Gaussmeter Kit Group-Buy

[RedHouse]

Redhouse, can I go ahead and send you cash for mine? I am about to relocate my family, school, and life across the country from Boston to Nashville. I would rather go ahead and get the money out rather than have to explain to my wife why I am spending money on this after the move when things wont be quite as easy as they are now (at least for a time.)

You have a PM

[RedHouse]

UPDATE:
New development....

I have been in contact with WolfeM and S.Lollar today, we may be able to get this assesment thing cleared up by Sunday afternoon ....stay tuned!

....tic...tic...tic...tic...

[David Schwab]

I have been in contact with WolfeM and S.Lollar today

S.Lollar? Is that Jason's sister Suzy Q. Lollar?

[Dave Kerr]

My guess would be Stephanie

[RedHouse]

My guess would be Stephanie

Bing!

[RedHouse]

VERIFIED....(again)....IT SO WORKS!.

My wife and I just got back from Vashon Island, I was able to meet with Jason & Stephanie Lollar today (Sunday) and I met with Wolfe Marshall yesterday (Saturday).

(BTW; thank you all for helping us out with this! it was my pleasure meeting with you)

Our DIY meter was testing high, anywhere between 50 to 150 gauss at various readings.

When I say "anywhere" well it seems that taking readings is not a straight forward operation as I thought it would be. Apparently sensors (both ours and the ones in the commercial gaussmeters) have a sweet spot and less-than-sweet-spot and magnets have a different reading in different places on them, and our fingers/hands can throw off a reading.

I wrote down the readings, and asked Jason and Wolfe to test a couple magnets I had brought along so I could use them as "control specimens" later.

Both took several readings, which is apparently more than necessary, and later when I got home (which was just now) I sat down with our meter and started messing around with the re-calibation adjustment mode to see if I could get our meter to match the results of the professional meters (3 commercial meters in all were used, Wolfe mentioned his was in the neighborhood of $1200) on these "control specimen" magnets.

Magnets are much more "alive" than I ever imagined.

After adjusting our meter from 1.30mV/G -to- 1.36mV/G setting I was able to get identical readings that Jason and Wolf got on their professional meters when they measured my "control specimen " magnets.

Just now I re-tested that APS-1 (Duncan Alnico-II Pro) Strat pickup I posted earlier and got these results after re-calibrating:

E=769G ...(was 781g)
A=709G ...(was 769g)
D=758G ...(was 789g)
G=772G ...(was 797g)
B=742H ...(was 765g)
E=733G ...(was 757g)

I'm convinced we have a decent and fairly accurate gauss meter. When I say "fairly" it's because of what I've recently learned about measuring magnets and because I saw that even the professional meters readings vary on the same magnet from one reading to the next.

I'm convinced now that a 50-75G (even up to up to a 100G) "window" would be an ok tolerance to call "accurate" because you can easily get that much variation just by moving the sensor/magnet around while taking a reading.

BTW, the peak-hold feature is the shit! makes the whole process of taking readings way easier, both Wolfe and Jason commented about it.

I'm going to call this good and go have dinner and a glass of wine. I will make another post later this evening announcing our Last Call on this group-buy.

YEAH BABY!

[David Schwab]

Cool beans!

And thanks to the Lollars and Mr. Marshall.

I'd assume calibration would vary from sensor to sensor? Do the sensors come in a batch?

As with a lot of people here, a relative measurement is fine with me.

[defaced]

Excellent news. Thank you for going the extra mile, and thank you to the Lollars and Mr. Marshall for donating their time to help with our group buy.

I'm ready to ink this deal. Last call?

[mickmutante]

I'm going to call this good and go have dinner and a glass of wine.

Yuuummmyyyy..!!!

... I will make another post later this evening announcing our Last Call on this group-buy.

YEAH BABY!

Rock 'N Roll.....!!!!!!

[RedHouse]

...I'd assume calibration would vary from sensor to sensor? Do the sensors come in a batch?....

Dunno really, but I have another plan regarding that.

Look at this picture:



you can see I made a special probe lead wire on this test unit which has micro-sockets at it's end. My plan was to use it to test each persons A1302 and find the right calibration numbers. I'd write them on a piece of paper in each participants package so if you wish you can set your calibration to the closest we can come to an absolute reading. I have the 3 magnets that were measured by Jason and Wolfe here on my bench we can use them as "control" specimens.

Now I'm sure someone will chime-in about the 7805 and how each has a slightly different actual output voltage (like 5.2 volts or 5.13 or whatever) and how the A1302 data sheet says that power supply voltage can offset the unit ...but we're talking minutae here.

[Arndawg56]

VERIFIED....(again)....IT SO WORKS!.

My wife and I just got back from Vashon Island, I was able to meet with Jason & Stephanie Lollar today (Sunday) and I met with Wolfe Marshall yesterday (Saturday).

(BTW; thank you all for helping us out with this! it was my pleasure meeting with you)

Our DIY meter was testing high, anywhere between 50 to 150 gauss at various readings.

