About this Manual
To the best of our knowledge and at the time written, the information contained in
this document is technically correct and the procedures accurate and adequate to
operate this instrument in compliance with its original advertised specifications.
Notes and Safety Information
This Operator’s Manual contains warning headings which alert the user to check
for hazardous conditions. These appear throughout this manual where applicable,
and are defined below. To ensure the safety of operating performance of this instrument, these instructions must be adhered to.
Warning, refer to accompanying documents.
!
Caution, risk of electric shock.
!
This instrument is designed to prevent accidental shock to the operator when
properly used. However, no engineering design can render safe an instrument
whick is used carelessly. Therefore, this manual must be read carefully and completely before making any measurements. Failure to follow directions can result in
ser ious or fatal accident.
Shock Hazard: As defined in American National Standard, C39.5, Safety
Requrements for Electrical and Electronic Measuring and Controlling Instrumentation, a shock hazard shall be considered to exist at any part involving a potential
in excess of 30 volts RMS (sine wave) or 42.4 volts DC or peak and where a
leakage current from that part to ground exceeds 0.5 milliampere, when measured with anappropriate measuring instrument defined in Section 11.6.1 of ANSI
C 39.5.
Technical Assistance
SIMPSON ELECTRIC COMPANY offers assistance Monday through Friday
7:30 am to 5:00 pm Central Time by contacting Technical Suppor t or
Customer Service at (847) 697-2260.
Internet: http://www.simpsonelectric.com
Warranty and Returns
SIMPSON ELECTRIC COMPANY warrants each instrument and other ar ticles
manufactured by it to be free from defects in material and workmanship under
normal use and service, its obligation under this warranty being limited to making
good at its factory or other article of equipment which shall within one (1) year
after delivery of such instrument or other article of equipment to the original purchaser be returned intact to it, or to one of its authorized service centers, with
transportation charges prepaid, and which its examination shall disclose to its
satisfaction to have been thus def ectiv e; this warranty being expressly in lieu of all
other warranties expressed or implied and of all other obligations or liabilities on
its part, and SIMPSON ELECTRIC COMPANY neither assumes nor authorizes
any other persons to assume for it any other liability in connection with the sales of
its products.
This warranty shall not apply to any instrument or other article of equipment which
shall have been repaired or altered outside the SIMPSON ELECTRIC COMPANY
factory or authorized service centers, nor which has been subject to misuse, negligence or accident, incorrect wiring by others, or installation or use not in accord
with instructions furnished by the manufacturer.
®
260
is a Registered Trademark of the Simpson Electric Company.
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Contents
1. INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................7
1.1 General Description ........................................................................... 7
1.2 Overload Protection ...........................................................................7
1.3 Overload Circuit Reset .......................................................................7
1.4 Accessories and Supplies .................................................................. 8
1.5 Technical Data....................................................................................8
1.6 Test Leads ........................................................................................10
1.7 Safety Considerations ...................................................................... 10
2. INSTALLATION ............................................................................... 11
2.1 Unpacking and Inspection................................................................11
2.2 Warranty...........................................................................................11
2.3 Shipping ........................................................................................... 11
2.4 Power Source Requirements ........................................................... 1 1
2.5 Operating Positions ..........................................................................11
2.6 Care .................................................................................................11
3. CONTROLS, CONNECTORS & INDICATORS ............................... 12
3.1 Front Panel ....................................................................................... 12
4. OPERATION ................................................................................... 13
4.1 Safety Precautions ...........................................................................14
4.2 Movement Overload Protection........................................................14
4.3 Adjust Pointer for Zero .....................................................................14
4.4 Polarity Connection..........................................................................15
4.5 Overload Protection Circuit and Battery Test ...................................15
4.6 DC V oltage Measurement ................................................................ 15
4.7 AC V oltage Measurement ................................................................16
4.8 Output V oltage Measurements.........................................................18
4.9 Measuring Decibels ......................................................................... 19
4.10 Direct Current Measurements .......................................................... 19
4.11 Resistance Measurement ................................................................20
5. OPERATING SERVICING............................................................... 21
5.1 Battery and Fuse Replacement ....................................................... 2 1
4.6.1 Measuring DC Voltage: 0-250 mV .................................................... 15
4.6.2 Measuring DC Voltage: 0-1 through 0-500V..................................... 15
4.6.3 Measuring DC Voltage: 0-1000V ...................................................... 16
4.7.1 Measuring AC Voltage ...................................................................... 16
4.7.2 Measuring AC Voltage: 0-1000V....................................................... 17
4.10.1 Measuring Direct Current: 0-50 µA................................................... 19
4.10.2 Measuring Direct Current: 0-0.5 through 0-500 mA ......................... 19
4.10.3 Measuring Direct Current: 0-5A ........................................................ 20
4.11.1 Measuring Resistance: Low Power Ohms Ranges .......................... 20
4.11.2 Measuring Resistance: Conventional Ohm Ranges ......................... 21
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1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 General Description
The Simpson Volt-Ohm-Milliammeter 260 6XLPM (hereafter referred to as the
260 or the Instrument)
The 260 is a high performance, battery-operated Volt-Ohm-Milliammeter capable
of making a wide variety of electrical measurements simply and accurately. Features are overload protection, conv entional and low-power ohms, and a wide range
coverage. The case is made of high-impact (ABS) plastic and has a contemporary
style. The features, in combination with extended range coverage (Table 1-1)
make this Instrument a general purpose, portable or laboratory Instrument. It is
well suited to servicing, production, inspection and engineering applications.
