Keithley 164 Nixie Tube Multimeter Repair

[@NikolajLepka]

I can't help but imagine someone in the future who eventually gets this machine, cracking it open for debug purposes eventually finding this patch job inside

[@jimsvideos7201]

Here I was thinking, one funny transistor, big deal, but then I got to the end and now I see what you mean!

[@nomikeyno]

This video is a perfect example of why I love this channel. Mind-numbingly interesting and hilariously funny at the same time!

[@iceberg789]

wow, first time seeing anyone trying to repair an ic. :s

[@Atetus94]

True :)

[@666CoDFREAK]

He's an german engineer, expected nothing less

[@etch3130]

@Neil Derrick reporting spam now. Seems effective.

[@enlightendbel]

That's exactly what I saw one of the last engineers that accept work on Wang VS systems do when he came to revive an ancient WangVS we had in storage and needed to get running to validate modern code against. Guess what. Dude was also German. Every other engineer we contacted couldn't be arsed.

[@aneeshprasobhan]

this is no doubt one of the top 5 electronic youtube channels :D -Love from India

[@rosmianto]

Whats the other 4?

[@cathodeanode]

I have a Keithley 160 (the older nixie tube version of the 160B) and I was having trouble figuring out what was wrong with it. Your video was super helpful with diagnosing and finding the problem (bad transistor in the -15V power supply.) It's working like a charm now. Just wanted to say thanks!

[@DaveTheResurrector]

I love your presentation, just the right blend of practicality and dry humor. "The magic smoke is always an option" - words to live by.

[@ActualRealKayamariOfficialVEVO]

love going back to these older videos now that it's been 7 years, he sounds so much more careful in these compared to the sheer german confidence in new videos

[@capri2wd]

that is a real nice bench meter, well done for putting the time in to reverse engineer the dead parts and saving it from scrap. I would think it was valuable but i love the retro tech and who doesn't love nixies? great vid!

[@fricklermfk9284]

I'm right now trying to fix a Keithley 160, and your Video helped a lot! I think I'll just replace the ancient nixie drivers by those more common SN7141s you find on ebay a lot. Thanks from Germany!

[@helmutheller1538]

I also have a Keithley 160 which needs some love and calibration. And I am also from Germany :-) Do you have any more information on the unit? How did your repair go? What was wrong?

[@fricklermfk9284]

@@helmutheller1538I documented the fix on my blog, though it'll only help if the display driver unit is broken in your device: fricklers-blog.de/de/projekte/keithley160/

[@hexane360]

That hand silkscreen is crazy. I might need to make a program/plugin to convert boring routings to crazy organic-looking splines

[@Damjanhd]

I really respect people which repairs ancient electronics!

[@TheDanielConsole]

You are completely insane. Love it

[@Bright8888]

Very interesting video and I am glad, I discovered your channel. For the first time, I saw an attempt to crack open an IC with the intention of making it functional again. As you say, when you repair very old stuff like this, you have a guilty feeling that you are wasting a lot of time, but when it starts working again, the feeling is priceless.

[@PiotrK2022]

@ Marco Reps Damn, I have huge respect for persons who has so huge knowledge to fix something by making replacement parts from scrap... You blew up my mind,.

[@justinlynn]

When I saw you using that manual solder sucker I thought "I should buy him a vacuum iron"... and of course you have one. :) Keep doing what you do. Cheers

[@mr.reflect1027]

I'd love a whole series of videos just watching Marco repair random electronic bits and bobs and giving away his tricks on what to look for. They dont really teach component level troubleshooting anymore in german tradeschools :(

[@m.emrahozkaya9903]

this was the definition of geekness my friend. anything involving nixies should be saved and cared for. very good job.

[@emilcarr7190]

Damn, I'd never think of repairing an IC like that, good job!

[@josephcote6120]

Great save of a nice old meter. Any Keithley is worth saving to me.

