recommend ESR meter, Multimeter, hot air rework station

[Bob Parker]

Re: recommend ESR meter, Multimeter, hot air rework station

Why would you spend $100 for a 'Blue' ESR meter which only displays a 99-digit estimate of the ESR of electrolytic caps...

"Thank you". I put 3 months of my life into designing that ESR meter for my own use and it only went public when we realised its value in electronic repair situations. The reason it's well known is because people have told each other that it does the job, not because of aggressive marketing.

If you believe that it merely "estimates" ESR values and is overpriced, it shows how much electronic knowledge you've got.

[Agent24]

Re: recommend ESR meter, Multimeter, hot air rework station

I apologise for calling you out as a spammer, I guess you are not.

It's just when I see someone with a low post count who writes a post that looks like advertising along with strange\funny errors it just really does look like spam.

As for Dave Jones, remember he is a designer, not a repairman.

[DDRAMbo]

Re: recommend ESR meter, Multimeter, hot air rework station

Excuse me, I was exhausted last night, and I should have said... '100 count' and '20,000 count'.
I have the Aktakom AMM-3035, the 'Blue' meter (purchased first) and three high quality DMM's, two of which read capacitance, but all three read frequency and resistance. I've been comparing readings with each to assess accuracy. At this point I have only discussed my tentative conclusions with a friend with a degree in EE, so I'm open to other interpretations. If I'm correct, there's a cloud of confusion and distortion surrounding these ESR meters, not only due to the usual 'higher power' of advertising influence and sales integrity -- the 'profit' motive, but also a lack of concern or awareness by folks like Dave Jones of EEVBlog popularity. But, that's another thread.

[Agent24]

Re: recommend ESR meter, Multimeter, hot air rework station

Why would you spend $100 for a 'Blue' ESR meter which only displays a 99-digit estimate of the ESR of electrolytic caps, when you could spend $160 for a professional quality, 20,000 digit, dual display LCR meter that measures capacitance from 20pF to 20mF (within 2.5%) using 5 different frequency signals (100, 120, 1k, 10k and 100kHz) along with the D (dissipation factor)/Q (quality factor)/phase angle and ESR, in addition to L (20uH - 2000H) and R (20 Ohm - 2,000MOhm), the Aktakom AMM-3035 from www.tmatlantic.com, which includes $100 worth of meter leads?

Clearly you're a spammer, but this is funny, I just had to respond.

You apparently sell an ESR meter which has a 20,000 digit display? Twenty-Thousand Digits? TWENTY THOUSAND???

Is this kind of accuracy even physically possible?

Also, how many workbenches, nay, workshops, do I have to buy to be able to fit this glorious ESR meter in?

[DDRAMbo]

Re: recommend ESR meter, Multimeter, hot air rework station

Why would you spend $100 for a 'Blue' ESR meter which only displays a 99-digit estimate of the ESR of electrolytic caps, when you could spend $160 for a professional quality, 20,000 digit, dual display LCR meter that measures capacitance from 20pF to 20mF (within 2.5%) using 5 different frequency signals (100, 120, 1k, 10k and 100kHz) along with the D (dissipation factor)/Q (quality factor)/phase angle and ESR, in addition to L (20uH - 2000H) and R (20 Ohm - 2,000MOhm), the Aktakom AMM-3035 from www.tmatlantic.com, which includes $100 worth of meter leads?

[indomitus]

Re: recommend ESR meter, Multimeter, hot air rework station

Otherwise, I found out the ESR Micro does display a bit higher capacity values up to about 470uF. Over that, it gets pretty accurate when measuring capacity.
I mean, on a 330uF it shows 350uF while my multimeter says 337-340uF. Same with 10uF capacitors, it read 12-14 uF.. not a fault, it's how it measures the capacity imho.

But that's just with my Uni-T UT61E, which has a 5% margin of error in the first place.

Im just thinking is the ESRmicro measure so much more with low value caps. maybe the ESRmicro also measure ESR to high with low value electrolytic caps???

[indomitus]

Re: recommend ESR meter, Multimeter, hot air rework station

Yes the ESRmirco is calibratet before use.

[mariushm]

Re: recommend ESR meter, Multimeter, hot air rework station

Another thing that make me think that these caps is way out of spec. is that i use a ESRmicro 4.0 and the ERS readings is way to high, but again the capacitance is within spec.
Another thing is, i think the ESRmicro 4.0 it is not precise enough to measure such low values.

If i measure a new 10uF and a 6.8 uF cap. the readings is:
ESRmicro 4.0 measure: 12uF - 0.61 ESR
Amprobe 37XR-A measure: 9.93uF - ? ESR

ESRmicro 4.0 measure: 7.36 uF - 0.93 ESR
Amprobe 37XR-A measure: 6.43 uF - ? ESR

Did you calibrate your ESR Micro before measuring?
If you use the leads and you previously used the socket, you need to recalibrate it.

Otherwise, I found out the ESR Micro does display a bit higher capacity values up to about 470uF. Over that, it gets pretty accurate when measuring capacity.
I mean, on a 330uF it shows 350uF while my multimeter says 337-340uF. Same with 10uF capacitors, it read 12-14 uF.. not a fault, it's how it measures the capacity imho.

But that's just with my Uni-T UT61E, which has a 5% margin of error in the first place.

