Peak Atlas ESR70 Meter Video Review - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: SteveyG
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 30, 2015, 06:43:01 am
content: Hi all,I've just uploaded my 10th electronics video. Let me know your thoughts and suggestions!

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2015, 09:10:40 am
content: Quote from: SteveyG on March 30, 2015, 06:43:01 amGive us a clue why we should spend 30 minutes of our remaining life looking at your video. You have 10 seconds.Note, I can read much more in in 10s than you can say, therefore you have a greater chance of captiring my attention with the written word.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 30, 2015, 09:21:54 am
content: Quote from: tggzzz on March 30, 2015, 09:10:40 amThe clue is in the video title, it's accurate. Either you are interested in what the video has to offer, or you aren't. If you are interested, then it's likely worth your time.

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 30, 2015, 10:12:53 am
content: The best sixty two and a half minute's that I've spent in a while,Watched it once, had a coffee and a biscuit, then watched it again.Big Thumb's Up......Muttley

author: SteveyG
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 30, 2015, 10:24:32 am
content: Quote from: Muttley Snickers on March 30, 2015, 10:12:53 amThanks a lot for the kind comments!Quote from: tggzzz on March 30, 2015, 09:10:40 amBecause you may learn something, find it useful if you're in the market for an ESR meter or may be able to teach me something that I missed.

author: Galenbo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 30, 2015, 11:16:43 am
content: My constructive comment on it:The first 1:12 is a picture of some device. I am not interested in some picture of some device.Show something it does, something you do, your face, your lab.Most viewers will quit after 30 seconds. Maybe your viewed-count is already counted up, but I don't think they will subscribe or come back.

author: SteveyG
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 30, 2015, 11:22:11 am
content: Quote from: Galenbo on March 30, 2015, 11:16:43 amThanks for the input. I did think after I uploaded the video that I shouldn't have left a static image on screen

author: Melt-O-Tronic
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2015, 01:39:27 am
content: I liked it! And it was very relevant to my interests. The pace was a bit slow for my taste, but A) probably fine for most and B) made perfect by the YouTube 1.25X option.I like your other titles too. Looking forward to absorbing them . . .Thumbs up!

author: Chipmunk
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2015, 05:37:39 am
content: Professionally done. I'd second the no still image thing, but you've done that already.Nice use of annotation to allow skipping the theory.A link to Peak's website page for the meter in the video description wouldn't have gone amiss: If they see a few people coming in from your video they might offer you stuff for review

author: SteveyG
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 31, 2015, 06:18:22 am
content: Thanks for the feedbackPace of the video is a bit difficult to judge as I have no idea of the technical experience of the audience. Definitely will try to improve next time

author: bookaboo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2015, 09:21:01 am
content: Nice video, well worth watching. Clear and to the point with theory, tear down and practical demonstration. Subscribed.One suggestion for product reviews would be to quickly discuss alternatives and where this product sits in the market price wise etc., other than that I think you had it all covered.

author: jancumps
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 31, 2015, 10:47:58 am
content: I liked the video. Thanks!

author: SteveyG
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 31, 2015, 11:10:51 am
content: Quote from: bookaboo on March 31, 2015, 09:21:01 amAha, good tip! Again, thanks all for the feedback and for viewing.

author: Radio Tech
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 31, 2015, 11:24:30 am
content: Very nice video. Well done. Now if I can only get my videos that good.Well done

author: neslekkim
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2015, 01:02:11 pm
content: Very good video, learned a lot.

author: BlueBill
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2015, 08:03:43 pm
content: I'll watch it when I get home.I'd like to know why I'd spend $150 vs $15 for a MK138 Component Tester?

author: AHT52
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 02, 2015, 10:35:02 pm
content: Good videoAll explained well and good look round the productI am still weighing up this product or the Bob Parker design. This does have the advantage of the capacitance value as well as the esr value. Decisions decisions

author: SteveyG
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 03, 2015, 01:04:47 pm
content: Quote from: BlueBill on April 02, 2015, 08:03:43 pmI wasn't able to find any details of a MK138, however the point is still valid. Why spend so much money? It'll come down to the typical factors when choosing a piece of test equipment - the Peak has 24 months warranty, accuracy and resolution, confidence in the instrument and it is a well built piece of kit.I personally am more willing to support a UK manufacturer and one thing I did like is that the website sells a comprehensive set of spares such as new cases, laminated front cover stickers, probes etc. at a really reasonable price. I needed a replacement battery compartment screw for the Fluke 289 and Fluke wanted £120 flat rateThanks for watching the videosSome new ones are up today on a new shotgun mic I purchased.