[@edgeeffect]

Love that mix of ICs and vacuum tubes on the display board.... it's even better now you have put a couple of surface mount components on there too!

[@JIMO415]

Hello, nice repair!! I love it. I found your video because I just found one of these Keithley 164 meters. I had to go in it as well but only to clip the R404 jumper for final calibration. Values must have drifted over 40 years. VR402 would not bring in the calibration. Dc volt ranges (among others) were 1% off and it is only supposed to be 0.1% +1 digit. I am glad it was not complicated. Buying a manual off ebay helped.

[@Bllinker]

I've seen one of those ceramic DIPs being delidded with a blowtorch, the glue simply gives up after a certain temperature. You could try that next time an opportunity arises.

[@willynebula6193]

That would have to be the best repair I've ever seen on KZbin!!! You actually made a custom ic of sorts to replace an unattainable chip!!! Mate total respect👌 also the pepe insert quality KEK right there

[@lbrieden1]

Enjoyed the image of the otter banging the chip on the rocks to get at the bonding wires. Hah

[@DAILYTECHNEED]

The best repair I've ever seen, i thought you can't fix it but wow..

[@macpr0c]

That ending gave me true joy

[@RupertHair]

❤ the Puscifer @10:38 Hope you can catch MJK with Tool this year!

[@InteraliaTony]

Instructive and entertaining. You take a lot of time over the video quality. Thank you.

[@reducedlunch2222]

4 years old and still entertaining.

[@patmx5]

Test gear with nixies is always worth repairing. Excellent job!

[@chriswouse7713]

I like your attitude to repair! Bust IC, take the top off!!! Never in a million years would I think that that would be an option!

[@thecoffeeblog]

PCB paths painted by hand. Amazing

[@davekimball3610]

Aww, magic smoke is always fun, but I'm happy you were successful in avoiding it. Great work.

[@Runoratsu]

The traces on this machine are so pretty! Not like those boring 0°/45°/90° lines layouting software generates nowadays… 😄

[@ralphmadera4366]

Your brain 🧠 my friend is at another level ! Love your sarcasm !

[@maxwarfield6699]

Hello, I recently bought a Nash & Harrison [?!] Nixie tube multimeter. I am not an electrician, so I'm not quite sure of what the problem is, with this device. When I turn it on, the Nixie tubes light up, as they should but when I try to measure some voltage, the numbers don't change. This multimeter looks great, very clean and nothing inside smells burnt or discoloured or damaged. I know that Nixie tubes require a lot of voltage, so I'm very careful [scared] to measure voltages, when it is plugged in [turned on]. The capacitors look good. The resistors too. I would like to investigate further but it is very difficult to remove the boards [I counted +/- 28 cables soldered to the three main boards, inside] it would be a BIG job for a novice like me, and I don't want to damage this beautiful multimeter further. Also, I couldn't find ANY information online, whatsoever regarding this brand - much less find a schematic for it. So, if you have any advise, insight or whatever, please share it with me. Thank you kindly and be safe.

[@Split10uk]

As many others have commented...great video!

[@douro20]

I have a Dana 3800a which is still working. It's a little bit newer than this Keithley 164 but is very similar. Despite its low resolution I still like to use it occasionally since it has a very high input impedance.

[@aneeshprasobhan]

oh my god......WoW.......but I didnt understand how you manually figured out how the old IC worked :(

[@reps]

Yes, that part should have gotten a better explanation: I knew the pins from the K164 schematic, so I could attach wires to all inputs. Then I measured 0V, 1V, ... 9V and wrote down the state (High, Low) of the 4 input pins. The result matched the function table in the 74HC42 datasheet, only inverted.

