Old Mitutoyo digital calipers won't turn off.

bulgie

H-M Supporter - Silver Member
H-M Supporter - Silver Member
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I got this Mitutoyo 500-216 caliper used somewhere, ebay maybe, cheap enough that I'm OK with its quirks, but I wonder if I'm just missing something.

I can't get it to turn off. Is there a trick to it? I just leave it and it's off by the next day, is that how it's supposed to work?

Mitu caliper front.jpg
Mitu caliper backside.jpg

I would take the battery out but there isn't even a battery door, looks like I have to take the whole plastic case off (4 screws) to get at the battery, is that right?

Typical Mitutoyo battery life is so long, I can afford to just ignore this, but I thought maybe one o' youse guys might know the secret handshake that turbs it off.

-Mark
 
Yes, the timeout is how it works. It'll wake up if you pick it up within the hour or so (I don't know how long they stay "aware"). The batteries still last for years, so nothing to worry about. Modern Mittys are the same.

GsT
 
The batteries still last for years
The batteries supplied with Mit calipers and mics are good quality batteries, but also the boards are much more power efficient than the cheap Chinese versions so the good quality batteries last even longer.
 
That reminded me of my little Sharp scientific calculator I bought for engineering school 42 years ago, so I just took it out and hit the On button — yep, still working! On the original battery from '82, and it's not one of those solar-powered ones either. And it was cheap when I bought it too, I bought it 'cuz I couldn't afford a Texas Instruments. Frikken amazing.
 
Yes, the timeout is how it works. It'll wake up if you pick it up within the hour or so (I don't know how long they stay "aware"). The batteries still last for years, so nothing to worry about. Modern Mittys are the same.

GsT
Hmm, my previous reply was there on the page, then it was gone. User error?
Anyway what I wrote was Thanks for the confirmation.

My other Mittys turn off when I hit the On button a second time, so I was surprised this old one doesn't, that's all. I don't know what the timeout is but it's more than a few hours. It's always off by the next day, and I can live with that!
 
I have at least a half dozen new MIT digicals over the last few years and never once had any of them timed out.

On the contrary, I have one set that turns on at random. Pretty sure that is a battery issue though.
 
I have at least a half dozen new MIT digicals over the last few years and never once had any of them timed out.

On the contrary, I have one set that turns on at random. Pretty sure that is a battery issue though.
My Mitty digital mic is like that. I have seen the screen blank occasionally, but they otherwise seem to stay on perpetually. Still no matter as they're on the original battery, so it's apparently not an excessive drain.

GsT
 
These Mitutoyo Digimatic ore more than 30 years old and still working perfectly ! ! Awesome life span ! More than worth what I paid for them many years ago ! !
 

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