Appendix B. Instrument Sources
This appendix contains a listing of test equipment and data acquisition instrument manufacturers and used equipment outlets. It is provided as a convenient reference for you to use when looking for equipment; it is not an endorsement of any of them.
Bear in mind that capabilities and cost will vary considerably, and the two aren’t always correlated. It pays to do some research before paying out hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars for a piece of hardware, only to discover that it doesn’t quite do what you need it to do.
Another reason for this appendix is to help you locate technical documentation for older instruments. There are many older DMMs, controllers, switches, and data acquisition units available that are still perfectly functional, provided you have the user documentation to go with them. You may even have a few such items languishing on a shelf in your lab, or tucked away in a storage closet.
Manufacturers
The following is a short list of instrument and test equipment manufacturers. The list of product types for each manufacturer is only representative, and in some cases it’s a small fraction of what they produce.
- Agilent
Oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, digital meters, signal generators, spectrum analyzers, power supplies, data acquisition units, etc.
- AMETEK
Power supplies and electronic loads
- Anritsu
RF, microwave, optical, and data communications test equipment
- Bitscope
USB oscilloscopes, signal generators, and logic analyzers
- B&K Precision
Oscilloscopes, digital meters, signal generators, spectrum analyzers, power supplies, etc.
- Elan Digital Systems
Miniature USB oscilloscopes, function generators, pulse generators, and counters
- Fluke
Handheld and bench meters, signal sources, analyzers, and oscilloscopes
- Keithley
Data acquisition systems, function generators, digital meters, and power supplies
- LeCroy
Oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and protocol analyzers
- Saleae
Low-cost USB logic analyzers
- Stanford Research Systems
Scientific data acquisition and control instruments, plus test and measurement equipment
- Tektronix
Oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, digital meters, signal generators, spectrum analyzers, power supplies, data acquisition units, etc.
Used Test Equipment Sources
The following is a small sample of companies offering used and refurbished test equipment. Although it is possible to get some great deals on equipment from eBay or your local surplus outlet, when you buy from a company that specializes in used test equipment it is usually calibrated (or it can be, if you ask) and usually carries a 90-day warranty against failure. Typically you will also get all the necessary probes, cables, and leads, instead of dealing with the frustration of someone on eBay pulling them off beforehand in the hopes of selling them separately. In some cases a user manual is also included at no extra charge.
- AccuSource Electronics
- Metric Test
- Test Equipment Depot
- Test Equity
- Tucker Electronics
Manuals
Sometimes a manual for an older piece of equipment just can’t easily be found, either because the manufacturer no longer exists or because it’s just not available for download. If you find yourself in such a situation, you might want to check out the following websites. In many cases they have the original manuals available, rather than just a PDF file, but be prepared to pay between $20 and $50, and sometimes more if the manual is large or rare. Sometimes the electronic document versions are free for download.
- eServiceInfo
- Manuals Plus
- Technical Specialists
- Your Manual Source