Happiness is...

[Radio]

Happiness is defined, at least in the minds of some, as a place where there's a Simpson 260 on everyone's desk.

[Andy N1ORK]

Great meters Wade! Used to use them all the time when I worked at the Telco and we still had tube multiplex carrier systems.

[Radio]

I bought one in 1973, while in high school. Still have it. And in this particular shop, where I was loaned out for a week, there really was a Simpson 260 on everyone's desk.

[W9WLS]

I have the "Triplet" (SP?) version of the 260 , got it back in the 60's and a later F.E.T. Radio Shaft knock-off, still use them both from time to time.
Being the "Ole Fart" that I am , there are some things that I just feel more comfortable measuring with an analog meter than I do a digital, also , some digital meters (even the high $ Flukes) don't always show you an AC signal floating on what should be a DC path (hard to miss the needle "twitch" on an analog meter).

[Oldmax]

I had one of them thangs some time ago but got dropped in sewer lift station never was much good after that. I didn't drop it the guy I was working with did. Have one from RC now, still like analog readout guess I'm behind times. Every thing I have Is old and out dated. and some of it doesn't work too good.

[W5DOK]

Looks something like this.

[wa8yxm]

I used an RCA WV-77E but hey. I know the feeling.. What was even better is a few years later when I took Electronics in College.. .Guess what meter we used.. YUP, RCA Same model I had at home.

[One Country Boy]

I've never owned a Simpson, but had a Radio Shack meter that was very similar in looks to it. I have a coouple of digital meter now and a cheap-o analog meter. Do they still manufacure a meter similar to the old Simpson I wonder?

[Radio]

Originally Posted by One Country Boy

Do they still manufacure a meter similar to the old Simpson I wonder?

Last I heard the Simpson 260 meter is still in production. Sometimes you just have to have an analog meter.

[One Country Boy]

I agree Wade. I would prefer an analog meter in most of my applications but the digital is usually closer at hand.

Wade, the meter in your photo looks like brand new. You take care of your stuff, it's obvious.

[One Country Boy]

Simpson still makes several meters Wade. Click here.

[kb0ou]

I have a 260 in my shop, use it a lot. There are a lot of applications that require a analog readout. I also have a fluke digital, I use it some.

Hey, I also have a AL-1200 in my shack, every shack should have one!!!

[TXiceman]

I have a small cheaper analog meter on the trailer as well as a digital meter. Sometimes only an analog will wserve my needs.

Ken

[NN5I]

I used the 260 and its almost identical brother the 260NS (higher impedance, and more expensive) for many years. That, and a Tektronix 454 scope, were all I needed as a design engineer nearly all of the time.

I now own a Tek 475A, better in all ways than the 454, and much faster, and a Tek multimeter; but I wish I had a 260 too.

The autoranging in my nice modern Tek TX3 multimeter, though, has saved me from some missteps that might have fried a 260. Even in the TX3, I once blew a very expensive fuse by trying to measure the voltage of a car battery while set to measure current. That certainly would have destroyed a 260; in the Tek it only blew a $30 fuse.

Getting old has made me stupid.

Edit: I just looked on eBay and there are many 260s listed at reasonable prices, but no 260NSs.

Additional edit: I've confused the Simpson 260 and the Triplett 630. It's the 630 that has the more-expensive brother, 630NS. Old age really has made me stupid.

[TXiceman]

Originally Posted by NN5I

Old age really has made me stupid.

Kinda' makes you wonder how much worse it can get....

Is there a limit on aging stupidity? I am still waiting to hit rock bottom.

Ken

[W9WLS]

RCA Senior Volt Omist still on the bench, Trip 630 on the shelf and a Radio Shaft FET analog .
Several DMM's around (mostly FLUKE & one Radio Shaft ).
DMM's don't seem to show "FLUTTER" (like AC floating along on a DC circuit) very well , if at all.
And yes , I have the display on the 7600 set to the analog (look-a-like) meter and an analog 0-5 vdc plugged into the remote meter output also.
I'm an "OLD FART" , get over it !

[NN5I]

My Tektronix DMM doesn't flutter, but it will show DC and AC components independently, which is useful when I suspect ripple; and it also (simultaneously!) shows the frequency, which is wonderful when I'm trying to figure out whether my generator is running right. A couple months ago I thought it wasn't, and the Tek showed 49 hertz instead of its normal 61 or so. Replaced the generator's air filter and all was well. But I still love those Simpsons and Tripletts.

[wa8yxm]

I use both digital and analog meters... You are right, sometimes the analog is best (other times Digital is) I really liked my RCA VTVM though.

[N3LYT]

Best of both worlds. I had a Simpson and I think a Heath kit with Nixie tubes.