GENERAL ELECTRIC Type 180 Horizontal Edgewise DC Voltmeter Cat.No. 50-180-112-DRTDR1-AEM (Can be Rigged for Simulated Operation)

Circa Early 1970's to Mid 1990's

Measures direct current (DC) voltage, as indicated by the "CHARG/DISCHARGE" scale and "Kw" units which typically represent an equivalent current or power flow in a battery charging system. It provides a visual indication of whether a system is drawing or supplying power.

Use Cases For Edgewise Panel Meters:

• Industrial Control Panels: Used for monitoring various parameters like DC voltage (as the meter does), current (amperes), in factories and manufacturing settings.

• Electrical Switchboards: Integrated into power distribution and transformer stations to supervise electrical loads and ensure stable operation.

• Military and Marine Applications: Ruggedized versions were specifically designed to meet military specifications for high-shock and high-vibration conditions, particularly on shipboard control panels and in off-road vehicles.

• Generating Stations: Found in control rooms of power plants, including older conventional and nuclear facilities, where they are still sometimes used or are being replaced by modern digital equivalents.

• Broadcasting and Communications Equipment: Used within large racks of radio and telecommunications equipment to monitor signal parameters.

• Scientific and Educational Laboratories: Employed in quality control facilities and technical schools for precise measurements and training purposes.

Historical Significance:

The Type 180 was a foundational design in industrial and marine control systems, known for its ruggedness and the ability to be stack-mounted flush against one another without magnetic interference, thus saving valuable panel space. This design was a standard for decades in the age of analog instrumentation before digital displays became cost-effective and commonplace.

GENERAL ELECTRIC (GE) stopped producing the Type 180 panel meters when they exited the panel meter business, which they eventually sold to YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC WORKS (YEW) who continued to manufacture the meters under the GE designs until they officially discontinued production of the Type 180 series on March 4, 2016.

(H-4.5cm x W-15.5cm x D-17cm)