testing equipment

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  • kaniki
    Badcaps Veteran
    • Dec 2009
    • 514

    #1

    testing equipment

    Ok, this probably has already been said but i could not find it. I know the basics now on what a bad cap looks like, how to solder, good vs bad names, etc. but what i am not 100% sure about is how to test and find out if caps are bad that are not visibly bad. I did have a multimeter bad when i got it out after being in the basement for years, it was kinda corroded and could not get the old battery out without breaking it so i ordered a new one. this is what i bought, but just ordered so have to wait a bit f0or it to come in.

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...E:L:OU:US:1123

    Can you check to see if a cap is bad with one of these and if so then how? is it best to use the ohms settings or soemthing else if so? or is the only way to tell if the cap is good is to buy a ESR meter? and can you use either while the caps are still on the board?

    I did find a place where i can buy a tester that can test in pf nf uf and mf for what i would consider a more reasonable price for what i can afford. here are the 3 that i was looking at:

    http://cgi.ebay.com/DMM-Digital-Mete...item45f1069c42

    http://cgi.ebay.com/Capacitor-Capaci...item4a974c62d4

    http://cgi.ebay.com/A6013L-Capacitor...item3efc72ceab

    If you think that it would be a good investment to buy one and that is the only way to tell if one is bad, which do you think would be the better choice to buy, or are they all crap?

    I dont have a lot of money and do not do a lot with replacing caps so i do not want, nor have the money to put a lot into something a bit pricier like $100. Any explanation or description would be appreciated.
  • aliasdck
    Senior Member
    • Sep 2009
    • 100

    #2
    Re: testing equipment

    Originally posted by kaniki
    ...but what i am not 100% sure about is how to test and find out if caps are bad that are not visibly bad...

    ...Can you check to see if a cap is bad with one of these and if so then how? is it best to use the ohms settings or soemthing else if so? or is the only way to tell if the cap is good is to buy a ESR meter? and can you use either while the caps are still on the board?

    .
    A capacitance meter can sometimes be used to test if a cap is bad as the capacitance value can drop. However, problematic caps can still show good on a capacitance meter and can still pass the test using an analogue meter on ohms scale.

    An esr meter is the way to go. Its going to be able to tell you more about the condition of a capacitor than any of those meters will.

    An esr meter can be used to test caps in circuit, however, you need to pay attention to what you are metering... for example, when capacitors are in parallel.

    I cannot comment on any of those meters you linked to as I have never used any of them.

    Hope that helps.
    Last edited by aliasdck; 02-14-2010, 02:09 PM.

    Comment

    • Radio Fox
      Badcaps Veteran
      • Jan 2010
      • 281
      • UK

      #3
      Re: testing equipment

      As you have already bought a multimeter, I would ignore the first capacitance meter on your shortlist, as it is a multimeter with a capacitance function tacked on. It only measures up to 20uF which isn't high enough for a lot of the power supply capacitors you may need to measure.

      The other 2 have all the same functions, just in a different case. Either should cover the majority of capacitors you will come across.

      As aliasdck says, an ESR meter will be more help as a troubleshooting aid.
      ________________________________________________

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      Comment

      • kaniki
        Badcaps Veteran
        • Dec 2009
        • 514

        #4
        Re: testing equipment

        you are correct. I did not realize that that one did not have a mf rating like the others but would have double checked that before i would have.. personally, i was leaning more towards the 3rd or honeytek one. here is what i found so far

        2nd one i can get fron china for about $20 from
        http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.27256
        but i have to wait. I can find no reviews that say it is good nor bad or about the quality. If i get it from them, they are on a holiday and it will not ship for at least a week.

        3rd one or honeytek one is from an iso09001 company, i have seen it being sold at companies that sell stuff from brands like dewalt, etc. but that does not mean it is good either (companies that sell good stuff can sell crap too) and basically no good nor bad reviews for it either. this one is also shipped form the US so no long wait time for delivery but is also $31 which is over 50% more in cost too. (found they have a buy it now for $2 less)

        Ill wait a few extra days since i dont need it right now and if no more comments, then i will probably go for the honeytek one.

        Comment

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