author: HighVoltage
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2015, 05:31:53 pm
content: I liked your video and the explanation of how PEAK was calculating the capacitance through a constant current.I also have Peak Atlas ESR70 for a while and it has helped me many times to find bad caps.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2015, 05:51:03 pm
content: I've been pondering one of these for a while. I've had an LCR40 and DCA55 from Peak for some years, and use the LCR40 with the SMD tweezers permanently fitted.In general I've been reasonably happy with them but I will mention some design problems with these Peak devices, which appear to be in the ESR70 too.O The form factor makes them difficult to store conveniently, they won't sit conveniently on shelves or in drawers;O If thrown into a bag for a journey on site, you are at risk of running the battery down as it switches on too easily;O That darned GP23A battery... yet another battery to need a small stock of.But otherwise I've had them both for many years and have proved perfectly reliable.*edit to add: I did once have to repair the pigtail cable where it connects to the PCB on the LCR40: there is little in the way of strain relief there. Visually it looks the same as on your ESR70.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2015, 05:54:06 pm
content: GP23 battery is not a problem, as I keep them for remote controls. I buy them by the strip, and depending on who is at the shop till i either get them for 50c US each or 50c US for a strip of 5.I tend to buy around 5 strips at a time......

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2015, 05:56:25 pm
content: Quote from: SeanB on April 03, 2015, 05:54:06 pmYep, that's what I do now, but there's nothing else in the house that uses this battery.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 03, 2015, 06:01:59 pm
content: Quote from: Howardlong on April 03, 2015, 05:56:25 pmAren't I lucky.........The one battery that is not in common use by me is a C or D cell, nothing much uses them so they are expensive to buy. That and CR1616 cells used in car remotes.

author: SteveyG
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 05, 2015, 08:08:53 pm
content: Quote from: Howardlong on April 03, 2015, 05:51:03 pmI think you can buy little padded cases for these on the Peak website, although that's not necessarily ideal. The ideal solution would really be a proper slide switch on the side of the device. Fortunately I have quite a few GP23A's from a project a while back, although I've noticed quite a few devices such as the DCA75 which I just reviewed on my channel run off a single AAA battery which is better. No idea why this isn't standard though - I'm looking at getting the LCR45, but oddly that uses the GP23A despite being quite new.

author: Howardlong
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2015, 08:43:59 pm
content: I am sure it will be a price compromise, generating sufficient voltage (12V or so) to measure zeners and wotnot form a AAA wasn't as cheap as it is nowadays, I am sure the basic design of those peak meters goes back well over a decade.To engineer the newer devices to run of a single AAA is to be applauded.

author: fpliuzzi
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 05, 2015, 09:14:37 pm
content: A couple of years ago I came across this novel way that forum member pa4tim dealt with the unusual form factor and battery issues with these Peak Electronic Design ltd devices...http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.pa4tim.nl/?p=3319#translate-en(edit: pa4tm corrected to pa4tim)

author: cs.dk
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 06, 2015, 10:10:32 am
content: Great videos

author: SteveyG
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: April 06, 2015, 10:49:21 am
content: Quote from: fpliuzzi on April 05, 2015, 09:14:37 pmNow that is amusing!

author: ez24
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 24, 2015, 10:25:23 pm
content: My two cents. I am here because I found Dave's videos on YT by searching on something and using YT filters. As far as I know there are only two filters. Less than 4 min (in general poor quality) and greater than 20 min.In general I have found that longer videos are better quality so the first thing I do is search on videos over 20 min. That is how I found Dave. Soooo keep those long videos coming.

author: switcher
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2015, 01:27:04 am
content: I do like your videos, clear and not too waffley.I really cant be arsed to sit and watch really long videos; about half an hour is about my limit.Some vloggers seem to love the sound of their own voice, and drone on and on for hours.I think like a lot of us Brits; you dont seem too obsessed with surrounding yourself with rack after rack of equipment, just enough, is enough.I bought one of the Peak ESR meters when they first came out, some years ago now, but sold it on ebay.The Peak form factor is just too light, small, and fiddly, and ends up easily swiped off the bench.

author: lapm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2015, 10:46:27 pm
content: Nice video. Like your style of presenting. Big thumps up for those skip boxes to allows one to jump to sections he is most interested.