- 2024
- Dec
- 28
An Olson TE-189 C-R Analyzer - Does it work, and final thoughts.
Before I bolted the device back together, I did some quick checks on the unit. B+ is around 600V, no sparks, smoke, or other problems to note visually, the case isn’t live - we’re good to go.
So. Does it work? Well, yes - for a given value of work.
What does that mean? The device seems to work best for capacitors that were commonly being tested when this thing was new. Electrolytics are fine. Mica? No problem. Big old paper foil? Yep, we’re good.
Modern film? Barely. Ceramic? Don’t even try.
So it’s not really going to replace the $25 component tester you have in your drawer. But it is great for testing those big old electrolytics, and seems to be decently accurate. It’s fine for resistors as well, and again - seems decently accurate. As accurate as a dial and a subjective “eye open” measurement can be.
I didn’t bother getting a new handle strap for it. It’s going to sit under the signal generator, so no handle is fine.
And here’s a bad shot of it testing an old dry electrolytic rated at 50μF - but actually reading 68μF on my good B&K capacitor checker. The dial is about 65ish, and the eye is open. Yep, that’s pretty good for an analog device with resistors that drifted farther out than the asteroid belt.
I’ve played with some other functions, but don’t necessarily know how to use all of them. I need to read the “manual” ha ha and see how to make it all work.
And the schematic diagram for the unit, as good as it is:
These all came from the Dr. Zee workshop page. I did try to contact this person in regards to the information and their rebuild of said device, but never received a reply. I chose to believe my message wound up in spam and the person didn’t see it - but if you’re that person and you want these links removed, please contact me on mastodon.
You can find the providing page here: https://www.mzentert … 89_cr_analyzers.html
Several places sourced parts for this rebuild, including:
Mike’s Obsolete Auto Parts (eBay) https://www.ebay.com … kesobsoleteautoparts
Remington Wire and Materials (eBay) https://www.ebay.com … ustrieswindingsupply
Science Purchase (eBay) https://www.ebay.com/str/sciencepurchase
Surplus Sales of Nebraska https://www.surplussales.com/
Just Radios https://www.justradios.com/
Mike’s had the neon panel lamps, a lucky chance find. Remington and Science Purchase both sell good quality solid wire, Surplus Sales has all kind of terminal strips, and Just Radios sells all kinds of oddball capacitors and resistors useful in old radio and equipment repair.
Final thoughts.
While there really wasn’t much wrong with this device other than the typical stuff you’ll find in an old Japanese device, it’s a prime example of why you do not buy stuff like this sight unseen. This thing was built so poorly that it’s really amazing it even worked. It’s also interesting because I can’t find any mention of these devices being kits - the Olson 1968 catalog says “Factory Wired”:
(That’s $400 today, BTW…)
How did this thing get in such bad shape? I can’t answer that - all of the parts I removed were period correct, so it wasn’t like it had been modified over the years. Couple that with there should be some mention of an assembly manual out there somewhere, but there isn’t.
That’s why you can’t buy something like this without seeing it first. You would be perfectly reasonable to assume this was wired by a competent person in a Japanese factory. I hope it wasn’t for their sake!
Beyond that, it was basically a 1960s Japanese era device rebuild. All of those oil-paper capacitors had to go, and most were replaced with modern equivalents, even if they weren’t exactly the same value. The only one I tried to keep exact was a capacitor in the measurement circuit, and that was made from two in parallel. Others, like the filter, were made from multiple parts as well, and that’s fine. Everything else was wiring and touching up joints.
This device’s condition will forever be a mystery. But then again, buyer beware! Check before you buy.
The complete series on rebuilding this device:
An Olson TE-189 C-R Analyzer - Does it work, and final thoughts. - You’re reading it now!
An Olson TE-189 C-R Analyzer - Rebuild, part 4 - What actually was replaced?
https://wereboar.com … tually-was-replaced/
An Olson TE-189 C-R Analyzer - Rebuild, part 3 - finishing up with parts and wires.
https://wereboar.com … ith-parts-and-wires/
An Olson TE-189 C-R Analyzer - The Waiting Game. https://wereboar.com … er-the-waiting-game/
An Olson TE-189 C-R Analyzer - Rebuild, part 2 - I only wanted to replace some capacitors. https://wereboar.com … ace-some-capacitors/
An Olson TE-189 C-R Analyzer - Intermission: Parts
https://wereboar.com … -intermission-parts/
An Olson TE-189 C-R Analyzer - Rebuild, part 1.
https://wereboar.com … yzer-rebuild-part-1/
An Olson TE-189 C-R Analyzer - Considerations
https://wereboar.com … yzer-considerations/
An Olson TE-189 C-R Analyzer - Some notes on parts. https://wereboar.com … some-notes-on-parts/
An Olson TE-198 C-R Analyzer Part 2 - What should we replace? https://wereboar.com … t-should-we-replace/
An Olson TE-198 C-R Analyzer
https://wereboar.com … te-198-c-r-analyzer/
Next up will probably be some ramblings about a Heathkit AF-1, and finishing up the Hallicrafters S-38C. Stay tuned!
Previous part of this series: https://wereboar.com … tually-was-replaced/