multimeter recommendations/cable capacitance measurements

[4krow]

will do. Now to get a little picky,,,I'm finding that it would be great to have a meter that could help with measuring capacitance as well. Maybe it would be better if I found a capacitor meter separately.

[elcraigo]

I'm with Jim on the Simpson 260. Wished I still had mine. You can still buy it. Allied stocks it.

The first Tube device I built was a Heathkit Vacuum Tube meter, Heathkit IM-28. I wish I had it still.
I have a Triplett Model 310 (from the early 70s and it still works). It is small and was used by a lot of Telephone Techs. You can still buy it.
One thing to keep in mind if you shop for an older analog meter; what kind of batteries are needed.
For example the Triplett 310 uses a 15 V battery, and a 1.5 V.
The 15 V is a Energizer 504 Zinc Carbon Battery, which you can buy.
Again, just something to keep in mind.
You might want to get ready for a little sticker shock if you buy a new analog meter.
You could also make one. Get a 500 ohm Full Scale = 1 mA Meter, a 9V battery, a resistor, and a couple test leads.
One place to look is: www.allaboutcircuits.com

Craig
 

[4krow]

Very good Craig, thank you. I worked as a tech in the telephone company for 30 yrs and one of best techs I ever worked with taught me some of the things that could be done with just a 'kick' meter. Some of the other meters were simple in nature but very worthwhile when determining buried wire troubles,etc. Strange that a lot those ides and techniques were not taught after a time, but instead, in walked the salesman with all new, expensive digital junk. And it was. Plus people being trained to use it didn't always have a reason to even use it...go figure. I could go on and on, but in the end we sometimes go back to our roots.

[elcraigo]

Mining for broken copper; that explains why you like an analog meter. You probably had butt-set with a rotary dial. The triplett was probably popular because you can change the scale with just one thumb.
The triplett I have was given to me by an old Southern Bell tech.
I'm with you, roots are good. One reason I still use dial calipers.

[4krow]

and the reason we still like tube equipment!

[4krow]

Off topic update:   I received my Simpson 260A meter yesterday. Just what I wanted. Thanks for the recommendation guys.....Greg

[jrebman]

Hey Greg,

Congratulations -- and I'm jealous!  As you can probably tell, that is one piece of gear you'll be able to pass down to your great grandchildren :-).  At least I hope Simpson hasn't succumbed to planned obselence engineering.

-- Jim

[4krow]

Only it is really a 260 3, but not a 3A. I saw one for sale that was a 3A model, and had been used at NASA! It came with all kinds of stuff, but was $140. I chose this one for $40 Ppd. to my door. The only issue is that I had to work on the battery connections. But it has one of those cool 'rolltop' cases. Won't be using right away, but am sure glad I have it now.