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| Looking for suggestions on how best to employ this large microammeter |
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| intabits:
I recently picked up this large 50uA microammeter with a blank scale. More details, and rear view at: https://imgur.com/gallery/zoEbn9C It's quite a special item, so I'm looking for a special project that would justify it's use. I'm leaning very much towards the "jay diddy 5 transistor ESR meter" as this seems perfect for that project, being 50uA and the project needing a custom non-linear scale. But I'd like to hear any suggestions of other uses that this meter could be put to, in the realm of an electronics lab environment, or DIY test equipment . Also, would the large scale be of any specific benefit to the ESR meter project? Or are there other projects where that feature would really shine? TIA... |
| intabits:
Pressing on... I've now tested this large 5"x7" meter. It is indeed 50uA FSD, with a resistance of 3.9k. Thinking about it some more, that large scale would probably be under utilized just for use in an ESR meter, but then it occurred to me that since a scale has to be created in any case, one could make better use of its large size with multiple scales. It could be part of a more comprehensive capacitance tester, measuring not only ESR, but also leakage and capacitance, with scales for each, and possibly also show leakage test voltage. Just thinking aloud about how that might work:- A rotary switch to select the required test function, and a "test" button to perform it. When not pressed, a relay would connect the DUT to a discharge circuit to ensure it's safe to test, and when pressed, switch over to the testing function. For example, in leakage test mode, while test button not pressed, the meter would show the test voltage (and able to be adjusted by a pot), and then show the leakage current while the test button was active. Any thoughts on that idea? Also, I'm still interested in hearing of any other possible uses for such a large analog microammeter... |
| soldar:
To be honest, I don't know if there is a good use for it from a strictly practical point of view because you can get better digital instruments for lower price. Maybe you could use it to reproduce some older multimeter or similar instrument. Something that would be a faux-antique. A show piece. Something you could use not only for practical purposes but also for show. I have a couple of these classic Italian multimeters. I hardly use them but they will always remain in my collection. |
| Conrad Hoffman:
It can be turned into just about anything in terms of voltage or current, using the right shunt. Maybe a line voltage or current meter for your test bench? I don't know if they used a special meter, but RCA made some expanded scale meters that are handy to have. You'd have to research how they did it. |
| intabits:
--- Quote from: soldar on April 06, 2019, 12:52:56 pm ---To be honest, I don't know if there is a good use for it from a strictly practical point of view because you can get better digital instruments for lower price. --- End quote --- Yes, you're probably right about that. I was starting to think similarly myself. Though I do find the idea of directly viewing the leakage current (or reforming current if that's what's being done) on an analogue meter, rather appealing. I will deliberate further, and probably end up pursuing the setup I outlined previously, because even though not an ideal approach, it would be a fun project. My question was mainly in case I was missing a useful test equipment application for this device that would be absolutely perfect for it, or even one for which such a device would be almost essential, though there probably isn't any. --- Quote from: Conrad Hoffman on April 06, 2019, 05:38:26 pm ---It can be turned into just about anything in terms of voltage or current, using the right shunt. Maybe a line voltage or current meter for your test bench? I don't know if they used a special meter, but RCA made some expanded scale meters that are handy to have. You'd have to research how they did it. --- End quote --- I was thinking more of a stadalone portable unit, measuring some esoteric quantity. But any application requiring an expanded scale would be a good fit for this item. Thanks for the suggestion. |
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