Help with basic multimeter usage

[Exhuminator]

Conclusion: They all do the job sufficiently (perfectly) from micro resistors and button cells to car batteries as long as their 9V battery is good.

When you're calibrating boiler steam flow meters across 4-20milliamp with zero room for deviation those toys aren't gonna cut it. But for hobbyist projects yes they are fine.

[CRTGAMER]

Here is a REAL MultiMeter. Digitals are more accurate, but I like the instant read of the gauge.

Simpson Commercial Volt Ohm Meter ME-48 C/U
Look up Simpson 260 to get an idea about this Military issue version. This meter is better with the separate dials.

The VOM works great with leads from my other dial meter and is very robust. You know its heavy duty and vintage when the housing is Bakelite not flimsy plastic. The Mad Scientist in me; I love playing with the zero out OHM setting and trying the different volt ranges. Unlike a digital, this Dial Meter does not need a battery to check volts so its always ready to use. The Dial may not be as accurate for reading a resistor, but the visual needle response is better then numbers flicker of a Digital. For OHM readings the meter does not take a meek AA battery but a larger run time capacity D Cell. There is another compartment for 22.5 volt battery with resistor isolators, not needed for what I'm using the meter for. There is a 5000 volt multiplier plugin if I ever wanted to test a Bus station or a Heliarc Welder lead and risk killing myself. The commercial meter is that capable.

[Ziggy587]

Here is a REAL MultiMeter. Digitals are more accurate, but I like the instant read of the gauge.

You don't find that it takes longer to read where the needle is than it does to just read the digits on an LCD display?

[CRTGAMER]

Here is a REAL MultiMeter. Digitals are more accurate, but I like the instant read of the gauge.

You don't find that it takes longer to read where the needle is than it does to just read the digits on an LCD display?

The digital in its accuracy continually jumps the numbers up and down giving exact up to date voltage. I know this is to give a precise true reading with the minute volt spikes, but stand still for crying out loud!

[Ziggy587]

Here is a REAL MultiMeter. Digitals are more accurate, but I like the instant read of the gauge.

You don't find that it takes longer to read where the needle is than it does to just read the digits on an LCD display?

The digital in its accuracy continually jumps the numbers up and down giving exact up to date voltage. I know this is to give a precise true reading with the minute volt spikes, but stand still for crying out loud!

It does "stand still," it just depends what you're reading. If you read a battery in a volts setting (not mV) with only two decimal places it's not gonna jump around. And even something that does jump around a little, it's not like you can't take a reading while some decimal places are moving.

It may be important to note that I've experienced a bunch of cheap meters that would jump around like crazy... Even when you weren't reading a voltage, the numbers would be moving. It could have just been shitty meter(s) that you were using.