Make Full Use of the Functions of Digital Multimeters
Minimum / Maximum / Average
Many high-performance digital multimeters feature a minimum/maximum recording function. Users can capture various signal anomalies with this function, such as multi-cycle sudden drops or spikes, unexpected signal fluctuations, and other unattended signal monitoring tasks.
This function works by sampling the input signal roughly every 100 ms or longer, and it is available for all primary meter functions (voltage, current, etc.). When the Min/Max/Average function is enabled, the meter captures and temporarily holds the highest and lowest signal levels measured. In addition, the meter keeps the average value of signal levels measured during monitoring. The average reading can smooth noisy signals, analyze the percentage of time the circuit remains active, and determine the overall instability level of the monitored signal.
Time Stamping
Besides capturing these level values, some digital multimeters include an elapsed-time clock to apply time stamps to maximum, minimum and average readings. Based on the start of the monitoring session, time stamps indicate the exact time when these readings occurred. The actual start time of the Min/Max recording is also displayed, making it easier to identify when signal changes take place.
Knowing the exact time when the highest and lowest signal variations occur allows you to pinpoint the timing of abnormal events and gain deeper insight into the stability of the analyzed signal or system. This is a valuable troubleshooting feature for tracking intermittent or unusual system behavior that happens when you are not present, helping save time.
