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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.

We were forced in the school to use analog multimeters, although the digital at that era existed... the reason (according to teacher) - to understand, how it works. I hated it.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Analog for telco field use. The needle movement is a really good indicator of resistance capacitance impedance etc. Most of the time you don't need to look for an actual measure. The needle activity tells you a story about the copper you're dealing with. It is a craft thing. My Simpson will always be my first choice

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I miss the Simpson 260. That was our standard issue model when I was an electronics technician in the Navy back in the 90s.

Hey Dave? I just completed performing Electrical measurements at tafe as part of my diesel fitting apprenticeship. This video, if it was shortened would be super useful for the teachers to explain the differences between the tools. If you make a shorter version i would link it to my teachers.

"Traditional modern one"... I howled with laughter.

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.

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.

I have the same Micronta multimeter that Dave had as his first meter. My first meter too ! They were sold well into the 1980s by Tandy. Still works, although it's had new probes a few times!

Dave put up a half hour video comparing digital vs analog meters? Oh yeah! Good on ya Dave!

Last time I used a analog meter was to get diagnostic output codes from ODBII diagnostic port on a car. Keep track of the LONG and SHORT needle movement. Worked back in the 90's when I needed it. :)

Enjoyed the discussion. Thanks Dave.

I used the Simpson 260 in the Navy in the early 1970's and the case style and the meter markings font were different. We were trained about to compensate for the meter impedance, if need be. I have the RS 22-201 version since the 1970's and I still use it! I also used a VTVM, the forerunner of the FET meter.

It is hard to beat a cluster of analog meters to quickly give you a quick idea that the process you are monitoring is working or something is going amuck. They will always have their place. They aren't better nor worse, they are simply different.

It's really good to know how it was done back in the day. Makes you appreciate the lack of hassle you don't have to go through now.

One thing I noticed with the analog meters is that they help illustrate conceptualized and applied electrical theory, so they might still be rather useful for educational purposes.

I used until yesterday a old chap analog multimeter of my dad. Now I moved to a an8008. All looks simpler with a digital meter. (I switched mainly for the diode mode and the ohm meter easier to read)

I still have my dad's Simpson 260 Series 7P analog meter, in the 7PRT roll top case! Fantastic!

they are still used on the american railroad for checking for grounds in the non grounded dc system. I used them when I worked for Norfolk southern railway and we had a digital meter but all track and grounds checks were done with simpson 113. here is the meter we used www.simpsonelectric.com/products/test-equipment/special-test-equipment/ts113-multimeter-for-railroad

both are the best in their own way, you can't beat the instant beeping and hight input impedance of a digital multimeter, but you can't deny how robust the analog is if you mess things up

I still use a couple of old AVO MK 8's for old valve radios.

For my hobby I have a 100k, 60k and 10k DMM, but in my boat I still have this 60 year old AMM from my dad which is perfect there: - Never empty battery (biggest advantage for a meter hardly used) - Excellent to see if there's a voltage or if the battery is full or empty - Very short touch to see if there are big amps without blowing a fuse

When I worked for my Uncle I did handle the Simpson 260 meter ! Thank you for the video ! tjl P.S. Also liked the Frequency Selective Volt Meter... Had a loose wire for the input and a Speaker on the output... !

OMG! That Tandy-bought Micronta was my first multimeter model when i was a kid too. Cool to see it again. Mine only lasted couple of years, and died after I discovered that you shouldn’t accidentally leave it on ohms when you test a live 240v socket. Whoops!

As a telephone tech working outside in the field I used an analog meter every day, I found it very useful.

This takes me back to my days at college (Early 80's) when we used AVO8's, nice one Dave. You showed the very same meter I bought from Tandy back in the day at 1:10. It's important to make sure the analog meter is in the off position during transit as the switch shorts out the meter to stop it from moving too much...this can be seen 24:44.

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.

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.

Well yes analog meters aren't that common now but we just can't forget the workhorse of the thing that basically propelled us into the digital age.

Before digital multimeters existed, how did they make high-precision measurements? Is there something like a 7-digit meter in analog form?

I still have my Taylor 88B, a cousin of the Avo 8 when both were owned by Thorn. It still has it's uses and I still love it.

