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Best CHEAP LCR meter for small capacitors and inductors?
ranchero:
I periodically need to measure small capacitors (under 20pF, sometimes under 5pf) and small inductors (under 150NH).
I currently have DE-5000 which has 100kHz range and should theoretically measure these small L and C just fine. But readings on these small L and C are very unstable even though I'm using TL-21 adapter with very short leads (like 4cm).
Since it's more like a hobby I can't justify purchasing real good LCR meter (like PM6304).
Do you guys think any less expensive LCR meter (let's say, under $200) will do any better than DE-5000? I would be totally happy with 10%-15% tolerance on these small L and C.
Funny fact - every review on Youtube shows tests of electrolytic capacitors and big inductors, which almost any rectangular box with gauge on it able to measure, but never - very small values.
Question#2 - what would be best setup to measure small SMD L and C (like 0402, 0603)? Currently I'm using small board with 2 pins, just soldering SMD elements to the board for measuring.
tautech:
What's cheap ? :-//
Splash out on a pair of decent smart tweezers and never look back.
See here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/smart-tweezers/
2N3055:
under $200 ?
No, you cannot get better LCR than DE-5000 for that money.
But your problem is not the meter. Such small capacities are measured by using mechanically stable measurement adapters and 4wire setup. Tl-21 is not stable enough for this. Such adapters can be very expensive to buy...
Other option to measure small L/C is a VNA. You would also need a measurement fixture for that...
Also what Tautech said, some tweezers (quality ones, that cost 200-300€) are much better at measuring small L/C because there are no cables and is more mechanically compact setup.
Measuring such small values is all about dealing with parasitics in measurement setup.
ranchero:
Smart Tweezers only have 10kHz frequency max, specs say that they will measure inductance from 0.5uH which is useless for me.
What if I will create fixture which will fit directly into DE-5000 slots, with little board on top, and solder SMD part directly to that board? Virtually - no wires.
Will it make measurements any more stable? Actually, stable readings even more important for me than actual values (but actual values would be nice of course).
coromonadalix:
your "cheapest" will be the avr component tester project here loll
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