Hey,
I’m looking for a recommendation for a capacitance meter. Something accurate and not too expensive, if those aren’t mutually exclusive. This will be used only occasionally for diy work. Initially it will be used to accurately measure capacitors used in an electronic crossover. Less than $100 would be ideal
Thanks
I’m looking for a recommendation for a capacitance meter. Something accurate and not too expensive, if those aren’t mutually exclusive. This will be used only occasionally for diy work. Initially it will be used to accurately measure capacitors used in an electronic crossover. Less than $100 would be ideal
Thanks
You can get component testers for $20 that will do the inductors too.
There is plenty to choose from on all the big gadget sites.
There is plenty to choose from on all the big gadget sites.
I have liked using my Peak ESR70 for the last 11 years.
$94 USD https://www.newark.com/peak/72-12835/esr-meter-capacitor-1mf-to-22000mf/dp/56Y1286?
$94 USD https://www.newark.com/peak/72-12835/esr-meter-capacitor-1mf-to-22000mf/dp/56Y1286?
Peak (https://www.peakelec.co.uk/) has two excellent quality devices, made in the UK BTW:
Newark.com seems to have best prices for them in the US.
- ESR70 - Atlas ESR Gold - Equivalent Series Resistance Mete
- LCR45 - LCR Component Meter with Component Impedance Measurement
Newark.com seems to have best prices for them in the US.
I never had a case were I really needed absolute precise values. Usually you compare some values for matching or coarse identification.
Even these component tester without a real enclosure work quite well.
With these you can match LCR to less than 1%. For HIFI this should be fine.
Even these component tester without a real enclosure work quite well.
With these you can match LCR to less than 1%. For HIFI this should be fine.
Attachments
I am reading over the datasheet for the ESR70, and the 'minimum capacitance is a big 1uF, so can that be right? Can the ESR70 also measure low resistance resistors (not caps) as it has a 0.01 Ohm resolution for ESR below 2 Ohms...?
https://www.newark.com/peak/72-1283...00mf/dp/56Y1286?MER=TARG-MER-PDP-RECO-STM7193
LCR is probably more likely if you want to characterise a cap? ESR less so (more is the cap dying?)
As @NickKUK mentioned, this would be a better fit: https://www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/lcr45-lcr-impedance-meter.html
| Inductance range: | 0uH to 2H. |
| Capacitance range: | 0pF to 10000uF. |
| Resistance range: | 0R to 2MR. |
The question I have is what's the resolution? (the ranges are large but what is more important to you?
All the technical info for the Peak devices is available on their site. For example the LCR-45 has this resolution:
Resistance: 0.0 Ohm to 2 MegOhms, resolution typically 0.2 Ohms, accuracy typically ±1.0% ±0.6 Ohms
Inductance: 0.0uH to 2H, resolution typically 0.2uH, accuracy typically ±1.5% ±0.6uH
Capacitance: 0.0pF to 10000uF, resolution typically 0.2pF, accuracy typically ±1.5% ±0.6pF
Impedance: Typically ±1.5% ±10LSD
Magnitude: Typically ±1.5% ±10LSD
Phase: Typically ±5°
Sample rate: 1.5Hz ±0.5Hz.
Open circuit test voltage: ±1.05V
Short circuit test current: ±3.25mA
Resistance: 0.0 Ohm to 2 MegOhms, resolution typically 0.2 Ohms, accuracy typically ±1.0% ±0.6 Ohms
Inductance: 0.0uH to 2H, resolution typically 0.2uH, accuracy typically ±1.5% ±0.6uH
Capacitance: 0.0pF to 10000uF, resolution typically 0.2pF, accuracy typically ±1.5% ±0.6pF
Impedance: Typically ±1.5% ±10LSD
Magnitude: Typically ±1.5% ±10LSD
Phase: Typically ±5°
Sample rate: 1.5Hz ±0.5Hz.
Open circuit test voltage: ±1.05V
Short circuit test current: ±3.25mA