EEVblog #229 - IET DE-5000 LCR Meter - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: sdttn
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2011, 05:24:47 pm
content: The ICs from cyrustek. ES51919/ES51920http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crystalradio.cn%2Fbbs%2Fthread-217337-1-1.htmlhttp://www.cyrustek.com.tw/product-2-6.htmhttp://www.cyrustek.com.tw/spec/ES51920.pdfSorry, was that a trade secret?

author: Greg J
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2011, 07:21:16 pm
content: no shielding inside, do a gsm test ! fluke style !

author: grenert
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 26, 2011, 09:47:46 pm
content: Quote from: sdttn on December 26, 2011, 05:24:47 pmGood catch! A lot of the IET manual comes straight from the Cyrustek datasheet, too.I'm surprised they bother to cover it up. How many off-the-shelf LCR chipsets can there really be

author: Flavour Flave
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2011, 12:59:00 am
content: We could do an open source LCR meter with this chip. It would more realistic to do, unlike the open source multimeter project some people tried on this forum because a lot of the variables have been removed(features we need have been decided on the chip). Just need to provide front end, gui and power and maybe data iO.

author: BravoV
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2011, 03:12:54 am
content: Quote from: sdttn on December 26, 2011, 05:24:47 pmHa..ha.. thats a great finding ! Thanks !From that links, the Mastech's pcb shot like below showing a quite resemblance of that de-5000 board isn't it ?Quote from: sdttn on December 26, 2011, 05:24:47 pmNaah.. nothing to worry about, especially with these days product that are using commodities off the shelf chips, its just matter of time, people will discover what they're using.Custom asic is the only way to prevent people to peek around, but that will be another pricing league.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2011, 03:46:27 am
content: The sound and video quality on the first official blog in the new lab is perfectly fine.No echo or anything bad at all.Probably don't need the sound absorbing panels.

author: Drirr
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2011, 09:20:58 am
content: It is similar to APPA703, take a look insidehttps://picasaweb.google.com/cada.david/APPA?authuser=0&feat=directlink

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2011, 10:29:34 am
content: Quote from: Flavour Flave on December 27, 2011, 12:59:00 amThat would depend on being able to source the chip in sensible quantities.How many potential LCR meter users would care about it being Open Source?Calibration will also be an issue for any DIY approach, although this could maybe be solved by someone with an accurate meter offering a set of cheap parts that have been accurately measured.

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 27, 2011, 11:45:35 am
content: Quote from: Psi on December 27, 2011, 03:46:27 amFor some reason there is a faint but noticeable air-con type drone noise in the first clip, but not the rest of the clips.Not sure why.But yeah, sound in there isn't too bad at all.Dave.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 27, 2011, 12:08:40 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on December 27, 2011, 11:45:35 amIt was noticeable. Maybe the mike was picking up vibrations from the structure and not from the air.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2011, 12:28:22 pm
content: Quote from: HAL-42b on December 27, 2011, 12:08:40 pmI only notice it now that you've said. It's really nothing to worry about imho.The previous lab had all the birds in the background sometimes, and they were far far worse.

author: LEECH666
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2011, 06:19:12 pm
content: Hehe ... I couldn't help but to think of this video of made by Mike when you mentioned the little suitcase the LCR meter comes in.Skip to 5:35 in the video.http://youtu.be/6td9kVKWGFw"[...] you're just gonna look like a dick.""[...] pcb drill [...] sorted. *thumbs up*"Man this is outragious, in funny way.Cheers from Germany,Florian

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 27, 2011, 11:35:21 pm
content: Looks like the Mastech MS5308 that appears to use the same chipset as the DE-5000 is available for about $250 delivered, and that includes the Kelvin clip, the SMD tweezers and the interface cable to the PC.http://www.aliexpress.com/fm-store/209471/0-511363183/New-MS5308-Portable-Handheld-AutoRange-LCR-Meter-100Khz-fit-FLUKE-dual-display.htmlBest accuracy for L and C seems to be 0.5% rather then 0.3%. For some reason, it requires 8xAA batteries and a 9V battery. Sounds like they wanted to avoid any kind of switching power supply.

author: grenert
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2011, 01:08:52 pm
content: That Mastech has got a strange look to it! It appears to be styled after the old Tektronix THS series of portable oscilloscopes.

