ESR meter for a novice

[sam67]

Re: ESR meter for a novice

Hi Bob,

Thank you for that ..i did see that chart also and did not realize it was an updated one so thanks for clarifying that ....And a merry xmas to you and all the other members here..

[Bob Parker]

Re: ESR meter for a novice

Glad the info was of some use, Sam.

[devid21]

Re: ESR meter for a novice

Hello all
Made me this one ESR meter
http://www.ludens.cl/Electron/esr/esr.html
Work with him for three years.Very satisfied.
In my opinion,this is the best analog ESR meter.After some work,i can measure the ESR of any capacitors,including LOW ESR.
Measurement limit-0,01-10 ohms.
Well it measures directly to the circuit.
Not afraid of high voltage,in contrast to the Atlas ESR60.
This meter is made in the case of the chinese multimeter.
All this I spent 5 euros.
Also enjoi some ESR meter Atlas ESR60

[devid21]

Re: ESR meter for a novice

Hello all
There is just one example of the famous ESR meter.
All done very well.
Instead TL062 autor applied AD822.
http://www.hififorum.nu/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=67485

[PCBONEZ]

Re: ESR meter for a novice

Those analog meters don't have a low enough range for low ESR caps.
.

[devid21]

Re: ESR meter for a novice

For the other meter can not say anything on the measurement of capacitors LOW ESR.
I can say for my.
I had it made in the case of the chinese tester SUNWA YX-360TRn.He has a very good and sensitive scale.
Due to some changes in the scheme,aswell as careful selection of the transformer,it was possible to obtain the necessary stretching of the scale near 0.
With other projects summary such accuracy has not been attained.
Practice has shown that some known improved the ESR meter,you can define any ESR capacitors,including LOW ESR.
Their opinions to anyone not want to force.
Spoke only about his experiences.

[PCBONEZ]

Re: ESR meter for a novice

If you can't tell the difference between .02 and .04 ohms it isn't good enough for motherboard caps.

0.04 is double 0.02.
If the cap's ESR is supposed to be ~.020 and it's actual ESR is 0.04 the the cap is bad.
You will never see it with that meter.

That kind of meter is okay for checking the ESR of general purpose [GP] caps found in other kinds of equipment but it's no good for Low ESR caps.
.

[Chriso]

Re: ESR meter for a novice

I've been using a CapAnalyzer 88a for more years than most folk have known what ESR meant - I use it professionally for mostly CRT & SMPS faults.
I also have a 'Blue' ESR meter for low value high voltage caps in CRTs.

The CapAnalyser is by a mile the easiest to use as it comes with tweezer probes, discharges caps, measures DCR and is adjustable.

Using an ESR meter is a black art - it's not pass/fail...you have to have an understanding of what the cap is doing and whether it's critical - sometimes the result is obvious...reads ESR open circuit/DCR nearly short circuit and capacitance is 1pf - that's rarely the case - often a cap will read as not good but not bad - if it's a SMPS starting cap 'not bad' might not be good enough.

I can whizz over a big board with the 88a purely because of the tweezers, I also own several Atlas analysers and they all work the same way - you have to press a button to start the analysis 'and' with the ESR meter you might need two hands to hold probes in place.

My 'blue' meter immediately had it's croc clips replaced with 4mm sockets so I can plug in whatever probe I need - I'm working on making my own tweezers for it as that's the fastest/easiest way to work on a board.

The Atlas can measure capacitance but offering that on an ESR meter to a novice is asking for trouble as it will (virtually) never provide a meaningful result - you always have to remove caps to measure them properly.

I've got all manner of test gear like ring testers & scopes but fix most stuff with an ESR meter & a multi-meter on diode test.

[devid21]

Re: ESR meter for a novice

If you can't tell the difference between .02 and .04 ohms it isn't good enough for motherboard caps.

0.04 is double 0.02.
If the cap's ESR is supposed to be ~.020 and it's actual ESR is 0.04 the the cap is bad.
You will never see it with that meter.

That kind of meter is okay for checking the ESR of general purpose [GP] caps found in other kinds of equipment but it's no good for Low ESR caps.
.

