6/15/2019 What are Measuring Instruments? Analogue and Digital Measuring Instruments.
Bright Hub Engineering
What are Measuring
Instruments? Analogue and
Digital Measuring Instruments.
HVAC: Heating, Ventilation & Air-Conditioning / By Haresh Khemani /
Mechanical Engineering
What are Measuring Instruments?
The devise that is used for measurement of certain physical quantity is
called as measuring instrument. The measuring instruments are used
frequently in our day-to-day life for the measurement of various
quantities like length, weight, temperature, pressure, current, voltage etc
The instruments indicate the value of these quantities, based on which w
get some understanding and also take appropriate actions and decisions
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6/15/2019 What are Measuring Instruments? Analogue and Digital Measuring Instruments.
Types of Instruments
There are two main types of the measuring instruments: analogue and
digital. The analogue instruments indicate the magnitude of the quantity
in the form of the pointer movement. One has to learn reading such
instruments since there are certain markings on the scale. They usually
indicate the values in the whole numbers, though one can get the
readings up to one or two decimal places also. The readings taken in
decimals places may not always be entirely correct, since some human
error is always involved in reading.
The digital measuring instruments indicate the values of the quantity in
digital format that is in numbers, which can be read easily. One doesn’t
needs any prior training to read these instruments since they indicate the
values directly in the numerical form. They can give the readings in one o
more decimal places. Since there is no human error involved in reading
these instruments, they are more accurate than the analogue measuring
instruments.
Analogue Instruments
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6/15/2019 What are Measuring Instruments? Analogue and Digital Measuring Instruments.
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6/15/2019 What are Measuring Instruments? Analogue and Digital Measuring Instruments.
Digital Instruments
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6/15/2019 What are Measuring Instruments? Analogue and Digital Measuring Instruments.
Functions of the Measuring
Instruments
Most of the measuring instruments indicate the value of parameter in the
form of the indicator movement, which gives us the magnitude of that
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6/15/2019 What are Measuring Instruments? Analogue and Digital Measuring Instruments.
quantity. There are many other functions performed by the instruments a
indicated below:
1) Indicating the value of the physical quantity: The instruments are
calibrated against the standard values of the physical quantities. The
movement of the pointer directly indicates the magnitude of the quantity
which can be whole numbers or also fractions. Nowadays, the digital
instruments are becoming very popular, which indicate the values directl
in numerical form and even in decimals thus making them easy to read
and more accurate.
2) Measuring instruments used as the controllers: There are number o
instruments that can be used as the controllers. For instance, when a
certain value of the pressure is reached, the measuring instrument break
the electrical circuit, which stops the running of compressor. Similarly, th
thermostat starts or stops the compressor of the refrigeration system
depending on the temperature achieved in the evaporator.
3) Recording the data: Some measuring instruments can also be used to
record and also store the data. In this age of computerization storing the
recorded data has become quite easy. There are number of instruments
that are connected to the pen that moves on the paper. As the pointer o
the instrument moves as per the changes in the magnitude of the
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6/15/2019 What are Measuring Instruments? Analogue and Digital Measuring Instruments.
quantity, the pen also moves on the paper making the graph against
certain parameter like time. Attaching small memory to the PCB can also
enable recording of the instruments in the chip.
4) Transmitting the data: The measuring instruments can also be used t
transfer the data to some distant places. The instruments kept in unsafe
locations like high temperature can be connected by wires and their
output can be taken at some distant places which are safe for the human
beings. The signal obtained from these instruments can also be used for
operating some controls.
5) Do calculations: Some measuring instruments can also carry out a
number of calculations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division,
etc. Some can also be used to find solutions to highly complex equations
Advantages and Disadvantages of
the Digital Instruments
These days there is greater trend of using the digital instruments for
measurement of all the important quantities like weight, length,
temperature, humidity, current, voltage, rpm and even the blood sugar
level. There are also digital instruments for measurement of the blood
pressure, heart beat rate, and others.
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6/15/2019 What are Measuring Instruments? Analogue and Digital Measuring Instruments.
Here are some of the advantages of the digital instruments over the
analogue instruments:
1) They are very easy to read.
2) Since there are very few moving parts in the electronic instruments,
they are usually more accurate than the analogue instruments. Even the
human error involved in reading these instruments is very less, which add
to the accuracy of digital instruments.
3) The electronic items tend to be cheaper than the mechanical items.
4) The data from the instruments can be recorded for future reference.
5) The output of the digital devices can be obtained in the computer
There are also some disadvantages of the digital instruments. Here
they are:
1) Sometimes they tend to indicate erratic values due to faulty electronic
circuit or damaged display.
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6/15/2019 What are Measuring Instruments? Analogue and Digital Measuring Instruments.
2) In case of high humidity and corrosive atmosphere the internal parts
may get damaged and indicate the faulty values.
3) Sometimes these instrument show some readings even though there i
no applied measurable parameter.
On the whole, the advantages of the digital instruments outdo the
disadvantages, which is why they have become highly popular. You can
find digital instruments in the cars, air planes, motor cycles, and also in
places like air ports, railway stations, public places etc. The digital clocks
are one of the most widely used instruments for the personal use and als
in public and private places. The trend is towards the digital instruments
since they are convenient to use and also have excellent looks. In future
their use is sure to increase much more.
Image Courtesy
1) https://www.antonine-education.co.uk/New_items/MDM/Display.htm
2) https://www.freetechnics.eu/joomla/index.php?
option=content&task=view&id=63
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6/15/2019 What are Measuring Instruments? Analogue and Digital Measuring Instruments.
This post is part of the series: Measuring
Instruments
This is the series of articles that describes the measuring instruments, the
types, errors in the measuring instruments and other aspects.
1. What are Measuring Instruments?
2. Errors in Measuring Instruments
3. Calibration of the Measuring Instruments
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