[@RaffysRedstoneLab]

Nice repair video. If you were unable to fix the DMM you could have sold the tubes at least. I peronaly love the look of Nixie tubes and old gear i would have spend the 30€ for replacements :D. Keep up the good work , greetings from Germany

[@DoRC]

Marco Reps I'd definitely be interested in watching a similar procedure in the futjre

[@OctavMandru]

And you said there was no direct replacement... :D

[@jamisusijarvi646]

@@RaffysRedstoneLab but at least Nixie tubes are quite easy to get. And not too expensive

[@brucewilliams6292]

Your humor is great! It really makes my day, thank you.

[@rubusroo68]

great job, so good to see old equipment brought back to life. thank you.

[@mikemiller4838]

Your videos are great. I hope to have your level of knowledge some day. Thank you

[@BruceNitroxpro]

Now I'd love to see you do an "optimized calibration" of this tank. In other words, make it an offer it can't refuse.

[@gifedietherlaforteza2669]

Absolutely love this! You make it seem quite a bit easier than it actually really is. Keep up the great talents you have. I never knew that some ancient or so ics could be cracked open. What a nice thing to know for future encounters.

[@justinlynn]

"My 1955 counterpart should be able to use the attached schematic diagram to build a suitable replacement for the time circuit control microchip" :D

[@danijel124]

This guy is a wizard. And I dont mean that in any bad way. Nice job dude :)

[@BrianLough]

Great video! I genuinely lol'd in work at the Otter

[@eigenvector7035]

Oh that's lovely. Ive got the little brother, a Keithley 163.

[@proluxelectronics7419]

Came up in my recommendations and you now have a new subscriber, Top work.....

[@Scrogan]

Common-gate MOSFET driving? That’s some wizard shit.

[@TechBench]

Excellent repair. All that remains now is the calibration ;-)

[@THEsourman00]

You are an absolute wizard, this was yet another amazing video

[@LiquidAudio]

Absolutely fantastic repair work and video!

[@krunty]

I feel like if I said you had a Keithley problem you'd just say you could quit at any time.

[@Bodragon]

Haha! I wonder if he's heard of the 12-step program they've got over at Keithleyolics Anonymous?

[@BruceNitroxpro]

@@Bodragon , but for THIS channel, it'd be a 13 stepper at least!

[@dardosordi]

I've not been this excited for a new youtube video in a long time, your content is awesome!

[@DanBowkley]

I've got a big ol box of 74LS and 74HC series ICs, almost exclusively in DIP packages...if you want I can dig through it next time I'm home and send you any 74HC42s and...whatever that other chip is.

[@victormuckleston]

if its fun, ITS NEVER A WASTE OF TIME, and all the mistakes increase your knowledge and that is worth more than anything.

[@charlesw318]

Beautiful meter wish I had one

[@peteabc1]

'I've got a few candidates for this newly opened position' ololol :D. When you put the IC in the vice to open it I was like haha good joke..wait...what?

[@skm9420]

His reaction

[@BruceNitroxpro]

@@skm9420 , And MY reaction, also!

[@valentinocolaon6060]

I dug thru my IC stash. sn74141 is the closest I found. I have a box full of vintage IC's and unfortunately I don't know what most of them do because I can't even a datasheet.

[@PetetheSweety]

Outstanding job !

[@SBHSGA]

very impressive! love those nixie tubes!

[@gbclab]

Great repair, my very compliments

[@ReyciclismoMTB]

I love your third hand, great video I just found for super cheap. So the plan is to get it and see what happens. I just love the look of it.

[@blubbspinat9363]

The defective BCD decoder just looks like a BCD to decimal decoder IC with high voltage driver output. If so, the K155ID1, a russian IC could be a suitable replacement. And it is still available at reasonable prices NOS.

[@SBHSGA]

don't forget to link to the seal helper's KZbin channel! he/she had the right idea! :)

[@JYTRW]

Fascinating! May I get extra info about what`s happening at 9:44? I guess you`re monitoring the 4 input lines of the decoder at increasing input voltage (read by the Fluke multimeter). But the input lines are fed to the driver by the latch which is highly suspicious to be faulty. So, how can you be confident to get something sensible? Thank you

[@t1d100]

Yes, the fun is worth the repair effort. It's the whole point.