[Bob Parker]

Re: recommend ESR meter, Multimeter, hot air rework station

The last time I looked, the tolerance of normal electrolytic capacitors was -50% to +100%. They are made for bulk capacitance in a small volume where the exact value is not important (e.g. signal coupling, power supply filtering), not for precision (e.g. timing circuits).

Now I have to continue my packing.

[indomitus]

Re: recommend ESR meter, Multimeter, hot air rework station

If you really want to test them, measure their capacitance with a DMM etc. If you get a crazy reading, see if they're shorted.

I use my DMM and i measure fine with most of the caps, and i just cant believe that all these caps. is good.
Another thing that make me think that these caps is way out of spec. is that i use a ESRmicro 4.0 and the ERS readings is way to high, but again the capacitance is within spec.
Another thing is, i think the ESRmicro 4.0 it is not precise enough to measure such low values.

If i measure a new 10uF and a 6.8 uF cap. the readings is:
ESRmicro 4.0 measure: 12uF - 0.61 ESR
Amprobe 37XR-A measure: 9.93uF - ? ESR

ESRmicro 4.0 measure: 7.36 uF - 0.93 ESR
Amprobe 37XR-A measure: 6.43 uF - ? ESR

[Bob Parker]

Re: recommend ESR meter, Multimeter, hot air rework station

Yes i know The Blue dont measure capacitance, i use my DDM for that.



Your spot on, its not a electrolytic i need to test, its PIO and Mylar cap.
I have alot of old PIO and Mylar caps. i want to test.

Happy packing Bob

Any recommendation for equipment to testing these old caps.

Thanks.

Sorting through everything in an old family home, finding new homes for stuff I don't need and packing up what I need to take with me has been an experience I wouldn't wish on anyone.

But getting back to electronics... non-electrolytic caps aren't known for regularly failing or needing to be tested. I've never heard of their characteristics changing while they're in storage. When they fail, often they go short-circuited and sometimes open circuit (I've seen SMD ceramic caps do that if they're mechanically stressed). But usually they just keep working unless they get hit with excessive voltage or are physically damaged.

If you really want to test them, measure their capacitance with a DMM etc. If you get a crazy reading, see if they're shorted.

[indomitus]

Re: recommend ESR meter, Multimeter, hot air rework station

Note that the Blue meter does not measure capacitance, it measures ESR.

It shouldn't be an issue to test them but 0.02uF is pretty low, seems unlikely to be an electrolytic capacitor and if it's not an electrolytic capacitor I don't know if there's any reason to test the ESR.

Yes i know The Blue dont measure capacitance, i use my DDM for that.

No. The Blue meter was designed to test electrolytic capacitors of about 1uF and above. There aren't many with values below 1uF.

The whole reason for measuring ESR is because only electrolytic capacitors have a big problem with increasing ESR causing faults. They don't make electrolytic caps with values as low as 0.02uF.

I hope this has clarified things a teensy bit. Now I'll go back to packing for my big house move.

Your spot on, its not a electrolytic i need to test, its PIO and Mylar cap.
I have alot of old PIO and Mylar caps. i want to test.

Happy packing Bob

Any recommendation for equipment to testing these old caps.

Thanks.

[Bob Parker]

Re: recommend ESR meter, Multimeter, hot air rework station

Can you test 0.02uF caps with the Blue meter?

No. The Blue meter was designed to test electrolytic capacitors of about 1uF and above. There aren't many with values below 1uF.

The whole reason for measuring ESR is because only electrolytic capacitors have a big problem with increasing ESR causing faults. They don't make electrolytic caps with values as low as 0.02uF.

I hope this has clarified things a teensy bit. Now I'll go back to packing for my big house move.

[Agent24]

Re: recommend ESR meter, Multimeter, hot air rework station

Can you test 0.02uF caps with the Blue meter?

Note that the Blue meter does not measure capacitance, it measures ESR.

It shouldn't be an issue to test them but 0.02uF is pretty low, seems unlikely to be an electrolytic capacitor and if it's not an electrolytic capacitor I don't know if there's any reason to test the ESR.

[indomitus]

Re: recommend ESR meter, Multimeter, hot air rework station

Can you test 0.02uF caps with the Blue meter?

[KeriJane]

Re: recommend ESR meter, Multimeter, hot air rework station

Another vote for Blue!

Even I managed to build it and quickly too.

Building it yourself is great because you're on an up close and personal relationship with it. If something goes wrong, you'll have a far better idea where to start.

Mine's been great since day 1.




Flukes are great meters. There's a lot of perfectly good also-rans though.

[Bob Parker]

Re: recommend ESR meter, Multimeter, hot air rework station

Very good meter, this ESR Meter. I recommend highly.

Thank you!

[jgmanza]

Re: recommend ESR meter, Multimeter, hot air rework station

Very good meter, this ESR Meter. I recommend highly.

[Agent24]

Re: recommend ESR meter, Multimeter, hot air rework station

Bob's Blue ESR meter is probably as cheap as you're going to get while still retaining quality (In fact it's probably better value\quality than some that cost more)

It's also fun to build and since schematics\spares are available repairs are easy.


If you can't justify even that price, there are many schematics on the internet for even more basic (and not so basic) ESR meters you can make from scratch.

[MrVik]

Re: recommend ESR meter, Multimeter, hot air rework station

The "Blue ESR Meter" by Bob Parker has a website, http://members.ozemail.com.au/~bobpar/esrhints.htm, with hints for reducing battery usage. Also, how to use an outside power supply to power the unit. Several other hints as well. This meter is well discussed in this forum.