Analog Meters vs. Digital Meters: Differences in Use

Digital multimeters are relatively cheap and versatile, these are generally very good and some have useful extra ranges like capacitance.

Their very high input impedance can be a nuisance when trying to find neutral in mains circuits, 'floating' or 'leakage' volatges will register, e.g. A neutral line in a domestic house may well show 90v AC and yet it will be perfectly safe to touch as this is jsut a leakage from live via an impedance equivalent to a few megohm. Eh the voltage has virtually no current capability.

So for mains voltage work an analogue meter may well be better, or a digital meter with a couple of hundred k ohms built into special leads across the terminals.

Del

Thanks, Del

The first image is a photograph of a couple of analog meters, The second is a powerpoint drawing of a generic digital multimeter.

Each has its strengths and weaknesses. I personally would not give up either one. Both of the analog meters are VTVM's which provide very minimal loading. For some purposes, you would require a 1000-10,000 Ω per volt meter. Digital meters usually are 100,000 Ω per volt.

If you are measuring a voltage that fluctuates, the analog meter shows an accurate depiction of the fluctuation. The Digital meter is more accurate, and does not give a paralax error. The Analog meter on the right has a mirrored scale which reduces the chance of paralax error. Some of the more expensive Digital meters have an analog scale below the digital readout. This is a series of lines that illuminate as the reading increases and decreases. This provides some analog fuction to a digital meter.

If you need more detailed info. Let me know and I can write up a little A-D lesson to e-mail to you.

Techart,

That would be great if you could give me more info. I'd really appreciate it.

Thank you,

Martie

i want some more advantages and disadvantages of digital vs analog its urgent

In addition to what's already been said:

If your signal is moving or changing rapidly, an analog meter will show those fluctuations clearly.

If you use a digital meter, you'll get cross-eyed trying to follow the fluctuations.

Techart's picture of a digital meter has an analog bar just below the digital readout. This meter combines the best of both worlds. That's what I have.

Regards!

I fully agree !

I add to your comments:

Where Centre-zero readings are needed like to adjust ± readings in "Discriminator" for example & like that.

Or like to see slow moving-readings