Vintage Triplett 660-R, and AA Battery question - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / repair

author: Wimberleytech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2018, 05:30:55 pm
content: I picked up this pristine meter in leather case at the thrift store today. I have checked a few ranges and it seems to work fine.Opened it up and is in equally good condition except for some leaking batteries which I cleaned up nicely.Here is the issue.Standard AA batteries just barely do not fit! I recall in the old days, the negative side of AA batteries had an indent which modern ones do not have. As a result, the newer batteries are ever so slightly longer.I did find one discussion about this but gave no conclusions.Question: has anyone else run into this situation for older gear??

author: mzacharias
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2018, 06:13:24 pm
content: As I understand it - that should be a 30 volt battery, and not a "AA" cell.

author: Wimberleytech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2018, 06:28:55 pm
content: Quote from: mzacharias on March 06, 2018, 06:13:24 pmNo, that is the 630-A that uses the 30 volt battery.The 660 uses two AA and one C

author: Wimberleytech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2018, 07:14:17 pm
content: Here is a picture from an ebay sale showing the dimple on the bottom of an old 9-lives battery. It is shown next to a modern battery.I think that dimple makes the difference for me.I am going to design (or find) a AAA to AA converter and print it with my 3D printer, or design a converter that transforms a 3032 to fit in the space of the two series AA batteries.I need a solution for a C cell that is also required.

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2018, 04:44:16 am
content: Why don't you just squish or grind off whatever bump went into that dimple?

author: Wimberleytech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2018, 03:14:55 pm
content: Quote from: Cyberdragon on March 07, 2018, 04:44:16 amThat would work, but this unit is in such perfect condition, I wanted to preserve its original state.

author: Stray Electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2018, 04:11:26 pm
content: I've noticed that some of the Chinese made AA batteries seem to be shorter than standard American brands. Short enough that they barely touch the battery contacts. I guess it's just another way for the Chinese to cut costs. But go to HF and try some of their batteries. They're certainly cheap enough and they do work well.

author: rsjsouza
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2018, 04:59:50 pm
content: If you have a Fry's Electronics near you, they have quite reasonably pricedZnC batteries from Tenergythat may fit.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2018, 02:49:37 am
content: Quote from: Wimberleytech on March 06, 2018, 05:30:55 pmYes I have and like you did not want to modify the meter. In my case, I suspect the batteries were the original supplied with the meter as well and I wanted to preserve them as well.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2018, 02:52:37 am
content: The finished sleeves.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2018, 02:59:11 am
content: Here's the old relic after I went over it.

author: Wimberleytech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 08, 2018, 03:10:42 pm
content: Holy cow, that is impressive! You have finally solved this mystery. Still amazes me that these batteries were so much shorter.Your video above did not post properly so I could not view it (unless there is an issue on my end).

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2018, 12:53:40 am
content: It's just a link to a Youtube video. I've never heard of playback problems. Old browser perhaps?Anyway, thanks and glad you like the end result. Post some pictures of what you come up with.

author: Wimberleytech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2018, 02:07:07 am
content: Finally watched the video directly on youtube. Impressive work.Here is my 3D printed attempt. I removed copper from a pcb and made the connector for the negative side of the battery. Not sure how reliable that will be...maybe come up with something different.Frankly, I will never really use the Triplett...just look at it on the shelf and ponder all the measurements that were made over the years.

author: joeqsmith
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2018, 03:01:35 am
content: Quote from: Wimberleytech on March 09, 2018, 02:07:07 amThey look really good. If you have an color printer, you could find some nice vintage battery patterns to wrap around your sleeves and go for that extra bit of nostalgia.I am in the same boat. The only time I would use the meter I showed would be for a comparison video. It too just sits on a shelf to remind me how far we have progressed.I bought an inexpensive analog meter to play around with and tried to get it to survive some of basic tests I put the modern meters through. I won't be doing anything like this to the vintage one.https://youtu.be/hM2z3GttMkY

author: Wimberleytech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 09, 2018, 03:14:39 am
content: You are brutal!