I just obtained a pair of Sencore testers. I love the look and hope they will look and work great on my bench.

One is the DVM38 multi-meter and the other is a FC45 frequency meter. They both have the push-button selectors and red LED readouts. Both very 70's style.

I'm just hoping they will work as good as they look.

Allegedly they've been used very lightly and come with the original box. No leads or manual though. Ebay pics looked good but you don't always know until the item is in your hands.

I'm convinced I overpaid for them. However, if they can be good working bench tools, I'll be happy with them.

Next question is calibration... a test instrument that isn't calibrated is a waste of time... yes?

Yes.

Depends on how far it is and if you know the magnitude and polarity.
Fixing old radios with a plus or minus 5% or so is generally as good as you need.
Get an assortment of 1% caps, resistors, inductors, etc and see what the new stuff indicates.
Line voltage and a new battery will help with voltage and current can be verified with ohms law.
If a friend has something calibrated then you have it made.
Hank

Sorry, rhetorical question. Any one of us could sit down and draw a ruler, free-hand and from memory. Whether it would be any good for measuring or drawing straight lines... I suppose that depends on the precision required, doesn't it?

Anyway, we're talking about 30 year old test gear, and even if it's lightly used I would want to have some confidence in it for giving me reasonably accurate results. As mentioned, you can get pretty close by comparing it to other things. Still, it would be nice to have an official stamp of approval saying it passed muster. Trying to find a place to work out the kinks on them.

Love it!

Reminds me of Aperature Laboratories in the 70's...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6ljFaKRTrI

Bruss01 -

I have one of those FC45s and really like it. It was used when I got it and seems in pretty reasonable calibration. Never bothered to touch it or calibrate it. It has a ovenized oscillator inside. It's actually more sensitive than the specs indicate. For instance, I've measured down to 15hz (rated to 30hz IIRC). While I also have a full-size labgrade HP counter, this is my 'go-to' counter mostly because it's so portable.

Also - I like the style/presentation of this counter. The DVM38 looks good as well. They will make a distinctive appearance on your bench!

Below are the FC45 specifications. somewhere on the net there is a manual for the FC71 which is somewhat similar. For the FC45, have a poor and partial copy if you want (PM me).

Best regards...

bruss01 (sorry, don't know your actual name),
I have a decent scan of the FC-45 manual if you want it.
Rick

Thanks guys. I have found a copy of the FC45 online, but my search so far has failed to turn up one for the DVM38.

Also, both are coming to me without test leads.

The search continues...

Those two Sencore's were excellent quality, and it looks like your examples were well cared for. Unless they have been abused or seriousy monkied with, I wouldn't be surprised if their calibration is still reasonably accurate. A friend with some references to check against definitely comes in handy to verify that all the functions and ranges are working right and close in accuracy.

-Mark-

If you have a shortwave receiver it's pretty easy to check cal using WWV.
If not find a xtal calibrator or a sig gen with a xtal and measure it.
If it is off you can tweak it

I use a DVM38 as my "daily driver" bench meter, unless I'm doing an alignment; then, it's time to fire up the VTVM.

As Hank has said, you can calibrate it with the WWV. The oscillator in that unit is 10Mhz. So is the WWV. Get a receiver with a bfo or ssb. First tune in the WWV with the bfo or SSB mode and zero beat the signal. This means, bring the tone down to the lowest point, so you don't hear a tone but the signal is still strong. Disconnect the antenna from your receiver and attach a small wire to the receivers antenna port and bring it close to the oscillator in the Sencore. If it's on frequency, you will hear no tone in the receiver. DO NOT re adjust the receiver's tone, the receiver is your reference. If you hear a tone in your receiver, the oscillator in your counter needs adjustment. Keep in mind, your receiver should be of good stability (Crystal controlled) and should have some time to settle before doing this procedure. Your Sencore (if I remember correctly)has an oven that does not remain on when the unit is switched off, So let the Sencore warm for a few hours before you align it. If you don't do this your alignment will mean nothing. So turn your receiver and frequency counter on a couple of hours before this procedure. If you use a scope and hook it to the speaker jack, you will be able to get accuracy of a Hert or so. No speaker could get you in the ball park of 10 Hertz or so.

I contacted Sencore for some information on these units. They replied:



I was able to purchase a manual for the DVM38 for $10. Very nice to work with on the phone, too.

^^^ wut he sed^^^

The two units finally arrived yesterday.

WOW!

For a couple of pieces of working equpment that rolled off the line while disco was hot and Elvis was alive, these look BEAUTIFUL.

I had to run out to Fry's and get some test leads. Gee, now I feel like a real pro! It'll be nice having some instruments I can really trust.

Now, if I can just convince my wife to sacrifice an old bed sheet to sew a dust-cover for them.

Yee haw, what a nice set. I can't wait to get comfy at the bench with them.

The saga continues!!

I happened to score a Sencore Capacitor checker - The LC53. It has the same kind of buttons on the front as the two units I mentioned previously.

However - I received it and it really is not a good match for the other two units. It's larger, not as square, and the colors are all wrong. The FC45 AND DVM38 are black and silver. The LC53 is beige with a black faceplate. aye, carumba.

My hope was to stack all 3 units and have a Sencore "tower of power" but the look of the LC53 kind of spoils that effect.

I'm on a mission right now to help the LC53 feel a little more at home in it's new surroundings. To that end, we're getting him a "new suit" so he will fit in a little better with his new adopted brothers.

I'll have some pics as the project progresses. My goal at this point is not so much to make them "match" as to make it look like they "go" together. We'll see how well that turns out. Epic fail or epic win? It could go either way at this point. Stay tuned...

(not mine, but nearly identical)

We're back!

I've completed the repaint of the LC53 and I am pleased with the results.








What do you think? Worth the effort? My wife says it looks brand new now, and doesn't stick out like a sore thumb.

That girl always did have great taste... especially in men!