EEVblog

[@douggale5962]

You must strike terror in the heart of manufacturers! You have no mercy when it comes to criticism of poor construction, however, your praise is high when deserved. Great reviews!

[@GardeningZ]

I ordered an IET labs RCS-500, which is a resistor and capacitor combo box. It failed on the day it arrived. I just used it for about an hour. One of the "high quality custom made" switch was broken.

[@rogertopful]

For $500 bucks, I want perfect built not bodged.

[@jaxxmathew7620]

i dont mean to be so off topic but does anybody know of a way to log back into an Instagram account..? I somehow lost the account password. I appreciate any assistance you can give me

[@taylorharlem4932]

@Jaxx Mathew instablaster =)

[@jaxxmathew7620]

@Taylor Harlem Thanks for your reply. I found the site thru google and I'm trying it out atm. I see it takes quite some time so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@jaxxmathew7620]

@Taylor Harlem It did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. I'm so happy! Thank you so much, you saved my ass!

[@taylorharlem4932]

@Jaxx Mathew no problem xD

[@danijel124]

You do realise this is a bigger scam than those white van guys???

[@dhpbear2]

8:00 - Maybe that 10 MEGOHM range was calibrated using drips of flux :)

[@Tangobaldy]

If they stamped an apple logo on it then its worth $500. Looking inside its like a hobby kit made buy a noob. What a rip off.

[@jeanious2009]

Yeah but if you think about it, and Dave mentioned it, if each thumb wheel switch cost 20 bucks and you have 9 of them then that right there would be over 180.00 just in switches. But yeah I agree 400-500 is just plain CRAZY!

[@Gin-toki]

+jeanious2009 The price is mainly due to the calibration of the unit and the calibration report. You can also buy one without calibration+report for less :)

[@allesklarklaus147]

Cobra 142 hi knobhead

[@OneBiOzZ]

its been 6 years, lets see if its still bang on!

[@christopherperry8693]

DIY your own for 20 bucks with off the shelf eBay bits. Spend the other 480 bucks on booze and then solder together for Quality kit as good as the 500 bucks version.

[@EEVblog]

Although you can get very expensive multi-turn pots with calibrated readout dials...

[@MrJetra]

The code switches seem to equal APEM IR110ND (RS P/N:425-0805), though they are custom build. These swithes are extremely expensive just as standard parts (DKK 190 / $27 in todays RS price). That explains some of the high price.

[@EEVblog]

@mageepaddy Because the flux residue could potentially have a high leakage resistance (say 100Mohms). Put that in parallel with 1K and it makes no difference. Put it in parallel with 10M and it matters a lot.

[@NL2500]

There is a update in EEVblog #229 (from 17:28) The 'hacked wire' is deliberately there.

[@IndustrialGoblin]

@EEVblog Exactly! It will take massive amount of time to do that, especially if you need to set more than two values.

[@EEVblog]

@TheCrazyInventor I thought about trying that, but I have no doubt they'll be under the stated 25ppm

[@69penetrator69]

You can get decimal pushwheel switches on eBay for around 5 bucks for a 10-pack. Add another 10 bucks for the resistors and the case and you saved yourself a ton of money.

[@EEVblog]

@RSole52 The same way you can pay $50 for a quality connector...

[@EEVblog]

@98JMA Yes, of course it would cost you less to build yourself, that's why these are common DIY project.

[@MostFolkCallMeOrangeJoe]

If they're creating switches with custom contact positions, Instead of using resistors of value (1,2,2,2,2), would it not be easier to use (1,2,4,8), i.e. binary place values?

[@costa_marco]

Adam Harrington You could, but your part types increase. If you can have consistent valued 1 and 2 resistors, why use different part values? Manufacturing is easier also, because you only have to keep track of 2 types of resistors for each decade, and not 4. My opinion only.

[@jan.tichavsky]

@neutron7 well for that price I would expect top class soldering, cleaned flux and no such solder joints, it seems they are cheap enough to not use new resistor there.

[@EEVblog]

@JumperOneTV You'd have to disconnect from your circuit and measure it each time, kinda inconvenient!

[@randacnam7321]

Mine has proper resistors in the tenths of an ohm resistance bank. Of course mine is also much older (the Unimax [not IET marked] switches have 1986 date codes and most of the resistors have printed text ratings instead of color bands).

[@DeeegerD]

Thanks for the video. Making one ranging from 1 to 99.999999 Megaohms using 1% 1/4 watt resistors, 10 position DIP switches and some protoboard. For a hobby bench it should be fine. Cost about $5 ;)

[@jeanious2009]

5 bucks? Are you sure, it could be if you plan on manufacturing 1k units or so.