Ultimately i think you need to have both types of meters, a DMM thats at 5 1/2 digits or 6 1/2 digits resolution for the quantitative work and an analog meter for troubleshooting circuits and field service. Same with Digital vs Analog o-scopes, there are certain things that each type will do better. Nothing better than an old Tek 2467 for a fast capture or looking at RF. But just the same I love having a digital o-scope with its serial decode and signal analysis functionality

Let’s just call analog meters a “Trap for old players...”

The thing that bugs me most about digital meters is the damn things turn them selves off after a few idle minutes. Ok, it may save battery life but it annoys the crap out of me!

They can also be useful for the education market, i.e. being able to demonstrate the decay factor in a capacitor in front of a classroom etc. So niche not really a big plus, but I still remember that from some university lectures.

A few days ago i tried to measure supply current of Z-scale train model, and cheap DMM (I realise that advanced models can do that better, but I have only 830-clone, without bargraph) gave something reliable only for stalled motor. While running, an old analog meter gave me not precise, but more adequate information about current. So, one of analog meter advantages - working with noisy signals (If you need an easy averaging, NOT the noise and short spikes detection). But you still have to check everything with scope while troubleshooting power supply issues. And there were combined models, with digital display and analog needle, for those who have not decided yet. :) (Sorry for mistakes, english is not my native language)

It's a matter of preference. I love my analog meters, which are excellent in 'Yep, the anode voltage is right around 170v' in circuits where it doesn't matter if it's 5% lower or higher. Or in high frequency environments that interfere with the digital electronics. I use a digital meter too, in high impedance circuits.

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.

Analogue meters still have their place, all the workshops I worked in had one somewhere. I still have my first meter, a Maplin analogue multimeter from 1988 - with transistor tester!! (Sadly Maplin Electronics in the UK has just shut down)

Being competent in using an AMM is a valuable skill that any field-tech or engineer should have. They might not be as convenient as a DMM but sometimes AMMs are all you've got to work with.

You cannot beat an analog multimeter for checking small DC motors. Using the ohm Rx1 scale, you can immediately see if the motor has dead spots (shorts and opens) at various angles by how much the meter jumps around. Shoot, you don't even need to turn the motor shaft by hand to check it too as most analog VOMs will spin the motor. Even will tell you if the bearings are binding. To a less extent, peaking or adjusting for a null is a little better on an analog meter. But yes, for every thing else, you cannot beat modern DVM.

My dad still swears by old school analog meters. He says it's a user interface issue, and claims a digital readout will never be able to replace a needle/gauge type display. I have to admit, in some applications he makes a good point. Seeing the needle bounce in relation to fluctuations is a much better indicator than some digital segmented numbers flippin all around.

The only thing that was better for me was when I repaired TVs and other electronics. The low input impedance often helped me find errors because a fault in the circuit usually made it react in a non-normal way when I measured at that point. It was also easier to just fast glance over and see that "something" is measured. A digital could sometimes be hopeless with the numbers jumping around. Sometimes you dont know if you got contact or not because of the high impedance. The fact that it works without batteries is also a plus as mentioned. Especially if you want to have a multimeter in a place you seldom need it.

I have the Micronta on the left, almost. It's Not labeled "FET Analog" and where the DC10A jack is is an "Output" jack is. I keep it around because it has the fastest most sensitive continuity latching of any of my multimeters. It will detect continuity through 3lbs blocks of steel with oxidized surfaces and it's instant.

My first meter was a Micronta 22-212, I think it was an 11th or 12th birthday gift, I loved that thing, no idea what happened to it though, I've been digital for years...

Hey Dave, I never quite got the whole impedance topic and wanted to ask whether that would be an appropriate thing for a fundamentals friday. You did cover impedance here and there, but I didn't manage to find a designated EEVBLOG video about it. :)

At 12:44 your point about DC input resistance, re circuit loading is well taken & understood. No debate. HOWEVER I have a Triplett 603 analog multimeter that specs out at 11 Meg Ohms DC input resistance and 10 Meg Ohms AC. Yes I also own several DMM too.

