looking to buy lcr meter what are you options on brands

[sub2001zero]

i was look at the DE-5000, AT824 and UT611  i want to stay under 200.00

[ebclr]

This ESR / LCR meter https://www.impac.com.br/medidor-esr/medidor-de-esr-com-ponte-rlc-1khz-10khz-40khz-100khz-usb.html is great, many functions, many frequencies, well made and reasonable price

[PTR_1275]

I got a Agilent U1733c really cheap a few years back, so if you keep an eye out you might get a bargain there (I paid au$250). I go through stages at work where I use it a lot and then don’t use it at all for a while. It isn’t as accurate as works 4263b LCR meter, but it is close enough on everything I’ve done comparison tests on.

A lot of people prefer the de-5000, but I’ve not used one of them so I can’t give feedback.

[Jwillis]

Those  are all good options . I have the Mastech  MS5308 http://www.mastech-group.com/products.php?cate=104&PNo=75 think they're around  $200 to $250 now.It's  bulkier than the previous options But I don't do much testing away from the bench anyway.
It really depends on how much you intend on using a LCR meter . Often or once in a blue moon . Is the price worth it just sitting on a shelf and doing nothing.

[kripton2035]

the de5000 is the best bang for buck, arouns $100 delivered. don't forget the 4wires kelvin smd probe, it's difficult to buy separately. comes from japan most of the times.

[rstofer]

Amazon has the DE-5000 for $123
https://www.amazon.com/5000-Handheld-LCR-Meter-accessories/dp/B00S298KJO

This includes both adapters and the Guard Cable (I believe).

You can get the meter alone for $79.90 but it is upgraded to the DE-6000
https://www.amazon.com/Labs-DE-5000-Meter-Replaced-DE-6000/dp/B005EMT8PC

I have the DE-5000 and it is one of my least used instruments but there's a chance I'll get to use it for component demos for my grandson's Circuits class this semester at the university.  The reason it is seldom used is simply because my interests lie in digital, not analog.  Except analog computing but that's a different kind of analog.

[PTR_1275]

The DE-6000 was sold by IET Labs, I cant find any reference to it being a Der ee product and it looks similar to the u1733c from keysight. I find it strange that the amazon link says it’s upgraded to a DE-6000 but show photos of a DE-5000. I don’t know how good amazons buyer protections are to cover you against misleading sellers.

IET labs say the DE-6000 has been discontinued and it’s been replaced by a benchtop LCR.

[Wimberleytech]

I have the DE-5000 and am very happy with it.

[bd139]

Peak LCR45 as well.

https://www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/lcr45-lcr-impedance-meter.html

[rstofer]

The DE-6000 was sold by IET Labs, I cant find any reference to it being a Der ee product and it looks similar to the u1733c from keysight. I find it strange that the amazon link says it’s upgraded to a DE-6000 but show photos of a DE-5000. I don’t know how good amazons buyer protections are to cover you against misleading sellers.

IET labs say the DE-6000 has been discontinued and it’s been replaced by a benchtop LCR.

I think I would avoid that link and use the one for the DE-5000 kit with the adapters.

[rhb]

I now have a BSIDE ESR02 Pro, Peak LCR45 and ESR30, HP 4284A and 8245A.   I've measured the same part on them and my conclusion is this:

Unless you are old and have more money than time to spend it, get a BSIDE ESR02 Pro and keep the rest of the money in the bank. There will be another piece of kit you'll need, much sooner than you think.

Have Fun!
Reg

Who would very nearly have killed for a BSIDE when he was in grad school 35 years ago and trying to build a DC 40 m receiver.

[Mortymore]

Recently bought a DE-5000, and have a BSIDE ESR02 and a home built ESR meter from Elektor magazine.
Measured some random capacitors, with the DE-5000 always set at 100kHz just to match the test frequency of the Elektor ESR meter.



Since I still don't have the proper test leads for the DE-5000, TL-21 or TL-22, I used short alligator leads. The list does not intend to be accurate, and should be observed just for guidance. And note also that for big capacitors would be more realistic to have set a lower test frequency (100 or 120Hz for the real big ones). The measured values were more to compare the DE-5000 to the Elektor ESR meter, and not so much the ESR02. This one tests also semiconductors. For general purpose, the BSIDE ESR02 is very handy.

