Capacitor tester how usefull is such a tool?

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  • nico-e
    Member
    • Sep 2010
    • 20
    #1

    Capacitor tester how usefull is such a tool?

    Hello,

    ive heard of capacitor testers named ESR-Meter how useful are such testers.

    For example i have an MSI KT4AV-L Mainboard(with Rubycon, Chemicon caps and one teapo) which stopped working, so I want to test them before recapping this board.

    thanks
    nico
    Tags: None
    • retiredcaps
      Badcaps Legend
      • Apr 2010
      • 9271
      #2
      Re: Capacitor tester how usefull is such a tool?

      Originally posted by nico-e
      ive heard of capacitor testers named ESR-Meter how useful are such testers.

      For example i have an MSI KT4AV-L Mainboard(with Rubycon, Chemicon caps and one teapo) which stopped working, so I want to test them before recapping this board.
      ESR meters cost between $65 and $300. Unless you do this for a living, "blind" recapping everything is usually cheaper.

      Most people here like Rubycon and United Chemi-con caps as per

      https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=2280

      However, United Chemi-con KZG are a problematic series.

      PS. There are some build your own ESR meters. This topic has been discussed before and you can search for it.
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        Comment

        • nico-e
          Member
          • Sep 2010
          • 20
          #3
          Re: Capacitor tester how usefull is such a tool?

          Originally posted by retiredcaps
          ESR meters cost between $65 and $300. Unless you do this for a living, "blind" recapping everything is usually cheaper.
          as I have arround 10 boards and several PSU's with cap problems and not all are worth recapping them completely(I recap just for fun), I will buy one of those testers.

          thanks
          nico

            Comment

            • Agent24
              I see dead caps
              • Oct 2007
              • 5085
              • New Zealand
              #4
              Re: Capacitor tester how usefull is such a tool?

              I built one of the Blue ESR meters. I like it very much, and it was fun to build too!

              It's also a good test of your soldering skill, if you fail to construct the meter you probably shouldn't be recapping (yet) ha ha....
              "Tantalum for the brave, Solid Aluminium for the wise, Wet Electrolytic for the adventurous"
              -David VanHorn

                Comment

                • nico-e
                  Member
                  • Sep 2010
                  • 20
                  #5
                  Re: Capacitor tester how usefull is such a tool?

                  Originally posted by Agent24
                  I built one of the Blue ESR meters. I like it very much, and it was fun to build too!
                  do you have a link to your model I'll have a look at it.

                    Comment

                    • Agent24
                      I see dead caps
                      • Oct 2007
                      • 5085
                      • New Zealand
                      #6
                      Re: Capacitor tester how usefull is such a tool?

                      http://members.ozemail.com.au/~bobpar/esrmeter.htm
                      "Tantalum for the brave, Solid Aluminium for the wise, Wet Electrolytic for the adventurous"
                      -David VanHorn

                        Comment

                        • daimoku
                          Senior Member
                          • Feb 2011
                          • 85
                          #7
                          Re: Capacitor tester how usefull is such a tool?

                          I also built the Blue ESR meter and I've been pleased with it.

                            Comment

                            • gerg
                              Badcaps Veteran
                              • Nov 2010
                              • 278
                              • United States
                              #8
                              Re: Capacitor tester how usefull is such a tool?

                              I just purchased a ESR-micro 4.0 and couldn't be happier it is very handy to have around in the month that I have had it it has paid for itself. I can't speak for the Blue meter I love the fact that Bob Parker is on this forum if i were to have a problem with it.

                                Comment

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