Bench LCR Options?

[dr.diesel]

I'm in need of a 100khz LCR, I really prefer bench equipment, even though the Agilent U1733C fits my needs for $450. 

I'm considering these two and open to other suggestions, prefer to buy new, unless it's being sold by qualified calibrator.

BK Precision 889B LCR/ESR 200khz for $1300

or

Instek LCR-816, 100Khz for $1700

There are basically no reviews of bench models that I can find, and unfortunately Dave has yet to tear one down!

[quarks]

I do not know price/availablity of HAMEG HM8118 in your country, but maybe it is worth to have a look

http://www.hameg.com/503.0.html?&L=0

[dr.diesel]

They look to be in stock at Test Equipment Depot, ~$2300.  My opinion of Hameg is good, probably a better piece than BK and GW, although that model is a notch up from the others it looks like.

Thanks for the suggestion, do you have one personally?

[quarks]

yes, I have one with all available (original) Options, but I would suggest to look/buy 3rd Party Options, because of the crazy Prices

http://en.sourcetronic.com/shop/LCR-Meter/Accessories?XTCsid=8fdbc8837c96996a28aa905dc295409e

here are some details with my HM8118
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/help-wanted-low-and-high-ohm-measuremet/msg173254/#msg173254

[EEVblog]

Instek:
http://www.gwinstek.com/en/product/productdetail.aspx?pid=39&mid=79&id=188
http://www.tequipment.net/InstekLCR819.html
$1800

Applent:
http://www.applent.com/products/products.aspx?familyid=lcr

BK Precision:
http://www.bkprecision.com/products/component-testers/lcr-meters/889B-bench-lcr-esr-meter-with-component-tester.html
$1475

[PA4TIM]

The Hameg is real good, a friend has one and I have tested it on my LCR standards. Very impressive results.

[Hydrawerk]

We have the GW Instek LCR-800 Series at school. It's a large instrument, but with 80% air inside! The year in the firmware says year 1999. Hey, this instrument is quite old now.
BK Precision Model 889B is rebadged Motech MT4090
http://www.motechsolar.com

[PA4TIM]

Bought this one for 50 euro, the best bench LCR meter I have. As accurate as when it was made
But it gives a true new meaning to the word compact

[SeanB]

Bought this one for 50 euro, the best bench LCR meter I have. As accurate as when it was made
But it gives a true new meaning to the word compact

Compact, light weight, simple to use.

This one has the " none of the above" box checked for sure.

But for sure with a little TLC and fair storage it will be working as the next century rolls in.

[PA4TIM]

Compared to my GR-1620 the GR-1608 I showed before is compact and light an for most easy to use.
( also have a 1650, a boonton 63H and a HP4260 bridge, on its way a very rare Esi C bridge from the 60's and a GR1603 ZY bridge)

[SeanB]

To be fair none of those qualify as hand held, even if you are Hulk Hogan.

I know of some amplifiers that come with handles for a reason, as you need 4 people to pick them up. Thus 4 handles. Panasonic had a 100 inch CRT TV with handles as well, it weighs over 100kg, just the CRT alone was 80kG.

[ddavidebor]

Hameg is one of the best company for quality in the world.

I use their power suppy, their funcgen, their multimeter, frequency meter and scopes every day at school.

So solid and so reliable!

[Hydrawerk]

Hameg is one of the best company for quality in the world.

Yes, if you mean long life of their instruments... But they are not as modern as Agilent...

[eevblogfan]

Hey

You may want to Pm me if you will , I may be able to sell you one Hp or fluke LCR ( bench) meter , I am pretty sure calibration will not be a problem to throw in ,

I firstly have to ask my boss But I am sure if you can handle 800$ plus shipping , you'll earn 2000$+ LCR to your heands soon ,

[plesa]

I can recomned Agilent E4890A, I you do not need high speed measurement is much more cheaper.
But it can be far away your needs. I'm using it mainly for semiconductor characterization - photodiodes.
I can post some internal pics if you want.

[plesa]

Hey

You may want to Pm me if you will , I may be able to sell you one Hp or fluke LCR ( bench) meter , I am pretty sure calibration will not be a problem to throw in ,

I firstly have to ask my boss But I am sure if you can handle 800$ plus shipping , you'll earn 2000$+ LCR to your heands soon ,

Fluke are the old one Phillips LCR meters. It seems to be Wayne Kerr nowadays.
http://www.waynekerrtest.com/global/html/products/LCR/4265%204270.htm

[dr.diesel]

Thanks for all the suggestions.  This is something I'll have on my bench for the next 30 years, if possible I'd sure like to have something that's not already obsolete!

The BK is available everywhere here in the States and I've inquired about the Hameg on availability, waiting to hear back from Test Equipment Depot.

[ddavidebor]

Hameg is one of the best company for quality in the world.

Yes, if you mean long life of their instruments... But they are not as modern as Agilent...

Yes, they follow "simple and solid" principle

[ddavidebor]

If it do 100khz and ESR ia not obsolete

[dr.diesel]

Hameg it is, Test Equipment Depot can have me one in 1-2 weeks.  Thanks for all of the suggestions, Hameg is a solid company and their LCR just looks nicer as well!

A bit more than I wanted to spend, but oh well!

[Circuitous]

Congrats on getting a Hameg.  I'm considering a new LCR of similar style, but lower price.
Dave provided a link to Applent, has anyone used their bench LCRs?

The AT2817 looks about right for me, but I'm wondering about the quality and accuracy.
http://www.applent.com/products/detail.aspx?familyid=lcr&model=AT2817

Mike did a review of the handheld AT825, and it seemed reasonable for the price.

[ddavidebor]

Hameg it is, Test Equipment Depot can have me one in 1-2 weeks.  Thanks for all of the suggestions, Hameg is a solid company and their LCR just looks nicer as well!

A bit more than I wanted to spend, but oh well!

I'm sure it will be good spent to the last cent!

[PA4TIM]

Good choise. I never had much with Hameg, they build decent analog scopes but that's it, but a friend of mine has a lot, the old plugin modules and the new plugins and omr seperte gears as scope, SA, LCR meter, 6,5 digit meter, generators, and I tested most of them and I must say  today they make great equipment. I have the 350MHz DSO and i love it. I was in doubt about buying the Hameg LCR meter myself. Not becuse the specs or so, it was great, but I needed a handheld ( got a bench full of GR bridges) but a good one, so I bought the IET DE-5000.

[Uup]

The AT2817 looks about right for me, but I'm wondering about the quality and accuracy.
http://www.applent.com/products/detail.aspx?familyid=lcr&model=AT2817

I have an AT2817A, which is about the same as the AT2817 but with a 6 digit resolution instead of 5 digits.

I don't have another LCR meter to compare with however the resistence measurements compare to my Fluke 289 and 45. I like the display, as it can show a great deal of information at the same time, with the two primary values in a larger font. Or you can quickly change it to display just the relevent two parameters, and the current mode, in a much larger font. It is also very fast in taking measurements, even at the slowest (most accurate) acquisition speed. Eg. a Fluke 289 takes about 1 second to measure a 100ohm resistor, Fluke 45 almost twice as long. The AT2817A is just about instant. Although, I realise that they employ different methods of measuring.

What I don't like with it is how it can display nonsense values, like a negative resistance value with no DUT. Otherwise I am happy with it and it has served me well. 

[ddavidebor]

Negative resistance has a meaning, wich is "you're measurement is wrong".

Very important, it tell you that something is putting external voltages on your test leads.