My latest bit of gear has arrived - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: M0BSW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2012, 03:05:23 pm
content: My ESR meter has arrived from Hong Kong, quicker than internal mail here in the UK, works a treat , if you recall I had a problem on my function generator power side two suspect caps were actually the problem 1 was 7.5,2 was 8.00, both replaced with new ones which measure 0.01 both , job done, best £35.00p spent in a long time.

author: ablacon64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2012, 05:03:21 pm
content: Great! Mine has saved me many times too. It's made by a friend in Brazil.Here's two of them:

author: M0BSW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2012, 06:40:14 pm
content: Quote from: ablacon64 on October 17, 2012, 05:03:21 pmThey look very impressive, I must get a scale written down this one says on it Over 1 uf 10 ohms is bad, from 1uf to 100uf 1ohm to 10 ohms is medocre, then it states all capacitors less than 1 ohm is good, which seems a misleading statement to me , So i'll find a good scale type it out and print it.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2012, 06:54:02 pm
content: Fromhttp://kripton2035.free.fr/esr-repository.html

author: M0BSW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2012, 07:02:26 pm
content: Quote from: robrenz on October 17, 2012, 06:54:02 pmHi Rob this is brilliant I'll print it out now.Paul

author: ablacon64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2012, 09:49:28 pm
content: Quote from: M0BSW on October 17, 2012, 06:40:14 pmIt is really precise, this is a new design, almost all parts are SMD. It does not have a zero button, it uses a potentiometer.That's the scale:Sorry for the quality, I don't have a good camera around at the moment. If you like I can post a better picture tomorrow.

author: FenderBender
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2012, 10:11:35 pm
content: Can we see the internals? Just out of curiosity?

author: ablacon64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2012, 10:17:42 pm
content: Quote from: FenderBender on October 17, 2012, 10:11:35 pmYes, I'll prepare some pics (maybe) tomorrow. Don't mind if I last longer than that... hurricane days... hehehBut I'll try.

author: ablacon64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2012, 10:33:34 pm
content: This picture was post by the manufacturer today:

author: ablacon64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2012, 10:36:49 pm
content: So, I don't have to spend time taking it apart.What's written in yellow: Protection circuit, two SMD diodes (600v X 3A) and one 470nF X 400v capacitor.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2012, 10:41:54 pm
content: Those Servitec esr numbers are a lot different than the ones I posted from kriptons site.

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2012, 11:02:00 pm
content: Hmm, looks like some kind of general purpose op-amp or all in one ESR IC. Maybe even something like a 555. The number's been filed off though. Wonder how accurate it is?

author: ablacon64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2012, 11:50:24 pm
content: Quote from: robrenz on October 17, 2012, 10:41:54 pmYes. But it matches most TV smps I've tested it so far, as well as small/medium power supplies. Just remember ESR and capacitance vary with ambience and operation temperature. That scale has a 25ºC ambient reference.

author: ablacon64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2012, 11:53:51 pm
content: Quote from: tom66 on October 17, 2012, 11:02:00 pmNever took it apart. It's indeed very accurate. So far I had no problems.M0BSW, post some inside pictures after the end of warranty.

author: M0BSW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2012, 02:00:18 pm
content: Quote from: ablacon64 on October 17, 2012, 09:49:28 pmThankyou if not I can make out the figures

author: bullet308
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2012, 02:24:38 pm
content: This should be a bit better. HTH.

author: ablacon64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2012, 02:37:52 pm
content: I was talking to the manufacturer of my ESR meter and he said that since there's no standard among capacitors manufacturers about ESR, each meter should be tested against a variety of capacitors and have its own scale, that scale would vary depending on the meter frequency and/or ambient temperature.

author: M0BSW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2012, 03:18:37 pm
content: Quote from: bullet308 on October 18, 2012, 02:24:38 pmMuch better thank you for doing this and taking the time to do it.Paul

author: M0BSW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2012, 03:29:40 pm
content: Quote from: ablacon64 on October 18, 2012, 02:37:52 pmIm quickly coming to that descision myself it seems every ESR meter has different sets of values, so it's probably best to use all as a reference and also build your own set of figures up as you go along, I have some good rubycon caps, so I,ve taken readings of those, and build up the data as I go along.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2012, 03:37:46 pm
content: Manufacturers data sheets would be the best place to see what is typical. You will need to differentiate between regular and low ESR types.

author: ablacon64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2012, 04:48:51 pm
content: Quote from: robrenz on October 18, 2012, 03:37:46 pmYes, that's what Dave's done on his ESR meter video. Did you notice the huge difference between the meter scale and the datasheet?

author: M0BSW
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2012, 11:54:29 am
content: Quote from: ablacon64 on October 18, 2012, 04:48:51 pmI suppose the people who build the things should know, having seen Capzon caps I'd take their data with a pinch of salt, that's if coursr they have data sheets.

author: martinuy
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 25, 2012, 02:53:43 pm
content: Try to test the ESR of a ultracapacitor!!!http://www.maxwell.com/products/ultracapacitors/docs/datasheet_hc_series_1013793.pdfheheheRegards,Martin

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 25, 2012, 05:54:09 pm
content: Quote from: martinuy on October 25, 2012, 02:53:43 pm

author: Jinx
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 26, 2012, 10:46:28 am
content: Are any available suitable for larger capacitors, ie 4400uF 500v caps?

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2012, 12:01:37 pm
content: I have just got a "Peak ESR 60 enhanced capacitance and equivalent series resistance meter with automatic discharge function" well that is what it claims to be on the front of the unit to me its just my esr tester. I have a few photographs of the meter inside and out, afraid you cant see much from them as my camera wont show what the chips are, the big chip is a PIC16F886.

author: ablacon64
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2012, 12:18:51 pm
content: Is that battery soldered to the conectors?

author: tom66
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2012, 12:42:14 pm
content: It's removable (just held in with springs), they sell replacements and I believe will install them for a small fee if you post it to them.Very interesting design, I wonder how they measure ESR...

author: G7PSK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2012, 12:52:33 pm
content: The battery is a 12 volt alkaline as used in many remote controls for gates and doors it is just held by a spring soldered to the board and a small bit of thick wire at the other end. It makes for a cheap battery connection.