[rhb]

Would you please label the rest of the spreadsheet columns and add the capacitance values.  I assume the values are ESR, but it should be labeled that way.

My comment was directed at the measured LC values, not the ESR which is tough to measure well.

I'll try to test a couple of parts on the BSIDE, LCR45, ESR30, 4284A and 4385A and post them.

We live in a golden age. Old, top of the line T&M kit is cheap.  A $500K mid-90's state of the art lab can be had for $25K and a comprehensive basic electronics lab can be had for under $1000.  30 years ago LCR measurement and semiconductor test for $20 was inconceivable.

Have Fun!
Reg

[BravoV]

.... with the DE-5000 always set at 100kHz just to match the test frequency of the Elektor ESR meter.

....And note also that for big capacitors would be more realistic to have set a lower test frequency (100 or 120Hz for the real big ones).

For electrolytic type, even they're polymer type that can withstand high RMS current at high frequency, to measure the capacitance, "always" set to 120Hz, as its the de-facto standard frequency for measuring the capacitance at most electrolytic caps datasheets.

While for series resistance for electrolytic, "usually" most capacitor manufacturers used 100kHz.

Otherwise your captured data there will become meaningless.

[BravoV]

Suggesting DE-5000, regarding it's accuracy, while ago at this forum, we did a comparison on my Mastech MS-5308 (this is equivalent to DE-5000 as they're using same Cyrustek chip-sets), against a 5 digits US$ priced Wayne-Kerr LCR meter  , and here are the results.

For it's price, I would say the Cyrustek based LCR meter is quite impressive.



If you want more details about that comparisons  -> HERE

[Mortymore]

Since it seems there's the need to add some clarification to my previous post, here I am again.

First let's understand that one may have different approaches (experience) to electronics. If you are designing something, the part data-sheet has to be observed thoroughly, but when troubleshooting, an empirical approach will suffice.

I bought a DE-5000 to (try) be more thorough. I had an Elektor ESR meter for years to troubleshoot, and has served me well. So, lets say I've been more empirical in the subject.
But I may have to recall that my previous table was to compare this 2 meters. If I had selected different test frequencies in the DE-5000 according to the best suited for the capacitor, then my results would be meaningless to me, since the Elektor ESR meter only generates 100kHz. Please see photos attached from the output of the meters. By the way... I couldn't observe nothing useful from the BSIDE, in the scope, since it must generate a few test signals to figure out what he has connected in the input (a diode, resistor, capacitor, transistor...). 

About the table and is values: It has the title "ESR" on line 1, so by default this should mean Ohm, but yes, I didn't mention that. Sorry. 
Column B is marked "uF", meaning micro Farad, and column C is marked "V" meaning Volt.
On columns  D, E and F we have the test results in Ohm (not stated. My bad  ), and the test frequency set of 100kHz (apart from BSIDE that is unknown to me)

Concerning the correct test frequency to measure the ESR, one approach is to check the data-sheet, but it shouldn't be left out the real intended application. Though 120Hz is regularly mentioned for big capacitors, I think (and might be wrong, and if so, let me know) this has to be to the fact that they are largely used in linear PSUs for filtering, and being 60Hz the frequency of power grind in US, there's a regular reference to 120Hz (frequency doubles after bridge rectifier). Well, if this is the case and I want to be picky, I should use 100Hz instead because in Portugal the power grid frequency is 50Hz. But hey!... I have a 4700uF in the output of another Elektor gadget, a Generator based on a XR2206 that goes up to 200kHz. For this purpose, I definitely will test the capacitor at 100kHz, no matter what the data-sheet my state.

A note: one must not forget that ESR changes with a few things like temperature, but most important to me, the voltage. So the expected ESR for a, let's say, 1000uF capacitor will be different if it is for 10V or for 300V.



In my previous post, i meat to say what I said (apart from the missing "Ohm" for ESR), and I though I had described well enough my intend purposes for the table provided. Sure it was not the best of the examples, or a broad one, but it was one, and it was meant to be just one example, nothing more.

To frame my approach, I'm not an electronics Pro, and most of my "doing" is for hobby. So the Pro's forgive my lack of assertiveness, but always fell free to correct me. As I say to my kids: "Errors will always occur, but what is wrong is not trying to correct them". (And so, learn from them)

[BravoV]

@Mortymore , thanks for clarification. 

