Electrical test meters,,,got one ?

[jenkinsph]

Simpson 260. Used it professionally for years to diagnose and fix consumer electronics. Bought it in 1971 and still have it. As stated in an earlier post, it is as much how the needle swings as it is where the needle stops, especially when measuring across PN junctions of semiconductors. I could tell instantly if the solid state device was blown or not just by observing the needle swing.

Best combination for electronic troubleshooting just about anything analog is a 260, Fluke, O-scope, signal generator and Variac. You can make a living with just those five instruments.

I agree for the most part with what you are saying, not sure about making a living today. I have been out of the loop since 1995, I could see the handwritting on the wall. Less and less serviceable consumer electronics, no place to walk in and buy electronic parts in my locale. I gave away all my old test equipment over 15 years ago and haven't missed it. Tractors are more fun!

 

[troutsqueezer]

One of my meters is a Simpson model #260. I have owned it many years and recently it quit working. I have changed the battery and checked fuses but no luck. Love this unit but now it doesn't work. Any ideas?

Each function uses different circuitry so if none of them work it is likely to be something that all circuits have in common, probes or battery. Check the probes and the wires that connect them. Check inside the unit from the probe socket to the circuitry or a possible bad battery terminal.

There are a few sockets (female plugs) on the 260, some are for current and some are for voltage. Do any of them work?

 

[jonyyuma]

I agree for the most part with what you are saying, not sure about making a living today. I have been out of the loop since 1995, I could see the handwritting on the wall. Less and less serviceable consumer electronics, no place to walk in and buy electronic parts in my locale. I gave away all my old test equipment over 15 years ago and haven't missed it. Tractors are more fun!

yes, electrionics had enought current and voltage to give you a burned spot or cut the trace? Not any more, years ago we started sending the boards out on a n exchange program? one of them was any card $50.00 repaired? Now it can get over A couple hundred to replace them.If it isn't obsolete or Fire alarm emergency, we hardly fool with them?The last head-banger I worked on was electronic battery charger for our sky-lift...

 

[k0ua]

Appreciate all who have provided comments on the Simpson 260 and hope to have it back and working soon. It is a great tool if one knows how to use it properly. Do you think I could locate a user guide somehow, somewhere?

Your wish is my command

Free Simpson Manuals - Calibration - Schematics - Training

James K0UA

 

[k0ua]

Worst comes to worst send the 260 to me and I will repair it for you, or tell you what is wrong with it. (if heaven forbid it is the meter movement)

(course might never give it back simpson 260 is a darn good meter)

James K0UA

 

[crazyal]

I can remember using my father heath multimeter. With the needle style meters if you guessed wrong that poor little needle would slam into the post after it moved as far as it could.

 

[troutsqueezer]

I can remember using my father heath multimeter. With the needle style meters if you guessed wrong that poor little needle would slam into the post after it moved as far as it could.

If you're guessing the range that you are measuring, best to stick to tractors.

 

[kebo]

If you're guessing the range that you are measuring, best to stick to tractors.

Which is why on analog meters you start at the highest range, and work your way down to the range that gives the best resolution, when measuring an unknown voltage.

 

[JD 4520]

Your wish is my command

Free Simpson Manuals - Calibration - Schematics - Training

James K0UA

You are right, its a darn good meter, I inherited it and want to keep it along with I have had it for 15 years and want to learn to use it better.

Thanks for the tip on the manual and I may take you up on the other offer if I can't get it going. Much appreciated.

 

[k0ua]

You are right, its a darn good meter, I inherited it and want to keep it along with I have had it for 15 years and want to learn to use it better.

Thanks for the tip on the manual and I may take you up on the other offer if I can't get it going. Much appreciated.

No problem, the offer was for real if you cannot get it going. Sometimes it takes another meter to repair a meter. Probably easy to fix. Good luck:thumbsup:

James K0UA

 

[GPintheMitten]

I guess I need to learn how to use a meter. On my Kubota, the rear flasher lights don't work. I checked the actual lights and ground with a different wire to the battery and they work.

I think it is either the switch or the thing that makes them flash.

I have a swing meter that my brother gave me before he passed away. It's a Triplett model 310. No manual with it.

Any suggestions?

 

[k0ua]

Your wish is my command:

http://www.liberatedmanuals.com/TM-10-6625-3127-13-and-P.pdf

It is an manual from the Army, but it is a triplet 310 manual.. see if it helps.

James K0UA

 

[GPintheMitten]

Thanks, K0UA. That will help. I downloaded and printed it. Now I have to study it a bit.

 

[LarryD]

I agree for the most part with what you are saying, not sure about making a living today. I have been out of the loop since 1995, I could see the handwritting on the wall. Less and less serviceable consumer electronics, no place to walk in and buy electronic parts in my locale. I gave away all my old test equipment over 15 years ago and haven't missed it. Tractors are more fun!

I went to Radio Shack to buy a terminal block. The kid at the door asked if he could help me and when I said what I wanted he didn't have a clue. I might as well have been speaking a foreign language. I found the part I needed.

I'll bet you he could have spent hours telling me about the latest cell phone though.

 

[k0ua]

I went to Radio Shack to buy a terminal block. The kid at the door asked if he could help me and when I said what I wanted he didn't have a clue. I might as well have been speaking a foreign language. I found the part I needed.

I'll bet you he could have spent hours telling me about the latest cell phone though.

Yes times have changed, us old timers who used to troubleshoot to the component level are getting fewer and fewer. The local parts houses are about all gone now. its Digikey and Mouser if you want parts. No one at Radio Shack knows anything anymore, and they have less and less parts, and more and more phones and toys. Oh well it is what it is, I still have all my tools and instruments, but use them less and less. But when I need to do something I still remember how:thumbsup: I sometimes astound my friends and co-workers with the simplest of things like soldering or testing something with an ohm-meter.

James K0UA

 

[jenkinsph]

Times have changed for sure, I remember when I was a spphmore in high school and passed the test for an FCC 1st phone, youngest person in New Orleans to do this. Today you don't need an engineering license persay, just fill out an application and you are good to go. Having some background with theory and hands on experience does make trouble shooting much easier in other jobs and fields, so I don't consider it a total loss. It does help to a point with self reliance if that is worth anything.

Today I could easily get by with an inexpensive clamp/dvm meter for most trouble shooting I do. My Fluke 336 is good for most things I do around the tractors, rv, boat and home. It is my favorite meter since it has the ac/dc clamp which some of the cheaper meter don't have.

 

[GPintheMitten]

For those of us using multimeters for the first time, there are some pretty good videos on YouTube for both digital and analog meters.

 

[BobRip]

For those of us using multimeters for the first time, there are some pretty good videos on YouTube for both digital and analog meters.

I agree. I have seen some good videos that might help even experienced trouble shooters. I particularly like using a light bulb to jumper around a fuse that blows intermittently or even continuously.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Well, with the help of folks here, I was encouraged to learn about the multimeter that my brother gave me.

I traced the problem with my flashers and found the problem. The wire that fed the flasher voltage was broken off of the terminal at the key switch. No parts were needed.

I'm happy with the results and learned something along the way.

Who said you can't teach an old fart new tricks.

 

[jonyyuma]

I agree. I have seen some good videos that might help even experienced trouble shooters. I particularly like using a light bulb to jumper around a fuse that blows intermittently or even continuously.

The light bulb was a very old trick, back when the tester was a"Wiggins, or a Knok". But it works well...Meters then were very expensive, but still a tripplet, or a simpson meter...