Simpson Meter

[Gregor 4,845]

I have wanted one of these for a long time. I ran across this on FB. I wanted it mostly for it's ability to measure very high and low resistance, and display it in a way that even I would understand. I am sometimes confused reading ohms on a digital meter, but the again, I am easily confused. This meter has an  Rx 1 scale, and an Rx 100 scale. I think this will be perfect for stators and coils. The battery compartment is VERY clean. It is in a hard bakelite case with a garage door. Just getting to the battery compartment is quite a chore.  From the looks of the meter I am sure it has spent it's entire life in this case. All the features I have tested so far work fine. Ohms, DCV, and ACV. More than likely that's all the features I will ever use. Although I have used MA scales on my digital meters to track down a parasitic draw. I paid $115 plus $17 shipping. Did I get tooked?

[squonk 41,028]

Good meter and a good price. Another nice thing about an analog meter. Quite often a digital Meter will be erratic on a running tractor. Doesn't matter if it's a Fluke, Fieldpiece or a Horror Fright special. That was the main reason I bought my Simpson.

[Jeff R. 35]

I think you got a pretty good deal since you also are getting a case.  These are great meters, I have a couple that I use myself when troubleshooting.  I am not sure if you have an owners manual with it, but there is a wealth of information out there on the web on the Simpson 260 that you can view and download.  I believe the Simpson 260 is still made to this day.  Enjoy.

 

Jeff

[kpinnc 11,907]

You did good. It will last a lifetime!

 

Only weakness I know of is the battery, not the meter. Change it like any other alkaline battery so it doesn't corrode or leak. Don't store it with a battery in it.

[Gregor 4,845]

3 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

Don't store it with a battery in it.

7 screws to get to the batteries. But I understand what you are saying.

[squonk 41,028]

I use my Simpson once a year. Batteries out! 

[Gregor 4,845]

7 minutes ago, squonk said:

Batteries out! 

The batteries are out of mine as well. If I need it, I will take the time to put them in, but I am not going to risk a corroded battery compartment. I've seen those, they are oogly!

[Jeff-C175 7,199]

You only need the batteries for the resistance functions.  All else operates normally without the batteries installed.  I've owned mine since ummmm... 1968 I believe.

[Gregor 4,845]

1 hour ago, Jeff-C175 said:

You only need the batteries for the resistance functions.  All else operates normally without the batteries installed.  I've owned mine since ummmm... 1968 I believe.

I  Thought that to be true also, but then why 2 batteries?

[Jeff-C175 7,199]

2 hours ago, Gregor said:

I  Thought that to be true also, but then why 2 batteries?

 

The R X1 scale uses one of them, the other scales use the other. Can't recall which is which, but mine uses different batteries than yours, they changed design over the years.  As I recall, mine used a D cell and multiple C cells, (or maybe AA? can't remember good anymore)

 

Edited December 16, 2021 by Jeff-C175

[Gregor 4,845]

If one is good, two is gooder, right?  This one did not come in a garage. Only 1 screw to get to the batteries. Battery compartment is very clean.

[squonk 41,028]

Yous guys are going to make me get mine out. Trying to remember where I put it! 

[Gregor 4,845]

6 minutes ago, squonk said:

 Trying to remember where I put it! 

It's always in the last place you look.

[squonk 41,028]

Single honkin screw for the battery compartment. 9V and D cell. Last calibrated in 92. Sticker says calibrate every year. 

 

 

[Gregor 4,845]

49 minutes ago, squonk said:

ticker says calibrate every year. 

I wonder if you can send them in somewhere. I think mine says 1980

[Jeff-C175 7,199]

1 hour ago, Gregor said:

I wonder if you can send them in somewhere. I think mine says 1980

 

For our purposes there is no need to have them calibrated.

 

Besides, calibrating an instrument with an analog display is rather pointless these days.

 

Our measurements are more qualitative (is there voltage? ROUGHLY how much?) rather than quantitaive (EXACTLY how much?)

 

 

[Gregor 4,845]

3 hours ago, Jeff-C175 said:

For our purposes there is no need to have them calibrated.

Kind-a what I figured. But i do want a close reading for testing coils, and stators and such, but I guess the user calibrates that with the dial every time he uses it.

[Jeff-C175 7,199]

5 hours ago, Gregor said:

Kind-a what I figured. But i do want a close reading for testing coils, and stators and such, but I guess the user calibrates that with the dial every time he uses it.

 

True, short the test leads and 'zero' the meter.  Close enuf fer gummint work!

[Gregor 4,845]

Some of you may recall, last month I bought a Simpson Meter. Have always wanted one, and it showed up on FB for a good price. When I got it, it was pristine. Even encased in a garage. The trouble is, I don't like to leave batteries in things I don't use often. To remove and install these batteries meant removing the garage, via several screws. Lo and behold another Simpson meter came up for sale and I bought it also. No garage. Not as nice, but still pretty good. I decided to use the second one for working, and put the pristine one up for safe keeping.

 

I have a place in my garage, on top of some cabinets where I keep my "Treasures". These things are worthless to anyone else, but they all have meaning to me. I have a Johnny Speed remote control race car, just like the one I got for Christmas in 1962. Don't ask what I paid for that "worthless" treasure. I have memorabilia from NASCAR races across the country. Bowling crap from 15 different national tournaments all over the US.  Like I said, pretty much worthless to anyone but myself. The pristine Simpson Meter, in it's garage, was put into a baggie, and place high out of harms way, on top of the cabinets, with my treasures.

 

Let me preface this next part by saying, I love my grand kids more than life itself. I really do.  But, some days it's harder to do than others. Can you tell where this is going?

 

Sunday the two youngest grand daughters were here helping Grandma bake cookies. They decided to come out to the garage and see what "The OLD Geezer" was doing. They found a Hula Hoop hanging on the wall. I expressed my concerns about tossing a Hula Hoop around in the garage, but they assured me they would be careful. The rest is history. "Now you know, the rest    of   the    story"   Good Day !

[WHX?? 48,782]

Ouch... Guessing the hula hoop is not in the garage anymore?!?!

Should be able to epoxy it back together tho.

 

You guys all have the old 260s. Mine is a newer style square body. 

 

260s are all we used on submarines back in the late 70's early 80's. 

[Jeff R. 35]

Gregor,

from the looks of it - the roll top case that holds the 260 is broken and the 260 itself appears ok.  If epoxy does not work, I saw one on eBay, however it is a bit pricey.

Edited January 20, 2022 by Jeff R.
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