subject: The Analog Display Found In Red Lion Meters And The Like Is Still Important For Several Reasons [print this page] The analog format of panel meter, which is still produced by a lot of manufactures like Red Lion Meters, may not be nearly as popular as it once was, but there are some special purposes and applications that they digital variety has not yet managed to push it out of. Not only will you see an analog panel meter in a system that requires it or simply works better with it, but you will also find this particular type of meter in some products you see on a daily basis, for reasons that include everything from aesthetics to readability.
Of all the differences there are between digital and analog, the starkest comparison you can make between each type of panel meter is the difference in how they display the measured information to the person who is using them. Analog panel displays use a dial and needle to point to a particular notch in a series of measured increments on the meter's face, while digital simply uses an electronic display to show a series of easy-to-read numbers.
The reason the digital variety has become the popular choice is not only because it is easier and faster to read, but also because it is able to calculate a larger amount of measurements simultaneously and adjust automatically, for increased accuracy or to give more readings through a single display. However, there are some cases where an analog is still the better option, whether it is because of the simplicity such instruments, the fact that they are mechanical and nonelectric, or even simply because they can be more pleasing to look at.
Someone who works for a gas refinery or another type of chemical processing plant that has flammable substances moving freely through the air would bet their life on an analog panel meter over an electronic one that could cause a spark. When operators in such a facility are looking at the pressures of certain systems that are surrounded by gas fumes, they are much safer when the devices they are reading their information from are nonelectric and not capable of creating sparks.
Things are not always so serious, of course, and many instances where an analog display is top choice has only to do with how much more elegant looking they can be in certain products, like a fancy car or a traditional looking scale. So, the analog displays manufactured by Red Lion Meters and other companies may not be the most popular, but they are definitely not going anywhere anytime soon.
