Lcr Tweezers

[Ig_sherwood]

Some years ago ,as i can remember there was Smart Tweezer ST5S from Canadian company like Siborg : *http://www.smarttweezers.com/st5s*
However today i've spotted another one ,very good lcr tweezer ,the LCR Pro1 : *http://www.lcrresearch.com/pro1*
I really wish to buy one of them,especially the LCR Pro1 which looks fantanstic.
So did you never had an experience by using 1 of these instruments ?
Did you think one is better then other ?
If yes which would be better to buy ?
Thanks for your help

[Ig_sherwood]

P.S
The only 1 thing is bothering me too much and also crushing my balls in thousands of pieces.
From batterfly.com this accessory http://tinyurl.com/zwtj4ej piece of bull__it or junk cost around 50 euros ....
Is that possible to make an diy with the same functions ?
also because i don't think there are more then a few of transistors and caps,right ?

[HighVoltage]

Interesting that both come from Canada.
Hmm, may be they are the same company or work together?

This LCR Pro1 looks very nice but $ 410 retail price is pretty high for a pair of tweezers.
The logging function seems to be especially nice and handy.

[Ig_sherwood]

This LCR Pro1 looks very nice but $ 410 retail price is pretty high for a pair of tweezers.

On batterfy.com i can buy the pro1 for just 250 euros + another 50 euros for that junky piece of LCR Link1 USB dongle.
However ,in my personal opinion the PRO1 was cloned in CHINA from the original st5s and sold in canada like it was developed there,its some kind of trick i think.

[tautech]

Advance Devices Inc made the originals:
http://www.smarttweezers.com/

I've had a set of their early Smart Tweezers ST3 for many years but their STS5S is now their flagship model.
There was much $ pain and uncertainty when I bought mine but I would replace them in an instant.
I use them more than a DMM, TH, SMD or anything but ensure any circuit is powered down and caps discharged.

Highly recommended. 

[Jester]

I have this low cost version.

[tautech]

I have this low cost version.

I tried one of those too.....just to compare it to my ST3......POS, gave it to a customer.

Look, it does the basics OK, just that's all.

It's only fair to add: For a hobbyist into SMD and for their price they're good value, just nowhere near the class of anything from AD.

[Ig_sherwood]

Ehhhmm... Gentlemen ?!?

So..... LCR PRO1 OR ST5S ?
if im not wrong ,the LCR PRO1 can run the self test and self calibration ,ST5S can't do that .

[tautech]

So..... LCR PRO1 OR ST5S ?
if im not wrong ,the LCR PRO1 can run the self test and self calibration ,ST5S can't do that .

From the LCR PRO1 website:
Each device is fully calibrated during production and shipped with NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) traceable calibration certificate.

Smart Tweezers
From the ST5S datasheet:
Calibration: Recommended interval 1 year NIST traceable calibration.

What is not clear is if a ST5S does the same self tests "behind the scenes" invisibly.
The ST5S may have a "publically undocumented" POST that achieves the same thing or when using the Autoset button.

To be clear, just because an instrument can "self cal" or "self test" doesn't mean a formal Calibration is not necessary.

Regardless I've never had reason to doubt the hobbyist level of accuracy I need in ~15 years of ownership.


Anyway, good question and one for the Tech support of each company.

[David Hess]

I would rather have the DE-5000 or DE-6000 LCR meter with the tweezers accessory.

Embedded irreplaceable batteries in test equipment are always a disappointment and rechargeable ones are even more so.

[tautech]

I would rather have the DE-5000 or DE-6000 LCR meter with the tweezers accessory.

Embedded irreplaceable batteries in test equipment are always a disappointment and rechargeable ones are even more so.

My ST3 uses LR44's.

[HighVoltage]

So..... LCR PRO1 OR ST5S ?
if im not wrong ,the LCR PRO1 can run the self test and self calibration ,ST5S can't do that .

I have asked Advance Devices Inc (Maker of the ST5S) about the LCR Pro1.
The answer was that it is a Chinese knockoff of their original product.
So, I would stay away from it.

I have the ST5S also for a long time and I am very happy with it ... highly recommended.

[David Hess]

I would rather have the DE-5000 or DE-6000 LCR meter with the tweezers accessory.

Embedded irreplaceable batteries in test equipment are always a disappointment and rechargeable ones are even more so.

 
My ST3 uses LR44's.

That is not so bad then.  The one I checked has a rechargeable lithium polymer battery so carefully check all of the datasheets.

I would still prefer the DE-5000 or DE-6000.

[tautech]

This is what would give me great confidence in AD's products:

We are proud that featured and other R&D-intensive companies, agencies and production sites use Smart Tweezers™ LCR meter.

