[R-390] OT: Panel Meter Sources?

Tim Shoppa shoppa_r390a at trailing-edge.com
Sun May 3 09:17:09 EDT 2009


"Barry" <n4buq at knology.net> wrote:
> Does anyone know a good (read: inexpensive) source for a round Simpson panel 
> meter?  I'm looking for something in the range of 0-15 to 0-30 volts DC with 
> an outside diameter of 2-5/8".  I've looked all over eBay and haven't found 
> exactly what I'm looking for.  There is one auction out there now (oddly in 
> my hometown) with something close, but the meter is a bit larger in 
> diameter.

The trick is to stop looking for the one you want. As long as you
are looking for the one you want, you'll never find it :-).

E-bay is a great place to pick up random panel meters, with emphasis
on random! I've gotten all kinds over the years, but as you note they
hardly ever match!

> I have a very nice Simpson 0-5 amp DC meter and want a volt meter to match 
> it for a power supply I'm completing.  I know I'm being a bit picky, but 
> they're going right on the front panel of the P/S so would like it to match 
> if possible.

Meters are often found with other brand names on the front.
e.g. I've got a lot of nice round Millen-branded meters that
are Triplett movements.

Starting with a basic 1mA or 100uA meter movement and adding resistors
to get the range you want is a tried-and-true method. Almost all the panel
meters you'll ever see are a basic mA-range movement with a shunt or
multiplier resistor inside. If you really want
a nice looking scale, graphics programs and a printer get you a long way.
I personally believe a hand-drawn scale is more than good enough for anything
in my shack - although I did work hard on some of my tuning dials to
make them look nice and sharp, with my best handwriting!

Tim.


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