here's a quick illustration what how you can test a diode with an analog meter I've got it on our x one and if we read this way see it doesn't read if you read this way it reads so as you can see this line is on the negative lead positive lead it can flow through that way but not this way now if you have a digital meter it doesn't work nearly as good I think that analog meters must push a little more current through and it really works well but digital meters you're going to see it read both ways and you just kind of have to make a decision as to which way it reads more or less