Do You Prefer Manual Or Auto Range?  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Satch
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2016, 02:04:31 pm
content: Gents, been watching Dave's videos for awhile now and finally registered. So no 'what's the best' questions here. What I was wondering is whether you gents prefer the manual or auto ranging features on meters? I know the simple answer is; both. However, I have come to appreciate the functionality of rotary knobs and similar to make things a bit more intuitive. This is one of the issues with modern mobile radios to include most am/fm functions in cars. Loads of buttons and menus and sub menus that become a bit much at times.I ask about it because I was fiddling around at the BK Precision site and noticed the 388b and the 391. The 388 has the dial with each function range right there on it and it made me wonder. The old Keithly and Fluke bench meters look antiquated these days but there was something familiar and easy to remember about a dead bang push of the switch. Anyroad, great site and loads of information. Thanks for letting me participate.BTW, I actually did try the search function several times with terms like 'prefer manual or auto range' and similar. Adding or losing words trying to make it simpler. Nothing. I also selected the search titles only option. Maybe I am not doing it correctly?

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2016, 02:36:20 pm
content: I prefer to have both. Based on the type of measurement autorange is very useful sometimes, and at other times it's annoying and manual range is suited better. Unfortunately not all DMMs support both.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2016, 03:29:19 pm
content: There's something to be said for the directness of manual selection, yes.The problem I see with manual selection is the sheer number of functions a good meter has to provide. There simply isn't enough space on the dial if you go beyond volts/ohms/amps.eg. Imagine adding capacitance to this:Auto-ranging lets you have a big chunky selector with far less room for error.Normally you'll get an extra button to select a range manually, so...

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2016, 04:04:08 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on April 24, 2016, 03:29:19 pmI fully agree. Autorange by default and a "Range" button to switch to manual range and to select the range should be standard.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2016, 04:22:04 pm
content: Quote from: Fungus on April 24, 2016, 03:29:19 pmOh, wait, I just noticed ithascapacitance. Only one range, but it's there!Competition time: Which manual meter has the most range settings on its dial?

author: Satch
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 24, 2016, 07:26:39 pm
content: Thanks gents. That's about what I figured. I've often wondered just how many functions could be comfortably included on a dial. It almost makes me wonder if rotary dial and selector switch combination would be workable? Sort of like the auto range with 'range' button you see now but rather than strictly menu driven have it in the form of a much smaller adjacent rotary dial offset from the main dial.Sorry, rambling now and daydreaming a bit. I just like the tactile feel of rotary knobs and mechanical switches with detent positions. I can only imagine a tv repair tech from the 1960s shaking his head at such questions. If he would have had even a lower end UNI-T multifunction hand held meter he would have been miles ahead of his competition.

author: Fungus
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2016, 02:36:54 pm
content: You could go the opposite way:

author: PaulAm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2016, 02:59:14 pm
content: A good autorange DMM will also have a range selector to lock it on a specific range if/when you need it.

author: TimFox
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 25, 2016, 05:39:57 pm
content: An autorange voltmeter without a function to freeze the range is useless to me. I often look at voltages that are changing, and the cycle time for auto-ranging messes up the process.

author: Satch
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2016, 10:10:00 pm
content: Just kicking this thread a bit. I had to comment on the 8060A. Dang, those old Flukes look just as sexy today as they did forty years ago. The 8060A had the diode check but if I am not mistaken, there is a continuity button on the top row. Yes/no? I didn't think any of those old Flukes or Keithleys had it but I am not well versed in their history. Love the retro simple interfaces though.BTW, I re-read original post and it read a bit like I was asking if you wanted either/or. Really I should have asked it more like do you like buttons or knobs?

author: crispy_tofu
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 05, 2016, 11:46:23 pm
content: Quote from: Satch on May 05, 2016, 10:10:00 pmYes, the Fluke 8060A has continuity, and it's one of the best implementations of it AFAIK. The continuity is instant and latched, and you can also select to show continuity on the LCD (there's a bar above the reading).

author: BMack
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2016, 02:10:29 am
content: Quote from: Fungus on April 25, 2016, 02:36:54 pmI had a Fluke 12 when I started, it's a pretty good starter DMM. If you forget to change to voltage while on resistance it will auto select voltage so you don't stress/damage the meter. It's a far cry from the 87V I have now but still had a quick updating screen, quick continuity buzzer and was dead on accurate.

author: retiredcaps
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2016, 05:41:56 am
content: Quote from: Satch on May 05, 2016, 10:10:00 pmFluke 8060A history athttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/old-fluke-multimeters/http://www.theamphour.com/180-an-interview-with-dave-taylor-multi-talented-meter-maker/

author: Terry Lingle
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 06, 2016, 04:07:48 pm
content: Safety is my main concern when using any test gear.I work in a high energy hi voltage environment. For years I used a Fluke 8060a but due to its age it lacks some certification marks on the case so I replaced it with an 87-V and hate it for the autoranging feature.A properly protected meter will survive connection to 600 v on the low voltage range and will display it's over range symbol. It will also display .05v when connected to a circuit that is not powered and has a small induced voltage on it. the 87v on auto range will show .586volts which looks in poor lighting the same as 586v. This can cause lost time and troubleshooting errors.that are annoying to say the least.