I have one scale division near zero corresponds to 0,01 ohm.
So i can EASILY distinguish 0,02 from 0,04 ohms.
But as you think,this difference can see the analog ESR meters,such as this
http://www.creatronica.com.ar/capacheck.htm

[devid21]

Re: ESR meter for a novice

Hello all
The actual core used is not critical,almost any ferrite core will do,and the small feedback transformers in computer power supplies or the output transformer from a cold cathode fluorescent lamp inverter would be ideal.
You can use ready-made transformers from computer power supples,TMC tr-rs from old TV sets.
The use of the ESR meter does not stop at testing capacitors though.
It can also be used to test for shorted junctions in semiconductors such as switching transistors in switch mode power supplies and cold cathode fluorescent inverters or failed diodes in a bridge rectifier or diode stack.Instances where a standard ohms meter and even a diode tester can give uncertain results.
It can also be used to some extent to test ferrite cored inductors and transformers for shorted turns.
In this case an open circuit is a good thing as it shows that the inductance of the test subject is large enough to be a significant impedance at the test frequency.

[devid21]

Re: ESR meter for a novice

You can also use:
IC:
TL072
TLC272
LM4558
AD822
Voltage regulator:
LM2931
LP2950
To improve the sensitiviti and stretch the scale can use diodes:
1N5851
OA91
R5,R6:2-10ohm
M1(uA)-250uA
R8-18k
R11-15-20k

[PCBONEZ]

Re: ESR meter for a novice

I have one scale division near zero corresponds to 0,01 ohm.
So i can EASILY distinguish 0,02 from 0,04 ohms.
But as you think,this difference can see the analog ESR meters,such as this
http://www.creatronica.com.ar/capacheck.htm

Not on the meter in that picture you can't.
You can't even see .1 reliably let alone .02

Not to mention that analog meters are not accurate in the upper and lower 1/4 of the deflection range.

If you want to work on motherboards then get the right tools.
That isn't one of them.
.

[devid21]

Re: ESR meter for a novice

Not on the meter in that picture you can't.
You can't even see .1 reliably let alone .02

Not to mention that analog meters are not accurate in the upper and lower 1/4 of the deflection range.

If you want to work on motherboards then get the right tools.
That isn't one of them.
.

Your device,i repaired including motherboard
ESR meter under this scheme have made hundreds of people around the wold.Only positive feedback.
With regard to my links,i just wanted to show how people are being deceived.
Cost of such devices:70-250$

[PCBONEZ]

Re: ESR meter for a novice

Anyone that would choose one of those in the applications I'm referring to doesn't know their ass from a hole in the ground.

Positive feedback from people that don't know their ass from a hole in the ground doesn't carry any weight.

.

[devid21]

Re: ESR meter for a novice

Anyone that would choose one of those in the applications I'm referring to doesn't know their ass from a hole in the ground.

Positive feedback from people that don't know their ass from a hole in the ground doesn't carry any weight.

.

Yes,of course,many working ass
And you know that many of the successful use measurement of ESR with a single LED

[PCBONEZ]

Re: ESR meter for a novice

What I know is you don't know a thing about ESR meters.

~ Plain to see. ~

I only post so other readers don't take bad advice from an idiot.

.

[Bob Parker]

Re: ESR meter for a novice

Anyone that would choose one of those in the applications I'm referring to doesn't know their ass from a hole in the ground.

Positive feedback from people that don't know their ass from a hole in the ground doesn't carry any weight.

Thanks for giving me a good laugh! I needed one after trying to deal with an email from someone who complained that the ESR meter doesn't give a reading on a "Brown green yellow gold " and similar resistors (doesn't know what the colors mean).

[devid21]

Re: ESR meter for a novice

Thanks for giving me a good laugh! I needed one after trying to deal with an email from someone who complained that the ESR meter doesn't give a reading on a "Brown green yellow gold " and similar resistors (doesn't know what the colors mean).

Hi Bob
This is also proposing to throw away garbage?
http://atecorp.com/Equipment/Sencore/LC75.asp

[devid21]

Re: ESR meter for a novice

If you can't tell the difference between .02 and .04 ohms it isn't good enough for motherboard caps.

0.04 is double 0.02.
If the cap's ESR is supposed to be ~.020 and it's actual ESR is 0.04 the the cap is bad.
You will never see it with that meter.

That kind of meter is okay for checking the ESR of general purpose [GP] caps found in other kinds of equipment but it's no good for Low ESR caps.
.

Rus Mike wrote:
The criteria is about-more than 1000uF-ESR<0,1ohm,100-1000uF-0,2-0,5ohm is normal.

[devid21]

Re: ESR meter for a novice

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