Magnehlic Gauge - Analog or Digital
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TrimixToo
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It would be hard to breathe steadily enough to give you a stable reading on a digital gauge. The analog needle moves around a bit, but you can see where it spends most of its time easily enough and where the swing of the needle stops before the reg cracks. I did get a digital IP gauge, but it does not seem to make a big difference in the outcome. The regs breathed well before, and they still do (shrug).
For highly transient measurements like breathing, analog is the only way to go. Digitals are just not fast enough nor do they show you the rapid but small changes an analog meter can. Not the mention the older analog ones are a lot cheaper. I still keep a quality analog volt meter for the same reason. Some times old school is still better, this is one of them.
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analog is NORMALLY more responsive than digital. Interestingly enough some of the sports cars have had to go to digital tachometers because analog gauges can't respond fast enough, but those digital tach's are also stupid expensive and have an analog looking display. They do that because it's easier to see what the gauges are doing when you have a needle vs. numbers.
Now, I have a big analog magnehelic, but it's annoying because it has to be vertical for it to work properly and is big and clunky. It's on my bench.
I carry a digital one with me when diving because it's tiny and will always get me "close enough". It's important on my Poseidon Jetstreams because tuning them is a little harder than some other second stage designs. On my Scubapro style second stages, I don't bother using it because you can just listen with the inline tools. They're good for detecting diaphragms that need replacing, but if you're just DIYing your own service it is far from what I would consider a "necessary" tool
Now, I have a big analog magnehelic, but it's annoying because it has to be vertical for it to work properly and is big and clunky. It's on my bench.
I carry a digital one with me when diving because it's tiny and will always get me "close enough". It's important on my Poseidon Jetstreams because tuning them is a little harder than some other second stage designs. On my Scubapro style second stages, I don't bother using it because you can just listen with the inline tools. They're good for detecting diaphragms that need replacing, but if you're just DIYing your own service it is far from what I would consider a "necessary" tool
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