I'm looking for an accurate LCR meter. I've tried a few of the low-cost Chinese made options in the $30-40 range and they are giving me pretty different measurements. Willing to spend ~$200 so I don't have to guess if the numbers I'm getting are anything close to accurate. Anyone have any recommendations?
EDIT: The Peak LCR45 looks decent. Has anyone used it? http://www.amazon.com/PEAK-Atlas-LC...TF8&qid=1427815611&sr=8-23&keywords=LCR+meter
EDIT: The Peak LCR45 looks decent. Has anyone used it? http://www.amazon.com/PEAK-Atlas-LC...TF8&qid=1427815611&sr=8-23&keywords=LCR+meter
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What, exactly, do you want to do with it? Do you need the R function? Do you even need the L function? Can it be a larger bench instrument, or do you need a handheld? Does it have to be new? Do you want to measure mostly big electrolytic caps or small film ones? Do you care what frequency it measures at? Do you care about losses (you should)? There are several different new and used options, depending on the answer to those questions.
The Peak LCR meter is excellent, it even shows both the resistive and reactive elements of inductors. Only thing I think it could benefit from is the ability to measure the ESR of capacitors, though they do sell another meter that does this if you really need to know this.
I also have their semiconductor analyzer, which is very handy for checking transistors, bjt and fet. It even tells you what the pins are b,c,e or g,d,s or a & k in the case of diodes.
Here it is: http://www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/jz_dca55.html
I also have their semiconductor analyzer, which is very handy for checking transistors, bjt and fet. It even tells you what the pins are b,c,e or g,d,s or a & k in the case of diodes.
Here it is: http://www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/jz_dca55.html
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I have a V&A VA520 (aka PeakTech 2170 and several others) which I think works fine and should fit your bill. Here's a user review on the EEVblog.
One of the strong points of this LCR meter is that you can use Kelvin-leads. These largely compensate for the leads own stray capacitance, inductance and resistance making measurements of small values more reliable. It measures at 100 Hz, 120 Hz, 1 kHz, 10 kHz and 100 kHz, and for capacitors it can also measure ESR.
One of the strong points of this LCR meter is that you can use Kelvin-leads. These largely compensate for the leads own stray capacitance, inductance and resistance making measurements of small values more reliable. It measures at 100 Hz, 120 Hz, 1 kHz, 10 kHz and 100 kHz, and for capacitors it can also measure ESR.
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Thanks for all the great replies guys! Went with the Peak, looks like a nice piece. Going to be using for winding inductors and testing film caps.
Thanks for the converter Conrad! I went with the LCR45, it had tighter tolerances too which was nice. I did like the look of their semiconductor analyzer too, but that will have to wait for now 😉
FYI it was cheaper to buy it from the UK than stateside since the conversion rate is a bit lopsided right now.
http://www.sotabeams.co.uk/passive-component-impedance-analyser-model-lcr45/
FYI it was cheaper to buy it from the UK than stateside since the conversion rate is a bit lopsided right now.
http://www.sotabeams.co.uk/passive-component-impedance-analyser-model-lcr45/
Unfortunately, you jumped a bit quick. The Peak LCR45 isn't a bad instrument it's a solid qualty hobbyist unit, and at one time it was by far the best value on the market. Unfortunately for Peak, times have changed and there are much better values on the market that are pro quality at a similar or cheaper price. Most of these meters are based around the Cyrustek ES51919/ES51920 chipset combo. One in particular which I have experience with is the Der EE DE-5000 which is a WAY better value. Anyone considering the Peak LCR should look at the DE-5000 instead. It is very full featured with the expected capabilites (Cs, Cp, theta, D, ESR, DCR, multiple user selectable test frequencies, etc.) and very tight accuracies. The ranges for every function are much wider and the resolution is much higher. For example, resistance resolution is 0.001ohm in the 20 ohm range, while the highest resistance range is 200Mohm (compared to 0.1ohm resolution and a max range of 2Mohm for the Peak). The spec sheet for the DE-5000 breaks down stated ABSOLUTE accuracy into ranges and frequencies in high detail; Peak just gives you general TYPICAL values for each function. Because of this, with the DE-5000, you know EXACTLY what accuracy your current settings are providing. Also, the connectors are shielded 4-wire kelvin connections to near the tip, unlike the Peak instrument which is very clearly not.
It is a true LCR meter at a price that so far hasn't really been beat and certainly not by this Peak meter. The meter and no accessories usually runs in the $80-90 range on ebay, with the accessories and meter combos usually in the $100-130 range. For example, you can get the DE-5000 meter with the TL-21 (alligator clips) and TL-22 (SMD tweezers) for $113. Also note, these prices include shipping. Remember that these accessories are full shielded 4-wire Kelvin accessories . There are two accessories not included TL-23 (shield connector, which is just a short banana to alligator lead and is so far useless to me) and the USB data logging cable (WAY too expensive for what it is and not useful for me). If you are patient and keep your eye out, you will occasionally see the TL-21, 22, 23 and meter combo go for under $100 shipped.
I did a review of this meter on here and I don't regret getting this meter one bit.
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/equipment-tools/259415-der-ee-de-5000-true-lcr-100khz.html I include a link to the user manual with the detailed accuracy tables in the paragraph below the first picture.
It is a true LCR meter at a price that so far hasn't really been beat and certainly not by this Peak meter. The meter and no accessories usually runs in the $80-90 range on ebay, with the accessories and meter combos usually in the $100-130 range. For example, you can get the DE-5000 meter with the TL-21 (alligator clips) and TL-22 (SMD tweezers) for $113. Also note, these prices include shipping. Remember that these accessories are full shielded 4-wire Kelvin accessories . There are two accessories not included TL-23 (shield connector, which is just a short banana to alligator lead and is so far useless to me) and the USB data logging cable (WAY too expensive for what it is and not useful for me). If you are patient and keep your eye out, you will occasionally see the TL-21, 22, 23 and meter combo go for under $100 shipped.
I did a review of this meter on here and I don't regret getting this meter one bit.
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/equipment-tools/259415-der-ee-de-5000-true-lcr-100khz.html I include a link to the user manual with the detailed accuracy tables in the paragraph below the first picture.
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I would agree with you, ES51919/ES51920 based meters can be very good.
Basically the V&A VA520 is comparable to other ES51919/ES51920 based meters, but this one has the fully fledged 4-wire clips +2 guards (6 connections to the meter in total) setup that will give measruments with repeatable accuracy.
At € 139, it isn't even that much more expensive than 2-wire types (beware, you need to shop around, typical asking price for this meter is around € 200 or more for the one with the USB option).
Basically the V&A VA520 is comparable to other ES51919/ES51920 based meters, but this one has the fully fledged 4-wire clips +2 guards (6 connections to the meter in total) setup that will give measruments with repeatable accuracy.
At € 139, it isn't even that much more expensive than 2-wire types (beware, you need to shop around, typical asking price for this meter is around € 200 or more for the one with the USB option).
The Der EE DE-5000 is also 4-wire plus guard at an even cheaper price than the Yihua V&A VA520. Any of the Cyrustek meters are highly capable but as you mentioned the ones that do 4-wire are even better.
Yes, but it doesn't look like the bi-wired clip types that are completely separated all the way up to and including both tip-halves (similar to 4-wire milli-ohmmeter clip leads but then with the guard).
I think the price premium for this method is justified, it will even compensate for clip to component lead contact issues.
I think the price premium for this method is justified, it will even compensate for clip to component lead contact issues.
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