AVOmeter compared to cheap modern digital meter

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.

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. ======

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

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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:-

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:

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

about 30kg lighter!!

David - who > How do bargain basement modern digital meters perform compared to

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

Sometimes useful to ignore leakage currents on AC circuits!

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 =A330. regards,Mark.