author: tinhead
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2011, 01:47:35 pm
content: the major problem with Mastech is Mastech itself.look at the specs on Mastech website:L:200uH~~2000HC:20000pF~~2.0mFR:20.000?~~200.0M?then check (most) sellers:L:200uH~~2000HC:2000pF~~2.0mFR:20.000?~~200.0M?and finaly Cyrustek:L:20.000 ?H~ 2000 HC:200.00 pF~20.00 mFR: 20.000 ? ~ 200.0 M?Luckily IET specs/manual is very clear.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2011, 02:20:50 pm
content: Quote from: LEECH666 on December 27, 2011, 06:19:12 pmNot quite the same situation - you buy a small scope primarily because it's small, and you will mostly be using it away from the bench. For gear that is mostly used on the bench, and comes with some specific accessories, a hard case is a perfectly reasonable solution, although in the case of that LCR meter, I'm not sure there would be room for a mains adapter with a UK 13A plug.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2011, 05:13:22 pm
content: A hard case is ok if the instrument is very delicate and expensive or if it is rarely used. Then the case helps to store and protect it. But if it is a garden-variety instrument for the bench it'll go into a drawer or on the shelf. Then an extra case is just annoying, because you don't want having to unpack it and set accessories like the charger up every time you use it.

author: LEECH666
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 28, 2011, 08:46:29 pm
content: Yes Mike, I agree completely. It just reminded me of your video.Cheers,Florian

author: king.oslo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 03, 2012, 07:51:58 pm
content: Hello there,I asked IET why they decided to leave out input protection and shielding. I thought that the response was a interesting:IETLabs said:QuoteWhat do you think?Dave, will you give us GSM-test?Thanks.Kind regards,Marius

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 03, 2012, 11:48:30 pm
content: I wonder if this was an outsourced design and this means they forgot to check the input protection/shielding. I find it hard to believe that an experienced design engineer would just plainly forget about protecting inputs.

author: king.oslo
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2012, 01:05:14 pm
content: Alm,This is what Dave Jones wrote as part of his amazon review of the meter:QuoteSounds like you are right.Do you reckon we should be concerned with these issues?M

author: amspire
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 04, 2012, 01:34:47 pm
content: Quote from: king.oslo on February 04, 2012, 01:05:14 pmIf I was buy a LCR meter for myself and I was given a choice between input protection or accuracy, I would choose accuracy.If I was the manager of a company buying a bunch of LCR meters for general use, I would get ones with input protection.If you can trust yourself to never attempt to do in-circuit testing (particulaly if the circuit is live), testing charged 400VW electrolytics and to never plug the LCR meter into the mains, then having no protection is not a huge problem.Richard.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2012, 03:47:38 am
content: Quote from: king.oslo on February 04, 2012, 01:05:14 pmJust for clarity and protecting Dave's reputation that quote was from my post about the DE-5000 not Dave Jones.

author: septer012
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2014, 10:49:05 am
content: Bought one. Circuit board version 8.They added a diode (D5) reverse polarity in parallel to the 9 volt. I put in batteries didn't start up at all. Got hot from short on D5. Yanked D5 out and worked fine.From another thread this power supply schematic was posted by dfmischler, not exactly the same references but pretty close to the same power supply. It will help you if you have issues as well:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/ms-5308-power-supply-issues/msg189878/#msg189878] https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/ms-5308-power-supply-issues/msg189878/#msg189878D5 is not in the schematic.

author: David Hess
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 31, 2014, 02:04:42 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on December 27, 2011, 10:29:34 amAnalog Devices makes some impedance converter/network analyzer ASICs which would be easier to source and have full documentation that would be suitable. I have considered doing this myself.http://www.analog.com/en/rfif-components/direct-digital-synthesis-dds/ad5933/products/product.htmlhttp://www.analog.com/en/rfif-components/direct-digital-synthesis-dds/ad5934/products/product.html

author: Icchan
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2015, 03:39:19 am
content: I would have really loved to see a full review of this meter. It would be perfect price wise if the performance is good enough. I would need something like this for those moments when i'm trouble shooting some broken equipment or reverse engineering stuff.Pretty please?

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2015, 11:25:50 am
content: Search DE-5000 on this forum. You will get all the review you need. The consensus is that for roughly $130.00 for the complete kit it is hard to beat and the performance is very good.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2015, 05:32:31 pm
content: Quote from: robrenz on May 26, 2015, 11:25:50 amAnd if you are going to purchase it through Amazon, use Dave's store so he gets his commission:http://astore.amazon.com/eevblogstore-20?node=1&page=2Edit: direct link to the LCR Meter instead of the page where it's at:http://astore.amazon.com/eevblogstore-20/detail/B005EMT8PC