Analog multimeters

A multimeter may be implemented with a galvanometer meter movement, or with a bar-graph or

simulated pointer such as an LCD or vacuum fluorescent display. Analog multimeters are
common; a quality analog instrument will cost about the same as a DMM. Analog multimeters
have the precision and reading accuracy limitations described above, and so are not built to
provide the same accuracy as digital instruments.

Analog meters, with needle able to move rapidly, are sometimes considered better for detecting
the rate of change of a reading; some digital multimeters include a fast-responding bar-graph
display for this purpose. A typical example is a simple "good/no good" test of an electrolytic
capacitor, which is quicker and easier to read on an analog meter. The ARRL handbook also says
that analog multimeters, with no electronic circuitry, are less susceptible to radio frequency
interference.[19]

The meter movement in a moving pointer analog multimeter is practically always a moving-coil
galvanometer of the d'Arsonval type, using either jeweled pivots or taut bands to support the
moving coil. In a basic analog multimeter the current to deflect the coil and pointer is drawn
from the circuit being measured; it is usually an advantage to minimize the current drawn from
the circuit. The sensitivity of an analog multimeter is given in units of ohms per volt. For
example, an inexpensive multimeter would have a sensitivity of 1000 ohms per volt and would
draw 1 milliampere from a circuit at the full scale measured voltage.[20] More expensive, (and
mechanically more delicate) multimeters would have sensitivities of 20,000 ohms per volt or
higher, with a 50,000 ohms per volt meter (drawing 20 microamperes at full scale) being about
the upper limit for a portable, general purpose, non-amplified analog multimeter.

To avoid the loading of the measured circuit by the current drawn by the meter movement, some
analog multimeters use an amplifier inserted between the measured circuit and the meter
movement. While this increased the expense and complexity of the meter and required a power
supply to operate the amplifier, by use of vacuum tubes or field effect transistors the input
resistance can be made very high and independent of the current required to operate the meter
movement coil. Such amplified multimeters are called VTVMs (vacuum tube voltmeters),[21]
TVMs (transistor volt meters), FET-VOMs, and similar names.
 Analog Multimeters

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Analog Multimeters

Analog multimeters are electrical test instruments which

are used to measure voltage, current, resistance, frequency
and signal power.

Analog multimeters use a needle along a scale. Switched

range analog multimeters are very cheap but are difficult
for beginners to read accurately, especially on resistance
scales. Each type of meter has its advantages. Used as a voltmeter, a digital meter is
usually better because its resistance is much higher, 1 M or 10 M, compared to 200 for a
analog multimeter on a similar range. On the other hand, it is easier to follow a slowly
changing voltage by watching the needle on an anlaogue display. Used as an ammeter,
nalog multimeters have a very low resistance and is very sensitive. More expensive digital
multimeters can equal or better this performance. Most modern multimeters are digital
and traditional analog multimters are becoming obsolete.

The basic functionality of an analog multimeter will include measurement of electrical

potential in volts, resistance in ohms, and current in amps. Analog multimeters can be
used to find electronic and electrical short circuit problems. Advanced analog multimeters
come with more features such as capacitor, diode and IC testing modes. Specific
measurements made by analog multimeters include DC voltage, AC voltage, DC current,
AC current, frequency range for AC currents, and decibel measurement. Analog
multimeters that measure current may have a current clamp built-in or configured as a
probe. A current clamp is a sensor that clamps around the wire. When searching for analog
multimeters it is important to consider the measurement range for whichever value is
being measured. An analog multimeter displays these values via a dial, typically a moving
pointer or needle. Analog multimeters are generally bench top or hand held. Bench top
models can also be portable by use of handles and wheels. Hand held multimeters are
specifically designed to be used while holding, i.e, can be operated with one hand.

Analog multimeters have multiple scales on the dial, a moving needle and many manual
settings on the function switch. Its tricky spotting the correct scale to read on the dial,
plus you sometimes have to multiply the reading by 10 or 100 to get your final value.
Depending on features (make sure it can do continuity testing), prices start at about $15.

For appliance and electronic repairs, it may be better to purchase a digital, not analog,
multimeter. This type is much simpler to read and you can change the functions on it more
easily. Digital multimeters (Photo 2) have LCD readouts, do continuity testing, and cost
from $35 on up. Some digital multimeters also feature auto-ranging and overload
protection and other advantages analog multimeters lack.

