AVOmeter compared to cheap modern digital meter

[Zak]

How do bargain basement modern digital meters perform compared to
the old analogue meters from 30 years ago like the AVOmeter?

-----------

Thirty-odd years ago my friends had AVOmeters. I would look on
with some envy. Remember AVOs? I think they were mainly a UK
thing. 10 by 8 inches and about 4 inches thick. See this:-
http://www.richardsradios.co.uk/Images/AVO.jpg

Today I can buy a regularly stocked item like the super-cheapo
single-chip digital multimeter from a UK shop like Maplins for £8
($8) and that includes the battery. Although Maplins call it a
"domestic tester" it is more than just that:

600V-200V-20V-2000mV-200mV plus 600VAC-200VAC
10A-200mA-20mA-2000uA-200uA
2000kO-200kO-20kO-2000O-200O
transistor and functions
overall accuracy approx +/-0.5% to +/-1.0%

<http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=37279&doy=26m6>

How does something as ridiculously cheap as this meter compare, in
terms of measurement accuracy, to an old stye AVOmeter?

 

[SQLit]

How do bargain basement modern digital meters perform compared to
the old analogue meters from 30 years ago like the AVOmeter?

AVO is still producing meters and test equipment. Their meggar and ground
tester are some of my favorites.

Accuracy and speed is the only differences that I know of. I still have an
old Sperry analog meggar. Works fine for the purpose, I have no reason to
upgrade it.

 

[NSM]

How do bargain basement modern digital meters perform compared to
the old analogue meters from 30 years ago like the AVOmeter?

I wouldn't sell my Salford Selectest Super 50 - but I don't use it! You can
often buy those on eBay for a modest price, whereas the Avometers were going
for a lot more.

Why do you ask?

N

 

[Jerry G.]

Today, you can buy a modern digital volt meter for a few dollars that
would out perform your old AVO meter by better than a thousand to one.
The old AVO meters would not be safe to take measurements in most of
today's sensitive electronic equipment.

If you have any old AVO meters in excellent condition, they have resale
value as antiques for collectors.


Jerry G.
======

 

[quietguy]

about 30kg lighter!!

David - who once upon a time lusted after an Avometer, but as a kid
never had the money and so settled for a Western

 

[N Cook]

How do bargain basement modern digital meters perform compared to
the old analogue meters from 30 years ago like the AVOmeter?

-----------

Thirty-odd years ago my friends had AVOmeters. I would look on
with some envy. Remember AVOs? I think they were mainly a UK
thing. 10 by 8 inches and about 4 inches thick. See this:-
http://www.richardsradios.co.uk/Images/AVO.jpg

Today I can buy a regularly stocked item like the super-cheapo
single-chip digital multimeter from a UK shop like Maplins for £8
($8) and that includes the battery. Although Maplins call it a
"domestic tester" it is more than just that:

600V-200V-20V-2000mV-200mV plus 600VAC-200VAC
10A-200mA-20mA-2000uA-200uA
2000kO-200kO-20kO-2000O-200O
transistor and functions
overall accuracy approx +/-0.5% to +/-1.0%

<http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=37279&doy=26m6>

How does something as ridiculously cheap as this meter compare, in
terms of measurement accuracy, to an old stye AVOmeter?

I'm a bit of a Luddite but not on DVMs.
The only facility I miss is for observing fluctuating DC levels where my
Fluke nominal LCD analogue scale
is useless.
I certainly don't miss those high V batteries for high ohms, the few K
loading on
circuits rather than Megs and the infuriating mechanical cut-outs that
you only had to drop something on the bench and that damned button would
jump out.

Diverse Devices, Southampton, England
electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on
http://home.graffiti.net/diverse:graffiti.net/

 

[Peter Duck]

In message <[email protected]>

... Today I can buy a regularly stocked item like the super-cheapo
single-chip digital multimeter from a UK shop like Maplins for £8
($8) and that includes the battery. Although Maplins call it a
"domestic tester" it is more than just that:

600V-200V-20V-2000mV-200mV plus 600VAC-200VAC
10A-200mA-20mA-2000uA-200uA
2000kO-200kO-20kO-2000O-200O
transistor and functions
overall accuracy approx +/-0.5% to +/-1.0%

How does something as ridiculously cheap as this meter compare, in
terms of measurement accuracy, to an old stye AVOmeter?

At least as well (within their more limited ranges), plus being
quicker/easier to read, or listen-to for continuity-checks: perfectly
adequate for most purposes.

I've three of these (I couldn't resist the last two - 'buy one, get one
free' for, at the time, £4.99 IIRC), and use them far more than either
my 'upmarket' digital meter or venerable Avo 8, still needed for
measuring DC kilovolts, AC <current or signal-voltages), and the
fluctuating values for which 'analogue' beats 'digital'.

The mechanical construction of the switching-arrangements is the main
weak point, but (as so many products nowadays) they're a constant
reminder of how hard the Chinese have to work to scratch a living, and
how difficult it is for the affluent West to retain/regain our
competitiveness ...

 

[NSM]

I'm a bit of a Luddite but not on DVMs.
The only facility I miss is for observing fluctuating DC levels where my
Fluke nominal LCD analogue scale
is useless.
I certainly don't miss those high V batteries for high ohms, the few K
loading on
circuits rather than Megs

Sometimes useful to ignore leakage currents on AC circuits!

N

 

[[email protected]]

I still use an Avo Mk8.On most jobs I find it better than the digital
stuff.With digital I have to think if the number is good or bad with
analogue I know instantly from the position of the needle.In Scotland a
good Avo in a case can usually be had for £30.
regards,Mark.