MEP-003 freq meter inop

[m-35tom]

MEP-003 freq meter goes from 0 to full scale and back to 0 as unit starts, stays at 0 while in operation. same when shut down so i assume the transducer has failed. has anyone else had this happen?
tom

 

[jamawieb]

MEP-003 freq meter goes from 0 to full scale and back to 0 as unit starts, stays at 0 while in operation. same when shut down so i assume the transducer has failed. has anyone else had this happen?
tom

I think we have all had this happen. I think JIMC manufactured some and they were for sale in the classifieds but I couldn't find them. He has them on e-b** for like $60. If you buy a used transducer, they are $75 and may last 1 year or 20 years. If I have another go out, I'll buy one of his, that is digital. It bypasses the transducer.

 

[Jimc]

here just click on the link below and yes no transducer is needed. the gauge replaces everything

 

[m16ty]

I second Jim's replacement Hz meters.

Unless you're a purist, you can't beat Jim's meter. It's not factory but doesn't look out of place, works great, and won't break the bank.

 

[PeterD]

A quick possible fix:

Remove the transducer. On the back (where it mounts to the panel) may be two adjustment potentiometers. If they exist, not the exact position of each, then run each from minimum to maximum two or three times. Reset the adjustments to the exact position noted prior to changing. Reinstall and test. I've seen this work a few times.

 

[cuad4u]

Over the past year I have returned 8 cannibalized MEP 003A generators to good working condition, but I am the first to admit I am no expert. I had several with inoperative or screwy reading Hz meters. In every case I got them reading accurately by removing the transducer and adjusting the two "pots" just under the resin potting goo. The goo in each of my transducers was very easily scraped away.

Proceed the next steps carefully. You will be using 120VAC to calibrate your transducer. The transducer is designed to take 120VAC and convert it to DC which operates the Hz meter which in nothing more than a DC milli-amp meter.

To calibrate my transducers I connected 120VAC from a typical house AC outlet to the two INPUT terminals of the transducer. I use a GFCI protected cord I cut off a defunct hair dryer with alligator clips on the end of each wire. I connected the Hz meter to the two OUTPUT terminals on the transducer. I carefully turned one or the other of the two adjustment pots until the Hz meter read exactly 60 Hz. I do not remember which pot I turned, I think one pot sets the "span" and the other one sets the center accuracy. When I installed the transducers and the Hz meters back in the generators, they all worked perfectly.

Your results may vary.