Dial meter

 

Dial meters have a row of dials (although sometimes they are arranged differently). The pointers on the dials go round from 0 to 9 – and they rotate clockwise and anticlockwise alternately so be careful when you read them!

Only read five dials, from the one marked 10,000 down to the one marked 1. Ignore the red dial which measures tenths of a unit as this is used for testing only.

  • When you take the reading you read along the 5 dials from left to right
  • Write the numbers down from left to right
  • If the pointer on any of the dials is between two numbers, record the smaller number.
  • If the pointer appears to be exactly on a number, record the next lowest number unless the pointer on the dial to its right has passed zero.

In the example below, the reading is 83895

Dial meter reading

DIAL 1: The pointer is directly on number 5. This is recorded as 5

 

DIAL 2: The pointer has just passed 9, and is between 9 and 0. This is recorded as 9.

 

DIAL 3: The next dial has passed 8, and is between 8 and 9. Again, record the smaller number which is 8.

 

DIAL 4: The pointer looks like it is right on the 4 but, the dial to its right has not passed zero. So, you would record this dial as 3.

 

DIAL 5: The pointer is between 8 and 9. Record the smaller number which the pointer just passed, which is 8.