Wanted:LCR multimeter with ESR for europe - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Flávio V
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2013, 05:02:36 pm
content: I am looking for a semi-cheap new LCR multimeter that has ERS measurement but for now i had only found the Agilent u1731c 20k count to be good for what i want and need and the cheapest one also...(246€ in RS distributor)So, i am interested in knowing other choice for under 250€ shipped to Portugal with similar specs that the agilent LCR...These are the specs than i think needed:-4k count or more resolution-ERS-1uH or better resolution-1pF or better resolution

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2013, 05:36:38 pm
content: for esr measure, it is quite mandatory to have a 100KHz test signal. and your agilent doesnt have...it is a more expensive model ...

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2013, 05:42:46 pm
content: PeakTech 2170 (209 Euros at Reichelt)?

author: crispus
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2013, 05:43:52 pm
content: Dave made a review of BK 879B, but it is a little more expensive ~280 €, with ~10€ shipping within EU countries.LE:Quote from: madires on January 16, 2013, 05:42:46 pmHow much is for shipping? Do you have some review on this model?Thanks

author: Amarbir[Lynx-India]
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2013, 06:01:43 pm
content: Quote from: Flávio V on January 16, 2013, 05:02:36 pmSir ,I Can Offer The Following ->http://www.lynx-india.com/index.php?productID=18299.

author: iloveelectronics
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 16, 2013, 06:11:49 pm
content: I will have some Mastech MS5308's for sale next week. John on this forum has done a very detailed review on this meter:I haven't got the exact pricing yet as I still need to weigh the actual thing to see how much shipping is going to cost but I'm pretty sure it will be a very competitive price. For your reference the lowest price you can find for this meter currently on eBay including shipping is around $200.

author: Flávio V
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2013, 07:41:55 am
content: Quote from: madires on January 16, 2013, 05:42:46 pmThat one looks interesting, it is german made so it should't be bad quality(i expect to be pretty good)..the only thing i wonder is how much the shipping would cost and if they ship outside germany if they do it would be lovely, the specs are really good and it is not made in asia!!!Quote from: Amarbir[Lynx-India] on January 16, 2013, 06:01:43 pmSince it is in India i can assume than if i ship to it Portugal i will get a large taxburger of +-70% the good's price.

author: iloveelectronics
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2013, 08:17:43 am
content: Quote from: Flávio V on January 17, 2013, 07:41:55 amI won't be so sure about their products not being made in Asia... A lot of PeakTech's products look identical in specs and appearance to CEM and Mastech products from China, just different colours. Take a look at this:http://www.mastech.com.cn/html/en/products-va520.htm

author: dr_p
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2013, 09:46:04 am
content: Quote from: Flávio V on January 17, 2013, 07:41:55 amI too was looking for an LCR meter in Europe. I had my eye onthis CEM 9935at 150$ with free shipping from China.I don't know how Portugal taxes work, but I think you'll keep it under 250$ total.

