[TowerTalk] cleaning a controller meter

[Tom Rauch]

> My Tailtwister control box meter seems to be dirty on the inside.
> Like clumps of dust over the inside.
> How do you clean this and what care should be taken?
> Windex???

I used to be a managing engineer at a plant that made meters, 
including meters for Bird and Coaxial Dynamics. Unfortunately I 
never saw the inside of the meter used by Hy-gain, but there are 
some general rules.

1.) Many meters are coated with an anti-static spray on the inside. 
Remember if you clean the meter, you might cause the meter to 
become sensitive to static charges on the bezel. Sometimes that 
spray looks a bit "dirty" if the coating is excessive.

2.) If you take the meter apart, work in a clean dust-free area with 
lots of room. Make sure you don't introduce lint or metallic particles 
into the meter, or damage the hairsprings or other parts. 

3.) Watch what you use for a cloth. Don't use anything that can 
leave lint or fibers on the bezel at any stage of the process. One 
little strand of fiber can ruin the meter. If the bezel is plastic (most 
are) don't use anything that can scratch the plastic.

I really can't understand how your meter has something inside the 
meter, and still is a good meter, unless it has something other than 
dust or dirt inside. The meter should be sealed, and dust will screw 
up the movement long before you notice it on through the bezel.

 

     

  


73, Tom W8JI
w8ji@contesting.com

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