Mastech MS5308 LCR meter with ESR measurement - on discount at the moment

[Wytnucls]

Unit-T uses 9V battery (6F22) or USB power connection for both their LCR meters.

[robrenz]

I have a Mastech 5308, and it suits my Hobby/home purpose. I probably wouldn't specify it for use on a production line. I've no doubt the Agilent is even better - and so it should be! But I just have no need for any such Betterness.  (I think I might have just made that word up).

I am curious how the Agilent can be better when it does not have 4 wire kelvin connections. The manual specs state the accuracy at the built in component clips (not kelvin).  All the attachments are obviously only 2 wire. It does have a user open short cal. feature but can that completely correct without a Kelvin connection on the attachments?  Not bashing the Agilent meter I just don't understand. Can some one enlighten me?

[jtronix]

"LaurenceW"

have you measure ESR of capacitor without desoldering the capacitor form PCB???

does it gives correct reading??

[jtronix]

please upload video demo of Mastech MS5308.

[LaurenceW]

Yes I have, plenty of times, and yes it does work (within the limits that I described earlier about interference from other nearby components. You MUST take these into account).

Sorry - I don't have the to put videos together. There is a LOT of info and pictures about various mid-price LCR/ESR meters around this forum. No point in me duplicating that in a movie.

[DEHiCKA]

Got for the sale price of $150 + $45 shipping so cheaper than another source $211 free shipping .

I got mine for $140 at the local store. Full package with the case and averything. I'm pretty sure there must be the way to get it even cheaper from china.

[KD0CAC John]

The $150 was from China + $45 shipping .
The $211 - free shipping was a US source .

[jwrtiger]

I made a little video review of the Mastech MS5308.

John

http://youtu.be/9el9mW5woSM

[robrenz]

Great review!

[iloveelectronics]

I made a little video review of the Mastech MS5308.

John

http://youtu.be/9el9mW5woSM

Excellent review indeed. Aside from being a bit too bulky it looks like a very nice and feature rich LCR meter!

[Lightages]

Nice review John. I was hoping to see it in action doing in circuit ESR however.

[KD0CAC John]

Good video , added to bookmarks to use as better manual .
Thanks

[jwrtiger]

Glad you guys liked the review.

Nice review John. I was hoping to see it in action doing in circuit ESR however.

Lightages,  I had a hard time with this video because I want to do a lot more but was worried about the video length.  I sure understand your comment and it would be nice to cover that topic along with more details on D, Q, and series and parallel modelling.  Maybe a second video on the applications of an LCR meter/tester.

[Shock]

I also enjoyed your video John.
Not only some ESR action but some in circuit cap testing would be entertaining.

Did you resolve the mystery of the power supply causing the MS5308 to go inaccurate? 
Does this only occur when the MS5308 is powered on or when you turn it off and swap power sources as well?
Perhaps connect it to your lab supply instead to quickly rule it out.

I'm interested in one now after watching the video but I'd like to power mine from the mains.
Am interested if anyone else can reproduce this?

AC Test is at 33:26

[jwrtiger]

Hi Shock,

I haven't done anymore testing of  the problem with the power supply, DCR, RP, and Rs.  I hope to check it out further in the next couple of days and will post my results.  I also would like it to be connected to the mains most of the time.  I actually like that it is big and bulky because my main interest was in a bench LCR meter.

[alm]

Good review! I agree with your decision to limit the length, it's better to do a follow up video for extra content. Is the (loaded) voltage from the AC power supply the same as from the 8 AAs? Based on your results, it seems to me that the current in resistor test mode changes with the power supply voltage (someone screwed up the constant current source?). Try hooking it up to a bench supply and varying the voltage from AC power supply voltage down to 8 almost empty cells (~8 V if they're all in series) and see how this affects the results.

[KD0CAC John]

When I noticed the length of the video , I was a little concerned .
But once I started watching , I felt like it could go longer , much like a good movie , its hard to be too long

[chickenHeadKnob]

Hi Shock,

I haven't done anymore testing of  the problem with the power supply, DCR, RP, and Rs.  I hope to check it out further in the next couple of days and will post my results.  I also would like it to be connected to the mains most of the time.  I actually like that it is big and bulky because my main interest was in a bench LCR meter.

Something occurred to me as I watched you plug in the external power - does the unit perhaps require a recalibration after a change in power source? I couldn't tell if you tested for that.

[grenert]

Hi, John.
Great, informative video!  For what it's worth, I did a very brief test using my DE-5000, which has the same chipset, and it does not vary resistance measurement with internal or external power source.  It runs on a 9V battery, and the external DC pack (a switcher) is also 9V.  Hope you can sort out your problem.

[FrankenPC]

Hi, noob here looking for a LCR/ESR meter.  Question is, why would you opt for the Mastech when you could spend a few bucks more and get the smart tweezers?  Is it because of the large screen readability?  Or is it the higher frequency range? 

These tweezers: http://www.ebay.com/itm/170952376553?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

[robrenz]

Accuracy specs on that are pretty poor for the money.

[jwrtiger]

Hi all,  Update on the Mastech LCR Tester problem with the resistance values changing when using the external supply.  I have not done a complete test yet buy I patched in my linear bench power supply and the reading from internal battery to external power source had no change at all.   So it looks like it is my Mastech's LCR external switching power supply.   I am going to see if I can figure out what the actual problem was with the supply.  I thought I could lift the bottom label and undo some screws but there are no screws so I guess it is glued together.  Doesn't seem to have any clips/ears.  I don't plan to contact the seller because I have the parts on hand to make a power supply at basically no cost and I will fuse it and it will be linear instead of switching.  I hope in the future others can report and let me know if they had a problem with the external power supply.

[T4P]

Hi, noob here looking for a LCR/ESR meter.  Question is, why would you opt for the Mastech when you could spend a few bucks more and get the smart tweezers?  Is it because of the large screen readability?  Or is it the higher frequency range? 

Like why would you buy a smart tweezer? The mastech is properly, properly 100$ less than that and is a PROPER, PROPER LCR meter with Dissipation factor measurement and Series/Parallel mode does the tweezer have that?
You have Q (damping) factor, and phase factor
Does it have RS232 either?
Well really asking these sort of questions get these sort of answers, a proper LCR meter doesn't just measure caps inductors and resistors + ESR they measure a whole variety of factors too and ... trust me the higher frequency is useful for low value caps as it increases your accuracy unlike say at 10KHz

[KD0CAC John]

POWER SUPPLY vs. BATTERY
I finally picked up a large package of batteries , in order to do the test .
I powered up the meter , then went through the calibration procedure , then found a NOS 3 watt 100 ohm carbon resistor that was waiting to get put away .
It measured about 109.?? [ this was yesterday and did not write down the last digits ] and with the meter plugged in to the power supply , with batteries installed , I pulled the plug from the PS at the meter and no change to the reading , even at the the lowest number . , plugged back in PS and again no change .
Again thanks for the video . 

[SeanB]

Most likely the switching supply puts wideband noise into the supply rails, and this adds noise to the measurement, thus the errors.