ESR meters....which one to go with?

versuviusx · Apr 3, 2007

ok so i just found out what an ESR meter is. i found out that i can use one of these meters to find out the values of a cap even while it is still in a circuit. does anyone know what the best kind is? or which ones the prefer or ones to stay away from. i'm thinking about getting one. would love to find a great one for cheap.

safe as milk · Apr 3, 2007

hi
i've been using one of these,
it's straightforward enough for a newbie like me.
the dca gadget's good as well, for diodes & hfe.
it's a uk company but i would have thought
someone like newark might stock it
http://www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/jz_esr60.html

cheers

Guest · Apr 3, 2007

Word of warning with the Peak gadgets - do not use when there is a current present
Repair bill for analyser (the transistor one) £35

Rob Flinn · Apr 3, 2007

[quote author="uk03878"]Word of warning with the Peak gadgets - do not use when there is a current present
Repair bill for analyser (the transistor one) £35[/quote]

The esr meter is protected against this from what they say !!

Check these threads it is much cheaper to build your own

http://www.groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=2956&highlight=esr+meter+metre

http://www.groupdiy.com/index.php?topic=2077

Nikolay · Apr 4, 2007

esr meter from elekt0r
http://www.elektor.com/default.aspx?tabid=28&art=52895

I have this issue and if someone like the pcb and sch I will upload at gmail.

Milkmansound · Apr 4, 2007

Dick Smith

its the top rated meter by most TV repairmen, and is awesome.

plus, you can build it yourself!

guavatone · Apr 4, 2007

I got the Dick Smith one.

I am wondering if they are of any use in determining whether an old cap is good. I tested some 20+ year old caps and the numbers didn't come up much better than new ones.

Even PS caps that made my unit quieter didn't show much diff on the meter. Now I just replace if they seem old.

Milkmansound · Apr 5, 2007

back in my TV repair days, I used to find high ESR caps all the time using this meter.

gotta remember to zero the thing out every time - and also, to keep the leads super clean.

I find that testing for ESR with the Dick S, and capacitance with a normal DMM gives a decent idea whether or not the cap is ok.

ESR meters....which one to go with?

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