Thoughtful Design Feature (Simpson 260 Series 6XL multimeter)

I think I've posted from time to time that I have an interest in electrical test equipment. I recently acquired a Simpson 260 Series 6XL volt-ohm-miliammeter (aka multimeter or multitester) and I discovered—not surprisingly—that the batteries, which had been in there since sometime in the '90s, had leaked. In trying to remove the D cell, I one of the battery contacts broke apart. That's when I discovered an extremely thoughtful—and as far as I can tell, undocumented—design feature. There was a metal tension clip to help hold the 9volt battery in place that was actually a spare battery contact! After cleaning out all the crud, I soldered the spare battery contact into place and the meter was right as rain. I've seen plenty of meters with a spare fuse but never a spare battery contact. In examining photos of Series 6 and newer meters on the simpson260.com Website, I discovered it's a standard feature on all 260 meters equipped with a 9-volt battery. Now, that's thinking ahead. It's something that probably cost the manufacturer two cents per meter, if that much and gives end users an opportunity to repair an almost inevitable failure. I wish all manufacturers thought that way about their products.


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Post# 423683 4/17/2020 at 21:45 (1,462 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)
Checkrate/Likes 3 I think I've posted from time to time that I have an interest in electrical test equipment. I recently acquired a Simpson 260 Series 6XL volt-ohm-miliammeter (aka multimeter or multitester) and I discovered—not surprisingly—that the batteries, which had been in there since sometime in the '90s, had leaked. In trying to remove the D cell, I one of the battery contacts broke apart. That's when I discovered an extremely thoughtful—and as far as I can tell, undocumented—design feature. There was a metal tension clip to help hold the 9volt battery in place that was actually a spare battery contact! After cleaning out all the crud, I soldered the spare battery contact into place and the meter was right as rain. I've seen plenty of meters with a spare fuse but never a spare battery contact. In examining photos of Series 6 and newer meters on the simpson260.com Website, I discovered it's a standard feature on all 260 meters equipped with a 9-volt battery. Now, that's thinking ahead. It's something that probably cost the manufacturer two cents per meter, if that much and gives end users an opportunity to repair an almost inevitable failure. I wish all manufacturers thought that way about their products.

Post# 423689 , Reply# 1 4/18/2020 at 00:16 (1,461 days old) by MadMan (Chicago, IL, USA)
Checkrate/Likes 2 Simpson was a respected American company. Like most old American companies, they had dignity. Alas such things are a part of the past, now. My grandfather was an electrical engineer for Simpson. I have a ton of Simpson stuff. Mostly equipment, but also odd things like a tray from their mail room lol. I just checked out my newest 260 and sure enough, it does have a spare contact! Neat. I do have the manual, I thumbed through it, but it doesn't specifically mention it. It only says the 9v battery is held in with a spring clip, that's it. They may not have thought of it as a spare contact, rather a 9v holder. Not sure. They do still make 260's, but the company is no longer the same people. At least they're owned by (native) Americans, though.

Post# 423699 , Reply# 2 4/18/2020 at 06:40 (1,461 days old) by tolivac (Greenville,NC)
Checkrate/Likes Simpson 260 meters are in everybodys toolkits here-and several in the electronics shop.And Fluke digital meters.Still like the ole 260!Digital meters can get funky with the high RF here.

Post# 423721 , Reply# 3 4/18/2020 at 20:07 (1,461 days old) by human (Pines of Carolina)
Checkrate/Likes The interesting thing is when I put the meter back together and slipped the 9-volt battery into its slot very snugly without the clip. I didn't have to wedge anything in to hold it in place.