capacitor meter in the nf range

[multimeter]

can anybody recomend a capacitor meter for measuring caps in the nf range?,im in the uk,cheers

[mariushm]

Re: capacitor meter in the nf range

The Unitrend UT61E can do it. I have it and it works fine, but keep in mind it has about 3% accuracy (better in reality).

On mine, without anything connected, it shows 0.086nF - this is the default leads capacitance I guess. It does a good job measuring 10nF and 100nF capacitors I had around and I could see a difference between that default value even when testing 10pF capacitors (but I wouldn't rely on the measurements with such low capacities)

You can find it on Dealextreme for about 60$... and eBay should be a good source as well.

[KeriJane]

Re: capacitor meter in the nf range

I use one of these...

http://www.bkprecision.com/products/...nt-tester.html

A BK Precision 815 component tester. It's accurate, portable, easy to use and goes from PFs to 20,000uf .. It'll cover any cap you're likely to encounter as well as resistors, diodes, LEDs, transistors... It even does a load test of 1.5 and 9v batteries.

I like the old school ON-OFF switch.... No messing around with the range selector just to turn it on.

[multimeter]

Re: capacitor meter in the nf range

what do you think of this one?,http://www.electronicsspecialist.co....-digi-m-m-.asp
a little cheap but might be ok

[mariushm]

Re: capacitor meter in the nf range

I'd trust the Unitrend more than that no-name Chinese crap of a multimeter. I mean seriously, have you heard anything about "Whitegold" multimeters?

Maplin generally sells cheap and poor quality stuff from what I saw.

At 66$, it's cheaper than that meter maplin sells and it's better quality:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/UNI-T-UT-61E...item3cb4f397c4

^ This is the company I bought mine from.

[multimeter]

Re: capacitor meter in the nf range

I'd trust the Unitrend more than that no-name Chinese crap of a multimeter. I mean seriously, have you heard anything about "Whitegold" multimeters?

Maplin generally sells cheap and poor quality stuff from what I saw.

At 66$, it's cheaper than that meter maplin sells and it's better quality:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/UNI-T-UT-61E...item3cb4f397c4

^ This is the company I bought mine from.

i seen that meter,looks good,but cant find one in the uk,shipping to here would cost a bomb id expect

[mariushm]

Re: capacitor meter in the nf range

It's free shipping from that seller.

The price you see there is the price you're going to pay.

You don't even need a Paypal account if you don't have one, you can just use whatever credit card you have on paypal's checkout system.

The only downside is that it's gonna take about 2 weeks to get to you from Hong Kong.

[multimeter]

Re: capacitor meter in the nf range

that isnt at all bad for that meter,what about any import tax customs and stuff?,think im gonna get that meter

[mariushm]

Re: capacitor meter in the nf range

When I bought it, he marked the package as a toy and didn't include in the package any invoice.

As there's no invoice or declared value, the customs officer would have to rely on that fact that you're telling the truth when you tell him how much it costs, for import taxes and all that.

You could say it's a 10 pound/euro meter, he wouldn't know any better... and I doubt you'd pay loads of customs fees or taxes on 10 pounds.

Here in Romania, the customs officer doesn't bother with small packages like these, as there's no invoice inside so he has no way to know how much the product actually was....

Generally, the customs taxes are about 3-5% of the value of the item... I believe they're the same throughout EU countries. In the worst case scenario, you may also pay about 18-20% VAT but I'm sure there's some exceptions like not paying vat for packages under 15-20 pounds or something like that.

Here, it's no customs fees for packages sent to private persons that are under 150 euros and there's no VAT for packages valued at under 20-25 euro (I forget the exact value right now)

ps. here's the rules for you in UK:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/customs/post/buying.htm#3

All other goods

If you order or send purchased goods other than alcohol, tobacco, perfume and toilet water from a country outside the EU then you:

don't have to pay Excise Duty
may have to pay Customs Duty on goods with a value that exceeds £135
will have to pay import VAT on goods with a value that exceeds £15

Note that on all goods from outside the EU, Customs Duty is waived if the amount of duty calculated is £9 or under.

So 66$ = about 42 pounds .. 20% vat (i think that's how much it is in UK) is 8.4 pounds ... that's at most what you'd pay, but if he doesn't declare the value, you can declare it as 10 pounds or something like that.
The duty will surely be below 9 pounds so no need to worry about it

[multimeter]

Re: capacitor meter in the nf range

thanx for that mariushm,def going to look into that meter!

[retiredcaps]

Re: capacitor meter in the nf range

A BK Precision 815 component tester.

$10 used on ebay. No bids yet. Only 10 hours left.

http://www.ebay.com/itm//170821270554

[mariushm]

Re: capacitor meter in the nf range

It's a US seller, he's in Germany, seller only ships to US. I noticed that on eBay as well when you mentioned the model.

[retiredcaps]

Re: capacitor meter in the nf range

It's a US seller, he's in Germany, seller only ships to US.

Unless the seller is a professional/full timer who states "NO international shipping", I always send an email asking if they will ship outside their country. I estimate about 65% of the sellers respond back with a YES.

Whoever bought it got a decent deal as a new BK815 costs $105 over at tequipment.net.

[severach]

Re: capacitor meter in the nf range

Not offering international shipping eliminates all those who aren't brave enough to ask. This ensures that most of my stuff sells in the US where shipping is faster and returns are easier.