Cheaper ESR meter

[davmax]

Re: Cheaper ESR meter

If you serious about measuring ESR have thought about buying the ESR meter kit from Dick Smith or others. See link: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~bobpar/esrmeter.htmI can recommend it.

[repairs online]

Re: Cheaper ESR meter

Hello,

I quote

"good day everyone!

much to my regret, i've built this circuit even before i was able to read this thread.

anyway, is the circuit posted in the first page makes the meter read lower esr value better? the circuit i built reads about 1ohm at 95% deflection and about 50% deflection at 33 ohms."

From the above, in one of your previous posts (to be found on page 2), you have a deflection of about 50% at 33 ohm.

In you last post (page 3), you say that you have no deflectiion at 33 ohm.

I don't know which one to accept. As I have said, I have not built the meter and before doing so, I am looking for some insight info from those members that have.


Sincerely

[duldog]

Re: Cheaper ESR meter

Hello,

Well duldog, there must be something wrong with your meter. I have not build the meter you are talking about (if someone could send me JUST the board, would greatly appreciated it), for a good cap over 10 microF, the ESR should be <= 1 Ohm. For a bad cap over 2 Ohm, lets say 3 Ohm.

33 ohms, as you say, is about at 50% deflection, therefore, for your meter to indicate 3 Ohm, the needle would have to be very close to where the reading for a good cap would read, making it very difficult to decide if it is a good cap or a bad cap.

Sincerely

boss, the circuit i built now looks exactly as the diagram shown on the first page. using test resistors of different values (1-10ohms), i was able to determine that the meter deflects to about 90% of the scale (needle moves to the right) with 1ohm R at its probes, about 70% at around 5ohms and it hardly deflects at about 33 ohms. i was just guessing if these readings indicates a reliable indication of the esr of the cap under test.

duldog

[arneson]

Re: Cheaper ESR meter

It's yours.

[DrRick]

Re: Cheaper ESR meter

If any one is beginning to consider circuit design I offer this experimenter to whoever might want it.
It was my first in the line of prototyping boards. It's been in a junk box for years and years and I used and abused it.
During one late night test I smoked the pots out of it so your first experiment would be a rebuild of the unit. Have no manual but if someone wants this PM me and I'll send it. This is for a beginer or learner and I'm in the US only.

Hi, I would love to have that Heathkit proto box. I have had several of them, aquired when I would buy the ham/electronics shop of an estate. Unfortunetly, I have given them all away to the under-privleged kids that I mentor in electronics.
Since my main interest is tube audio I figured rhat I would never need one. Now that I was forced into a very early retirement (spinal disease) I have been developing microphone preamps for recording studios which the proto box would be great for.
I'm glad I gave away the ones I had, a couple of those kids are now in thier 20's and working as ET's. Without the skills they learned they may well be in jail by now, or worse (dead!). I get a lot of enjoyment in "giving back"; I grew up living inbetween Bell Labs and Fort Monmoth and I had mentors from both. I managed to work my way through university and grad school working as an ET.
Have a gread day.
Peace,
DrRick

[repairs online]

Re: Cheaper ESR meter

Hello,

......talk to me, arneson, send me an email at: erepairs@rediffmail.com, cost if any, etc. etc.


Sincerely

[arneson]

Re: Cheaper ESR meter

If any one is beginning to consider circuit design I offer this experimenter to whoever might want it.
It was my first in the line of prototyping boards. It's been in a junk box for years and years and I used and abused it.
During one late night test I smoked the pots out of it so your first experiment would be a rebuild of the unit. Have no manual but if someone wants this PM me and I'll send it. This is for a beginer or learner and I'm in the US only.

[repairs online]

Re: Cheaper ESR meter

Hello,

Well duldog, there must be something wrong with your meter. I have not build the meter you are talking about (if someone could send me JUST the board, would greatly appreciated it), for a good cap over 10 microF, the ESR should be <= 1 Ohm. For a bad cap over 2 Ohm, lets say 3 Ohm.

33 ohms, as you say, is about at 50% deflection, therefore, for your meter to indicate 3 Ohm, the needle would have to be very close to where the reading for a good cap would read, making it very difficult to decide if it is a good cap or a bad cap.

Sincerely

[duldog]

Re: Cheaper ESR meter

Just an update:

i modified my previously-built circuit so that it now looks like the circuit presented in the first page. Now my problem is that it can no longer drive my 250uA meter to its full scale deflection. However, i can live with this setup and just calibrate the scale to suit my needs but it would be nicer with a full scale deflection.

