VTVM

Initial Check
• Plug the meter and set the function switch to +DC and the range switch to 1500
volts. After about 15 or 20 seconds the meter pointer should move. If it moves a
little adjust the zero adjust control to bring the pointer to the zero marks at the left
end of the scales.
• If the pointer won't come to zero or if it slammed in the previous test turn off the
power and unplug the power cord. With a DMM check the resistors that are
associated with the zero adjust pot and the pot itself.
• It also may be time to try a different 12AU7 in the socket.
If no problems have been encountered try to measure a DC voltage such as a triple A,
double A, C, or D cell (If you don't have the probe with the 1 megohm resistor the reading
will be about 10% high)
Try it on AC but don't try the power line voltage just yet. Use the output of a function
generator or the secondary of a filament transformer such as the one in the meter. If that
works try some higher voltages both AC and DC.
Check for consistency between ranges.
• For example if a voltage reads 15 volts on the 15 volt range and 5 volts on the 50
volt range there is a problem with the ranging resistors.
• If readings are different every time you select a given range or the reading changes
when you wiggle the range or function switch the contacts need to be cleaned. If a
voltage reads 15 volts on the 15 volt range it is likely that it will not read exactly 15
volts on the 50 volt range. This is expected from analog meters.

DC Calibration
• Allow about 10 minutes for warm up.
• Set the range switch to the 50 volt range and short the test leads together. Be sure the
switch on the probe is set to DC, or you are using the DC probe. Adjust the zero
control until the meter pointer is on the zero marks.
• Feed DC 1.5 volts and set the VTVM to measure +DC volts and the 1.5 volt range.
Adjust the DC calibration pot (DC CAL) until the pointer is over the 1.5 mark at the
right hand side of the meter.
If the calibration pots aren't marked try them one at a time until you find the one that
changes the reading.
 • Mark this one DC CAL. It is unusual for a meter to have separate cal pots for +DC
and -DC.
• If there are 4 cal pots than it does. Mark the one you just adjusted +DC.
• Reverse the leads and change the function switch to -DC. Try the remaining pots
until you find the one that has an effect. Mark it -DC.
Try voltages of 5, 15, and 50 volts DC to verify that all the ranges are reading correctly.
Expect max 5% accuracy.
For AC If you don't have the correct probes you should limit voltages to 600 DC and 400
AC.,

AC calibration
There are two cal pots left. Both are concerned with AC calibration.
• Set the probe switch to "AC OHMS" or use the AC probe.
• Short the probes together and set the range to the 150 or higher range.
• Adjust the zero adjust on the front panel for zero on the meter.
• Change the range switch to the 1.5 volt range. Try the two controls in turn to see
which one has the greater effect on the pointer's position.
• Change the range switch to the 15 volt range and turn the same control. It should
have a very small effect on the pointer's position. Change the range switch back to
the 1.5 volt position. Adjust the same control for a reading of zero on the meter.
Mark this control "AC BAL".
• Adjust your AC signal source for a voltage of 5.0 volts. Set VTVM to the 5 volt
range and connect the test leads to the signal source. Adjust the remaining cal pot for
a reading of 5 volts. Your meter is now in calibration.

Resistance mode
(No Calibration is required)
• Set the function switch to the OHMS or RESISTANCE position. The pointer will
move to the right. Set the range switch to the RX1k position. It may be called
RX1000. Set the switch on the probe to "AC OHMS" or use the resistance probe.
• Short the leads together and adjust the zero adjust for a reading of zero.
• Separate the probes and adjust the "OHMS ADJ" to bring the pointer to the infinity
mark (an 8 lying on its side) on the meter.
• Short the probes again. As you change the range switch to lower resistance ranges
the pointer may rise slightly from zero. DO NOT READJUST THE ZERO
 CONTROL The pointer is indicating the resistance of the test leads, The internal
wiring of the meter, and the switch contacts. This reading must be subtracted from
the resistance measurement.
• Use the meter to measure several different values of known resistances.
If one of the voltage range resistors is off value you will not get consistent results on either
DC or AC. If one of the resistance standards is off value that range will read off.
• Turn off the meter and with a DMM measure the values of the voltage range
resistors, both DC and AC, and the ohms range resistors.
• If any are more than 1% off value, replace them
Operation.
• Set the range switch to the 1500 volt range and allow10 minutes of warm up.
• Set the function switch to +DC or DC+ AC as needed. On the probe select AC/ohm
or DC as needed
• Set the range switch to the range that is above the highest voltage found in the
equipment you are working on.
• Short the leads together and turn the Zero Adjust control to bring the pointer over
the zero marks at the left side of the meter.
• Disconnect the two leads. Clip the common lead to the equipment's chassis/ground
and touch the metal tip to the point in the equipment where you wish to measure the
voltage.
• If the reading is less than 1/3 scale change to the next lower range. For example if
the meter is set to the 500 volt range and the reading is 135 volts, change the range
to 150 volts. The best accuracy is obtained when the pointer is indicating in the
upper 2/3 of the scales. Write down the reading.
• Change the range switch back to the starting range, 500 volts in this example, before
making the next measurement. The next voltage you want to measure may be above
150 volts.
• Change the range switch back to the starting range, 150 volts in this example, before
making the next measurement. The next voltage you want to measure may be above
50 volts.
Measuring DC in the presence of Radio Frequencies.
Unless you are working on transmitters of 25 watts or more you can use a VTVM to
measure DC voltages in places where there is also RF (radio frequency) voltages. Even
if you don't work on transmitters of any power you are likely to encounter the mixture
of RF and DC in any superheterodyne radio receiver.
The place you will find them is on the grid of the oscillator and if the receiver uses a
separate oscillator and mixer you will find RF and DC combined on the grid of the
mixer. The measurement is to check for negative DC voltage on the oscillator/mixer
grid. If you connect a common DMM to this point the oscillator will most likely stop
running due to the heavy capacitance load. If the oscillator manages to continue running
the meter will go wild indicating hundreds or thousands of volts. The reason is that any
RF that gets into a Digital circuit is likely to be interpreted as part of the digital signal.
The digital circuits are disrupted and the reading is useless. The meter is not likely to be
damaged by the experience but it could be if there was a bit of RF power involved.
On the other hand a VTVM is quite reliable in this application. First there is that 1
megohm resistor in the probe. This isolates the RF from the meter's circuits. Secondly
the analog circuitry in a VTVM is not as easily disrupted as is digital circuitry. Thirdly
the old fashioned VTVM is in an all metal case which makes filtering of the input more
effective and shields the internal circuits from high RF fields. Don't even try it with your
all plastic DMM.
I think you could safely measure the plate voltage of a 5 watt final amplifier without
damage or serious error.

