Simpson 260-9S, 260-9SP Instruction Manual

Simpson 260® Series 9S & 9SP

Volt-Ohm-Milliammeter

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

SIMPSON ELECTRIC COMPANY 520 Simpson Avenue

Lac du Flambeau, WI 54538-0099 [phone] FAX [phone]

Printed in U.S.A. Part No. 06-117867 Edition 2, 05/07

Visit us on the web at: www.simpsonelectric.com

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. This product has been designed to meet
UL 61010-1 requirements at 600V, Category III.

!

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 which is used carelessly. Therefore, this manual must be read
carefully and completely before making any measurements. Failure to follow directions can result in serious or
fatal accident.

Shock Hazard: As defined in American National Standard, C39.5, Safety Requirements 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 an appropriate measuring instrument
defined in Section 11.6.1 of ANSI C 39.5.

Technical Assistance

SIMPSON ELECTRIC COMPANY offers assistance Monday through Friday
8:00 am to 4:30 pm Central Time by contacting Technical Support or
Customer Service at [phone].
Internet: http://www.simpsonelectric.com

Notes

Warranty and Returns

SIMPSON ELECTRIC COMPANY warrants each instrument and other articles 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 defective; 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.

1 26

4.5 Care

a. Do not attempt to clean this Instrument with the test leads connected to a power source.

b. Immediately clean all spilled materials from the Instrument and wipe dry. If the spillage is corrosive,

use a suitable cleaner to neutralize the corrosive action.

c. Do not allow the battery to fully discharge. When the batteries reach the end of their useful life, they

should be promptly replaced. Failure to do so may result in corrosion at the battery contacts due to bat­tery leakage.

d. Avoid prolonged exposure or usage in areas which are subject to temperature and humidity extremes,

vibration or mechanical shock, dust or corrosive fumes, or strong electrical or electromagnetic interfer­ences.

e. Verify Instrument accuracy by performing operational checks using known, accurate, stable sources. If

proper calibration equipment is not available, contact the nearest Authorized Service Center.

f. It is recommended that the Instrument be returned annually to the nearest Authorized Service Center, or

to the factory, for an overall check, adjustment, and calibration.

g. When not in use, store Instrument in a room free from temperature extremes, dust, corrosive fumes, and

mechanical vibration or shock.

If Instrument is stored more than thirty days, remove batteries.

1. Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Contents

1.1 General Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

1.2 Overload Protection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

1.2.1 Fuses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

1.3 Internal Batteries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

1.4 Overload Circuit Test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

1.5 Printed Circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

1.6 Adjust-A-Vue Handle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

1.7 Test Leads. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

1.8 Technical Data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

1.9 Definition Of Accuracy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

1.10 Safety Considerations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

1.11 Audio Alarm. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

1.12 Accessories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

1.13 Additional Accessories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

1.13.1 Amp-Clamp Model 150-2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

2. INSTALLATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

2.1 Unpacking and Inspection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

2.2 Warranty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

2.3 Shipping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

2.4 Power Source Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

2.5 Operating Position. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

3. OPERATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

3.1 Safety Precautions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

3.2 Operational Items and Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

3.3 Polarity Reversing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

3.4 Measurement of Unknown Voltage or Current. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

3.5 Test Leads. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

3.6 DC Voltage Measurement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

3.6.1 DC Voltage Measurement 0-250 mV Range. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

3.6.2 DC Voltage Measurement 0-2.5 Through 0-100V Range. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

3.6.3 DC Voltage Measurement 0-250V Range. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

3.6.4 DC Voltage Measurement 0-600V Range. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

3.7 AC Voltage Measurement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

3.7.1 AC Voltage Measurement 0-2.5 Thru 0-100V Range. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

3.7.2 AC Voltage Measurement 0-250V Range. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

3.7.3 AC Voltage Measurement 0-600V Range. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

3.8 Decibel Measurement (-20 to +50 dB). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

3.9 Direct Current Measurement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

3.9.1 Direct Current Measurement 0-1mA through 600mA Range. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

3.9.2 Direct Current Measurement 0-10A Range. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

3.9.3 Alternating Current Measurement 0-10A Range. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

3.10 Zero Ohms Adjustmens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

3.11 Measuring Resistance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

3.12 Resistance Measurement of Semiconductors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

3.13 Continuity Tests. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

4. OPERATING SERVICING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

4.1 Removing the Instrument Case. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

25 2

Contents Continued

4.2 Battery and Fuse Replacement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

4.3 Fuse Protection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

4.5 Care. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

If the pointer cannot be adjusted to zero ohms or the R X 1 or R X 100 range, replace the 1.5 V battery. If the
pointer cannot be adjusted to zero on the R X 10,000 range replace the 9 V battery.

a. To replace the “D” size battery:

1. Remove the old 1.5 V battery.

2. Insert the (-) end of battery first, pushing against the (-) terminal spring clip, then gently push the (+)
side of the battery into place.

b. To replace the 9 V battery:

1. Remove the battery with the mating connector from the compartment.

2. Take the connector off the old battery and connect it to the new battery.

3. Insert new battery into the compartment.

4. Place the connector leads so they rest between the cavity walls and clear the fuse terminals. The extend­ed leads are placed between the battery holder and the top wall of the case.

