Help needed getting an ESR meter...

[Joe Black]

No more delays, ESR is a must-get-soon. Local electronics shop builds and sells
THIS
for about 60 euro, or roughly 68 us$.

If anyone can take a look and review a price-for-quality ratio here, that'd be splendid.

Alternatively, I could get something off Ebay, like
THIS
or
THIS
or
THIS

They all claim to be in-circuit... Of course, other ideas are welcome, too.
Thanks in advance, and please don't ban me for too much Qs

[vinceroger69]

Re: Help needed getting an ESR meter...

A few members use this as well the
peak atlas esr70 meter about £80.00 on ebay etc

[stj]

Re: Help needed getting an ESR meter...

i am using this.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181861030068

see here:
https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showpo...6&postcount=50

[stj]

Re: Help needed getting an ESR meter...

btw, none of them are reliable "in-circuit", if they say they are then they are lying.
they will be effected by other components.

[alas3376]

Re: Help needed getting an ESR meter...

i agree with you , Stj, i recently bought one, the same thing but not satisfied.

[SteveNielsen]

Re: Help needed getting an ESR meter...

i agree with you , Stj, i recently bought one, the same thing but not satisfied.

Please elaborate.

[stj]

Re: Help needed getting an ESR meter...

yes, why not satisfied?
my only problems wih it:
1 - no case - fixed that.
2 - no clips on the cables.

i have put over 1000 used caps in mine so far - very reliable.
just dont put a supercap / double-insulated cap in it - it will ask for calibration

[diif]

Re: Help needed getting an ESR meter...

I love my Peak Atlas ESR60.

[SteveNielsen]

Re: Help needed getting an ESR meter...

For someone beginning in electronics an AVR micro-controller tester is a good choice. I can't see spending a lot of money on a dedicated ESR tester when one of them will do a decent job measuring ESR and a lot more. I've used one for testing solid state devices and precision resistors just as much as for testing caps.

[stj]

Re: Help needed getting an ESR meter...

the next generation AVR based units will have a high voltage generator on it and test zener diodes - that will be a big leap for beginners.

[SteveNielsen]

Re: Help needed getting an ESR meter...

That's very cool and would seem to be a handy feature for any tech, not just beginners.

[stj]

Re: Help needed getting an ESR meter...

well there are already schematics, the problem is safety for the noob putting his finger in the wrong place, and isolating the supply from the microcontroller.

i built my own zener tester and it can go upto about 200v!

[csh]

Re: Help needed getting an ESR meter...

i am using this.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181861030068

Nice.
I got this one a couple of days ago:
www.ebay.com/itm/251563800953
For me as an amateur and hobbyist it will do.
Seems to be working, i tested a couple of known good/bad caps and the results are ok. Even found some caps to be bad that i was not planning to replace
Is any calibration on this things needed?
How do you get this menu for special functions like frequency generator?
Nice job with the acrylic shield btw

[stj]

Re: Help needed getting an ESR meter...

for calibration, link all 3 connections together and press the button.
have an acurate 100n cap ready - it will ask for it.

for a menu, hold the button down.
i dont know if that model has it - nothing stopping you upgrading the software though.

here is some info:

[csh]

Re: Help needed getting an ESR meter...

Only contrast setting in the menu. If held longer, device shuts off.
Software version is 2.07.

[stj]

Re: Help needed getting an ESR meter...

that's not the real version number, because the release is 1.12 and the beta is around 1.18

[Joe Black]

Re: Help needed getting an ESR meter...

OK, deffo getting some el-cheapo from Ebay.
If it's good for stj and csh (*waves to neighbour*) it's more than good for me.

[vinceroger69]

Re: Help needed getting an ESR meter...

Yes there quite good meters for the price i have one myself (earlier version) the one stj has got maybe my next purchase too.

[Andrew F. Ali]

Re: Help needed getting an ESR meter...

I purchased the Bob Parker 'BLUE ESR Meter' from Alltronics LLC/Ana Tek Instruments earlier this year. I am very happy with its performance and accuracy. Yes, you can test caps in-circuit, though I prefer to test out-circuit, with accurate results. One of the best pieces of test equipment I own now. My repair success rate has increased since caps that would give good uF test readings CAN give bad ESR readings, causing circuit malfunction.

[stj]

Re: Help needed getting an ESR meter...

anybody buying a "bare pcb" tester, make a base for it.

if you touch the resistors or atmel while it's running, you will mess up the readings.
so a nice insulating layer is good protection and prevents damage while your not using it.

just do what i did and slice up the defuser layer from a busted lcd panel.