Analog meters do a great job of averaging the reading. On some digitals the display is just random numbers making it difficult to see the average.

I have that very same Micronta "Dual Fet" which I use in the field, had it for 20 years, but I also have Triplett 630 NA Type 4 suspension, (pride of place on the desk) it has a doubler, so can get good resolution.. it rarely gets used outdoors tho - so I don't damage it! Just about to order a new 30V battery for it. I've also got a Fluke 77 11 (also has bar graph) to get down to small numbers. All that aside, I really like the Triplett.

you can get a bit of accuracy relative to the circular angle in ohms mode by using the blue scale if i see that correctly. also this removes the need to remember that the 0 is on the other end of the scale

I am a HVAC contractor and for measuring starting amperage for a compressor an analog amprobe is superior, digital does not react quick enough. Although some of the newer digital amprobe (clamp meters) do record inrush amperage.

This reminds me of having to learn how to use one of these old fashioned slide rules in Mathematics at school back in the day when I was a boy! And me and my classmates all had an electronic calculator in our rucksacks. Jeeeess! Rolleyes!

I use an analog meter mostly for checking transistors for any leakage between the pins in the reverse mode using x1k and sometimes x10k scale. Something you cannot measure with a digital meter on the ohms range and diode test as the voltage is too low.

There is one exception where you might need analog MMs; when the service manual says the measurements was taken with a 20k or 5k input impedance voltmeter, digital ones will read higher values.

With my comment on AC measurements I was referring to the low accuracy at lower ranges because of the voltage drop over the rectifier diodes. Even if the digital meter doesn't have true RMS, it is still superior.

What about reading possible defective potentiometers and rheostat's. In the Navy we had to keep old Simpson 260s analog meters on hand just for those test. They would help detect burn spots/worn carbon traces as the contacts would slide over the range of the potentiometer/Rheostats. On a digital meter it just looks like the meter is normally searching for a value.

Remember too that the 2% or 1.5% was of the full scale for that range. So care had to be taken to assure that readings were in the upper part of the range to achieve better accuracy. I had forgotten what a pain in the behind analog multimeters were. I was a bigger fan of the VTVM because of input impedance problem

A definite improvement in digital multimeters is NO auto-ranging!

Fascinating, how these have advanced. Reminds me of weighing scales. The old analog, and the new digital.

2 main advantages of VOMs: Low Z for eliminating Ghost Voltages and AC Bandwidth of 2+MHz, the DMMs barely can go measure above 1k (Chinese), 20k (good brands) 100k (high end).

But Dave I still use my analog insulation resistance meter everyday, much easier to find electrical faults over a slow digital type. Especially if the fault is random, you can see the needle fluctuate as the digital types tend to dick around.

We still get issued a avo 8, they spend a fortune keeping them in cal for the one or two people that still want to use them. I mean the input impedance is handy but a resistor for your digital meter is just as handy.

I keep a few around to get an easy visual indication of voltage/current. Its a lot nicer the digital when peaking/adjusting anything, and just gives a really nice at-a-glance readout.

My college still teaches how to use analog meters.... With Simpson 260s. :$

I don’l like that the digital meter jumps everywhere as it autoranges, the analog meter shows meter movement.

Each and evry magnetic measuring head is most accurate at 2/3 traveling distanse of the needle. So even with the most accurate measuring head, your instrument is as good as there are many overlaping ranges, so that you can put measured value around these 2/3-rds. Still, for max-ing and tunning something you have to turn with screwdriver or turn-knob it is the best.

I still prefer analog over digital call me old fashioned. Most measurements do not have to be that accurate anyway and you can see right away what's going on

I do like the decibel scale on my analogue meter which I use to check frequency response. I would certainly get the needle if I didn't have a needle!

I have one handy in car toolbox -- works without battery. I also hve one analog on bench, totally out of callibration, used as peak indicator for any tuning. What I like in analog meters is ease to see the speed and direction of change of measured value, bar indicator is just not good enough.

Hello. I like your blog. One question, how can I buy one of your multimeters ? thank you.

Where did you find my old meter? I havnt seen it in years! didnt it mention something about diamonds (presumably for he needle to pivot on).

