Simpson Electric 160 Instruction Manual

OPERATOR’S MANUAL

Model 160

Volt-Ohm-Milliammeter

SIMPSON ELECTRIC COMPANY 520 Simpson Avenue

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

Printed in U.S.A. Part No. 05-111658 Edition 16, 05/07

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

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

Technical Assistance

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

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.

SHOCK HAZARD: As defined in American National Standard, C39.5, Safety
Requirements for Electrical & Electronic Measuring & Controlling Instrumen­tation, a shock hazard shall be considered to exist at any part involving a

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and reverse the leads. The polarity switch must be kept in the + DC posi­tion on this range.

5. Read the current directly on the black arc marked DC, using the 0-50
scale. The current value is shown in microamperes.

6. Turn off power to the circuit. Remove the test leads and restore the circuit
continuity.

4.13 Measuring Direct Current, 0-1 Through 0-500 mA
Ranges

1. Connect the black test lead to the COM (–) jack and the red test leads to
the + jack. Set the polarity switch to the + DC position.

2. Set the range switch to any of the five mA direct current range positions,
as desired. The switch positions are marked 1 mA, 10 mA, 100 mA, 250
mA, and 500 mA. When in doubt as to which range to use, always start
with the highest ranges as a protection to the Instrument.

3. When the circuit power is turned off, open the circuit at the point where
current is to be measured. Connect the Instrument in series with the cir­cuit, observing proper polarities.

4. Apply power to the circuit being measured. If the pointer deflects to the
left of zero, the polarity is reversed. Turn off the power. Set the polarity
switch to the –DC position and then reapply the power.

5. Read the current on the black scale marked DC, which is second from
the top of the dial.

mA Range Use Scale Reading

1.0 0-10 Divide by 10
10 0-10 Read direct value
100 0-10 Multiply reading by 10
250 0-2.5 Multiply reading by 100
500 0-50 Multiply reading by 10

6. Turn off power to the circuit. Remove the test leads and restore circuit
continuity.

5. BATTERY REPLACEMENT

When the Ohms Adjust control cannot be adjusted for zero ohms (with shorted
test leads), it is generally an indication that the battery must be replaced. Fail­ure to do so promptly can result in damage to the 160 due to chemical leak­age from the battery.

To replace the battery, remove the screw holding the back cover to front panel
and separate the back cover from the front panel. Loosen the screw securing
the battery contact plate located at the top of the 160 panel assembly, then
rotate the contact plate enough to allow removal of the batteries. When in­stalling new batteries, note battery placement and polarity as indicated on
the contact plate.

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6. Connect the test leads across the resistance which is to be measured. If
there is a “forward” and “backward” resistance, such as with diodes, ob­serve polarity in the lead connections to control each direction of test.
With the polarity switch in the + DC position, the + jack will provide a
positive potential referred to COM – jack. Setting the switch to the – DC
position will reserve this measuring potential.

7. Read the indication on the OHMS arc at the top of the dial. Note that the
arc reads from right to left for increasing values.

8. Multiply the reading by the multiplier factor indicated at the switch posi­tion; the result is the resistance value in ohms. “K” on the dial and panel
stands for “times one thousand”.

NOTE: The resistance of nonlinear components will measure as different val­ues on different ranges of the 160. For example, a diode could measure 80 
on the R x 1 range, and 300  on the R x 10 range. This is normal and is the
result of the diode characteristic. The difference in readings does not indicate
faulty operation of the ohmmeter circuit.

4.11 Direct Current Measurement

1. Do not switch the range setting of the Range or Polarity Switches while
the circuit under measurement is energized.

2. Never disconnect the test leads from the circuit under measurement while
the circuit is energized.

3. Always turn the power off and discharge all the capacitors before the
setting of the switches is changed, or the leads disconnected.

4. Never exceed the Circuit-To-Ground voltage of the Instrument (1,000 V
max: Table 1-1, Rated Circuit-Ground Voltage).

5. Always connect the Instrument in series with the ground side of the cir­cuit.

6. In all direct current measurements make certain the power to the circuit
being tested has been turned off before connecting and disconnecting
test leads or restoring circuit continuity.

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 C39.5.

4.12 Measuring Direct Currents, 50

Never connect the test leads directly across any source of voltage when the
160 is used for current measurements. This will damage the Instrument.

1. Connect the black test lead to the COM – jack, and the red test lead to the
+ 50 mA jack.

2. Set the range switch at 50 mA (common with 50 VDC).

3. With the circuit power turned off, open the circuit at the point where cur­rent is to be measured. Connect the Instrument in series with the circuit,
observing proper polarities when making connection.

4. Turn on power to the circuit being measured. If the pointer is deflected to
the left of zero, the polarity is opposite to that anticipated. Turn power off



A Range

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