Heathkit Model IT-3120 FET/Transistor Tester
There is something about an analog meter that conveys "real truth" about a device. It's the real stuff - and not some erroneous abstracted value displayed several layers upwards of the digital zone.
But, I guess I'm a sign of my times, which have passed.
Anyway, this unit is a good buy. Some things to look for:
- After fifty years the battery connectors will sometimes have corroded, leaving a resultant bimetal diode in series with the battery. The dead giveaway of this is the "battery test" - as seen when the battery test button is pressed, will give a meter reading that is about half or two thirds of full scale (instead of the full scale reading that new batteries should provide). This was the case with my unit.
The screws on the enclosure may have rusted tight, so care is needed when disassembling the case to add new batteries, so as not to strip the screws. The additions of new batteries should be assumed on such an old unit.
The other rough spot on these, after fifty years, is the potentiometers (two of them on the panel). Before I could get accurace reading, I had to deoxit both of them thoroughly. Other than that there's not much to go wrong on this unit, so don't be afraid to add it to the bench lineup.
Bestätigter Kauf: Ja