Date:         Thu, 26 Aug 1999 19:10:25 -0400
Reply-To:     David Beierl <dbeierl@IBM.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Beierl <dbeierl@IBM.NET>
Subject:      Re: Which Voltmeter to use?
Comments: To: Coby Smolens <cobys@WELL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <000101bef00a$55c585e0$55f8a9ce@5wvqm>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 14:31 8/26/99 -0700, Coby Smolens wrote:
>I like David's list, I would add only one thing to the "should-have"
>section: Min-max record. This is invaluable (read that extremely valuable)
>in finding "drop outs", as in when a bad temp T2 sensor in an aircooled van

Yes, wonderful feature, sorry I forgot it.  Just bear in mind that a
typical digital meter integrates (for this context you can think
"averages") the input for usually a second or two, so you won't see
anything that doesn't last longer than that (and will get strange readings
on values that change faster than that -- that's why the O2 sensor reading
jumps around on the display when in fact it's varying rapidly but smoothly
up and down).  Every time the display blinks or updates it has completed an
integration cycle.  If you need faster response than that you're probably
looking at a 'scope.

The bargraph display that a lot of meters have works faster and less
accurately than the digital display, but even it takes maybe 1/4-1/2 second
to update.

There are meters with much faster response times, but they are $exotic$ beasts.

david
David Beierl - Providence, RI
'84 Westy "Dutiful Passage"
'85 GL "Poor Relation"