[@DeeegerD]

bought my parts via eBay 1% resistors, 10 dips (need 8), proto pcb 5x7 cm board, some standoffs... Pretty inexpensive to build - it might hit $7 lol.

[@Zetex2000]

Digger D ye, it will be shit. get some proper vichay resistors.

[@DeeegerD]

Tested all the resistors and very accurate (I have a really good meter). Just because you buy components on ebay does not mean they're crap - many come from Taiwan, same source as the others. Some are not up to par, but for hobby projects ok. Test components before you use them.

[@gregfeneis609]

There may be some property they like in the 10M resistor, such as tolerance or stability, that they can't get in a 20M resistor unless they pay more.

[@brickboiler]

I'm sure the thing works great, but for 500 bucks they should have at least glued the case shut so you wouldn't be disappointed by what's inside.

[@CoolDudeClem]

I think I'll stick with varibale resistors and trim pots for custom resistances

[@IndustrialGoblin]

@heroineworshipper Then how'd you know what resistance you've set?

[@rich1051414]

is all that cost in the 'precision' thumbwheels? I know some of those things have a ridiculous retail cost.

[@EEVblog]

@MrDubje Good quality switches wipe away that stuff.

[@NLS87]

Must be audiophile resistors

[@kevtris]

For $500 I would've wanted switches that were higher quality than just a contact riding on a PCB. Granted the copper might be heavier than normal but it's still going to wear if you click those switches quite a bit.

[@koncertLive]

police radar guns are required by law to verify calibration on all test equipment used to calibrate the laser or radar as defined by specifications. Maybe that is why that certificate is so important to them.

[@funcatvids9198]

what a bunch of crap. I understand that they *might* have used high quality switches, but everything else is just COTS. For example, these 0.1% 0.5W resistors are 0.66$ worth for 1-piece quantity on digikey! I just think they price 500$ not for the quality, but for a) labor cost (it looks like hand soldered... it's not a simple all-smd PCB that you automatically assemble and it's done) b) they really sell few of them...

[@Shlomo15]

I'd rather build a 30 dollar box every 3 years than pay 500 dollars for one.

[@585585MC]

In europe that thing is priced €884. For that price they can solder better, clean the flux and avoid that "hacked wire" (that is deliberately there).

[@TommyAventador]

$500+ for a few 1% resistors? Atleast use smd resistors. $70+ to calibrate? How do you calibrate a resistor? This is shocking! You actually paid the extra $$$ for the printed labels.

[@allesklarklaus147]

Tommy Aventador You buy 10 resistors and throw out the 9 ones that do not fit.

[@AgentOffice]

wake up! That's not botched, that extra metal is calibrated for losses and is modified

[@TheCrazyInventor]

Would be fun to stick this thing in your climate chamber and see how much those values drift over temperature. I'm just wondering how good their custom resistors are. :)

[@TrueBlueAustralian]

So about $100 worth of parts..Love this video type..

[@MrDubje]

How about dust, skin particles getting into the switches...?

[@repro7780]

Wow, I can buy a really nice multimeter for that price!

[@jakefriesenjake]

I don't think multi meters can do what this box can do

[@repro7780]

@@jakefriesenjake I was thinking more in terms of dollar value, not function....its just a box with resistors in it, after all.

[@jakefriesenjake]

@@repro7780 true

[@Notinthemafia1]

Gold plated PCBs don't get fully tinned, they are gold/nickel plated to protect the traces. Single sided/double sided has what to do with quality? Nothing. you use what you need...

[@Notinthemafia1]

Given the type of service these see (sitting on a bench) it is not an issue. We use these at my job, i have worked there 5 years and they only die when someone overloads them. All the ones we have around have been there from way before my time... Interesting side note about the series 10Mohm. 2 series resistors should by probability give better accuracy than a single 20M. The hacked wire is not pretty but electrically dosen't matter. The leftover flux is unacceptable...

[@jijzer4581]

Just a question how can you calibrate this thing?

[@MrJetra]

Calibration is basically just a comparison of the D.U.T. to a calibration standard, i.e. a unit with a specified accuracy. From Wikipedia: "Strictly, the term calibration means just the act of comparison, and does not include any subsequent adjustment."

[@ubuntututorials]

I wouldn't call them "scum", as obviously people are willing to pay the price for this equipment.

[@EEVblog]

@JustinRLynn Yes, I agree. I'd prefer a good quality plastic case.

[@jordanwaughtal7649]

Is it bodged or calibrated?

[@98JMA]

Surely it would cost you less to build one yourself, even if you bought top-quality switches, used only the best PCB clad, bought the best quality resistors and even bought a Fluke multimeter to calibrate it?

[@movax20h]

It is nice, does the job, and is calibrated, traced. But that flux on mega ohm ranges, really does bother me. The switches doesn't really look to be anything special either.

