Re: [neonixie-l] PSU question...

[gregebert]

When I was a computer tech in 1980, my employer started changing from 
traditional linear (ie, transformer) supplies, to switchers, and it was 
pretty scary powering these up the first time.

Most systems were shipped within the US/Canada, so they ran on 120VAC. 
There was no shield around the switcher. The way the desktop system was 
built, your face was a few inches from the power supply in order to reach 
the power switch.  The first time someone (not me, fortunately...) 
powered-up a 220V/50Hz system, it went KABOOM! Back then, the power 
supplies were not universal, so a jumper had to be changed to operate at 
220V. Needless to say, any time I had to power-up a 220V system the first 
time I was really on edge. And despite the UL listing, I was always worried 
about getting shocked; switchers just didn't seem to have the same degree 
of isolation.

Maybe I'm just too old; I've always felt "safe" around transformer (linear) 
supplies and leery of switchers, especially the open-frame style.


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Re: [neonixie-l] I agree with the Rant - eBay Sucks ! Shipping Calculator

[Dekatron42]

I've had a lot of problems with GSP over the last few years, similar what 
other people describe here but it gets nasty when they loose objects in the 
shipment along the way, not the whole shipment but probably when someone 
forgets to put all things back when they open the package for inspection 
(stealing?) or if they destroy something while checking it - they don't 
take any responsibility at all for that and neither do they reimburse you 
for missing or damaged items. In all cases they claimed that the items were 
all there when they shipped it and that they weren't damaged, needless to 
say they could never prove that with photos or documentation. Even if I 
could prove that things were missing or had been damaged before reaching 
later shipping destinations like the Swedish Customs they wouldn't take any 
responsibility at all - no matter what their policies state. I've lost part 
of shipments since the GPS people didn't tape the packages shut after their 
inspection so things fell out during the later transports.

So every time I look at an auction I always ask if it is possible with 
direct shipping, with tracking and insurance, as that is cheaper and also 
works a lot better without any problems like with the GPS and things arrive 
a lot faster.

I don't mind paying shipping costs as long as they are reasonable for what 
is offered in terms of insurance, tracking and speed when delivering but 
the costs for GPS and the poor service is ridiculous.

Ebay has become a worse place to sell and buy from over the last few years 
after some of their changes, fortunately the sellers and buyers haven't 
changed as much, you can always talk with people and usually you can come 
to a good agreement after explaining the facts, but sometimes there are 
people who just won't understand that Ebay isn't infallible when it comes 
to how their listings work with shipping and other details.

Cheap shipping costs from China is not a good thing if you buy something 
valuable that gets lost or damaged as those cheap shipments aren't usually 
insured, good sellers will ship you a new item if they can but some won't. 
I've been bitten by low shipping costs from China, and other countries too, 
and have had to use Ebay buyers protection or Paypal to get my money back 
as the shipping wasn't insured fully but it is a tedious process even if it 
usually works out well.

/Martin

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Re: [neonixie-l] I agree with the Rant - eBay Sucks ! Shipping Calculator

[SWISSNIXIE - Jonathan F.]

The GSP is als crap for the buyer sometimes. I ordered two small vaccum tubes 
from the same seller at the same time, the gsp didnt let him combine shipping, 
ending up in a value of 54$ in shipping, the item value was aroun 10$, to the 
irony of it, the total would have been 64$, which is over the tax free limit of 
my country, so thy wanted to charge me another 12$ for "tax processing"!? 
Gladly the seller just cancled the order and i made a direct payment for the 
second tube. 

Another point is their tax system. I know they need to tax the value by law, 
but their fee for this is way to high. Switzerland has 8% sales tax. So for a 
order of 300$, i would pay 24$ tax. GSP charged me 58$ :(

If i can i always try to make a off-ebay thing :)

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Re: [neonixie-l] I agree with the Rant - eBay Sucks ! Shipping Calculator

[ZY]

The GSP really sucks. I also ordered from Canada while living there for a 
short while and something for ~$5 came with $20 shipping and other fees.

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Re: [neonixie-l] I agree with the Rant - eBay Sucks ! Shipping Calculator

[Charles MacDonald]

On 16-09-19 07:03 PM, alb.001 alb.001 wrote:

I sold some cables recently and it clearly stated shipping to USA lower
48 states was $20.  The buyer showed me the invoice he got from eBay and
it indicated "shipping free".


E-bay has wonted to become more like a store and less like an auction 
site.  The one that gets me is the "Global Shipping program."  a US 
seller lists an item and if the software recognizes it, it shows up on 
e-bay canada with global shipping.  this starts at about 20 dollars.  if 
I win, ebay tells the seller to ship to Pitney Bowes in Kentucky.  (I 
get to pay them for US shipping for that) There they cut open the 
package to verify that it looks like the listing (hopefully not damaging 
the item too badly)  and forward it on, with the opening taped up and a 
big E-bay Sticker added... Small Items under 20 dollars are just put 
back in the USPS mail, (but of course I have already paid twice once to 
get it to KY and again to mail it to Canada, so I have paid more than if 
the seller just shipped it direct)


If over 20 bucks they ship it to Toronto where they mail it, but I get 
to pay the retail sales tax at 13% just like I got it from the local 
store.  rest assured that Pitney gets a good cut.  there are some items 
where they can save me money, but on small items it just adds expense.


and latly I get Brethless e-mails with important news when the item 
arrived in KY, is shipped and when the post office delivers it.  All 
Don’t have the name of the item in the subject so I have to read them 
though to find out what they are about and can't search them alter if I 
am missing an item.



