• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Which multimeter should I keep?

A

akabek

Active Member
I inherited a Heathkit IM-11 from my father which I will keep for sentimental reasons. My plan was to buy a Simpson 260-8P but I recently came across and purchased a package deal of vintage multimeters.

Avometer 7 (well used with probes)
Avometer 7 (like new with leather case, manual and probes)
Triplett 630 (leather case with probes)
Measurement Engineering Toronto SA-2 (with probes, meter built into a dovetailed wooden box)
Eico 232 (with probes)
Heathkit IM-18 (little rusty with probes)

One of the Avometers looks brand new. I cannot find any information on the Measurement Engineering Toronto Meter. I figure having a couple of analog multimeters on the work bench for audio testing would be handy. Let me know your thoughts. Do any of the meters stand out from the crowd? Or should I sell them and look for a Simpson 260?
 
Register to hide this ad
I wouldn't spend my money on a new 260. If you are up to that type of $, there are far more capable and accurate digital meters available for similar cost.
Mind, it also strongly depends on what type of work you wish to do. For example, it is quite a bit harder to see the voltage drop across a semiconductor junction with an analog meter than with a digital meter.

All of these are good meters (provided they are functioning correctly and accurately) and have their own uses.

AVOmeter 7 is a very good quality instrument, but I don't like the scale or the styling. That's just me,haha.
Triplett 630 (version?) is easily the equal of the Simpson 260.
Eico 232 (I have and use one) is great when you need to make peak-to-peak measurements, and is good up to 3mc.
The Heathkit IM-11 and IM-18 are essentially the same, so clearly your dads is the keeper. They're also great for when you need to find a null point using the center scale.
 
Why not keep several? It's always good to have a backup. I've had as many as five meters hooked up at the same time testing and adjusting voltage and bias.
 
I did more reading on multimeters so I think I will keep the mint AVOmeter 7, Triplett 630 and the Eico 232. The rest of the bundle I will sell. That should leave me with a good selection to play around with. I already updates the caps in in my dad's Heathkit so it is good to go. I do not see a version on the Triplett 630. I just has one red dot under model 630 and the serial is 86768
 
I think the AVOmeter 7 looks very cool. Some good information on these pages https://www.petervis.com/avo-meters/avo-7/avo-7.html

avo-7.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom