[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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