Nice to see the 121GW getting used in your videos. Enjoyed the video. I figured you would really drive the point home by showing some of the higher end features a meter like the 121GW can do that the analog meters can not.

i like the polarity reversal switch in a Simpson for checking transistors

IF you want to quickly see , yes there is some voltage there very quickly , analoug is better ( look at the clare PAT gear , analoug meter is super quick and nice and easy to see)

another application where an analog would work better is if you have a circuit that moves the analog scale in a specific, unique pattern (like slowly up half scale, a little down, then up all the way, and then slowly back down), that is easy to visually remember. And then it becomes very easy to test another circuit of that kind, because human visual memory is very good.

In transistor testing digital multimeter can only identify the base the collector and emitter cannot be identified even if its in diode testing or ohms function. The Analog Multimeter can identify the emitter, collector and base respectively. Also Analog multimeter even without batteries you can test voltage AC and DC if you ran out of battery. So its handy to have both analog and digital if you are a hobbyist. Of course nothing beats the digital multimeter nowadays because of functions are being squeezed in these multimeters. Like the Fluke you can have a full featured multimeter. With accessories you can have temperature and the clamp accessory you can have the non contact clamp function.

Peaking circuits in old radios it is easier to make with analogs. Other than that I just go for my DMM's, there so comvenient and accurate. It is great to have both :-)

Only advantage I can think off is frequency response usually being better in analog multimeters for AC voltage.

You can hear the needle tick when you overload it.

Last time I remember Analogue having the edge over Digital was for multi-track tape recorder alignment. The BIG AVO meter scale was just the thing for tweaking those head positions and peaking/nulling the bias oscillator coil cores. Hi-res, fast refresh bar graphs of this era, but not the 90s DMMs, could get somewhere near that performance I guess but none as big as the old AVO movement. For all that though, even the revival of the tape machine is an old thing now and they are pretty niche, but they're still out there. My old AVO 8 needs a good service. My Mk7 probably needs a nice museum to reside in.... Got 5 DMMs at the moment. 6 when the EEV BM235 arrives 😉

The RCA Senior VoltOhmyst (WV-98C) has an 11 Megohm DC input resistance. I think the Fluke 87 is 10 Megohm. Kind of impressive for an old school analog meter.

The 'fluctuation' thing isn't, or isn't in my opinion, what is demonstrated here. It's actually the analogue meters ability to show readings quickly out of the corner of your eye. As in, when you are quickly dabbing circuits to trace voltage paths, you can concentrate on the test points without having to really look at the meter reading, as experience tells you where abouts the needle should be on the scale. On a digital readout you need to pointedly look at the display to see the reading. Although I do concede this is just about the only advantage analogues have, but then generally it's only relevant for service work on old TV's and radio's. Back then the veteran service hack would have all the readings for the typical sets arriving on the bench, stored in his head, so as long as his AVO had the needle in the general vicinity thats all that was needed. Which brings me to the MAJOR point here, Dave, you haven't lived until you've seen and used an AVO 8. Someone send him one please, for a strip and tell vid! The AVO was a system meter with a huge array of accessories, like range extenders (upto 1000 amps I believe!!) for amps, volts and resistance, even a 25KV probe! Overload protection was provided by an inertia cutout, which basically isolated the meter when the needle hit the end stop with more than a preset force! They are wonderful things, I have quite a collection of them with accessories, leather cases etc. Still use one to work on vintage stuff.

I used to use analog meters to find resonant peaks and dips of loudspeaker response by monitoring current drawn from the supply of a small amplifier. Much easier to see than the changing digits. The bar graph was useless for this too (not enough resolution).

I just enjoy the style and looks of my HP 427A / 400F and avo 8 mk 4. Lovely objects and still very useful.

Analog meters are a really quick way to test a large capacitor, set on ohms hook up the leads. Meter will show a low ohms reading then as the capacitor charges reading will show up as an increase in ohms, just watch the needle. Works great with the larger capacitors used in the automotive industry, or in heavy equipment

i had one this analog suckers laying around, and i gotta say. Best thing is no battery power, can be used permanently on battery terminal to measure volts for days, reliability, extreme temps, low cost, and REPAIRABILITY...