The Smell of Molten Projects in the Morning

Ed Nisley's Blog: Shop notes, electronics, firmware, machinery, 3D printing, laser cuttery, and curiosities. Contents: 100% human thinking, 0% AI slop.

The New Hotness

  • Beckman DM73 Circuitmate Multimeter: Ground Clip

    Among the many treasures Mad Phil left me was a Beckman DM73 CircuitMate multimeter (manual at the Boat Anchor Manual Archive):

    Beckman DM73 - new ground clip
    Beckman DM73 – new ground clip

    Although it’s rated to 500 V, it violates the fundamental principle of high-voltage electronics debugging:

    Always keep one hand in your pocket!

    The scorched and truncated probe tip on the “ground wire” shows Phil slipped at least once:

    Beckman DM73 - probe tip
    Beckman DM73 – probe tip

    After far too long, I sacrificed a black multimeter probe from the heap, soldered an alligator clip on the end, and, henceforth, will use it appropriately. Mostly, I never do any high-voltage work, but you never know.

    I suppose I should splice that nice black probe onto the end of the Beckman wire for low-voltage work…