RR - Fluke 8840a Display

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  I have been keeping an eye out for a good, name brand bench DMM for personal use for a few months now.  Did a bit of research and started looking for a Fluke 8842, 8840, or a 45.  Watched some popular auction sites and even CL.  These Flukes, especially working ones go for $150+ and well, didn't want to pay an arm and a leg for one.  So, during my research, I know that these have VFD (vacuum fluorescent display) that dims after a time.  Figured I could get a dimmed display DMM cheap.

I finally came across a 8840a with the AC option 9 and the GPIB options included and had one person bid at $32 with 13hrs remaining!  In the description, it stated that they did try some solutions found on the web to get the display working, but couldn't.  Long dramatic story short, I placed a bid in the last 2 seconds and won an 8840a!

Previously, I stated that I did research on what type of DMM is best and the best value. I knew the 8840a was going to be the cheapest and it is widely common with hobbyists. But in my search, I noticed there wasn't many documented cases where someone had replaced the VFD with an aftermarket display. I did find one forum post where a user had implemented some LED 7 segment displays and a few LED bar modules. But he had a Fluke 45 and not a 8840/8842 where I could have just used his research. But not all is lost. The 45 has a VFD and basically is the same except for the display driver IC, D7527ACU. The 8840a uses the TMP82C79P IC and a couple of NE594D, which is a VFD driver IC.

  At this time, I know that my VFD is dead and I have checked all voltages and they are spot on, so I am now planning on hacking in some 7 segment displays in the place of the VFD.  I do have a 4 digit 1.58" Common Anode display and 3x 14mm x 40mm Common Anode displays to start playing with.  In other hackers documentation, they are using common cathode displays.  So I may order some CC displays just to make my life easier.

//zoomkat servo button toggle test 4-28-2012

#include <Servo.h>
int button = 5; //button pin, connect to ground to move servo
int press = 0;
Servo servo;
boolean toggle = true;

void setup()
{
  pinMode(button, INPUT); //arduino monitor pin state
  servo.attach(10); //pin for servo control signal
  servo.write(155);
  digitalWrite(5, HIGH); //enable pullups to make pin high
}

void loop()
{
  press = digitalRead(button);
  if (press == LOW)
  {
    if(toggle)
    {
      for(int angle = 0; angle < 155; angle += 1)
      {
       servo.write(angle);
       delay(10);
      }
      toggle = !toggle;
    }
    else
    {
      for(int angle = 180; angle >= 10; angle -= 1)
      {
       servo.write(angle);
       delay(10);
      }
      toggle = !toggle;
    }
  }
  delay(200);  //delay for debounce
}

//zoomkat servo button toggle test 4-28-2012

#include <Servo.h>
int button = 5; //button pin, connect to ground to move servo
int press = 0;
Servo servo;
boolean toggle = true;

void setup()
{
  pinMode(button, INPUT); //arduino monitor pin state
  servo.attach(10); //pin for servo control signal
  servo.write(155);
  digitalWrite(5, HIGH); //enable pullups to make pin high
}

void loop()
{
  press = digitalRead(button);
  if (press == LOW)
  {
    if(toggle)
    {
      for(int angle = 0; angle < 155; angle += 1)
      {
       servo.write(angle);
       delay(10);
      }
      toggle = !toggle;
    }
    else
    {
      for(int angle = 180; angle >= 10; angle -= 1)
      {
       servo.write(angle);
       delay(10);
      }
      toggle = !toggle;
    }
  }
  delay(200);  //delay for debounce
}