[duldog]

Re: Cheaper ESR meter

good day everyone!

much to my regret, i've built this circuit even before i was able to read this thread.

anyway, is the circuit posted in the first page makes the meter read lower esr value better? the circuit i built reads about 1ohm at 95% deflection and about 50% deflection at 33 ohms.

[arneson]

Proto board

This proto board works well with any dip.
Circuit transfers directly from the bread board and solders with very few jumpers.
Using these was fun up to a point and became an obsession for years.
It's very convenient to dremel these to any shape you require, just tighten everything up and remove excess board.

[gs3]

Re: Cheaper ESR meter

Well, if anyone wants to put together a prototype, I will be glad to help with any troubleshooting. I don't think I can do much more.

If you are going to tinker, it helps greatly if you have a 'scope so you can see what's going on.

I am going to see if I can get my friend to make some more PCBs for me but he does it as a fav9or and I do not want to abuse him.

[arneson]

Re: Cheaper ESR meter

gs3,
I imagine you have spent a lot of effort so I'll throw this out to anyone.
I have the Heathkit experimenter series breadboard set.
I am out of this now and they are unused in junk box, somewhere under garage pile.
It makes designing circuits way easy. Plug and play with power.
Someone could put this to good use and make this ESR circuit.
I could certainly use one, built as large probe would be nice.

[whiz]

Re: Cheaper ESR meter

www.elfa.se offers the same service, I guess you should choose the one which offers to build the least number of PCB'S

I don't think it's a big problem...we can all together decide it...

The problem is the designing and the organizing! i could organize it but i haven't organized group buy up to now

if someone knows how to create PCB layouts...etc and there is more interest about the ESR meter i think we can somehow....proceed....

i just hope gs3 is willing to support us...

anyone knows Eagle or some other designing program and wishes to help?

I suggest a few people build some prototypes and, after they test them they report their findings and any suggestions for improvements.

yes...i agree we must build some prototypes fist...and maybe improve them...with your help!

[gs3]

Re: Cheaper ESR meter

sorry, my earlier post was answering Whiz.

I suggest a few people build some prototypes and, after they test them they report their findings and any suggestions for improvements.

Then you can think of further "mass production".

I do not have PCB design software so others would be in a better position to do this because I do my modifications entirely by hand.

If this goes well and a few people report the instrument is useful, then I may try to get some manufacturer to mass produce the item. I would want a few units in exchange for my design and I would probably buy a few more just to give away.

[gs3]

Re: Cheaper ESR meter

Well, feel free to do it. I do not have good means for any of this. I design the PCB entirely manually as I have no design software and I have no way of making them myself. I had a friend make a few samples for me. If someone wants to go ahead and do it, they do not need my permission.

My design is 33 x 38 mm so you can put 9 (3x3) on 10 x 12 cm. Anyone who has access to make a board can make this easily and recoup the cost. Hey, I may even buy one or two myself!

I feel I have done enough with what I have already done. Someone else maybe can lend a hand. I just don't have the means to do it myself although I am seriously considering trying out the laser printer system.

[arneson]

Re: Cheaper ESR meter

I have made a lotta prototypes using the 2x2 proto boards.
That is after working out the circuit on a bread board socket, then later melting my own final PCB in the acid bath.
Leg to leg soldering on a proto board is a snap, you don't need a wire winding tool,
takes minutes once laid out.

[Galvanized]

Re: Cheaper ESR meter

gs3 welcome to badcaps.

I'm in for several kits if this deal floats. A couple could be sold easy.

[Per Hansson]

Re: Cheaper ESR meter

www.elfa.se offers the same service, I guess you should choose the one which offers to build the least number of PCB's

[whiz]

Re: Cheaper ESR meter

If this thing is so darn cheap, there is no ense in "massbying" it fpr international people. Considering the enormouse shippment cost.

I agree that it can be built for very little. As I said, I already have what I need as I have built several. The only thing is that I am involved in this for fun and I would like to see this mass produced just for the heck of it. I believe it could be sold for just a few dollars.

when i say "group buy" i'm talking about the boards and not the components. (i agree we can get em easily) Many people can solder good enough (like me) but find it difficult to design complex circuits even on a bread board, some others find it borring or they don't have time and preffer to work with printed boards..
If there is enough interest we can print boards here from this site
http://www.eurocircuits.com/ the total cost for many boards gets very low.. and i think lowers as the number gets higher..the shipment to each board owner costs almost NOTHING! because we can do it with mail...

we only need someone to organize the group buy and all the others to have paypal acounts so the organizer gets paid.

gs3 by this way you get the satisfaction to see you circut mass produced...and we get a very useful tool!