I have an Amphenol Millivolt Commander Model 870, about 30 years old. It is
a sensitive, FET unit that uses batteries. Most of the batteries are
general AA 1.5 volt batteries (8), but 2 of the batteries are Duracell
Mercury 1.4 volt batteries (Duracell ZM9). I suppose that these batteries
are a reference voltage. Mercury batteries are no longer in use, so I used
two 1.5 volt batteries in their place.

When I turn the on and select battery test, the meter does not move. It is
supposed to move to above the Battery OK mark. Also, when I select the
positive DC, the meter pegs negative, and when I select the negative DC, the
meter pegs positive. The batteries are all new batteries, so there is not a
problem with dead batteries.

Anyone ever worked with one of these meters and can give me some insight
into the problem with it?

indago wrote:
I have an Amphenol Millivolt Commander Model 870, about 30 years old. It is
a sensitive, FET unit that uses batteries. Most of the batteries are
general AA 1.5 volt batteries (8), but 2 of the batteries are Duracell
Mercury 1.4 volt batteries (Duracell ZM9). I suppose that these batteries
are a reference voltage. Mercury batteries are no longer in use, so I used
two 1.5 volt batteries in their place.

When I turn the on and select battery test, the meter does not move. It is
supposed to move to above the Battery OK mark. Also, when I select the
positive DC, the meter pegs negative, and when I select the negative DC, the
meter pegs positive. The batteries are all new batteries, so there is not a
problem with dead batteries.

Anyone ever worked with one of these meters and can give me some insight
into the problem with it?


Polarity of mercury cells is reversed as I recall,turn the one pair
around if the holder will accept it.

060307 0343 - Luddite posted:

indago wrote:
I have an Amphenol Millivolt Commander Model 870, about 30 years old. It is
a sensitive, FET unit that uses batteries. Most of the batteries are
general AA 1.5 volt batteries (8), but 2 of the batteries are Duracell
Mercury 1.4 volt batteries (Duracell ZM9). I suppose that these batteries
are a reference voltage. Mercury batteries are no longer in use, so I used
two 1.5 volt batteries in their place.

When I turn the on and select battery test, the meter does not move. It is
supposed to move to above the Battery OK mark. Also, when I select the
positive DC, the meter pegs negative, and when I select the negative DC, the
meter pegs positive. The batteries are all new batteries, so there is not a
problem with dead batteries.

Anyone ever worked with one of these meters and can give me some insight
into the problem with it?


Polarity of mercury cells is reversed as I recall,turn the one pair
around if the holder will accept it.

All of the batteries are in their holders in the proper polarity, as shown
on the chart. I did change the two batteries as you had suggested, and
nothing changed with the operation of the meter.

indago wrote:
060307 0343 - Luddite posted:

indago wrote:
I have an Amphenol Millivolt Commander Model 870, about 30 years old. It is
a sensitive, FET unit that uses batteries. Most of the batteries are
general AA 1.5 volt batteries (8), but 2 of the batteries are Duracell
Mercury 1.4 volt batteries (Duracell ZM9). I suppose that these batteries
are a reference voltage. Mercury batteries are no longer in use, so I used
two 1.5 volt batteries in their place.

When I turn the on and select battery test, the meter does not move. It is
supposed to move to above the Battery OK mark. Also, when I select the
positive DC, the meter pegs negative, and when I select the negative DC, the
meter pegs positive. The batteries are all new batteries, so there is not a
problem with dead batteries.

Anyone ever worked with one of these meters and can give me some insight
into the problem with it?


Polarity of mercury cells is reversed as I recall,turn the one pair
around if the holder will accept it.

All of the batteries are in their holders in the proper polarity, as shown
on the chart. I did change the two batteries as you had suggested, and
nothing changed with the operation of the meter.


Does the chart show +/- or an outline drawing of the cells?

