B&K Meter Model 290 Repair

[bmkoenig26]

I just picked up one of these meters. I love the large display. My meter didn't come with test probes however. Any recommendations on good probes for this meter? I believe the OEM probes had a 100k ohm resistor in them. Thanks!

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

@bmkoenig26

You may be able to find them at a local ham fest.

[joernone]

Rick,

Good looking meter. Had I bought that at a hamfest the insides would have turned out to be totally melted or charred black.

I'd like to get a good vtvm, but trying to find one at a sane price is getting harder and harder. Almost had one on ebay last week, but at the last minute the bid went above $50.00. The shipping was $25.00. Wasn't gonna happen.

Take care, my friend.

Regards,

John

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Hey John,

I did get one or two VTVMs several years ago thinking that test equipment is much rarer than radios. So I started collecting antique test gear. I don't know if the VTVMs I have can be restored but I'll do a video on them anyway. Hope you can find one in good shape and at a good price too.

Regards

Rick

[Barnekkid]

Nice meter!

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Yep!

[mig189189189]

Great video!

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks!

[sneakerset]

I'll definitely agree with the others regarding how nice it is to use older analog meters(spotting trends while doing extensive test point probing is so much easier). B&K remains a favorite on my bench-durable and well documented.Thanks for the video...

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

I was very happy that this was an easy fix and it is now working like new. When I bought it, it had a bad scratch all the way across the face of the meter. I worked on it for a number of hours and got it polished right out. Now you would never suspect that it had been scratch at all. Thanks.

[sneakerset]

@AllAmericanFiveRadio You're welcome. I've been using a product which does a good job when I'm detailing(scratch,blems,and dirt/grime). LKG Industries(Philmore),Rockford IL. carries a 2-stage kit (stock # 10300)in their catalog that will remove surface blems off Lexan,plexi,acrylics,etc. with minimum fuss....and they include an informative handout sheet on plastic care with every kit. Btw,do you mind if I subscribe?

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

That is good polish. Be glad to have you as a subscriber.

[BadChizzle]

Cool,

Reminds me of my first meter back in the day. I used it for years til I got one of the digital ones.

I always enjoy your videos, even though your voice is such that it sometimes puts me to sleep. You could be a hypnotist, or however you're supposed to spell that word.

Thanks for the fun buddy!

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

You are getting sleepy ._._. Send me all your money.

[electronixTech]

Good repair. So the bulb the former owner wired in series behaved like a fuse. I noticed the orange electrolytic capacitor at time 2:30 which looks like a siemens cap. with date code October 1979 has some corrosion starting at the bottom rubber plug. This could be a little electrolyte starting to leak out possibly but if you can calibrate the meter it might still be O.K.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks. It was an easy fix and it is about time for an easy one. I really like this meter and am glad it is now working. Yep, the flash has a way of showing problems. I had thought about replacing it but it still functions good. The meter calibrated right up and works like new.

[Lockemeister]

I like analog meters so much better then digital it isn't funny! Especially the ones that have big dial scales like this BK!

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

I agree, I was very happy that the fix for the meter was minor. With an analog meter you get a scene of direction. Thanks.

[maynardcat]

I have two meters that are very similar to that but they are RCA Master VoltOhmyst, but they are not solid state they have vacum tubes. They are very handy to have.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Nice meters. I have one or two VTVMs that I need to restore. Yes, the old test equipment is very useful. Thanks.

[akouo01]

Nice, video, I really enjoyed it. I have a couple Simpson 260's, a 240-4, and a Triplett 630 like yours, I like using them. I have 3 Flukes, and I just built a custom analog AC 0-250 volt meter, and built a tone generator circuit as well as a light/105 decibel continuity feature in an old Simpson teledata meter. It was a joy to make, and handy too. Enjoyed watching you tear that down, and searching out the problem, and fixing it, including being able to get the operator manual/schematic! Nice!

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Nice meters. Also building you own meters and tone generators is very good for learning troubleshooting. And you will also know if you are getting correct information. The Web is just amazing. With out the operator manual I would have still fixed it. But I would have used the 120 ohm resistor and I would not have been able to calibrate the meter. Thanks.

[HD7100]

So they put a lamp in series with the R1 resistor and even increased that resistor in value? That sure phixed it. I wonder what they could have been thinking? Nice meter. Gary

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks Gary,

Lol who knows. I ones drill a hole for a switch in a very nice wooden phone, YIEKS!!! The original setup for the B&K uses a neon lamp.

[dynatrak]

That's a nice meter! I like to use an analog meter for finding a parasitic battery drain in a vehicle.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks, I bet that would work good.

[umajunkcollector]

sometimes old school analog is better.

It's good to have both for the bench.

I may look into one of those, my meter is a cheapo.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Oh you bet. I have had digital meters lie to me. Because of the problem and the sample rate of the digital meter, it locked on the wrong reading. That does not happen very often but it sure is irritating when it does.

[retrochad]

That looks like a really good meter, I like the repair job too.

[AllAmericanFiveRadio]

Thanks, I like the big meter face and the high and low ohms, that is very useful.