 I hate their shipping calculator. The system should just
wait for an invoice from seller who can properly figure postage to
wherever the buyer is.


As I buyer, I have had situations in the old days where I thought I had 
a good idea of what it would cost to ship somthing and had sticker shock 
when the seller used a gigantic oversize carton, or sent with the most 
expensive service because it was crossing big water (lake Ontario)..


(also got stung a few times where they declared a high value "in case it 
got damaged in shipping so I could make a good claim"  (unless perfectly 
packed as long as the box and or its contents get to you their is no 
claim, and did I metion the 13% sales tax --- On the declared value)


I would love to have a choice in shipping.

The other thing is that the seller now has to used "tracked" shipping to 
avoid a claim of Non delivery.  so many things that should be Small 
packet are instead sent Priority at 4 times the cost.  I don't know how 
many items I have "watched" for a week, and decided not to bid as the 
bid plus shipping would be more than the item was worth (to me) even 
though the bid itself was reasonable.




Also postage in Canada and USA is wa too expensive compared to
overseas- shipping from China costs seller practically nothing
(price + shipping = $0.99  - how do they do that?  simple, the buyers
country subsidized the shipping.


You have to wonder why the China Post can get away with such low prices, 
I just wish USPS and Canada post had simalar ones, then I could bid on 
more ebay items.  Mind you the China Post service really does seem like 
a slowboat from China as 30 days is typical.


--
Charles MacDonald Stittsville Ontario
cm...@zeusprune.ca  Just Beyond the Fringe
No Microsoft Products were used in sending this e-mail.

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[neonixie-l] I agree with the Rant - eBay Sucks ! Shipping Calculator

[alb.001 alb.001]

 
  I sold some cables recently and it clearly stated shipping to USA lower 48 states was $20.  The buyer showed me the invoice he got from eBay and it indicated "shipping free".  The buyer refused to pay shipping and wanted to cancel the sale. I bit the cost and lost money on the transaction.    I hate their shipping calculator. The system should just wait for an invoice from seller who can properly figure postage to wherever the buyer is.
  Also postage in Canada and USA is wa too expensive compared to overseas    - shipping from China costs seller practically nothing (price + shipping = $0.99  - how do they do that?  simple, the buyers country subsidized the shipping. Thanks all you citizens for supporting China Post and Hong Kong Post etc.
  
   -- Original Message --
   From: 'threeneurons' via neonixie-l 
   Date: September 19, 2016 at 6:34 PM
   
   
   
I've been having a little (losing) battle with eBay lately, on about international shipping. I've been shorted on 4 transactions, in the last month. Their customer service reps are totally ignorant of their own policies. In the modern age, that, sadly, seems to be the norm. I've made 4 calls. On the middle two, the reps, looked at the transactions, and noted the difference, between what the charged, and my actual costs. They acted as if they would reimburse me, my shortfall. Today, I noticed a buyer, in Japan ordered two supply kits, but was only charged $6.97. The post office will charge me $13.50. The first flunky, today, told me that I setup my shipping parameters incorrectly. Which is an off-the-cuff blame the seller excuse. I eventually managed to get to his supervisor. He told me two very important things, none of the past calls provided: (1) No reimbursements period. eBay Policy. (2) The shipping cost was not based on my shipping parameters, but the minimum US Postal Service price, for an ENVELOPE, containing tangible merchandise (not just paperwork).

 


 I cancelled the transaction. Changed my setting to "no international shipping", on that one item. The lower flunky, told me international buyers, can still put the item in their shopping cart, but need to contact me, in order to pay for it. So then, I can properly invoice them. His supervisor told me, to click "off" combined shipping, again, allowing me to invoice the buyer, once they see the "sticker shock" shipping charge.


 


 I ONLY SHIP IN BOXES --- PERIOD !!!


 


 Maybe, some replacement parts, in an envelope, but never a KIT.


 


 From the US it cost me: $9.50 minimum, to ship to Canada.


 It cost either: $13.25/$13.50/$13.75 minimum, to ship to any other country (outside the US - I have to include this because too many Americans, are a little thick). Don't even ask about: UPS, FedEx, or DHL. All way higher !


 


 Also, if any of you know a lawyer, that's in the "class action" business, put in your 2 cents. eBay really should have an option of making the seller, the final arbiter, of setting the price, before the buyer can pay.


 


 I have, and always will, refund excessive shipping charges paid.

   
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[neonixie-l] Re: T-Shirts are finally available. Dekatron and Magic Eye shirts from discussion earlier this year.

