Sometimes, a sledge - hammer is the right tool ... :-)

[Wild_Bill]

An instrument designed for this type of troubleshooting is a milli-ohm
meter, with a 4-wire test probe set and an audio generator that changes the
pitch of the tone (from the internal speaker), as the very small changes in
resistance are detected while probing around the board.
The speaker tone allows the operator to focus attention on the test points,
and not need to read the digital display constantly.

ToneOhm is a common term associated withh these type of testers, although it
may be a tradename used by Polar.

http://www.polarinstruments.com/
navigate: Products to Toneohm 950

There have been many of the older, basic Polar models in the used instrument
(and eBay) market.

The very basic model I bought (very inexpensivly on eBay) years ago wasn't a
Polar, made in Britain instead, but I forget the manufacturer's name.

A basic instrument will have a couple of selectors for resolution and tone
on/off.

Basic milliohm tester-type circuits can be found online.

--
Cheers,
WB
..............


"JW" <none@dev.null> wrote in message
news:7tn2c6t2dn21laep80o0n0mdubce8isqbe@4ax.com...

Might want to try using a higher end DMM which supports four wire
resistance measurements. I currently use a 6.5 digit Keithley 2000 which
supports this, and has a resolution of 100 micro ohms. It's worked pretty
well for me finding low resistance shorts, but they're a bit pricey on the
used market. An HP 3478A 5.5 digit DMM can be had for $125 USD or so, and
has the same 100 micro ohm resolution as well as 4 wire support.

 

[William Sommerwerck]

"Meat Plow" <mhywatt@yahoo.com> wrote in message
newsan.2010.10.22.15.23.58@lmao.lol.lol...

On Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:56:48 -0700, William Sommerwerck wrote:

I'm not sure "sledgehammer" is quite the right term. It would
be more correct to say that you handed the device sufficient
rope to hang itself.

It was the right term for me. I was trying to conjour the image of a
piece of delicate electronic equipment, dealt with (successfully) by
the use of a bludgeoning and completely inappropriate 'tool' ...

We're having some fun, so don't anybody get too serious...
I don't see what was inappropriate about the tool, nor do I consider
what you did "bludgeoning". If anything, it was quite the opposite --
not unlike handing a man with a leg injury a cane so he could stand
up. Once he's standing, you can more-easily locate the injury.

You just like to argue. Don't you have something more constructive
to do with your time?

You're right. I haven't gotten in my minimum daily dose of attacking
clueless queer-bashers like you.

 

[Jeffrey Angus]

On 10/22/2010 10:04 AM, Wild_Bill wrote:

An instrument designed for this type of troubleshooting is a milli-ohm
meter, with a 4-wire test probe set and an audio generator that changes
the pitch of the tone (from the internal speaker), as the very small
changes in resistance are detected while probing around the board.
The speaker tone allows the operator to focus attention on the test
points, and not need to read the digital display constantly.

ToneOhm is a common term associated withh these type of testers,
although it may be a tradename used by Polar.

Yuppers, I bought one on eBay shortly after this came up the
last time, Fun part it is.

Jeff

 

[Meat Plow]

On Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:56:48 -0700, William Sommerwerck wrote:

I'm not sure "sledgehammer" is quite the right term. It would be more
correct to say that you handed the device sufficient rope to hang
itself.

It was the right term for me. I was trying to conjour the image of a
piece of delicate electronic equipment, dealt with (successfully) by
the use of a bludgeoning and completely inappropriate 'tool' ...

We're having some fun, so don't anybody get too serious...

I don't see what was inappropriate about the tool, nor do I consider
what you did "bludgeoning". If anything, it was quite the opposite --
not unlike handing a man with a leg injury a cane so he could stand up.
Once he's standing, you can more-easily locate the injury.

You just like to argue. Don't you have something more constructive to do
with your time?



--
Live Fast, Die Young and Leave a Pretty Corpse

 

[Meat Plow]

On Fri, 22 Oct 2010 08:52:20 -0700, William Sommerwerck wrote:

"Meat Plow" <mhywatt@yahoo.com> wrote in message
newsan.2010.10.22.15.23.58@lmao.lol.lol...
On Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:56:48 -0700, William Sommerwerck wrote:

I'm not sure "sledgehammer" is quite the right term. It would be
more correct to say that you handed the device sufficient rope to
hang itself.

It was the right term for me. I was trying to conjour the image of a
piece of delicate electronic equipment, dealt with (successfully) by
the use of a bludgeoning and completely inappropriate 'tool' ...

We're having some fun, so don't anybody get too serious... I don't see
what was inappropriate about the tool, nor do I consider what you did
"bludgeoning". If anything, it was quite the opposite -- not unlike
handing a man with a leg injury a cane so he could stand up. Once he's
standing, you can more-easily locate the injury.

You just like to argue. Don't you have something more constructive to
do with your time?

You're right. I haven't gotten in my minimum daily dose of attacking
clueless queer-bashers like you.

Playing the gay card are you. That's pitiful. Something I would never
have thought a proud gay man like yourself would lower yourself to.

godbye *plonk*



--
Live Fast, Die Young and Leave a Pretty Corpse

 

[Wild_Bill]

I forgot to mench, I haven't used the Bob Parker - AnaTek Blue ESR meter
enough yet, to see how effective it is at finding hard shorted faults on
boards.
Since I'm not involved in repairs daily, I might not need to actually try
the Blue model for quite some time.

Although, I should have something around here that I could purposely put a
short on, and try the Blue ESR meter.

The speaker with varying tone on the toneohm-type tester is definitely a
handy way to test.

--
Cheers,
WB
..............


"Jeffrey Angus" <jangus@suddenlink.net> wrote in message
news:4cc1b334$0$14793$bbae4d71@news.suddenlink.net...

On 10/22/2010 10:04 AM, Wild_Bill wrote:
An instrument designed for this type of troubleshooting is a milli-ohm
meter, with a 4-wire test probe set and an audio generator that changes
the pitch of the tone (from the internal speaker), as the very small
changes in resistance are detected while probing around the board.
The speaker tone allows the operator to focus attention on the test
points, and not need to read the digital display constantly.

ToneOhm is a common term associated withh these type of testers,
although it may be a tradename used by Polar.

Yuppers, I bought one on eBay shortly after this came up the
last time, Fun part it is.

Jeff

 

[JW]

On Fri, 22 Oct 2010 11:04:39 -0400 "Wild_Bill"
<wb_wildbill@XSPAMyahoo.com> wrote in Message id:
<fKhwo.267598$Qg.254816@en-nntp-04.dc1.easynews.com>:

An instrument designed for this type of troubleshooting is a milli-ohm
meter, with a 4-wire test probe set and an audio generator that changes the
pitch of the tone (from the internal speaker), as the very small changes in
resistance are detected while probing around the board.
The speaker tone allows the operator to focus attention on the test points,
and not need to read the digital display constantly.

ToneOhm is a common term associated withh these type of testers, although it
may be a tradename used by Polar.

http://www.polarinstruments.com/
navigate: Products to Toneohm 950

There have been many of the older, basic Polar models in the used instrument
(and eBay) market.

The very basic model I bought (very inexpensivly on eBay) years ago wasn't a
Polar, made in Britain instead, but I forget the manufacturer's name.

A basic instrument will have a couple of selectors for resolution and tone
on/off.

Basic milliohm tester-type circuits can be found online.

Yeah, I have a Toneohm 850A at work, but IMO they were too expensive for a
single purpose such as that on my home bench. They're nice because you can
use your ears to track and not have to keep looking up. The resolution is
still only 100 micro ohms, though, same as the HP 3478A I mentioned.