[vcf-midatlantic] Simpson 262 Series E

[Paul Birkel]

Thanks!  It's been a loooooong time since I last saw the batteries in it.  I
suspect that it's the Eveready 417 (no longer in production) that was being
used.  The 411 is a close substitute (140 mAh), but at $40 for the needed
pair -- not "cost effective".  The 504 is smaller still (60 mAh), but ought
to be shimmable; ~$16-20 for a pair.  Or just don't use the higher
resistance range (R10k, R100k), yes.  Probably my best bet after I finish
cleaning it up.  At 20,000 ohms-per-volt DC I guess that it really needs the
extra oomph of 30v in the higher ranges.

I saved paper-route money for it (used) many decades ago.  So it has
sentimental value as well as practical utility.  It got put away when I left
home, and by the time it got pulled out of storage the batteries had all
done their dirty work :-<.

The only alternative that I've come up with is to stack a pile of CR1025 3V
coin cells, which are pretty cheap on eBay.  Unsure how much life I'll get
out of them (only 30mAh), but then they're *really* cheap compared to the
alternatives.  Anyone tried something like that before?

-----Original Message-----
From: vcf-midatlantic
[mailto:vcf-midatlantic-bounces at lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org] On
Behalf Of Systems Glitch via vcf-midatlantic
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2015 11:26 AM
To: vcf-midatlantic at lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org
Cc: Systems Glitch
Subject: Re: [vcf-midatlantic] Simpson 262 Series E

> I've been "put off" by the problem of finding affordable modern 
> substitutes for the pair of 15v batteries used in the higher 
> resistance ranges.  Any suggestions for a suitable substitute for the 
> 30v (total) battery requirement?

What's the battery size/number? Send a picture if you're not sure.

My Simpson 160 requires one Eveready #505 22.5V battery for the higher
resistance readings. As long as you don't leave it on one of the resistance
settings while it is sitting in your toolbox, they last for many years --
you hit the shelf life before you deplete the battery in use, in my
experience. They're not super cheap and you have to buy them online, but I
think I paid $10 for the battery in 2010 when I bought the meter. There are
many Amazon sellers who carry old industrial batteries, I believe that's
where mine came from.

After 5 years, mine still reads 25.1V -- if you like the meter and feel it's
worth spending a few bucks every 10 years (or more) on batteries, I'd just
buy modern replacements and use it!

Thanks,
Jonathan