Did I kill my spot meter?

OeT · Apr 1, 2017

I have a Capital SP-II spot meter and when i changed the 9V battery I accidentally put it in the wrong way around and now it dosn't work anymore.
Is it to consider it dead and try to find a new spot meter or could there be a way to gring it to life again?

It looks like this one, seems to be sold under some different names to

Theo Sulphate · Apr 1, 2017

Even cheap electronic devices have a diode to protect against the polarity being wrong (battery inserted wrong way).

So, I don't think you've damaged the meter circuitry.

However, being that 9v batteries have positive and negative connectors on them that are quite distinctly different, I think if you actually managed to connect the battery to the meter's connector the wrong way, you probably damaged the connector on the meter. Check to see if the contacts are bent.

Rick A · Apr 1, 2017

How do you put a 9v battery in wrong? The cap can only go on one way, it's a male/female arrangement.

Theo Sulphate · Apr 1, 2017

Rick A said:
... it's a male/female arrangement.

Well, he is in Sweden.

OeT · Apr 1, 2017

This one dosn't have the regular snap cap that usually fits to a 9V battery, I'm not that stupid
The battery just slides in to the handle and is pressed against two springs.
I figured it should have protection and such but it worked fine before, just wanted to try it with a fresh battery as it's measurement was a bit off.

Theo Sulphate · Apr 1, 2017

For the Soligor version, I was able to find an instruction manual and also disassembly instructions on the net - you've probably found it as well. I was checking to see if there was a replaceable fuse, but there isn't.

If the display won't light up, it could mean the circuit was damaged - sorry.

bdial · Apr 1, 2017

Try your original battery, just in case the new one is actually dead. Usually the circuitry would have protection built-in, especially if the batter can be inserted backward, but it might not.

paul ron · Apr 1, 2017

it may be the meter needle went backwards with the reverse polarity and is jamed on its stop pin. can you use the zero adjust to see if the needle moves? otherwise if its stuck, try tapping it and see if it frees the needle?

i have a similar spot meter with a drop in battery n have poped it in backwards a few times but never damaged tye meter.

OeT · Apr 1, 2017

Already tried with the old battery and it won't work with that either.
Should have protection as it is an easy misstake to make.
I will open it up and have a look.

OeT · Apr 1, 2017

paul ron said:
it may be the meter needle went backwards with the reverse polarity and is jamed on its stop pin. can you use the zero adjust to see if the needle moves? otherwise if its stuck, try tapping it and see if it frees the needle?

i have a similar spot meter with a drop in battery n have poped it in backwards a few times but never damaged tye meter.

This sp-II model dosn't have a needle but a digital numbered display

paul ron · Apr 1, 2017

check the contacts? it may have displaced one?

seems there should be some protection since its too easy to reverse the battery.

good luck.

oh contact the company n ask them?

paul ron · Apr 1, 2017

http://www.jollinger.com/photo/meters/autopsy/soligor_digispot.html

check this out?

Michael Guzzi · Apr 2, 2017

I have the exact same spot meter, and I have disassembled mine to clean the insides and to take a look at the circuitry. It doesn't seem like this thing has any protection for reverse polarity at all. I'm very very careful about polarity with all my stuff since I fried a Luna pro SBC by momentarily touching the battery contacts the wrong way.

Did I kill my spot meter?

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