Resolution, accuracy, error and digital displays
|
I was looking over the latest QST magazine and I had a thought that I wanted to discuss with the group. On the cover was an interesting "dummy load" project that used an array of resistors in an oil bath as the load, and an Arduino Nano to display the output power.?
A voice from my past echoed in my head. Dr. Wolfe taught Chemistry at the community college that I attended. He was bright and energetic, but quite strict. I learned a lot from Dr. Wolf, but the one thing that has stuck with me over the years was his insistence on properly expressing values considering the measurement accuracy and significant figures.
The display on the watt meter on the cover of QST shows 4 figures of accuracy. What I wanted to discuss was if it was reasonable to display 4 digits of precision in this particular instance.?
This is certainly not a criticism of the QST project, but simply an opportunity to discuss the topic.
73 Mike M. KU4QO
|
