Electronics Forum / Equipment / February 2006

can we take it as a fact that some electronic equipment wears out
faster if you're constantly turning it on and off, while it may last
longer if you had just left it on the whole time?
if you think this is true, why do some components wear out while others

I'm trying to find a part number for the following device:
It is a card reader of sorts, and somebody once mentioned that it might work
by using IR.  I'm not too sure.  The cards have no magstripe etc (look a bit
like mifare cards), however this device is about 10 - 15 years old, so ...

Several on-line used test equip retailers want what I consider outrageous
prices for used models: US$2200. That's just a few $ less than they were when
new.
Any suggestions where to find these at reasonable prices?

   I'm trying to contact either Ron Kelly or Ron Hensley, both of whom
worked at Cushman Electronics some years back. If anyone has contact
information regarding these gentlemen I would appreciate it.
Thanks,

Can I buy something in the UK like a conducting "shim" to insert
between batteries and measure current?  
Below are some details of what I mean.
===============================================

I have opened an ordinary battery to get the carbon rod and the black
powdery stuff around it stained my drawer. I had some nicads in there
and I was wondering if the nicads would be affected?
Some of the Nicads did have some white stuff on the positive

What is the current drain of a small electret mic similar to this:
        http://www.maplin.co.uk/images/full/27416i0.jpg
Am thinking of the sort which takes an internal silver oxide battery
and is mono.

I have just posted the following manuals for auction to ebay under
phiscock3sct. All manuals are in good  to excellent condition and starting
bid is $2.
Dumont 248 oscilloscope.

I am looking for a device that can convert dtmf to fsk, so that my
Panasonic cordless phone caller id will work. Any suggesstion from
anybody.
Thanks.

Need user manual for subject or the meaning of the Lo G en Hi inputs

I am looking for a service manual for a Simpson (Wavetek) 420 function
generator. I
need to calibrate this instrument and need to know the settings for each of
the 10 internal pots.

My TV remote control has been a bit hit and miss.  Sometimes it
works and sometimes it doesn't.  I took it apart and cleaned it as
follows:
ONE

Just curious as to the level of potential interest in a pair of retrofit
modules to replace the now virtually unobtainable, TEK-specific parts U400 &
U800 which often seem to fail in these otherwise superb scopes.
I'm not an electronics engineer, but a good friend of mine, himself ...

Cold Heat Soldering Iron
$19.99 plus s&H
http://rapidresponse.directtrack.com/z/23560/CD2024/&dp=321031
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I like many of you had my first experience with electronics through the
electronic kits that Radio Shack has had over the years. The versions
that spanned the 50, 100, 200 electronic experiments all come to mind.
My question is...how many versions and types of these kits have they