060307 1444 - Luddite posted:

indago wrote:
060307 0343 - Luddite posted:

indago wrote:
I have an Amphenol Millivolt Commander Model 870, about 30 years old. It
is
a sensitive, FET unit that uses batteries. Most of the batteries are
general AA 1.5 volt batteries (8), but 2 of the batteries are Duracell
Mercury 1.4 volt batteries (Duracell ZM9). I suppose that these batteries
are a reference voltage. Mercury batteries are no longer in use, so I used
two 1.5 volt batteries in their place.

When I turn the on and select battery test, the meter does not move. It is
supposed to move to above the Battery OK mark. Also, when I select the
positive DC, the meter pegs negative, and when I select the negative DC,
the
meter pegs positive. The batteries are all new batteries, so there is not
a
problem with dead batteries.

Anyone ever worked with one of these meters and can give me some insight
into the problem with it?


Polarity of mercury cells is reversed as I recall,turn the one pair
around if the holder will accept it.

All of the batteries are in their holders in the proper polarity, as shown
on the chart. I did change the two batteries as you had suggested, and
nothing changed with the operation of the meter.


Does the chart show +/- or an outline drawing of the cells?


Both

indago wrote:
060307 1444 - Luddite posted:

indago wrote:
060307 0343 - Luddite posted:

indago wrote:
I have an Amphenol Millivolt Commander Model 870, about 30 years old. It
is
a sensitive, FET unit that uses batteries. Most of the batteries are
general AA 1.5 volt batteries (8), but 2 of the batteries are Duracell
Mercury 1.4 volt batteries (Duracell ZM9). I suppose that these batteries
are a reference voltage. Mercury batteries are no longer in use, so I used
two 1.5 volt batteries in their place.

When I turn the on and select battery test, the meter does not move. It is
supposed to move to above the Battery OK mark. Also, when I select the
positive DC, the meter pegs negative, and when I select the negative DC,
the
meter pegs positive. The batteries are all new batteries, so there is not
a
problem with dead batteries.

Anyone ever worked with one of these meters and can give me some insight
into the problem with it?


Polarity of mercury cells is reversed as I recall,turn the one pair
around if the holder will accept it.

All of the batteries are in their holders in the proper polarity, as shown
on the chart. I did change the two batteries as you had suggested, and
nothing changed with the operation of the meter.


Does the chart show +/- or an outline drawing of the cells?


Both


I thought that would do it,then theres always the manual
type amphenol millivolt commander into google and click on the
first result from bama.edebris.com its 7mb or so

060307 1848 - Luddite posted:

indago wrote:
060307 1444 - Luddite posted:

indago wrote:
060307 0343 - Luddite posted:

indago wrote:
I have an Amphenol Millivolt Commander Model 870, about 30 years old. It
is
a sensitive, FET unit that uses batteries. Most of the batteries are
general AA 1.5 volt batteries (8), but 2 of the batteries are Duracell
Mercury 1.4 volt batteries (Duracell ZM9). I suppose that these
batteries
are a reference voltage. Mercury batteries are no longer in use, so I
used
two 1.5 volt batteries in their place.

When I turn the on and select battery test, the meter does not move. It
is
supposed to move to above the Battery OK mark. Also, when I select the
positive DC, the meter pegs negative, and when I select the negative DC,
the
meter pegs positive. The batteries are all new batteries, so there is
not
a
problem with dead batteries.

Anyone ever worked with one of these meters and can give me some insight
into the problem with it?


Polarity of mercury cells is reversed as I recall,turn the one pair
around if the holder will accept it.

All of the batteries are in their holders in the proper polarity, as shown
on the chart. I did change the two batteries as you had suggested, and
nothing changed with the operation of the meter.


Does the chart show +/- or an outline drawing of the cells?


Both


I thought that would do it,then theres always the manual
type amphenol millivolt commander into google and click on the
first result from bama.edebris.com its 7mb or so

I already have the owners manual that came with the tester. Is that 7mb
download a service manual?