Manager


Manager - NA4M
Manager Notes

Reviews For: Simpson 260 VOM

Category: Tools & Test Equipment for the amateur radio work bench

eMail Subscription

Registered users are allowed to subscribe to specific review topics and receive eMail notifications when new reviews are posted.
Review Summary For : Simpson 260 VOM
Reviews: 28MSRP: 200.00
Description:
Simpson Electric Co. 260 Volt-Ohm-Milliammeter is a rugged,reliable,all-purpose measuring instrument.It is used for measuring A.C. and D.C. voltages,resistances,direct currents,decibles and output voltages.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.simpsonelectric.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00284.7
K1FPV Rating: 2006-09-22
Outstanding Work Horse ! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Having owned and used one for nearly 40 years as an engineer, I find this instrument to be reliable, rugged, and dependable. Each time it goes in for calibration, it is usually right on or just slightly off. Not bad for a 40 year old workhorse!

I don't know where the previous reviewer is coming from, but if you need to read a voltage on a high impedance sourse, you use a DVM or VTVM, but you can use a scope too for that matter! No it won't be as accurate as a DVM, but it can be used! Would you say scopes are no good too? Why knock something down when it isn't being used for what it was intended?

The Simpson 260 is still #1 in my book when used for what it was intended!
SSB Rating: 2006-09-22
Forget it. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
In 1957, this was an excellent meter but was already being overshaddowed by VTVM hi Z input meters. By todays standards this meter is mostly useless unless you measure alot of batteries. For any kind of servicing, this is a terrible meter. If anyone needs a meter, buy one of the Flukes available.
KK9H Rating: 2006-09-22
Old Reliable Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have had one of these for years and I use it all the time. I also own a digital meter that basically does the same thing, but I always seem to find myself reaching for the 260. The digital unit is great if you want a high precision measurement, but the 260 can't be beat if you want to make a few quick impedance or voltage checks on a circuit board. When I am aligning something while reading voltage it is much easier to visualize a peak or dip with an analog meter than it is with a digital one. I would put my Simpson 260 in the same category as the Bird wattmeter; basic, proven, reliable test equipment that no ham should be without.
CALTECH Rating: 2004-11-11
The O.J. Simpson Meter Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have been A calibration and electronics technicisn for 15 years and have used the simpson meter for many jobs they are greaat and I would not be caught dead without one!
KE4MOB Rating: 2003-07-07
A workhorse Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I've been playing with Simpsons for most of my life (I'm in my early 30's)...my father worked in the coal mines as an repairman, electrician, and later on as the supervisor of the line maintenance crew, so he usually had 4 or 5 260's laying around the house in various conditions.

I was never impressed that much with the digital version using the red LED digits...but the good ol' analog version (either with or without the mirrored scale) is a definite keeper.

I've also used Tripletts, and while they are good, nothing beats the nice heftiness and reliability of a Simpson in my book. Besides, what other meter can keep a 10 year old safe while he's measuring the voltage on every AC outlet in the house?
FOXFIRE Rating: 2003-06-13
Praise for simpson 260 Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I was an equiptment tech. for GTE for 24 years i used a Simpson 260 every day of those 24 years it was such a valuable piece of test equiptment.It was invaluable for checking cable pairs and trouble shooting carrier circuits as well a power supplys. Was great for all around trouble shooting in the telephone company equiptment. I have retired 12 years now but i have my own Simpson 260 now and i had a shoe repair shop make a leather case a foam pad the inside and i had a 1 inch strap of soft leather placed on the leather case so i could hank it around my neck for hands free operation. Nothing i ever used can compare to a WSimpson 260.
WN9V Rating: 2003-03-07
A Classic- popular, high quality, and maintainable. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Submitted by WN9V

The Simpson 260 is a meter I have seen in virtually every lab where I have worked. On electrical construction jobsites I have seen contractors using model 260 meters that were so old that they were designed for a cylindrical 9 Volt battery. When you hear an old timer refer to "a Simpson" the 260 is what he is talking about. It is properly called a multimeter or a Volt-Ohm-Milliameter .

My personal model 260-6 was purchased new in about 1970 from the proceeds of selling my RCA SC-88 receiver. The Simpson has served me well on the job and as a tool for the radio hobby. I would encourage a prospective owner to get the -6 version or later. The -6 was about the first to use a taut band suspension meter rather than a jeweled meter movement. The result is excellent repeatability of readings because there is no meter movement friction.

The 20,000 Ohms-per-volt sensitivity was a popular standard and many old service manuals include volt
meter readings that are based on meters of this sensitivity.

With the exception of applying the meter set on "Ohms" across a car battery, the 260 has endured all the use I have given it, needing nothing more than fresh batteries and an occasional fuse. I learned that for good accuracy, you should use the exact same value of fuse when replacing a blown one. Repair after the car battery incident required replacement of two precision resistors. Easy enough.

There are handy features, such as reversing the polarity of the meter by just turning one selector switch. The "output" setting allows reading the AC-on-DC ripple of a power supply. The low Ohms setting puts a significant current through whatever is being tested, and mine has revealed intermittent automotive fuses that looked OK to the eye. Other handy features: a 50 microAmpere connection, a 10 Amp DC connection.

The 260 case can be broken by a drop to the concrete, so be careful with yours. For storage, my 260 fits inside an ammo box with a little padding.

There are those techs who grew up with a Triplett meter having a circuit breaker and will cite the lack of a breaker as a shortcoming in the Simpson. I don't regard it as much of a shortcoming. Fuses have an excellent history of blowing when they need to.

I give the Simpson 260 a top score because for many years it has been regarded as THE standard. I can not recall any problems or shortcomings in mine. There are thoughtful features not equalled in modern meters, such as a completely separate battery chamber to help protect the instrument against corrosion.

If you can find one that is in decent condition, you can expect to get a lifetime of use from the Simpson 260 as part of your collection of tools. You will also want a modern digital meter for precision work, but many techs prefer a real life meter needle for quick checking and analog adjustments.
N9XM Rating: 2002-10-03
Excellent product and service Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have an old 260 VOM [5P]and needed to replace a battery clip that had broken. I looked up the company on the internet and emailed them explaining my problem. Email was answered immediatly and the part was sent to me ,NO TROUBLES, NO PROBLEMS.This kind of service is rare in this day and age.Considering how long they have been making them it is no wonder,they know how to treat their customers. First class all the way!!! Chris ,N9XM