope in my teens. [emoji847]

I heard the Tek museum in portland OR closed. Sad.
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Old 07-02-2023, 10:55   #51
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Re: Multimeter for the Boat

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Originally Posted by team karst View Post
Thomm. I built an oscope in my teens. [emoji847]

I heard the Tek museum in portland OR closed. Sad.
Nice. Hope you had a nice guide to follow

I'm not a builder.

A week long solder school was enough for me. That so we could replace components without destroying the boards which were also covered with conformal coating

I'll do it (build something) if I have to but I'm mainly a troubleshooter.
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Old 07-02-2023, 11:02   #52
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Re: Multimeter for the Boat

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Originally Posted by team karst View Post
Thomm. I built an oscope in my teens. [emoji847]

I heard the Tek museum in portland OR closed. Sad.
Besides the pay and the troubleshooting I never really got into being a tech except recently with......wait for it

The systems on my boat!!!!

I really enjoy messing around with solar and the controllers and I also enjoyed setting up my homemade chart plotter with Raspberry Pi ($99 in 2020) and bringing in AIS from my SH GX2200 via NMEA183 and and RS232 USB Adapter

I switched out the Raspberry Pi though for my Windows 10 Toshbia Satellite Laptop

As for as tools go, I just borrowed two deep well sockets from work so I can remove the bolts from my chain plated for inspection.

I don't even have a "full" to kit to maintain all my (old Jeep's)

2002- 256,000 miles

2004- 204,000 miles

2007 - 180,000 miles

2010 - 140,000 miles

but my brother has a full set of Snap-on Tools from the 70's, a garage/barn with jacks etc, etc. His latest tool was an electric battery powered impact drill with socket attachment which I used recently to do A BRAKE JOB OBN THE 04 jEEP

I take the oldest ones and give the newer ones to my ex and my son both of whom are artist type people and totally non-technical

Video is when I still was using the Raspberry pi

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Old 07-02-2023, 11:31   #53
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Re: Multimeter for the Boat

U can do this. Take the leap. Buy a DC clampon. [emoji51]
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Old 07-02-2023, 11:59   #54
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Re: Multimeter for the Boat

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U can do this. Take the leap. Buy a DC clampon. [emoji51]
I'll bet you my brother already has one I can borrow if needed.

Really though I rarely ever used an amp meter at work as a tech.

I always troubleshoot with voltage and waveforms as a tech then resistance readings lastly or homemade/tech made octopus back in the 1990's to verify bad components
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Old 07-02-2023, 15:02   #55
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Re: Multimeter for the Boat

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Originally Posted by thomm225 View Post
I'll bet you my brother already has one I can borrow if needed.



Really though I rarely ever used an amp meter at work as a tech.



I always troubleshoot with voltage and waveforms as a tech then resistance readings lastly or homemade/tech made octopus back in the 1990's to verify bad components


Yeah. But how do u prove out Nortons current law?
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Old 07-02-2023, 17:57   #56
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Re: Multimeter for the Boat

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Yeah. But how do u prove out Nortons current law?
Sounds like you are a beginner.

You don't need to prove it. (Btw my degree is BA History. Just sayin')

You just need to be able to troubleshoot with the knowledge you learned in those awfully boring electronics classes. (remembering crap like ELI the ICE man etc and Kirchhoff....)

Mine were military which meant math, electronics, radar and IFF systems and troubleshooting for 8 hours per day every day for 9 months.

Then two years later the same thing but we went over every single line of the schematics for the systems we were to maintain including the power supply schematics.

That isn't done anymore. Schematics usually aren't even provided these days. Doesn't matter because you couldn't replace the tiny components anyway most times.

for me TPX-42 IFF

https://www.orneveien.org/adak/contr...mregis/006.htm

TPN -8 PAR Radar

ASR -8 Surveillance radar

https://www.radartutorial.eu/19.kart...rte097.en.html


UYK-20 and UYK-44 computers in the 80's

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/UYK-44

This above by age 22 or so. Degree by age 33.

Then DOS 3.2 up through window 11 plus Linux.

But today, this week I did reports on all simulators maintenance actions, scheduled and unscheduled plus explain what each tech did on every repair.

Plus all Cyber Security hours and patches, virus scans, ACAS etc

Hint our simulators each have a UPS system of 32-72 twelve volt batteries then you get to power distribution then to all the computers, I/O, control loading, visuals, etc.

Visuals: our systems use 10 projectors for about a 300 degree view and the image generators are 10 blade 1U computers

That's just for visuals alone.
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