I just got a Simpson 650 Transistor tester for my Simpson 260 meter. I've got it all cleaned up but I can't find the manual anywhere. I don't know what range to set the meter to use the tester with it connected.
If anyone knows how to use it I would be much appreciative. Even better yet if someone has a manual they could scan the instructions and schematic.

Found a few pics over on the simpson site, but no manual.

I've been all over that site. The question is if the range switch is actually in the correct position.
Maybe I'll email the guy who runs it and see if he has any experience with how it works.

Isn't the 50uA range basically a direct connection through the 260 meter?

Looking at the pictures on the simpson260 site, and the presence of batteries in the adapter itself. I'd guess the picture is correct. (50uA setting, and the plug to the 50uA jack.) It looks like all they're using the 260 itself for is little more than an analog meter.

The 652 manual which is available:

www.simpson260.com/downloads/simpson_65 ... manual.pdf

Is similar... 50uA range, 50uA plug..

David

I have the same problem as Graflex45- I acquired a pair of Simpson 650 transistor testers recently, but one seems to need calibration badly, and the other has been previously "worked on"- it's dead.

Can anyone provide a schematic, owner's manual, and/or service manual for this adapter? Simpson260-dot-com has almost everything else in the way of Simpson meter info, but only a few pix of the 650 and no documentation at all. No luck at BAMA either.

Please lemme know or send me a Personal Message if you know of any sources.
Thanks

I think Simpson will provide information for a fee ($25) for those products not listed on their 260 site.

Might have some documentation at work, I'll check monday.

To those who are interested, there's a 650 manual on ebay at
http://www.ebay.com/itm/220989953931
but the price is a little steep at $25. Too much for me. It looks like I'll probably be doing some reverse engineering soon.

Johnnysan- that's the reason I haven't contacted Simpson yet, too. No $$$.

Cwr56- I hope you find something in your library at work. If not, thanks anyway for checking.

alltare

OK folks, I got one of these at an auction last nite and there are some cryptic instructions on a label on the back of the case.

1. Set BAt adj. to center scale (if can't-change Bat)
2. Set "zero" to Zero after transistor warm up (pull Zero SW if can't zero) Defective transistor won't zero.
3. Ico = leakage to 100uA - Power transistors may use 1mA or 10mA on 260 only
4. Beta direct reading, except silicon, multiply by 1.16.

Haven't played with it yet because the the two D cells, circa '72 I think, made a mess spilling over into the case. I've never seen such a mess from a couple of batteries, you can see where the fluid leaked down the side and pooled/dried in the bottom of the case. Doesn't look like the damage to the "works" is all that bad but that remains to be seen. Once I get that cleaned up and new batteries and holder in place, I'll so some device testing.

Mike-
Instruction #4 suggests that the primary intention of the 650 was to test germanium transistors, which makes sense. I wonder if the manual even mentions the silicon "fudge factor".

Thanks for that info- I now know enough to be dangerous.

alltare

I guess instruction #2 is to give the transistor's filament time to heat up? Cryptic indeed.

Sorry for the late reply. I found a manual for it in one of our file cabinets. I'll try to scan it over the weekend.

-John

John-

Thanks for finding that manual- I can really use it. I have sent you a Personal Message.

By the way, please tell us about your Simpson Multimeter Collection. Do you have a web page?

alltare

John,

Thank you very much for your effort and tenacity to recover the manual. I'd appreciate a copy or your posting it somewhere.

I too am looking for a copy of the manual for the Simpson 650. I HAVE OTHER Simpson as well as other mfg manuals to share also.
Frank in San Jose CA

Just looking at the pic above, I see "Transit" in smaller type right below the 500mA switch position. Since a transistor is a current amplifier and leakage is measured in microamps, I'd say that's where the 260 should be set for beta gain readings. Perhaps the 100mA range would be better for checking leakage.

-Ed

The "Transit" position marks the range setting that has the lowest shunt resistance across the 50 uA meter movement. You're supposed to put the range switch in this position before transporting the meter. This position has the highest damping, minimizing movement of the meter armature during transportation (i.e. while in transit). See section 4.15 of the Simpson 260 series 6 manual.

Nothing to do with transistor testing.

Thanks Steve, I thought it was an odd abbreviation for transistor.
-Ed

I concur with Steve. During the early 70's I was in the Navy, repairing 100's Simpson 260's adn we always shipped them back in the "transit" position to minimize needle vibration. I should have the manual for the communications tester (CB) adapter that was also sold with the Simpson. Seems the manuals for different models of the meters themselves are now pretty available, but I have a few of those also. Also some small parts and a few old boards if anyone needs small parts or resistors. Let me know if anyone has such needs.

Hopefully John will send out a copy of the manual next time he logs on.

The brief instructions that were posted seemed to work for me to get some Si transistors tested with my adapter. Cable in the 50uA jack as all adapters seem to use, switch in the 50 uA position. Batt seems to bring the meter to center scale, I am testing through all my "collection" of power transistors, found some that are likely Ge transistors that will not test on this adapter. They are either bad (most do fail the DVM test below) or I need to understand more about testing Ge power transistors with the 650. I haven't been able to successfully gain a zero with any devices by pulling out the Zero control on the 650, possibly something with using a different range? Will need to play with that a bit more.

I am understanding more about this 650 tester.. I dug into my transistor collection and found a 2N43, 2N188A, 2N274, and 2N404 all of which work fine on the tester. Power Ge transistors are another matter, because of the high leakage > 100 uA. Some of the Ice0 specs that I found are actually in the mA range even for Si power transistors, very common to be in the 100's of uA. Not sure if this tester was made for testing those. A curve tracer may be a better tool, or a simple measurement of Ice0 then subtract that from the Hfe reading with a known base current.

The manual would certainly help to confirm whether power transistors can be successfully tested on this instrument.

Turns out that most of the earliest Ge transistors were PNP transistors.