SoliForum - 3D Printing Community — Connecting with an old friend

Re: Connecting with an old friend

null@example.com (Tin Falcon) — Sat, 24 Sep 2016 17:38:00 +0000

the 260 uses a 1.5 v d cell and a 9v

Re: Connecting with an old friend

null@example.com (n2ri) — Sat, 24 Sep 2016 17:30:08 +0000

lots of those old Simsons used 9 volt batteries which will fry most modern electronics and LEDs when used for Ohms. its why I always used Ampprobe meters with 1.5-3 volt batteries Simpson was used by TV/Radio repair techs from tubes to solid state era

Re: Connecting with an old friend

null@example.com (Tin Falcon) — Sat, 24 Sep 2016 16:53:19 +0000

I think that is why the Simpson has lasted in production for the last 75 years.

As they say . One mans junk is another mans treasure!!

the series 6 meters are on e bay for about $ 40 -$50 USD so about the regular price of an inexpensive new digital.
These are a popular meter so not worth a kings ransom or exactly a museum piece but I like it. And worth the time to fix.
tin

Re: Connecting with an old friend

null@example.com (dubbsd) — Sat, 24 Sep 2016 16:46:11 +0000

I have found that some of the old analog test equipment does better than the new solid state.

Re: Connecting with an old friend

null@example.com (Tin Falcon) — Sat, 24 Sep 2016 16:42:36 +0000

exactly . took me a couple years to find the time and motivation to do the simple repair.
unfortunately the busyness of life often causes good old tools to be discarded. people often feel they do not have the time to fix things and therefore no time to teach kids such life skills and knowledge is lost.
And the availability of cheap import digital meters and other tools is another factor .
tin

Re: Connecting with an old friend

null@example.com (dubbsd) — Sat, 24 Sep 2016 16:15:10 +0000

As they say . One mans junk is another mans treasure!!

Connecting with an old friend

null@example.com (Tin Falcon) — Sat, 24 Sep 2016 15:01:41 +0000

Well sort of. In days of old in high school electronics class i leaned to use a multi meter. The standard at the time was the Simpson 260. A little research I find the Simpson had been and continues to be the industry standard for analog VOMs since the 1930s. they are still made. Of course the electronics have changes some over the years as have the required batteries.

Almost 3 years ago I went with my family to help long time family friends pack and move. Our friends had lived with his parents for several years to help care for them . Dad has passed a couple years earlier and mom had just passed away so time to move one. My task was to assist with sorting through and packing of the shop. And as with any such endeavor some things just need to be tossed and treasures kept. One item my friend chose to toss that I saw as a treasure was an 1980s vintage Simpson 260 series 6 . The meter in mostly good condition but a battery had leaked and one of the battery contacts disintegrated. My friends father had retired from GE as an electrical engineer it was his meter with a GE cal sticker on it and the original red read the manual label IMHO this was a piece of history not to be tossed .
Last evening I finally took the time to pull out a piece of brass shim stock and the soldering iron and put this old meter back into commission.
I went to Simpson 260.com and downloaded the manual. I also downloaded the Navy Electricity and Electronics training series. these modules were what I used in high school electronics class.
So repairing this old meter brings back memories and connections to friends. And it gives me a nice vintage meter to use in my shop

Tin