Looking for a cheap LCR meter for vacuum tube amp projects/diagnostics.  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Tjj226_Angel
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2017, 11:12:40 am
content: Hello.First and foremost, I am new to this forum and I am not sure if this is where I should post this or not. I apologize in advance if this is incorrect.As the title says, I am looking for an lcr meter and I would prefer to keep it under 100 bucks because I am trying to save up for an oscilloscopeI thought this was going to be a fairly simple matter since I only want to be able to test capacitors along with ESR values, and inductance from my power supply choke and tube output transformers.Here is the crux of the issue. I need to get pretty darn accurate readings (+/- 1% or less would be ideal) for things like inductance and ESR because small changes in either of those values can really impact the sound coming from the amp.LCR meters seem to jump up considerably in price when you want to buy a quality product. Some of the ones I have been eyeing are 250 bucks for the level of accuracy I wantThe best LCR meter I seem to be able to find in my price range is this DER DE-5000 for 120 bucks. However I am seeing some people that thing the cheap 7 dollar ebay LCR-T4 is just as good so long as the software is updated and it is calibrated properly.I have kind of reached a point where I have researched myself under the table and would like to hear what you guys have to say.

author: bianchifan
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2017, 02:14:44 pm
content: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/$20-lcr-esr-transistor-checker-project/msg195093/#msg195093

author: WhichEnt2
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2017, 02:17:58 pm
content: Check the XJW01https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/xjw01-auto-lcr-meter-review-($120-bench-top-lcr-meter)/I bought it from banggood for about $80 a few months ago.

author: gardner
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 13, 2017, 07:13:27 pm
content: For vacuum tube applications, you're going to find handheld LCR meters kind of useless I think. The problem is that VT circuits will be operating at 100V up to a KV maybe, and evaluating the performance of parts, especially leakage measurement, in those voltage ranges is not possible with one of those 9V battery operated jobbers. Have a watch of Mr Carlson's video on the subject,

author: Le_Bassiste
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2017, 01:41:07 pm
content: Quote from: Tjj226_Angel on October 08, 2017, 11:12:40 amyou might want to check first, which of your requirements you can most easily part with:1: 1% accuracy in reading inductances that go into many tens of henries on transformers (not even to mention the requirement of a current source to bias them in order to get proper readings at at least somehow operational conditions, and not to mention the requirement for multi-frequency stepping through the audio range)2: 1% accuracy in reading capacitances, where you need to apply several hundreds of volts to accurately capture bias voltage effects on capacitance, besides stepping through frequencies.3: your 120 bucks price limit.take your pick