[Circuitous]

I did a series of reviews on various LCR tweezers. 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnY7rMptA7ZxeltZcVXKyE42Auxc9AsT_

Some of the cheaper ones have some value, but the real winner was the ST5S.  I bought all of the units tested, the only ones that I would buy again are the ST5S.  But, the Mastech MS8910 isn't bad for about $25

[tautech]

I did a series of reviews on various LCR tweezers. 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnY7rMptA7ZxeltZcVXKyE42Auxc9AsT_

Some of the cheaper ones have some value, but the real winner was the ST5S.  I bought all of the units tested, the only ones that I would buy again are the ST5S.  But, the Mastech MS8910 isn't bad for about $25

@ Circuitous
Can you check if your details and channel is listed here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/other-blog-specific/dd/

Post your details so ez24 can update the list.

[jjoonathan]

Well it looks like the "Chinese knockoff", unlike the original ST5S, took Dave's suggestion (made during the ST3S timeframe) of 100kHz test frequency to heart 

[Ig_sherwood]

Well it looks like the "Chinese knockoff", unlike the original ST5S, took Dave's suggestion (made during the ST3S timeframe) of 100kHz test frequency to heart 

My english is poor,pls can you explain your self more clearly ?
What did you mean with your statment ?

[Ig_sherwood]

I have asked Advance Devices Inc (Maker of the ST5S) about the LCR Pro1.
The answer was that it is a Chinese knockoff of their original product.
So, I would stay away from it.

I have the ST5S also for a long time and I am very happy with it ... highly recommended.

Scusme sir ,so this means that i was right ?
In my previous post i wrote that maybe the lcr pro1 is just a chinese clone of the original st5s,just  sold in canada like it was developed there.

However ,can you show me that siborg has really respond to you ?
Thanks.

[jjoonathan]

Well it looks like the "Chinese knockoff", unlike the original ST5S, took Dave's suggestion (made during the ST3S timeframe) of 100kHz test frequency to heart 

My english is poor,pls can you explain your self more clearly ?
What did you mean with your statment ?

Sorry. Hopefully this translates better.

Dave's 2010 review of the ST3 says that it is missing one feature: 100kHz test frequency. The ST3 only goes to 10kHz. Many capacitors specify ESR at 100kHz because 100kHz is closer to the frequency in a switched-mode power supply. Now it is 2017, 7 years later. The ST3 has been replaced by the ST5. The ST5 still only goes to 10kHz. The makers of ST3 and ST5 did not listen to Dave.

The "Chinese knockoff" LCR Pro goes to 100kHz. It also looks like it has a nicer screen and more detailed manual than the ST3. The word "knockoff" does not just mean "similar", it also suggests inferior quality and lack of innovation. However, the LCR Pro might be a better product with more attention to detail. Unless someone buys a LCR pro and discovers that it is bad I would not call the LCR Pro a "knockoff". Instead I would call it a legitimate competitor until proven otherwise.

[Ig_sherwood]

Lcr Pro1 has :
5 test frequencies – 100Hz, 120Hz, 1kHz, 10kHz, 100kHz

ST5S has :
4 test frequencies – 1 kHz, 10 kHz,  120Hz,100 Hz

[tautech]

Daves vid, ST3 IIRC:
https://www.eevblog.com/2010/04/25/eevblog-81-smart-tweezers-lcr-meter-review-and-teardown/

[HighVoltage]

I have asked Advance Devices Inc (Maker of the ST5S) about the LCR Pro1.
The answer was that it is a Chinese knockoff of their original product.
So, I would stay away from it.

I have the ST5S also for a long time and I am very happy with it ... highly recommended.

Scusme sir ,so this means that i was right ?
In my previous post i wrote that maybe the lcr pro1 is just a chinese clone of the original st5s,just  sold in canada like it was developed there.

However ,can you show me that siborg has really respond to you ?
Thanks.

Well, I will not post private email details here, but everyone else can ask them the same question.
I was told, that the Knockoff is from a Chinese company, pretending to be in Canada.

[Ig_sherwood]

Well, I will not post private email details here, but everyone else can ask them the same question.
I was told, that the Knockoff is from a Chinese company, pretending to be in Canada.

Maybe it's true or maybe not ,but what about to eliminate the competitors ?
Did you really think that someone likes to be the last in he's field ?
Maybe siborg has answear like that ,because they just don't like their new competitor 

[Circuitous]

I did a series of reviews on various LCR tweezers. 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnY7rMptA7ZxeltZcVXKyE42Auxc9AsT_

Some of the cheaper ones have some value, but the real winner was the ST5S.  I bought all of the units tested, the only ones that I would buy again are the ST5S.  But, the Mastech MS8910 isn't bad for about $25

@ Circuitous
Can you check if your details and channel is listed here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/other-blog-specific/dd/

Post your details so ez24 can update the list.

Yes, I am listed correctly on the list of other blogs.

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