Digital or Analog multimeter?

Christopher561 · Post by **Christopher561** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 9:50 pm

Which one should I get. Let start off that I'm currently in a computer repair program in high school. According to the teacher we are going to be doing alot of testing with multimeter's on components. mainly voltages and resistance. I was just wondering what would you recommend me getting a analog or a digital multimeter? I really like the analog multimeter layout better then the digital ones. but a digital one gives a more accurate reading. what would you recommend me getting? I also what to add I know how to use both a analog and digital multimeter just cant decide which one is best

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 9:52 pm

Either...use what your comfortable with.

I use an analog at work and a couple of digitals..

Indy · Post by **Indy** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 10:08 pm

Biometric...

Kip Patterson · Post by **Kip Patterson** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 10:13 pm

How about an audible meter?

Years ago they made a contraption called a Digitec. It consisted of a servo amplifier driving a motor whcih was connected to a veeder-root counter and a ten-turn potentiometer. The nice thing about them was that after a while you learned to tell if the voltage was increasing or decreasing from the sound - very handy for null out filters, etc.

ScottE · Post by **ScottE** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 10:27 pm

Digital.

lonewolfz28 · Post by **lonewolfz28** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 11:07 pm

I personally prefer the digital with the tone for continuity. Makes work go a lot quicker and is easier to read at a quick glance.

The_Lurker · Post by **The_Lurker** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 11:19 pm

if your going to be using the meter primarily around digital equipment, keep it a digital multimeter. they have lower current leakage rates than the analog meters, less risk of killing ic circutry.

I use my simpson meter the most (analog) except when i need to measure various sensor input/output voltages and the like, then i use my Fluke digital meter.

honestly i would say start with the digital until you become well versed in it, then pick up the analog after that.

i would give up my fluke(digital) before i ever gave up my simson(analog).

Christopher561 · Post by **Christopher561** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 11:35 pm

The_Lurker wrote:if your going to be using the meter primarily around digital equipment, keep it a digital multimeter. they have lower current leakage rates than the analog meters, less risk of killing ic circutry.

I use my simpson meter the most (analog) except when i need to measure various sensor input/output voltages and the like, then i use my Fluke digital meter.

honestly i would say start with the digital until you become well versed in it, then pick up the analog after that.

i would give up my fluke(digital) before i ever gave up my simson(analog).

Ya I am very versed with the digital meter. I was taught everything from everything about the meters during my basic elec class in 9th grade. thought me alot of how to use a digital meter. I always had a little radio shack analog meter at home. never really used it except to check my soldering to check if I made a good connection and to see if there was resistance. Since I am familiar with a digital meter I think I'm just going to get a analog for myself to use at school when we use them. You know get familiar with both. It might pay off one day. Maybe Il be at work where they just have analog meters and no digitals and If I just used digital before I wont understand how to read it. but I already have a basic concept of how to read analog. The teacher gave me a quick brush up on how to. Its not that hard from what I can see its just knowing your multipliers and stuff like that. Basicly If you doing k ohms you miltiply it by 1000 and so on.

Forgetful · Post by **Forgetful** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 3:27 am

Each has it's own pluses. Digital if what you are doing requires accuracy and invloves a lot of work on dc and just straightforward measuring resistance. They are however much more liable to give false reading in certain circumstances, triac driven circuits for example where you get false reading due to the high impedance, although you can use a meter such as some of the Flukes which have a range that lower the impedance to 4 KOhms that prevents this. They are also useless on audio circuits unless because the ac ranges are limited to 45-400 HZ and only work on sine waves. True rms meters with enhanced frequency response are much more expensive. Analogues, because they are passive, draw power from the circuit being tested on the voltage and current ranges so on high impedance circuits aren't recommended as they directly affect the reading. For work and general use i use digital, more robust and also extra functions. Fequency, capacitance, temperature etc although for a compromise you can now get dual digital/analogue meters.

Sid · Post by **Sid** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 4:21 am

Digital Fluke all the way.

Joe · Post by **Joe** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 4:26 am

used em both... its more preference than anything..

wee96 · Post by **wee96** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 7:42 am

Indy wrote:Biometric...

nightowl · Post by **nightowl** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 8:19 am

I prefer digital myself

morbidpete · Post by **morbidpete** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 9:35 am

Sid wrote:Digital Fluke all the way.

yup...forked out 200 for mine..works great neevr had a problem..compared the readings to my dad analog..on the ball

ghost · Post by **ghost** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 9:45 am

lonewolfz28 wrote:I personally prefer the digital with the tone for continuity. Makes work go a lot quicker and is easier to read at a quick glance.

Rainbow · Post by **Rainbow** » Thu Sep 30, 2004 12:44 pm

Digital.....analogs are a thing of the past.....with the newer digitals theres no use for analogs anymore

Try testing diodes with an anolog meter....ill bet I can test 10 with a digital to your 1 with an anolog

Joint Chiefs of Staff · Thu Sep 30, 2004 1:23 pm

Indy wrote:Biometric...

bahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahahaha

Joint Chiefs of Staff · Thu Sep 30, 2004 1:24 pm

lonewolfz28 wrote:I personally prefer the digital with the tone for continuity. Makes work go a lot quicker and is easier to read at a quick glance.