When I say "anywhere" well it seems that taking readings is not a straight forward operation as I thought it would be. Apparently sensors (both ours and the ones in the commercial gaussmeters) have a sweet spot and less-than-sweet-spot and magnets have a different reading in different places on them, and our fingers/hands can throw off a reading.

I wrote down the readings, and asked Jason and Wolfe to test a couple magnets I had brought along so I could use them as "control specimens" later.

Both took several readings, which is apparently more than necessary, and later when I got home (which was just now) I sat down with our meter and started messing around with the re-calibation adjustment mode to see if I could get our meter to match the results of the professional meters (3 commercial meters in all were used, Wolfe mentioned his was in the neighborhood of $1200) on these "control specimen" magnets.

Magnets are much more "alive" than I ever imagined.

After adjusting our meter from 1.30mV/G -to- 1.36mV/G setting I was able to get identical readings that Jason and Wolf got on their professional meters when they measured my "control specimen " magnets.

Just now I re-tested that APS-1 (Duncan Alnico-II Pro) Strat pickup I posted earlier and got these results after re-calibrating:

E=769G ...(was 781g)
A=709G ...(was 769g)
D=758G ...(was 789g)
G=772G ...(was 797g)
B=742H ...(was 765g)
E=733G ...(was 757g)

I'm convinced we have a decent and fairly accurate gauss meter. When I say "fairly" it's because of what I've recently learned about measuring magnets and because I saw that even the professional meters readings vary on the same magnet from one reading to the next.

I'm convinced now that a 50-75G (even up to up to a 100G) "window" would be an ok tolerance to call "accurate" because you can easily get that much variation just by moving the sensor/magnet around while taking a reading.

BTW, the peak-hold feature is the shit! makes the whole process of taking readings way easier, both Wolfe and Jason commented about it.

I'm going to call this good and go have dinner and a glass of wine. I will make another post later this evening announcing our Last Call on this group-buy.

YEAH BABY!

Thanks to everyone involved. I am sooo ready. Lets ink this deal

[RedHouse]

LAST CALL....

Last call will start now as we close this group-buy this week.

Those who are "in" will need to start sending their fundage. Paypal or US Postal Money Orders only.

Participants who want to pay by US Postal Money order need to get them in the mail Monday or Tuesday (July 7 or 8th) and send them in a manner that gets them to me in time. You will need to PM me for the address to send your M/O

Participants who will be paying by Paypal have until 4PM next Saturday August 1st to get their payment to me.

I will be ordering the Parts and PIC's Monday August 3rd. I must emphasize that you MUST make sure your fundage gets to me before 4PM next Saturday Aug 1, 2009 or you are not going to make it in on this group buy.

Anyone who has been on-the-fence will needs to decide if they are in and get their fundage transfered. Please don't PM me on Saturday evening asking "is it too late", it will be. Fundage needs to be recieved by Saturday to make the order Monday.(I'm busy Sunday because I swapped this Sunday for next Sunday so I could meet with Jason on behalf of the group)

As some have made comments about multiple kits, you can order more than one PIC but know that you will have to pay more shipping and wait for the extra PICs. We can't have the whole group-buy held up by a few wanting multiples. Also, I offered to make circuit boards for the participants here at $9/per, I did not offer to enable anyone to do business and no multiples are being offered. One PCB per particpant at that price.

REMEMBER:

• If you want to pay by Postal Money Order, PM me for my address and mail it out so it gets here by Saturday August 1st.
• [B]If you want to pay through Paypal, my Paypal address is (removed)
• If you want to pay by Credit Card through Paypal you need to add a small amount to your share of the bill, they ding me for accepting credit cards and you will need to cover that cost.

Who's In:


18 Participants:
Redhouse.....(A)
David Schwab
JasonG
spy.....(A)
firewire.....(A)
Bruce Johnson.....(A)
Arndawg56.....(A)
LtKojak.....(A)
mkat
automan.....(A)
Dave Kerr.....(A)
John H
defaced.....(A)
David King.....(A)
StarryNight
mickmutante.....(A)
paulgarstki.....(A)
Jeff Callahan

The names above with the (A) following have PM'd me their mailing address, those who haven't need to get on it.


The finalized parts list and costs:
(note: we are getting quantity discounts on the PIC and the LCD)

