Bob Parker ESR Meters

[Spacedye69]

Re: EVB ESR Meter (Bob Parker Design)

MKII. I got an email saying it shipped 2-2-07. Excellent Service.

[starfury1]

Re: EVB ESR Meter (Bob Parker Design)

Hi spacedye69
Please do post some photos of construction.
Was yours a MKII ?
didn't seem to take to long to get there...thats good

Think Per was the other person that said he ordered one...
let us know how you go too Per.

Cheers

[Spacedye69]

Re: EVB ESR Meter (Bob Parker Design)

I just got mine today! WOOT! Lots of little parts. I will show some assembly picks when I build it.

[starfury1]

Re: EVB ESR Meter (Bob Parker Design)

Hi All

Well was In DS and there was 1 of the Older
MKI EA original production
kits left so you guess it just could help myself.

So here a few pictures of what you get
and some pcb close ups with no componets on it (YET)

Again this does not have a silk screen over lay so you will have
to be careful and double check what you put where.

Think the Original design was 1996 if the PCB code is anything to go by.

This Kit was Described in our well regarded but now sadly gone
ELECTRONICS AUSTRALIA
which dates back to about the 30's if memory serves me.
It went though a few names in its day...sadly missed

The MKII Kit was redesigned some what and appeared in our only
surviving hobby electronics magazine
SILICON CHIP
In 2004. over 2 issues
(I think March April)

At this point it appears these kits may well be no longer be available.
(seems due to lack of interest, not being a big seller)

So your only hope maybe to buy the EVB production version now.

(There are of course other types and brands of ESR meters out there)
(this just happened to be about the cheapest Digital type available)

I Dont know if Bob supplies the programmed chips
or if the PCB/ front panel overlay is available
from a well known kit PCB supplier in Sydney
RCS

PLEASE NOTE: MKI EA VERSION

[starfury1]

Re: EVB ESR Meter (Bob Parker Design)

Humm a quick look at the meter comparison at Anatek reveled this....

Not sure if its in ref to MKI or MKII Kit maybe both

Anatek experienced degradation in the components supplied with this meter and stopped carrying it in March 2005.

They were not specific as to what this "degradation in the components" was?
(apart from "Good, quality of components has degraded recently")

Still at $80 AU it might be something to winge about at $25 AU guess not

Anatek Comparison of ESR Meters HERE

Suppose the short answer is replace any parts you consider are lower quality with a better spec device.
If you think it really needs it.


I didn't see this info till now or other wise I would have posted it along with the original post on the $25 deal

[starfury1]

Re: EVB ESR Meter (Bob Parker Design)

no worries...hope all goes well for those that ordered them.

If anyone need more photos or any help PM me, I will be glad to help if I can.

I did search Silicon Chip for any errata but there appears to be none.

Bob parkers website HERE again for peoples reference.

Kit PDF is also there under "Kit Notes"

Just take your time with it and check your work as you go along and it should be fine.

I did it over 2, 3 days. Build a bit check it

I did check all resistors thought with a meter...before placing them in the pcb
colour code on any 1...2% 1/4 W resistors can be a pain to read a lot of the time.

Cheers all

[tazwegion]

Re: EVB ESR Meter (Bob Parker Design)

ROTFLMAO Great going guys... Badcaps.net forum members clean out DSE stock!

Nice pic's starfury1, I think I just may need to refer to them soon!

[Spacedye69]

Re: EVB ESR Meter (Bob Parker Design)

I just ordered one. They gave an option for international post, so what the hell.

[Per Hansson]

Re: EVB ESR Meter (Bob Parker Design)

Yea, it's kinda fun, it will have to travel to almost the exact opposite of the earth

And that's just because it gets cheaper, lol!

It's about 215SEK including shipping, which is almost nothing... Even if they tax me for it in Sweden it will be just about free as in gratis

[willawake]

Re: EVB ESR Meter (Bob Parker Design)

holey shit now they are getting international orders too.

[Per Hansson]

Re: EVB ESR Meter (Bob Parker Design)

Wow, good deal, I ordered one.

Hope I'll get it too

[starfury1]

Re: EVB ESR Meter (Bob Parker Design)

good one mate

Anyway a long time ago you said I should
so here are a few construction pics

I am not going to win any awards for mil spec construction I know but it works

I haven't shown the battery setup in these photos

Note the 2 points above. cap on back of PCB... no overlay

So it looks like there will be no more Kits From DS?
Due to it being a slow moving Item?
Bummer

[tazwegion]

Re: EVB ESR Meter (Bob Parker Design)

Yeah, it's the MKII I didn't need the extra Ohm meter feature, I managed to secure 1 of the last 2 in town

Build report? pics? can do

* looks at unopened kit *

[starfury1]

Re: EVB ESR Meter (Bob Parker Design)

Good one Taz....you get the MKII?

Have any construction probs give me a yell if you like

Should point out there is a trouble shooting guide at Bobs site...or there used to be last time I looked too
Also a couple of mods some mite like to put in

[willawake]

Re: EVB ESR Meter (Bob Parker Design)

its a very good deal
look forward to the build reports.

actually the more of these people get, the better data we will have on the failure mode of different brands

[tazwegion]

re: Silicone Chip's ESR meter kit @ DSE (AUS)

Just picked mine up (thanks for the tip), shop assistant said the $79.95 -> $24.95 price drop reflected the low interest in this particular kit project, hence it was his belief that this was a product run out special

So folks... come get 'em while they're HOT!

[starfury1]

Re: EVB ESR Meter (Bob Parker Design)

are some spelling mistakes above...Doh was in a rush when I read the DS website
Could have had 3 for the money I paid LOL

I really hope the price is correct and someone doing the web page hasn't stuffed up

[starfury1]

Re: EVB ESR Meter (Bob Parker Design)

not that I know of
the kit would be the cheapest option.
Not that hard if you can solder and follow instructions
Not sure if DS will ship internationally thought,
if they do you can bet the price wouldn't be cheap so a pre build unit might be a better option.

there are a few cheaper way to get you self a meter movement version although $50 for one doesn't sound bad
(don't know how accurate it is or anything on that score)

search these forums there is a post somewhere on building one and some dude in Italy has a web page on how to make a meter movement one.

Stop press DS is having a way low price sale on this product

Anyone in Australia that wants one cheap may want to check their local tricky dicky's ASAP 25 bucks but there are conditions!
(thats the price on the web page so if its correct thats way cheap)

The MKII is the later model

check it out here at ds website

sounds like either a new model or production run of kits might be in the works or they are just not going to make the kits any more

Don't know how long this has been going on ...

Goodluck, Cheers

[willawake]

Re: EVB ESR Meter (Bob Parker Design)

there's a few in this section.

but for the digital display ones, no they are around that price.

[Spacedye69]

Re: EVB ESR Meter (Bob Parker Design)

Are there any cheap alternatives to this brand?