If a person has the experience to use a scope it is the way to go and it's
also a great tool for analyzing ignition problems etc.    A lot of very fast
voltage changes are averaged out with most meters.

Janette & Dick Smith
85 Westfalia--Sally Ann
Norwich, NY
----- Original Message -----
From: David Beierl <dbeierl@IBM.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, August 26, 1999 7:10 PM
Subject: Re: Which Voltmeter to use?

> 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"
>