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Old 30th Dec 2018, 11:36 pm   #1
Cathode Ray
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Default Avometer - damping meter for transportation

Folks,
Is there a dial setting to dampen the meter before shipping?

Ray
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Old 30th Dec 2018, 11:54 pm   #2
The Philpott
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Default Re: Avometer - damping meter for transportation

Meter model and mark?

Later ones have the facility to be set to OFF on both selectors, i believe...

Earlier ones of 20,000ohms/volt (Model 8 or 9) can be effectively damped by using wire to short pos terminal to neg terminal and setting to DC....50uA range. With a less sensitive meter such as a Model 40 this is not very effective.

Dave
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Old 31st Dec 2018, 6:18 am   #3
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Default Re: Avometer - damping meter for transportation

Set the AC knob to 'DC' and set the DC knob to 'AC' then give the unit a swing to see if the pointer is damped. This works on a lot of AVO 8s

David
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Old 31st Dec 2018, 9:42 am   #4
Cathode Ray
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Default Re: Avometer - damping meter for transportation

Thanks Guys,
It's a Model 8 MK3.
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Old 31st Dec 2018, 10:47 am   #5
The Philpott
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Default Re: Avometer - damping meter for transportation

Ah, so the 'DC-50uA and terminals shorted' will work perfectly. If the movement is in really good condition when the meter is disturbed the needle will still -very slowly- return precisely to zero. Give it a try.

Dave
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Old 31st Dec 2018, 11:24 am   #6
Cathode Ray
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Default Re: Avometer - damping meter for transportation

It's not in my possession just yet Dave.
The seller has to ship it to me , I've passed in the settings to him.
Looking forward to this, haven't had one in my hands for about 35 years!

Cheers
Ray
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Old 31st Dec 2018, 1:50 pm   #7
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Default Re: Avometer - damping meter for transportation

..All three of the working examples i have had, required adjustment to the leaf switches, but once that was done (and the magnetic shunt recalibrated slightly) they worked 'as new'.

Dave
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Old 31st Dec 2018, 6:20 pm   #8
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Default Re: Avometer - damping meter for transportation

I have an Avo 8 Mk5, and the movement damping seems fine with the DC switch set to "Off" and the AC switch set to "DC". Am I right to feel this is OK for transportation?
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Old 31st Dec 2018, 8:43 pm   #9
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Default Re: Avometer - damping meter for transportation

I've been doing it that way for decades and various marks of Avo 8.

- With only one incident, but as I dropped it in the attic and it fell through the access hole, bounced on the ladder and then went down the house stair to ground level, damage was inevitable. It was a late model plastic cased one and though the movement had suffered, the case was still intact.

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Old 31st Dec 2018, 9:41 pm   #10
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Default Re: Avometer - damping meter for transportation

Quote:
Originally Posted by Radio Wrangler View Post
I dropped it in the attic and it fell through the access hole, bounced on the ladder and then went down the house stair to ground level
Ouch! I felt that one, I'll bet it was all in slow motion.
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Old 12th Jan 2019, 6:05 am   #11
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Default Re: Avometer - damping meter for transportation

My 8 Mark V also Is considerably dampened when switched to off position as I read this somewhere. I notified the seller to switch it off before shipping. Nothing wrong with it and it definitely swings next to nothing on the off position. Has the leather case but needs repair as the cotton stitch is letting go. Hopefully my gamble paid off as I discovered the older units are much more repairable if fallen into wrong hands during operation.
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Old 13th Jan 2019, 12:34 am   #12
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Default Re: Avometer - damping meter for transportation

As has been said,

Model 8 Mk1-4 and model 9: Set to DC and 50uA and short the + and - terminals.

Model 8 Mk 5/6/7 simply set to off and dc, there is an internal short engaged for transit.

Though this isn't to be used in place of sufficient packaging to ensure every bump and drop can be absorbed.
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Old 13th Jan 2019, 12:41 am   #13
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Default Re: Avometer - damping meter for transportation

Good info, should maybe be in the FAQ..
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