[@avalon449]

Looks like they cut a lot of corners but not on the price!

[@dany_2945]

that's seems kinda bad for 500$+70 calibration, i hope the reliability is good

[@nerdydev]

how did you get it?

[@slap_my_hand]

the most expensive resistor avalible today.

[@TheError404]

i have 6 old soviet 10 digit switches, they are maybe 30 or 40 years old but they work like new, so i am planning to make a resistance box for less than $10 ^_^

[@ForViewingOnly]

Somebody at IET will be getting their arse kicked for sending Dave the one with all the bodges!

[@38911bytefree]

for 500 buck I expected a uP and a color TFT to give me the color coding of the resistor I selected.

[@fridgebulb]

Thats pretty cheap and dirty looking in places, for something that costs so much.

[@w0mblemania]

Damn. You beat me to it. (And only by 5 months.)

[@yambo59]

$539.00--??!!! - what a scam-!! No way this thing is worth near that kind of money, the construction looks like kitchen table and you could build one with 1/2% resistors and a pushbutton decade selector and do nearly as well, in fact I think the push buttons work better than the rotarys, they seem more positive. I built one using 8, 10-position segments of the larger KSA-2 button selectors using 1/2 watt 1% through hole resistors and its very satisfactory unless you need extroardinary accuracy. Only issue on the one ohm range you have to REL out the inherent contact and wiring resistance so if you need high single ohm accuracy maybe youre better off reading one ohm with a more direct method not through a switch, but including the over priced project box I have a total of about $30 and a couple hours invested.

[@OzDelphi]

IET Labs, a subsidiary of Monster Cable, lol.

[@ubuntututorials]

That looks more like a $20 or $50 device, not $500...!

[@trebushett2079]

Disagree a lot with you here, Dave. Looks to me like it's a pile of badly assembled components built into little more than a (too) small cheap 'project box', yuk! I've seen better soldering from china.

[@MrTrain4]

Just pick the rs-200w version for under $200

[@elliott1787]

@TrueBlueAustralian Try to find 9 good thumbwheel switches under $100.

[@jijzer4581]

Buy for 1 dollar assamble for 25 make good profit

[@didgitalpunk]

that's really shitty quality for 500 bucks. what a rip-off.

[@FrozenHaxor]

What a waste of money! I wouldn't pay $50 for it...

[@Schmiki24]

500 bucks for a few resistors...

[@neutron7]

@Schmiki24 and very expensive custom made switches. 9 of them. $500 is cheap for a big electronics house. for DIY, then get or make a decade box.

[@dennisqwertyuiop]

One wrong mistake and its fried would no want it

[@stephenbarlin2314]

Seems very poor for so much money. For a hobbyist make your own?

[@Kevin_geekgineering]

$500 for this

[@nikiamz6501]

Definitely over overpriced. 500$ for 50 resistors in a 5$ box. Nope

[@Arek_R.]

I saw gold plated thumbwheel switches like that one on ebay for 25$. Resistors, 5$? Box? 5$? 1h of american job? 10$? Banana connectors? 1$? Stickers, wires and others, 1$? Total 47$ So they earn 453$ on one unit! Bastards! I'm gonna make one like that, It will cost about 10$, yes, I will not use long life switches, just that cheapest chinese one, so? I will replace them after 5 years, what a problem?

[@Zetex2000]

+Arek R. ye well here is a thing. the gold plated switches on ebay are nothing like the switches in IET. as dave said IET manufacre their own switches and they are maybe the best switches that you can get today. they are no where near even 50$switches. they are like 250$, and will last for ever. the resistors im pretty sure also custom made and are pretty high quality. those are not your 0.01$ resistors, each resistor is pretty high quality so it will be expensive. the box can be any cheap 5$ box like your said work is free because it fun banana connectors shold be gold plated and pretty high quality. maybe 10$ for both. the other garbage is 10$ for anything else. but ye this box is too expensive for what you get.

[@Arek_R.]

+the real illuminati 250$ for nice switches? Im sure they made it for 10$ and can sell for about 20$. 10$ for gold plated bananas? bullshit... In our days gold plating is cheap(small amont of gold). Gold bananas are for 1$, not sure for small quantities.

[@Zetex2000]

Arek R. nnnnnope.

[@Arek_R.]

+the real illuminati nnnnnnnnnnope

[@Zetex2000]

Arek R. nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnope

[@AgentOffice]

great value

[@NLS87]

Wow! My degree is finally paying off, I can make this $500 product with about $5 or so XD

[@585585MC]

In europe that thing is priced €884. For that price they can solder better, clean the flux and avoid that "hacked wire" (that is deliberately there).