95 People talk about using a "Simpson meter." I'm tired of hearing about Simpson. And what do Simpsons have to do with electronics?
Description
This article is from the Antique Radios And Phonographs FAQ, by Hank van Cleef vancleef@netcom with numerous contributions by others.
95 People talk about using a "Simpson meter." I'm tired of hearing about Simpson. And what do Simpsons have to do with electronics?
The Simpson model 260, first produced right after WW II, is the most
common VOM (volt-ohm-milliameter) found in both manufacturing and
service establishments. It is a 20,000 ohms/volt (DC) multimeter, that
measures DC and AC voltages, currents, and DC resistance. Simpson is
the name of a manufacturer of meter movements, as well as complete
multimeter products. The Triplett 630-series is a direct competitor,
and some people prefer the 630-NA over the Simpson 260. Both are still
produced, and cost around $150-175 for the basic models.
A good VOM can be used to diagnose about 99% of the faults in old
electronics if you know how to use it effectively. It is the first and
most important piece of equipment to have on your bench. You'll rarely
see a used VOM for sale, because they are workhorses, and everybody who
has one is either using it or has managed to reduce it to junk by using
it for decades in all types of conditions. There are inexpensive VOM
multimeters for $25-$50 available from places like Radio Shack, if you
don't want to pay the price for a good commercial quality meter like the
Simpson or Triplett. Either you have a VOM or you need to get one now.
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