For easier, hands-free viewing, choose an analog multimeter with a stand that will prop it
up or hang it on a wall. If an analog multimeter doesnt come equipped with either jumper
wires or alligator clips (both about $4 each), buy them. Alligator clips are often used to
firmly grip wiring or contacts for hands-free safe and accurate readings. Both types of
multimeters and these accessories can be purchased at electronics stores, home centers
and hardware stores.

Common features for analog multimeters include battery power, overload protection,
temperature compensated, mirrored scale, range switch, diode test, and battery test.
Devices with battery power can be operated without plug in power. Multimeters with
overload protection have a fuse or other method to protect meter. Temperature
compensated devices have programming or electrical devices designed to counteract
known errors caused by temperature changes. A mirrored scale makes it easier to read the
instrument to a given accuracy by enabling the operator to avoid parallax errors. A range
switch is used to select appropriate range of units to be measured. A device with a diode
test has methods for testing diode operation. A device with a battery test has methods for
testing battery operation. An important environmental parameter to consider when
searching for analog multimeters is the operating temperature
A analog or analogue multimeter is one of the trusty workhorses of the electronics test
industry. Analogue multimeters have been in use for very many years and sometimes
go by the name VOA as a result of the fact that they measure volts, ohms and amps.
These multimeters are extremely flexible and enable very many faults to be found in an
electronics ciricuit.

... analogue multimeters have

been available for many
years and they are very
flexible in their
operation....

Analogue multimeter ranges

Analogue multimeters, like digital ones have a variety of ranges. They are described in
terms of Full Scale Deflection or FSD. This is the maximum that the range can read. In
order to get the best reading, it is necessary to have the scale reading somewhere
between about a quarter and all of the FSD. In this way the optimum accuracy and
significant number of figures can be read. As a result of this meters have a variety of
ranges, that may appear to be reasonably close to each other.

A typical meter may have the following ranges (note that the figures indicate the FSD):

DC Voltage: 2.5V, 10V, 25V, 100V, 250V, 1000V

AC voltage: 10V, 25V, 100V, 250V, 1000V

DC Current: 50uA, 1mA 10mW, 100mA

Resistance: R, 100R, 10 000R

There are several points to note from this typical analogue multimeter specification:
 1. The low voltage AC voltage, and in this example the 10V AC range may have a different scale to
the others. The reason for this is that at low voltages a bridge rectifier is non-linear and this needs
to be taken into consideration. It is also for this reason that no 2.5V AC range was included.

2. The 1000V or 1kV ranges will often use a different input connection to enable the reading to be
taken through a different shunt and kept away from the rotary switch that may not be able to
handle a voltage this high.

3. AC current is often not included in the lower end meters because of the difficulties of undertaking
the measurement without a transformer to step up any voltage across a series sensing resistor
for rectification.

4. Batteries inside the multimeter are used to provide a current for the resistance measurements. No
other readings require the use of battery power - the meter is passive from that viewpoint.

5. The three resistance ranges of varying sensitivity multiply the meter reading by 1, 100, or 10 000
dependent upon the range. This allows for low resistance measurements to be made as well as
very high ones. Typically the higher resistance ranges may use a higher voltage battery than the
one used for the low resistance ranges.

Multimeter sensitivity
One of the specifications for an analogue multimeter is its sensitivity. This comes about
because the meter must draw a certain amount of current from the circuit it is measuring
in order for the meter to deflect. Accordingly the meter appears as another resistor
placed between the points being measured. The way this is specified is in terms of a
certain number of Ohms (or more usually kOhms) per volt. The figure enables the
effective resistance to be calculated for any given range.

Thus if a multimeter had a sensitivity of 20 kOhms per volt, then on the range having a
full scale deflection of 10 volts, it would appear as a resistance of 10 x 20 kohms, i.e.
200 kohms.

When making measurements the resistance of the meter should be at the very least ten
times the resistance of the circuit being measured. As a rough guide, this can be taken
to be the highest resistor value near where the meter is connected.

Normally the sensitivity of an analogue meter is much less on AC than DC. A meter with
a DC sensitivity of 20 kohms per volt on DC might only have a sensitivity of 1 kohm per
volt on AC.
Multimeter operation
The operation of an analogue multimeter is quite easy. With a knowledge of how to
make voltage, current and resistance measurements (see the "Related Articles" on the
left hand side of this page for further details) it is only necessary to know how to use the
multimeter. If the meter is new then it will obviously be necessary to install any battery
or batteries needed for the resistance measurements.

When using the meter it is possible to follow a number of simple steps:

1. Insert the probes into the correct connections - this is required because there may be a number
of different connections that can be used.

2. Set switch to the correct measurement type and range for the measurement to be made. When