author: PA4TIM
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2013, 11:15:00 am
content: Not ESR but impedance is often given for 100 KHz. ESR is given as the related D (or DF or tan d) and most times between 100Hz and 1KHz. The most decent LCR meters have a few frequencies like 120, 1000 and 10000 Hz and they then give you loss angle ( and that is the most important parameter) and D, and if they know thatm, they can calculate (real) ESR. But ESR at 1KHz will be higher as at 100 KHz (but for smaller caps often the same as impedance at 100 KHz)Bad caps will be bad on both, but the Agilent will give the good capacitance, most ( > 500 euro) meters at 100 KHz make a mess of that, things like 4 wire IV or impedance meters give you sweeps so you know real capacitance ( like printed on the thing) and the capacitance it shows at the frequency of choise. If the self resonant frequency is under 100 KHz it will meadure inductive, of if it is just below SRF it will measure a few nF while in real it is 100 uF if you use it at f.i. 100 Hz.So you want 1KHz to check if capacitance is still right, for desing or replacement a frequency sweep to see if the cap you want is suited for the frequency the smps works, and for ESR you just need the frequency that is given by the datasheet, and they allways give D so with a good LCR meter that does D and /or loss angle ( you can calculate all other parameters like Q, PF, ESR) you can do everything you want.1/( 2pixfxC) is Xc, the reactanceD is dissipation factor, if that is 0.1 at 1KHz and Xc is 100 Ohm then ESR is 100 x 0.1 = 10 Ohm.Loss angke, the most important factor because this is not as relative as ESR is arctan D so 5,7 degrees. This is the loss, so the phase angle will be 90-5.7 = 84.3 degrees. An ideal cap is 90 degrees. An ideal ESR is zero Ohm.A D of 0.001 is a very good cap, no matter what, this is a loss angle of 0.06 degrees. You do not have to know reactance or capacitance.If it is at 1KHz and the cap is 1 uF then , with the figures above Xc is 159 Ohm so ESR is 159 mOhm, a very good cap.But if it is 10000 uF, Xc is 0.0159 Ohm and ESR is 0.0000159 Ohm ( 16 uOhm)So you see loss angle and D are the same but ESR is not,A 10000 uF cap at 1KHz with a ESR of 159 mOhm has a D of 10, that is a loss angle of 84 degrees so very , very bad, but if you measure 159 mOhm you might think this is good because for the 1uF this was super (a real expensive low ESR cap)So you get the agilent as that meaures D and phase loss or phase angle, the you do not need ESR.Or buy a cheap esr meter at thee side if you like to play.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2013, 12:46:47 pm
content: Quote from: Flávio V on January 17, 2013, 07:41:55 amAFAIK PeakTech rebadges stuff, but they make sure that safety requirements are met and they provide service. If you ask politely they give you the schematics and service manuals. I got an older PeakTech LCR meter and a lab PSU (obviously Mastech, but with some custom modifications I haven't seen anywhere else). Can't complain about both devices ;-)The shipping to Portugal is 19 Euros (prepaid or bank transfer).

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2013, 03:54:12 pm
content: you can do it yourself one.details here :http://kripton2035.free.fr/LCR%20meters/lcr-go-russian.html

author: PA4TIM
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2013, 05:21:56 pm
content: That looks like a very nice and serious project.

author: quarks
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2013, 08:21:10 pm
content: Quote from: crispus on January 16, 2013, 05:43:52 pmI have bought this meter because of Daves review and it is quite good, but has no 4-wire connection.

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2013, 09:30:06 pm
content: also elektor has announced that in the march 2013 issue they will renew their excellent lcr meter they did in the 80swith a top actual lcr meter. let's see it soon.

author: Dave
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 17, 2013, 11:58:45 pm
content: I've heard good things aboutVA520B LCR meter.20k counts, capable of measuring ESR, DCR, D and Q factors, etc.And it's not expensive (about 140€ here in Slovenia). I am also considering buying one of these.

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 20, 2013, 03:55:51 pm
content: The Peak Electronics LCR meter is pretty good and only costs 103 euros plus vat plus 9 euros airmail, made in the UK as well so must be good. (until the doors fall offhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/smiley_laughing.gif )http://www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/jz_lcr40.htmlhttp://www.peakelec.co.ukAlso available from these people in Portugal.www.castroelectronica.pthttp://www.castroelectronica.pt/product/analizador-de-componentes-passivos-lcr40

author: Flávio V
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2013, 07:02:41 pm
content: That is really a weird looking meter, too bad it does't has ers measurement...(it is 1km from me the shop)

author: PA4TIM
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 22, 2013, 08:00:22 pm
content: They have an ESR meter that also measures C. Its ESR performance is very usable but the Capacitance is more an indication, but just to check for repairs it's OK.I have both, together with the transistor tester ( a friend did not use them anymore)Pro,Small, handy littte meterauto measure ( range and LC or R) sometimes handy.Con,Needs even if not used every year a new 12V batterySmall, i never knew where I put it.Automeasure, you can not chooseNot very accurate, but ood enough for repir jobs and working with standard componentsSlow, you connect the component, press the button, get the text, wait 5 sec ( or just push again to skip that)The testclips are by far the worst I have ever seen ( the ESR meter has very nice ones)I ripped them out theire weird houdings and mouted them inside a cabinet with bananajacks for the LCR and the transistor/diode/fet tester ( including a din-connector for easy testing bc547 / 2n2222 ect.