The 260 uses the Simpson taut-band movement, which is self-shielding. The tautband suspension provides a high degree of repeatability and is highly resistant to
shock or vibration.
1.2 Overload Protection
All of the ranges with the exception of the 5A and 500/1000V AC and V DC ranges ,
are protected by an electronic overload sensing circuit. The protection is from the
usual overloads that could damage the Instrument. A tr ansistorized circuit senses
the voltage drop across the indicating instrument and actuates a relay when the
voltage reaches approximately three times rated full scale v oltage. The sensing of
the voltage drop is accomplished by use of a bridge network, so that overload
protection is provided regardless of polarity. The relay operates at a uniform percent of overload since the indicating instrument circuit is common to all ranges.
When actuated by an overload, the relay contacts (which are in the COMMON
circuit) latch open and remain open until the reset button on the front panel is
pressed. The white reset b utton is located to the left of the -5A jack. An additional
switch is opened when the relay is actuated; this switch opens the coil circuit of the
relay and the electronic sensing circuit, and prevents continuous battery drain.
Once the reset button has been pressed to make the Instrument operational again,
the protective circuit is restored to its monitoring status, but does not draw any
current from the battery (until another overload occurs). A 9V battery is used for
both the RX10,000 ohms range and the protection circuit. The Instruments are
designed so that the protective circuit will function normally as long as the RX10,000
ohms range can still be “zeroed.”
!
The 9V battery must be installed and tested before the Instrument is ready for use.
Perform the overload test described in paragraph 4.6 to ensure proper overload
operation before using the Instrument.
1.3 Overload Circuit Reset
When an overload of sufficient magnitude to trigger the protective circuit is applied
to the Instrument, the reset button is tripped and will extend approximately 3/16
inch above the surface of the panel. To reset the Instrument f or normal operation,
first remove the ov erload and press the reset button. If the overload is not disconnected, pressing the reset button will not reset the overload protection circuit. The
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protection continues until the Instrument leads are disconnected (or until the circuit fault is cleared).
!
The 260-6XPLM is not protected from catastrophic type overloads where the damage due to overloads occurs within the response time of the protective relay, or
from voltages above the maximum capability of the Instrument.
1.4 Accessories and Supplies
All accessories and supplies required for the operation of the 260 is furnished with
each instrument, and listed in Table 1-2.
1.5 Technical Data
Table 1-1 lists the technical specifications for the Simpson 260-6XLPM Volt-OhmMilliammeter.
NOTE: Accuracy specifications apply to measurements made with the Instrument
in a horizontal position (meter facing upward). Reference Conditions: +25°C ±5°C;
45% to 75% relative humidity.
Table 1-1. Technical Data
1. DC VOLT A GE
Ranges (full scale): 250 mV, 1.0V, 2.5V, 10V, 25V, 100V, 250V, 500V
and 1000V
Accuracy: ±2% of full scale on all ranges
Sensitivity: 20,000 ⍀/V
2. AC VOL TAGE
Ranges (full scale): 2.5V, 10V, 25V, 100V, 250V, 500V and 1000V
Accuracy: ±3% of full scale on all ranges
Sensitivity: 5000 ⍀/V
Frequency Response: See curve in Figure 4-1
3. OHMS CONVENTIONAL
Ranges: RX1, RX100, RX1k and RX10k
Ohms Center: 6, 600, 6000 and 60k⍀
Max. Scale Reading: 1000⍀ (RX1)
Accuracy: ±2.5° of an arc on the RX1 range; ±2.0° of arc on
all other ranges. The nominal open-circuit voltage for all ranges up to RX1k is 1.5V. The RX10k
range has an open circuit voltage of 9V. The maximum current drawn from the 1.5V battery is 250
mA (RX1 with test leads shorted).
4. LOW POWER OHMS
Ranges: RX1 and RX10
Ohms Center: 20 and 200⍀
Max. Scale Reading: 1000⍀ (RX1)
Accuracy: ±2.5° of arc. The maximum open circuit voltage
for the low power ohms r anges is 100 mV and the
maximum measuring power is 0.125 mW. The
battery quiescent current is 4.3 mA at RX1 and
0.43 mA at RX10.
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