Products > Test Equipment
Bench Top Multimeter for ~1000USD
Kleinstein:
1 pF resolution is not really a big deal and most LCR meters have no problem here. Most LCR meters do capacitance better than a 6 digit DMM. A big difference here is having a defined frequency: with many capacitors the capacity is frequency dependent to an extend that better than 1 % accuracy only makes sense together with a defined frequency.
1 pF range relsolution needs care (e.g. relative measurement) with the probes / cables - normal probes may already add some 20 pF.
Another point one gets with a 6 digit and some 5 digit meters is voltage readings with high impedance (e.g. >10 Gohm). Up to which voltage depends on the meters (e.g. 20 V for the SDM3065, 10 V with the DMM6500, AFAIK 2 V with a SDM3055).
mawyatt:
One can measure ~5pF with maybe ~1/2pF uncertainty with a KS34465A, however this require extremely stable fixtures, cables, carefully nulling and such. Here's an example with an Venkel COG 4.7pF (~4.6876pF with IM3536 LCR Meter).
A better solution for the OP is a quality DMM and an LCR meter (or a NanoVNA), here's a modest cost DE-5000 with a stable fixture measuring the same 4.7pF COG 0603 cap.
Anyway, hopes this helps.
Best
jonpaul:
bonjour à tous
âgée 100% on 34465a great instruments, paid $1000 for one that was under warranty, and failed, black readout intermittently
Keysight replacement was a new one plus CAL certificat.
Low capacity...as we designed and manufactured very high CMRR low C transformers, we had to test down to 0.3 pf.
The Keysight 34465a can easily see << 1 pF.
Any pF measurement needs
1/ solid fixed test fixture, no wires
2/ 3 terminal guarded or Shielded measurement
3/ Fmeas 10khz >>>500 MHz
4/ HP 4195A network Spectrum Analyzer has several impedance test sets. Can easily measure 0.1 pF.
hope that the information is useful
Bon Soirée
Jon
We used the fine HP 4332A LCR meter with a FS 3 pF, but the 1960s Tek LC130 dual oscillator LC meter is excellent and has 75 pF lead comp.
rsjsouza:
Capacitance measurements on a multimeter are quite often just a quick status check (just like the hfe measurements). The LCR is the better option here, and accurate and versatile units (up to 100kHz) can be had for very reasonable money (~US$100).
As for bench options, the Keithley has gained a good reputation around here. Having worked only with modern Keysights or much older Tektronix units, I can"t compare.
mawyatt:
We have both a DMM6500 and three KS34465A (another story), so can "speak" from actual use rather than speculate. Both types are exceptional instruments, and one can't go wrong with either as both are strong performers in actual use.
Just did the same "experiment" with the same Venkel 0603 COG 4.7pF capacitor as shown above, the DMM6500 reads 4.866pF while the KS34465A reads 4.915pF, both average of 1,000 readings. The DMM6500 is easier to get a good null of the fixture and cable parasitic capacitances, but both require extremely stable fixture and cables positions for this level of measurement.
Again, this is not something we would recommend relying on these low capacitance measurements to be reasonably accurate. The better solution is a proper LCR Meter (DE-5000) or/and VNA (NanoVNA).
Best,
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