NOTE: 1 Amp and/ or 2 Amp fuse replacement is necessary when there is no meter deflection on any of the
DC, AC Volts or Ohms ranges but the DC Amps range operates properly.

c. To replace the 1 Amp fuse:

1. Pull defective fuse from its retaining spring clips.

2. Snap-in the replacement fuse and replace the cover.

NOTE: A spare fuse is located in a cavity next to the fuse clip.

4.3 Fuse Protection

A 1 Amp 250V quick-acting fuse and a 2A high voltage, high interruption capacity fuse are connected in a
series with the input circuit as additional protection to the VOM against excessive energy fault current, such as
a power line overload.

It is important to replace the 1 Amp fuse with a Littlefuse Type 312001 only to prevent the 2 Amp high inter­ruption capacity fuse from opening on nominally high overload.

If the Instrument fails to indicate, the 1 Amp or the 2 Amp fuses may be burned out. (Refer to paragraph 4.2
for fuse replacement.) A 1 Amp spare fuse is furnished with each Instrument. (Both 1 Amp fuses are located in
the battery and fuse compartment.) The 2 Amp fuse is located on the Instrument panel under the printed circuit
board.

3 24

3.13 Continuity Tests

Turn off all power to the circuit being tested before proceeding any further.

a. Set the FUNCTION switch to the F| (note) And the RANGE t o any ohms . Insert the black test lead into

the COMMON (-) and the red test lead into the (+) jack.

b. Touch the test lead probe tips together. An audio sound should be heard.

c. To test for continuity, probe the circuit or component in question. An audible sound indicates continuity.

The higher the circuit’s resistance, the lower the sound level. The lower the circuit’s resistance, the higher the
sound level.

4. OPERATING SERVICING

This Instrument has been carefully designed and constructed with high-quality components. By providing
reasonable care and following the instructions in this manual, the user can expect a long service life from these
instruments.

Before opening the battery compartment cover, disconnect the test leads from live circuits.

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 General Description

The Simpson Volt-Ohm-Milliammeter 260 Series 9, (hereafter referred to as the 260 or the Instrument) is a rug­ged, accurate, compact, easy-to-use instrument equipped with mirrored dial to eliminate parallax. The Instru­ment can be used to make accurate measurements of AC and DC voltage, direct current, resistance, and deci­bels. New Features in the 260-9 are:

• 10 Amp AC measurement

• DC blocked AC input

• Meets UL Spefication 601010

• High Impact Case (Black)

1.2 Overload Protection (9S Version)

All the ranges, with exception of 10 Amp and 600 volt are protected by an electronic overload protection sys­tem. The protection is from the usual overloads that would damage the VOM. A transistorized circuit senses
the voltage drop across the indicating instrument and actuates a relay when the voltage reaches approximately
3 to 4 times rated full scale voltage. Sensing of the voltage drop is by means 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 until the reset button on the front panel is depressed.

4.1 Removing the Instrument Case

To gain access to the inside of the Instrument panel, disconnect the test leads and remove the cover from the
battery compartment. Next, remove the four case-fastening screws and lift the case from the panel.

When replacing the case, make certain that the wires leading to the battery compartment are seated in their re­spective slots within the compartment wall. This will prevent damage to the wire insulation.

4.2 Battery and Fuse Replacement

The batteries and 1 Amp fuse are located inside an isolated compartment at the top-rear of the Instrument case.
To open the battery and fuse compartment:

a. Place the Instrument face down on a soft padded surface.

b. Unscrew the single screw on the cover.

c. Remove the cover from the case and set aside. Batteries and fuse may now be replaced.

NOTE: If replacement of the 2 Amp high current interrupting fuse is necessary, the Instrument case must be
removed.

Typically if the high energy fuse is blown, there will be other internal damage. It is recommended that this type
of repair be performed by a qualified repair center only.

23 4

Due to its sensitivity to overloads, the electronic overload protection relay incorporated in the 260 is susceptible
to electrostatic fields from high potentials or transients either in the circuit being measured or in nearby circuitry.

Do not assume the relay to be faulty if it trips out without apparent cause. It may be indicating a dangerous
condition such as excessive circuit-to-ground (floating) voltage being applied to the Instrument.

Avoid loading the Instrument or its test leads until certain that excessive circuit-to-ground voltage does not exist.

a. The safety circuit is designed to limit battery drain . When the overload protection is tripped, the relay

opens the battery circuit. When the reset button has been pressed so that the VOM is operational; the
protection circuit draws less than the shelf life drain of the battery.

b. Since the 9 V battery is used for both the R X 10,000 range and the protection circuit, the VOM is de-

signed to allow the protection circuit to function normally as long as the R X 10,000 range can be set to
zero and an Alkaline battery is used.

c. The 1 and 2 Amp fuses in the input circuit offer additional protection to the meter. Some overload con-

ditions may cause the fuses to burn out as well as open the overload protection relay .

d. When an overload of sufficient magnitude is applied to the VOM, the reset button will “pop up” approx-

imately 3/16 inch above the surface of the panel. To reset the VOM for normal operation, first remove
the overload and depress the button. If the overload remains connected to the Instrument, resetting the
overload protection reset button will not connect the VOM input circuit.