Measuring Resistance.
Assuming the meter is already turned on and warmed up perform the following steps.
1.Set the function switch to OHMS.
2.Set the switch on the probe to AC OHMS or use the OHMS probe.
3.Set the range switch to RX1000 or RX1k, however your meter is labeled.
4.Short the two leads together.
5.Adjust the zero adjust control to bring the pointer over the zero marks at the left
side of the meter.
6.Disconnect the two leads. Adjust the OHMS ADJ. (ohms adjust) to position the
pointer over the infinity mark at the right side of the ohms scale.
7.*! There is no possibility of damage to the meter by selecting the wrong
resistance range, however, damage can occur if there is voltage in the circuit you
are trying to make resistance measurements on.
 a.Many items of tube equipment from the 50s, especially kits, came with a
resistance chart.for each tube pin to chassis ground. Not only safety but
accuracy of readings depends on no charge remaining on the power supply
capacitors.
b.Turn off the unit under test and unplug the power cord.
c.Use clip to clip leads to hold a 10 k ohm 1 watt resistor.
d.Use the other ends of the leads to contact the power supply capacitors.
Hold the leads inn place, or clip them, for several tens of seconds. If there
are multiple capacitors contact each one in turn and then go around again.
e.I will be the first to agree that the spark and loud pop you get by shorting
the capacitors with a screwdriver is emotionally satisfying but it is hard on
the old capacitors and may trigger a failure. I advise against it.
8.If you are making resistance measurements from a chart clip the common lead
to the equipment's chassis. Be sure not to clip to a painted part of the chassis.
9.If you are measuring a resistor in a piece of equipment simply clip and touch
the leads of that resistor. Always bear in mind that although vacuum tubes with no
power applied are open circuits there may still be other resistors in parallel with
the one you are trying to measure.
10.if you are measuring a resistor out of circuit simply clip and touch to its leads.
11.When measuring resistance there is no danger of damage to the meter by
setting it to the wrong range.
12.Select the range that gives a reading with the pointer closest to the 10 mark at
the center of the ohms scale. If it is a tossup between ranges go with the one
which positions the pointer closest to the left end of the scale.
13.If this range selection takes you to the RX1 range disconnect from the device
under test and clip the clip to the probe end. Read the scale but do not change the
setting of the zero adjust. This is the resistance of the test leads plus the internal
wiring of the VTVM
14.Write down the reading. Keep a pad of posted notes on your workbench for
this purpose.
15.Reconnect to the DUT (device under test) and read the resistance on the scale.
Subtract the value you wrote down in step 14 above. This is the actual resistance
of the DUT.

Conclusion.
As described above there are still a few applications where a VTVM will continue to
work where a DMM will go out to lunch or possibly give up the ghost. I am willing to
admit that I use a DMM in most measurement situations. I have several low cost battery
powered units that are so handy to use. Independence from the AC mains is always an
advantage. When it comes to making that measurement on the grid of an oscillator I
often hang a 1 megohm resistor on the end of the hot probe. It would be easy enough to
permanently mount a resistor in a probe and recalibrate the DMM meter to account for
it. If you wonder why the designers of DMMs don't do this it's because they have never
heard of the practice. Tubes are an alien world they have never visited and probably
never will