Understanding Analog Meters: How to Read and Interpret Measurements

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Analog meters display measurements based on the selected scale, meaning that if the needle points to 7 on a 1 milliamp scale, it indicates 7 milliamps, not 0.7 milliamps. The range selected determines the maximum value that can be measured, which is crucial for accurate interpretation. Unlike oscilloscopes, where voltage is calculated by multiplying divisions, analog meters directly reflect the value on the scale. Understanding this distinction is key to effectively using analog meters. Proper interpretation of the needle's position is essential for accurate readings.
Noone1982
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Sorry, this sounds like a silly but I grew up in the age of auto-ranging multimeters.

Say you have a scale, 1 to 10 and you select your scale as 1 miliamp. I presume if the needle is at 7 then that means 7 miliamps and NOT (7/10) 0.7 miliamps?
 
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No, it means .7 milliamps. The range is the top of the scale.
 
Oh, I guess it's not like an oscilloscope when you set it to say .5 V/div and just mulitply the number of divisions to get the voltage. Silly me.
 
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