Is there a handheld multimeter with a VFD display? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: TobyG
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2024, 07:03:29 am
content: Hello everybody,say, did anyone here ever see handheld multimeter with a VFD display?No technical reason whatsoever. I simply like the asthetic of VFDs, but just came to think that I don't recall ever seeing a handheld multimeter with one,despite that they crammed them in virtually anything for a while.So, have you ever seen one?

author: u666sa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2024, 07:11:13 am
content: B&K PRECISION 2831ETonghui TH1961FORYON VC8246BVictor 8246A

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 19, 2024, 07:30:06 am
content: Quote from: u666sa on November 19, 2024, 07:11:13 amThose are all bench instruments. He did say handheld.

author: TobyG
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2024, 08:30:12 am
content: Oh yeah, I already got a bench one with a VFD, Fluke 45, that is.But wouldn't mind at least knowing if there ever was a handheld one.Guess the big downside there would simply be battery life, but that didn't seem to be much of an argument for, say calculators, either.

author: coromonadalix
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2024, 10:08:10 am
content: Quote from: TobyG on November 19, 2024, 08:30:12 ambattery life, portability vs fragility, since a vfd can be considered as some form of a tube, some bumps / knocking / glass break could render it unusable ??unless you do a project like this and make it portable ...https://www.picmicrolab.com/digital-voltmeter-vfd-display/already made .... haven't seen one so far

author: Kean
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 19, 2024, 10:56:53 am
content: Most vacuum fluorescent displays are a bit large and fragile, but there were some smaller ones made for calculators.I seem to recall there was a calculator with some multimeter functions - maybe from Heathkit or Sinclair?Anyone recall that, and if it was VFD, LED, or LCD?

author: Retep
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2024, 11:29:40 am
content: Quote from: TobyG on November 19, 2024, 08:30:12 amUntil LCD's became a viable alternative. Besides battery life, there also cost (of the display itself and the electronics driving it), size, weight and fragility why you won't see VFD's being used in handheld calculators anymore.

author: Martin72
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2024, 12:32:41 pm
content: Besides the mechanical problems already mentioned, I consider the power consumption to be out of the question, as an example, a relatively small display is mentioned:https://www.mouser.de/datasheet/2/298/norc_s_a0000255720_1-2279662.pdf350mA is way too much for portable use.There are VFDs that consume less power, but still more than 100mA.

author: floobydust
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2024, 08:51:01 pm
content: The VFD was introduced at the 1967 Society for Information Display(SID)symposium by Tung-Sol (Wagner Electric).I imagine it was a single bottle (digit) like the digivac DT-1704. I have some as GE Y-1938. pics:Dieter's Nixie WorldThere is an aggressive sea of patents on VFD's. Futaba seems to have been first to make them small."... VFD's in multi-digit form ... they are only made in Japan"source 1973In the 1970's, display technology competition was fierce. I think the VFD lost out for some reason due to no real manufacturing base in the USA or patents.One problem is vacuum fluorescent displays needs more power, at least 1W (filaments) including the DC-DC converter.So they were not so great for battery-powered devices.But it is strange there were many pocket calculators using VFD displays, although an AC adapter was the norm with them.I've never seen or recall VFD's being used in any portable/handheld test equipment. Just calculators.Of the portable multimeters that emit photons as I call it, I only know of the Sinclair PDM35 handheld 3-1/2 digit used LED bubble displays.

author: BeBuLamar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 19, 2024, 08:59:12 pm
content: First I think VFD consumes more power than LCD. Besides from being fragile it fades and if you use in bright light like working outside during the day the display may not be visible well. LCD can be back lit in dark places. My Fluke 8050A LCD is still fine after all these years but the display on my Fluke 45 which is much newer is faded in some digits.