Analog Multimeter
- Thread starter sconnors
- Start date
Joe K
Well-known member
Simpson 260. Can be found on Craigslist for as little as $20. Repops have been made. Mine is a RadioShack creation from the 1970s.
If you find a used one, before you buy have it open and check out the battery connections: Sitting around as they do they're subject to battery corrosion.
The plugs are standard 1/4 banana plugs available at Amazon.
Joe K
If you find a used one, before you buy have it open and check out the battery connections: Sitting around as they do they're subject to battery corrosion.
The plugs are standard 1/4 banana plugs available at Amazon.
Joe K
Bob Bidonde
Well-known member
Why analog? They are relatively difficult to read and usually larger in size in comparison to a digital multimeter. Moreover, the movement of an analog meter is fragile.
Joe K
Well-known member
Well, you could get the red Harbor Freight meter and it will do everything that the Simpson meter will do.
Except when you drop it and you lose a "segment" from the LED display.
Except when you pull sideways on the lead and bust the quad-split banana plug-in so it no longer stays in the hole.
Except when you step on the probe on a carpet and break it in half.
Except when the Chinese 9V battery inside wears down and corrodes.
Except when the slider switch won't slide.
I have half a dozen of these still around - the "survivors." Durability wise they're worth about half what HF asks. As a "give-away" by HF they can't be beat.
Dad's adage comes to mind. "The best tools are none too good."
Joe K
Keith True
Well-known member
I have a nice Fluke meter that goes wonky on the A's.It's fine if they're not running.Some have told me it's the ignition,and some have told me it's the brushes slowly passing over the commutator bars.I don't know what the real reason is,but the bottom line for me is that it doesn't work.I have a little old cheap Midland,maybe Radio Shack???It was given to me for a present when I was in high school,in the early 70's.That still works great.
Bob Bidonde
Well-known member
My Model A's like my digital multimeter.
katy
Well-known member
Is series 7 the one w/the reset button on the front?
Joe K
Well-known member
The "trip button" (fuse overload) would be preferred, but they can get "touchy" - as in Trip below their rated amps.
My Radio Shack Micronta 100-K (looks the same as the classic Simpson) doesn't have a fuse trip and its served perfectly fine - but one SHOULD HAVE an idea of what they are expecting in test.
Which is ALWAYS good advice.
Joe K
Anteek29
Well-known member
Those Radio Shack Microntas are classics - many are still out there and working fine. I still use mine alot because my digital meter goes nuts near a running engine!Reading this post got me to thinking if I still had my old Radio Shack Micronta analog meter. Behold, I found it tucked in the back of a toolbox drawer! Does this qualify me to be in the analog Multimeter club? Now if I can just remember how to use it!
Keith True
Well-known member
You have my attention. Gimme some examples of what you're referring to for future reference.
The Master Cylinder
Well-known member
Reading this post got me to thinking if I still had my old Radio Shack Micronta analog meter. Behold, I found it tucked in the back of a toolbox drawer! Does this qualify me to be in the analog Multimeter club? Now if I can just remember how to use it!
I have similar to that but it just sez Radio Shack.
That's a good idea not keeping the battery in it. I should start doing that.
Additional info: This is only for those who might not know or have forgotten this information.
It is best to read the manual first.
A couple of Basic dos and don'ts:
1. Never switch to ohms or amps and then plug leads into a wall socket (110 volts) ... smoke is the result.
2. Never switch to ohms or amps and then plug leads into a voltage source (battery or AC current) ... smoke is the result.
3. always remove leads from source before turning switch on meter. WHY? if you are measuring volts and you turn meter switch from AC volts to OHMS OR AMPS ... smoke.
It is best to read the manual first.
A couple of Basic dos and don'ts:
1. Never switch to ohms or amps and then plug leads into a wall socket (110 volts) ... smoke is the result.
2. Never switch to ohms or amps and then plug leads into a voltage source (battery or AC current) ... smoke is the result.
3. always remove leads from source before turning switch on meter. WHY? if you are measuring volts and you turn meter switch from AC volts to OHMS OR AMPS ... smoke.
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I had a Simpson 260 years ago. It’s what I trained on in school. Loved it, but I fried it internally doing something stupid (don’t even remember what it was - probably, as Benson suggested, attempting to measure voltage with the switch set to measure ohms). Someday I’ll get another one. They just feel “right”.
Have had a succession of cheap analog and DVM over the years. The secret for longevity with any electronic device is to leave the battery physically out until you need to use it. I managed to destroy a nice Fluke laser thermometer by leaving the batteries in, they discharged and terminally corroded the circuit boards.
Have had a succession of cheap analog and DVM over the years. The secret for longevity with any electronic device is to leave the battery physically out until you need to use it. I managed to destroy a nice Fluke laser thermometer by leaving the batteries in, they discharged and terminally corroded the circuit boards.
Good thing that I happened to read this thread. I have a very nice Klein digital multimeter loaded with features and does everything except change its own batteries, so I didn't think I would ever need the old analog tester. I came very close to tossing it some time ago, but pushed it to the back of the tool box drawer. Now I'm moving it back to the front line of my test equipment!