[@jamesmaxwell381]

Fantastic repair!. I mean, the way you broken the problem to pieces and found out which part of the system does what, is it learned by experience and guesses or is there a systematic procedure for troubleshooting electronics?

[@reps]

I don't think there is a general purpose recipe to repair everything, but if there is a working duplicate somewhere it usually is very helpful to exchange parts and see with which part the problem stays

[@motherjoon]

Man you got some balls for wanting to repair the bonding wires. Just a question, why not drive the gate of the mosfets to drive the nixies. How are you protecting the 74HC chip from the HV when you're pulling the sources low?

[@reps]

I only had n-channel mosfets in that size / voltage and the 74HC42 outputs are active low, so there was no other way. The IC doesn't see the high voltage though because the mosfets become non-conductive as soon as their source pins are at VCC or higher

[@hvanmegen]

hahahahaha.. the otter.. omg, this channel is hilarious.. subbed!

[@hugeshows]

Love your channel. Also, I have several of those driver chips. Let me know if you run into another candidate for one.

[@davidprice2861]

Brilliant, an incredible repair job. Well done.

[@succuvamp_anna]

That was awesome, congratulations!!!!

[@nachbelichtet]

Kudos! That's serious repair!

[@meowcula]

loved the otter scene, i cackled out loud

[@michaelhawthorne8696]

Nice repair.... Tenacity must be your middle name

[@IvanIvanov-id3de]

You may try к155ид1 for the drivers :)

[@lieblingsfarbe4453]

Aus Interesse, die N- Channel Mosfets auf dem selfmade PCB, warum brauche ich da keinen Pull down resistor ? Habe das nie Verstanden. Manchmal geht es auch ohne und manchmal nicht. Weshalb bleiben die nicht zu/auf ohne Pull Down/up Widerstand ? Edit: Hmm er schaltet ja mit dem Source Pin nicht mit Gate. Da geht mein eh schon geringes Verständnis dann auch langsam zu Ende. Low am Souce Pin bei eine N-channel was passiert dann ?

[@hernancoronel]

Love your videos and your humour! This channel is hilarious! Thank you Marco!

[@eduardoanonimo3031]

Dude, supreme video editing!

[@jix177]

Very clever repair! Well done.

[@HatfieldCW]

I love this guy so much. What fun.

[@captainboing]

Fantastic! Well done! 😁😁

[@PureAudioTones]

Wow, I love your videos and this one really thought me a lot beside the great humor :)

[@bluesonkel]

Wow! Very impressive work!

[@zx8401ztv]

It's disgusting that it broke down, it should have lasted till the end of time :). Nice repair :-D

[@caroman6761]

five from five Stars, thanks ....

[@pmkwiek]

What in the hell was the monster in the beginning? I searched that channel but can't find it. Please... More info. Jeeez

[@Culturedropout]

In another 40 years some poor schmuck is going to open that thing to try and fix it again and be completely bewildered by the "updates". XD Great video, and your voice is very relaxing. :)

[@Spirit532]

I guess you replaced that VLSI chip with ESSI - Extremely Small Scale Integration :D

[@TheDefpom]

Nice job, good video as always.

[@MakenModify]

Great Video, great channel, lover your style :)

[@FlipMeiser76]

Very, very good work! Grüße aus dem Westerwald.

[@JackZimmermann]

Very cool repair! Kudos!

[@lambertax]

So funny... Love this channel

[@helmutheller1538]

Marco, any advice on calibration of the unit?

[@AmatorElektronik]

Very nice job

[@gittawat6986]

hello, is this asmr video? great video btw

[@wktodd]

i could show you pictures of a multi cmos switch bodge-up i used to 'fix' an hp multimeter . fixing for fun indeed :-)