Re: [Phys-l] Spectrometers Recommendations

[Peter Schoch <pschoch@nac.net>]

Hello,

I woild NOT get rid of your old Spencers too fast -- the new workmanship is crud and won't hold a candle to the Spencers you have (I have 2 that I have repaired multiple times and had parts made for that my students still use -- and get better results with than the new stuff).

That being said I also have:

http://store.pasco.com/pascostore/showdetl.cfm?&DID=9&Product_ID=54046&groupID=292&Detail=1

It is cheap, cast, white metal that wears out quickly, is fairly easily jammed, and not easy to maintain or repair -- and sending it back for repairs costs big $$.

I also have 2

http://www.pasco.com/featured-products/ocean-optics/page_3.cfm

One from Pasco and one from Vernier.  You get OK results, but I must say that the students learn no real skills and our biggest supporters at 4 year schools and in the job market rave about our students abilities with _actual equipment_.

Hope that helps you a bit,
Peter Schoch





On May 12, 2011, at 7:52 PM, Grigorescu, Violeta wrote:

> Our old AO Spencer Spectrometers (the manual is copywritted 1938) are
> starting to show war and tear. We are looking to buy new spectrometers.
> Could anyone please make some recommendations? What do folks use these
> days to measure the position of, say, Hydrogen lines?
> Thank you,
> Violeta
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