Multimeter questions

[Axtman]

1) Is there a good reason to have a manual ranging multimeter?

2) Is there a good reason to have an averaging multimeter?

3) Is there a good reason to have an analog multimeter?

[Enzo]

3. Ahhh... a good old Simpson 260. In general I see no reason to have an analog meter. People will tell you how good they are at watching trends or peaaking. But most digital meters have a trend bar anyway. I have a wonderful old Triplett similar to the 260. Once in a blue moon I get it out for old times' sake. I spent many years looking at analog meters on my VTVMs. But my digital runs rings around those.

Analog disadvantages: I can't drop them and expect them to survive. I can't conveniently measure positive and negative voltages without taking steps between. If I measure negative 100v and then move to measure +400v B+, if I forget to swap probes, the reverse voltage into the meter can actually bend the needle.

1. I think what you are used to is a factor. I have used autoranging meters for decades. I also have manual switched scale meters. I am comfortable with the autoranger. I know how to hold a scale, and I can usually fool it into getting to another scale. SOme guys don't get over the range changing. It pays to have a good one though. SOme crappy old autorangers will sit there going blip...blip...blip... looking for a scale. But a newer nicer meter skips scales quickly and settle on a reading in less than a second.

2. There are many newer meters with advanced features like that. I myself have little need of them, but depending on what you plan to do they might be useful.

These are just my opinions

[g1]

2) My meter has a min/max/avg feature that you can toggle through. I have used the min and max and found them useful. The avg. I have not used.

[mozz]

Just picked up a handheld Fluke 25 for $5 at the flea market. Working in a calibration lab now for a living and i get to see some new stuff that needs repairs and I also get to see some older stuff ~40+ years old that are still in cal. There are some really nice cadillac scopes out there but cost half a years salary.

That being said i do use a analog for checking phase of pickups.