Analog meter
The characteristic of an analog measuring device is the acquisition and display of the quantity to be measured according to an analog measuring principle , i.e. in a stepless or continuous manner. Conversely, an analog measuring device is understood to be a measuring device in which no digital electronics are used for measurement .
In general, the measured value is displayed with a pointer measuring device, for example a moving-coil measuring device , less often with a mark that can be moved in a different way, for example a liquid-glass thermometer . The special case of an electrical energy meter will be disregarded below.
The advantage of an analog measuring device is the much faster and easier perception of tendencies and fluctuations in the measured value. On the other hand, reading as a numerical value (analog-digital conversion for conscious processing) is more time-consuming for the user than reading a numeric display. It is also difficult that switchable measuring devices use different scales depending on the measuring range , the numerical values of which also have to be multiplied by simple numbers (powers of ten, two, and a half, etc.) in order to obtain the correct value.
With analog measuring devices it is even more critical than with digital devices that a measuring range that is not too sensitive is selected, because in addition to possible damage from thermal overload, there is also the risk of mechanical overload that the pointer is damaged when it exceeds the full deflection.
The analog measuring device shows the measured physical quantity directly in connection with a scale. The display is made by a pointer, column or recorder deflection in front of a display scale as a change in angle or path, via which the measured value can be read. A scale with linear graduation supplies the deflection proportional to the measured variable and is aimed for easy reading.
The advantages of an analog measuring device are:
- better overview of the entire measuring range
- Changes in the measured values are easier to see
- Assessment of fluctuating measured variables is easier
- Detection of the smallest changes in measured variables is more likely
The disadvantages of an analog measuring device are:
- possible reading errors ( parallax error and estimation uncertainty )
- sensitive measuring mechanisms can be disturbed (false indication due to magnetic fields possible)
- Conversion error when assigning measuring range and scale
- generally larger margins of error
To compare the analog with the digital measuring method Digital measuring technology