EEVblog #1067 - Analog vs Digital Multimeters!

Are analog multimeters still of any practical value compared to digital?
Only Dave can ponder that question for a half hour video...

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[RPRosen-kifk]

I remember blowing the needle right off my dad's Simpson 260 series 3. I was always destroying his tools. I don't know why he never killed me. I still have the meter, with the needle in pieces, bouncing around inside. I miss him.

[suzukiman]

I work in telecom and carry both a Fluke 177, which gets used the most, and a trusty old Simpson 260. The Fluke DMM is utterly useless when trying to look for cable faults, specifically grounds, on copper cable that has AC power influence on it. The Simpson will show the fault no problem but the Fluke will not due to the interference of the induced AC. Good analog meters still due have a place in this day and age.

[jasonwarnes]

One of the best reasons I've heard to use an analog multimeter is when measurements are being made in an extremely cold environment (like outdoors during Canadian winters ;) ).  When it's very cold that's when LCD displays start slowing down making it difficult to take measurements and analog displays continue without any noticeable problems.  At least that's been my experience.

[craignca]

The analog db scale comes in handy when you want to calibrate audio equipment. That and RF alignments are the reason I keep the Simpson 260 around.

[holgers]

analog meters are irreplaceable for audio measurement and adjustment, as the needle 'moves less' than a typical digital meter. I use an analog AC millivolt meter when I calibrate tape decks, near impossible to do with a digital meter. Having said that though, for most other measurements, digital is the way to go. But, analog meters do have their preferred uses in certain applications.

[supersilve]

I have 6 meters in my workshop but I still use the analog one when testing transistors in audio work. The reason it makes life easier for me just taking a glance at the pointer and see the angle instead of reading the digits in a digital multi meter. Testing resistance with a DMM sometimes will give erratic readings to a pre energized circuit. Even the slightest voltage will disturb the readings and I have to disconnect the particular resistor to get the true reading. Electrolytic capacitors will hold a small voltage even when switched off for a long time.

[proffski]

Very useful in 'peaking' some rf stages when you just want to see the peak rather than digits going up and down.

[teardowndan]

Main advantage of analog IMO: no batteries required for volts and amps. Handy if you just want to wire the meter(s) in and forget about it.

[allansmith]

Its a very useful tool to have. I find there is nothing faster when doing troubleshooting. I set the meter where I can have it in my peripheral vision when I'm poking around taking rough measurements. Obviously a DMM will be more accurate and have better resolution, I have lots of Flukes. It's not a matter of which is a better meter, its using the right tool for the job.

[insylem]

I find analog meters useful for checking pots for dead spots. I'll have to try a digital on one again and see if the bargraph can show a deadspot. Thanks for the video Dave.

[freewoodencrosses]

My dad had a Simpson 260 and I would use it all the time. I got excited when digital meters came out, but my dad liked the Simpsons because if you have an intermittent circuit, the needle on the Simpson will respond and give you an instant result.

[jfgobin]

I think one of the huge benefit of starting with an analogue multimeter - I got my first in 1982 - was it gave you a good grip on measurement error early on: as Dave pointed out, these things are less accurate than their digital counterparts, the resolution was quite low and you'd better be sure you were dead in front of the thing to read it correctly.

[shinningraj]

Dave, I just love your videos the most. The rhyme or reason being your ability to HIGHLIGHT and speak boldly on the loopholes even on the greatest brands like Fluke or Simpson in that matter. Thanks for highlighting all the points of pros & cons. I was about to loss handsome amount on a particular analog meter. I will drop the idea of purchasing now. Loved it!

[cameraguy]

No one uses analog meters anymore? Be sure to tell Simpson and Triplett and Sanwa and Gossen and all the rest of the manufacturers that still make them.

[mikeselectricstuff]

I still remember being disappointed when I found out that the "output" function wasn't a voltage source

[jhsly]

Testing pots/varistors/switches for dead (open/short) spots can't really be done with a digital. My most common use is testing throttle position sensors on vehicles. Analog meters make that test stupid easy. Digital meters miss at least 15% due to refresh rate. All I need to see is the needle jump reliably at the same place 3 tests in a row and you're never going to find that with a digital. That's pretty much the only thing I use my old analogs for. Or if the batteries are dead in the digitals and I need a voltage measurement now.

[SomeMorganSomewhere]

Friend of mine found one use for an analog meter, he had an issue where his car battery kept running flat (some years ago now).
He tested with a DMM to see how much current was being drawn when the car was off, saw a lot of bugger all. Connected an analog meter, saw it kicking about once a second, of all things it was the clock.

[bobweiss]

I still use an analog meter (and a VTVM at that) when doing RF alignments. Much easier to tune for a peak or dip using an analog meter, even compared to the bargraph on my Fluke DMMs.

The "output" jack on a VOM was intended to be fed out to an oscilloscope, typically used for looking at ripple on power supply rails.

[JohnSmith-xnfr]

Sure I use DMMs now, but I miss analogs for one reason : when checking an expected voltage, I could register the needle position within a corner of my eye, not having to directly look at the meter, thus knowing whether I've found, say, 12V or not.
With DMMs, even with bar graph - you have to look into the display.
I find DMMs to be measurement instruments, while analogs are representation instruments.

[NetworkXIII]

We still love our old 8-bit computers and videogames, old cars, LP records, tube radios .. yes, the modern digital multimeter is better in just about every way, but sometimes you just want to enjoy something old that still works.