[Jwillis]

All the electrolytic capacitor data sheets I looked at which include Panasonic ,Nichicon, Cornell Dubilier and Rubycon. Capacitance Tolerance is measured ±20％（20°C，120Hz）,ESR  (100 kHz/+20 °C) ,Dissipation Factor(MAX)(tanδ)（20°C，120Hz）,Impedance(Ω MAX) 100kH z, Multiplier  for Ripple Current  120Hz 1kHz 10kHz 100kHz≦. Some have slight differences but this seems to be the general consensus between the ones I glanced through. 

[Mortymore]

i was look at the DE-5000, AT824 and UT611  i want to stay under 200.00

About the Uni-T UT611, I would look at the UT612 instead. Has wider range values, better resolution and USB connection, and I believe is much closer to specs and features to the DE-5000.

https://www.uni-trend.com/html/product/tyyq/ComponentTesting/UT610_LCR_Meters/UT612.html

To point some notable differences between the 611 vs 612:

Display: 6000/1000 vs 20000/2000
Max. test frequency: 10kHz vs 100kHz
Max. R: 20MOhm vs 200MOhm
Max. L: 200H vs 2000H
Max. C: 10mF vs 20mF

Though Uni-T UT612 has a general slight better stated accuracy than the DE-5000, it looks to me that the test leads of the UT612 are not as "refined" as those of the DE-5000, and that slight advantage may de lost. But that's just my 2C's

Taking a quick look at the AT824 on the web, it jumped to my eye the 10kHz upper test frequency, like the UT611, so it wouldn't be an option in my opinion, even more taking in consideration the information brought by Jwillis:

All the electrolytic capacitor data sheets I looked at which include Panasonic ,Nichicon, Cornell Dubilier and Rubycon. Capacitance Tolerance is measured ±20％（20°C，120Hz）,ESR  (100 kHz/+20 °C) ,Dissipation Factor(MAX)(tanδ)（20°C，120Hz）,Impedance(Ω MAX) 100kH z, Multiplier  for Ripple Current  120Hz 1kHz 10kHz 100kHz≦. Some have slight differences but this seems to be the general consensus between the ones I glanced through.

There's another factor to take into account and it's the meter input protection, that as far a I could figure by web reading, it's non existent (or close to that) in the DE-5000. That's why I will keep using my Elektor ESR meter to poke into capacitors on boards, and the DE-5000 for the new ones or guaranteed to be discharged. In that regard, I don't know about that for your other options (didn't look for that).
The BSIDE ESR02 Pro cost roughly as much as a pair of test leads for the DE-5000, and would do no harm to have on the bench. (look for videos on youtube) 

[Jwillis]

I don't know anything about any of the options people have put forth aside from the Mastech. The BSIDE ESR02 Pro screen read out looks exactly like the cheap DIY Transistor Tester Kit available from Ebay or Banggood. Not sure unless some one cracks one open to have a look. The Mastech I use seems to work fine in a non powered circuit and the manual states that capacitors must be discharged before measurements are taken. Likely because it may not have protection either . I haven't opened mine up to see but I think a review on You tube mentions it . It's like anything. You get what you pay for. 

[BravoV]

LCR meter input protection circuit will affect the measurement accuracy and consistency, hence even those expensive bench top ones never have it.

A proper way to measure any capacitor or inductor is thru out of circuit, meaning must be diligently desoldered 1st, and cap must be fully discharged before measurement takes place.

Those in-circuit testers and/or with input protection against a charged cap, are basically indicative measurement only, aka quick & dirty measurement, and one should not expect too much from such meter for accuracy and consistency.

[tautech]

Personally after using benchtop units and if needing to measure SMD too I'd get a pair of smart tweezers instead.

Still if you must have a bench unit Defpom checked out a bench LCR meter that Bangood sent him:

[BravoV]

That freebie LCR meter that Defpom got, the test feequency maxed out only at 10kHz, and close to OP budget. 

These days, any newly acquired LCR meter, must at least capable of 100kHz test frequency.

[tautech]

That freebie LCR meter that Defpom got, the test feequency maxed out only at 10kHz, and close to OP budget. 

These days, any newly acquired LCR meter, must at least capable of 100kHz test frequency.

Yes, Bangood sent him their cheapest model not the 100 KHz model.