[Bruce B]

This is strange to me.  Maybe in over 50 years of working around swinging, analog meters I just never saw this, I have missed other things also along the way.
  This morning I unboxed a V7 Heathkit and began investing it's innards.  Looks clean has a dead carbon zink battery, not leaking yet? pulled it quickly.  Noticed the 3 capacitors are original, so I plan to replace them check tubes and replaced the half weak 12au7.
Noticing the meter not setting on Zero, I decided to set it on zero.  When I place my hand on the case to support it while I twist the adjustment screw the needle moves.  I set the needle to zero but when I move my hand away the needle moves away from zero.  Tricky little guy!  So I don't put my hands close to the meter, instead l use a long screwdriver and zero the meter.  With the meter set at zero I place my hand next to the meter and it jumps up swinging rather high stays up until I bring my hand back.  It doesn't return to zero when it comes to rest.  This is with no power on.[attachment=32248]
Bruce B

[morzh]

Any metal/magnetic things IN or ON your hand?
Or it is on high sensitivity limit, and measures charge on you? Or on AC and measure somehow the signal through your capacitance?

[Bruce B]

No, I,m explaining it is turned off, not plugged in.  Its not measuring anything!  I don't have metal in my hand and I have moved my hand over several other meters I own without anything happening.
I have been trying to post a video but it keeps quiting at 21% so I will put this link in here and you can see what's going on.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/6tYYT8y3x3zSG1if7
Bruce B

[RodB]

That's static electricity. Take a used fabric softener dryer sheet and wipe the dial cover then discharge your body to the nearest earth ground (or is it vice-versa?). You can now set the pointer to zero. Happens a lot in the winter-spring. Keep the dryer sheet close by.

[Bruce B]

Thanks Bob,
I was kinda figuring on that, but I have never seen anything like this guy does.  It's inability to come back to rest at the same point is strange.    I will see to the un-static sate of being for me and the meter, then I will try again.  I'm going to recap it tomorrow and calibrate.  I will then put it on the shelf as I really didn't need it, but $6, you know....

[RodB]

Can't turn that deal down.

[Bruce B]

It's  okay because my wife hoards yarn, so one more piece of radio rest equipment is ok too