[Boatanchors] #Z Flashlight Cells

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

Ron,

Simpson 260's up through the -5 and -5M use one D-Cell and four AA-Cells.  
I have several -5/5M's plus two or three of the earlier ones including an 
original 260 (with pin jacks).  The 260-5P uses a D-Cell and a 15 volt battery 
that is unavailable (for more than 25 years).  However, when the original 
15 volt battery was taken off the market, Simpson made a drop-in adaptor that 
uses an Eveready No. 411.  Several years ago, I got Allied to special order 
the adaptor for me.  Because of Simpson's minimum order requirements, I had 
to buy 12 or 15 of them.  I re-sold several  of them right after I got them 
but I have two or three extras left.  Complete with a 411, they are $15.00 
each (approximately my cost).

If your meter takes an odd rectangular battery plus a D-Cell, it is 
probably a -5P instead of a straight -5.  You can identify the -5P by the presence 
of a small white button to the right of the output jack just below the meter 
bezel.  Printed on the scale plate will be the word "Protected".  Some 
260-5P are called AFP-1.  I think these must have been for a military contract.  
Years ago, Fair Radio had a lot of NOSB AFP-1's, but without the case.

In a message dated 10/24/2009 1:05:34 PM Central Daylight Time, 
ronhunsi at ptd.net writes: 
> 'Afternoon all,
> 
> 
> I thought that I had the good fortune to obtain a Simpson 260-5 
> multimeter, but since I found that, in addition to one D-cell, it also 
> requires four Z-cells, I wonder if it was good fortune.
> 
> What is a Z-cell?
> 
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> 
> Ron

Robert Downs - Houston
wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
MVPA 9480