['threeneurons' via neonixie-l]

> email: nixiekeith on gmail. ... email me directly.  
>
>
> - Keith
>

Thank you ... I'll make a note of that.

Some good news, just after I posted a rant about eBay. 
 

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[neonixie-l] OT: Rant - eBay Sucks ! Shipping Calculator

['threeneurons' via neonixie-l]

I've been having a little (losing) battle with eBay lately, on about 
international shipping. I've been shorted on 4 transactions, in the last 
month. Their customer service reps are totally ignorant of their own 
policies. In the modern age, that, sadly, seems to be the norm. I've made 4 
calls. On the middle two, the reps, looked at the transactions, and noted 
the difference, between what the charged, and my actual costs. They acted 
as if they would reimburse me, my shortfall. Today, I noticed a buyer, in 
Japan ordered two supply kits, but was only charged $6.97. The post office 
will charge me $13.50. The first flunky, today, told me that I setup my 
shipping parameters incorrectly. Which is an off-the-cuff blame the seller 
excuse. I eventually managed to get to his supervisor. He told me two very 
important things, none of the past calls provided: (1) No reimbursements 
period. eBay Policy. (2) The shipping cost was not based on my shipping 
parameters, but the minimum US Postal Service price, for an ENVELOPE, 
containing tangible merchandise (not just paperwork).

I cancelled the transaction. Changed my setting to "no international 
shipping", on that one item. The lower flunky, told me international 
buyers, can still put the item in their shopping cart, but need to contact 
me, in order to pay for it. So then, I can properly invoice them. His 
supervisor told me, to click "off" combined shipping, again, allowing me to 
invoice the buyer, once they see the "sticker shock" shipping charge.

I ONLY SHIP IN BOXES --- PERIOD !!!

Maybe, some replacement parts, in an envelope, but never a KIT.

>From the US it cost me: $9.50 minimum, to ship to Canada.
It cost either: $13.25/$13.50/$13.75 minimum, to ship to any other country 
(outside the US - I have to include this because too many Americans, are a 
little thick). Don't even ask about: UPS, FedEx, or DHL. All way higher !

Also, if any of you know a lawyer, that's in the "class action" business, 
put in your 2 cents. eBay really should have an option of making the 
seller, the final arbiter, of setting the price, before the buyer can pay.

I have, and always will, refund excessive shipping charges paid.

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Re: [neonixie-l] PSU question...

[Alex]

I am not sure I really agree with this, the double insulation mark 
indicates that there is two levels of insulator (case materials, fiberglass 
/ mylar sheeting, cable insulation etc) between the user and anything live. 
A double insulated appliance (such as most consumer electronics / 
appliances) should* not* need or indeed have an earth connection. For more 
info on that, see here : http://www.double-insulated.com/

Now, if you want an *electrically isolated output* the only true way of 
doing this is galvanomically - either an old style 50Hz transformer / 
rectifier (heavy power brick kind of thing) or a good quality switching 
supply with a guaranteed isolation level. You can then pass through the 
true earth to your chassis and, since it is isolated, peg the neutral 
output to earth as well - though I would argue this actually reduces the 
safety somewhat, I would always prefer to leave the isolated supply 
floating, that way you can contact either conductor and be safe.

The symbol you really want to see, is two overlapping circles like those 
seen on this page : http://sc3c.iec.ch/ap60417/TC96gif.html

Hopefully I have not spread any inaccuracies here, I recently did a large 
commercial project involving many 3kva isolating transformers so had to 
read up a bit on all this, but that was a few months ago now... 

- Alex


On Sunday, 18 September 2016 20:25:39 UTC+1, nixiebunny wrote:
>
> Nick, 
>
> The mark that indicates that the input and output are fully isolated 
> from each other is a square within another square, called "double 
> insulated". If you don't see that mark, and you see a UL or ETL mark, 
> then it's reasonable to assume that the barrel is grounded, because 
> otherwise the unit wouldn't pass UL or ETL testing. 
>
>
> On 9/18/16 12:06 PM, Nicholas Stock wrote: 
> > Hi Fellow lovers of neon... 
> > 
> > I have a question from a bit of a novice here (me..). I'm working on a 
> > project that involves a dekatron or two and want to make sure that 
> > there's some degree of safety when placed inside a metal case and HV is 
> > involved. Instead of an IEC inlet and transformer inside the device, I 
> > want to use a 12V DC supply with a ground connection or -ve side tied to 
> > Earth. I found the following picture in my PSU stash and checked the 
> > continuity of the barrel side of the supply and Earth and there's 
> > continuity. Can anyone tell me which symbol on the PSU denotes this 
> > (instead of it being a truly isolated supply) or if anyone has any other 
> > ideas about how to go about a 'safe' 12V DC supply (I looked at the 
> > medical grade PSU's with 4 pin DIN and earthed shell, but they're quite 
> > expensive). 
> > 
> > Apologies if this seems like a stupid question... 
> > 
> > Thanks, 
> > 
> > Nick 
> > 
> > image1.JPG 
> > 
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> -- 
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>
>

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