R1.....10k trim.....531-PT6KV-10K.....$0.41/ea
R2.....5.6K 1/4w 1%-MF.....271-5.6K-RC.....$0.13/ea
R3.....47ohm 1/4w 1%-MF.....271-47-RC.....$0.13/ea
C1.....330nF polyester.....505-MKS20.33/63/5.....$0.49/ea
C2.....100nF polyester.....505-MKS2.1/63/5T.....$0.27/ea
C3.....100nF polyester.....505-MKS2.1/63/5T.....$0.27/ea
C4.....100nF polyester.....505-MKS02.1/63/10.....$0.45/ea
D1....1N4001.....625-1N4001-E3/54.....$0.04/ea
IC1.....7805T.....863-MC7805BTG.....$0.55/ea
(2) N.O. MOM switch.....506-MSPS103C0.....$1.51/ea
(2) SPST mini toggle.....611-7101-064.....$4.29/ea
(2) DIP14 (for IC3).....517-4814-3000-CP.....$0.19/ea
9v batt clip.....534-84-6.....$0.44/ea
Header.....517-929834-01-16.....$0.58/ea
Socket.....517-974-01-16.....$1.76/ea
IC2.....A1302 (hall sensor).....$1.50/ea
LCD Display.....763-0216K1Z-FSW-FBW.....$9.60/ea
(at the 10+ price break from Mouser)
IC3.....PIC16F883 pre-programmed by Elepro.....20-euro/$27.87
(M#579-PIC16F883-I/SP)
(at the 15+ price break from Elepro)
PCB.....$9
Mouser shipping ($10 divided by 15 participants).....$0.67
USPS Priority shipping to USA participants.....$4.95

Total (w/o terminals) ----------------- $71.00
Total if paying with Credit Card ---------- $73.00

Note: LtKojack and Spy have a separate international shipping charge which I have PM/email them about, they need to select the type.


Status:
we are closing this group-buy

[LtKojak]

VERIFIED....(again)....IT SO WORKS!.

My wife and I just got back from Vashon Island, I was able to meet with Jason & Stephanie Lollar today (Sunday) and I met with Wolfe Marshall yesterday (Saturday).

(BTW; thank you all for helping us out with this! it was my pleasure meeting with you)

Our DIY meter was testing high, anywhere between 50 to 150 gauss at various readings.

When I say "anywhere" well it seems that taking readings is not a straight forward operation as I thought it would be. Apparently sensors (both ours and the ones in the commercial gaussmeters) have a sweet spot and less-than-sweet-spot and magnets have a different reading in different places on them, and our fingers/hands can throw off a reading.

I wrote down the readings, and asked Jason and Wolfe to test a couple magnets I had brought along so I could use them as "control specimens" later.

Both took several readings, which is apparently more than necessary, and later when I got home (which was just now) I sat down with our meter and started messing around with the re-calibation adjustment mode to see if I could get our meter to match the results of the professional meters (3 commercial meters in all were used, Wolfe mentioned his was in the neighborhood of $1200) on these "control specimen" magnets.

Magnets are much more "alive" than I ever imagined.

After adjusting our meter from 1.30mV/G -to- 1.36mV/G setting I was able to get identical readings that Jason and Wolf got on their professional meters when they measured my "control specimen " magnets.

Just now I re-tested that APS-1 (Duncan Alnico-II Pro) Strat pickup I posted earlier and got these results after re-calibrating:

E=769G ...(was 781g)
A=709G ...(was 769g)
D=758G ...(was 789g)
G=772G ...(was 797g)
B=742H ...(was 765g)
E=733G ...(was 757g)

I'm convinced we have a decent and fairly accurate gauss meter. When I say "fairly" it's because of what I've recently learned about measuring magnets and because I saw that even the professional meters readings vary on the same magnet from one reading to the next.

I'm convinced now that a 50-75G (even up to up to a 100G) "window" would be an ok tolerance to call "accurate" because you can easily get that much variation just by moving the sensor/magnet around while taking a reading.

BTW, the peak-hold feature is the shit! makes the whole process of taking readings way easier, both Wolfe and Jason commented about it.

I'm going to call this good and go have dinner and a glass of wine. I will make another post later this evening announcing our Last Call on this group-buy.

YEAH BABY!

Wow! Just... wow!

This is excellent!

I just can't wait to get my hands on it.

Thank you Brad for going the extra mile in behalf of everybody and thanks to Wolfe and Jason&Stephanie for their generosity grantin' access to their measure instruments.

Now I feel just like doin' the banana dance!

Please, don't watch, it's not a pretty sight...

[RedHouse]

Head's-up ....New Development:

Elepro just found out that Paypal will try to ding him 3,4% + 0,35€ for doing a US Dollars -to- Euro's money transfer. Having already given us additional discounts on our PIC's, he and I both agreee it wouldn't be right that he should have to eat the fee's.

Which means we'll have to either cough-up some additional fundage for the Paypal conversion fee, or possibly use another form of money transfer. Elepro mentioned MoneyGram (which I know nothing about) so I asked him to help me look into it as an option.

(those Paypal buggers don't miss a trick do they!)

Everything is still a GO we just have this one last kink to work out.

[David King]

Paypal is still pretty much the best game in town as the banks will all charge at least $35 for a wire transfer at this end and may ding Elepro another $10-$15 at his end and that's NOT counting the bank currency exchange rate which can be anywhere from 1.5% to 4% off the official rate.

I say just add 4% to everyone's cost for the PIC and be done with it.
4% of $20 is only .80 cents if I'm not mistaken.

If you want to see the daily exchange rate, I use this tool:
http://www.oanda.com/convert/classic