It's important the frequency test of handheld LCR meter?

[leftek]

Hello, i would like to buy a handheld LCR meter. I see the GW-INSTEK LCR-914 that have 1khz frequency test. It's low? I must to go for higher model LCR-915 with 10khz ?

[bdunham7]

Hello, i would like to buy a handheld LCR meter. I see the GW-INSTEK LCR-914 that have 1khz frequency test. It's low? I must to go for higher model LCR-915 with 10khz ?

It depends on what values you want to measure.  For example I found that for wide-ranging repair use, a 10kHz LCR was marginal but 100kHz is good enough for almost everything I do, which means maybe sort-of accurate down to the 1pF range. 

[TimFox]

I don’t know the current prices, but the DER DE-5000 has 100, 120, 1k, 10k, and 100kHz test frequencies.  At 1 MHz and above, component fixturing becomes more critical.  For low pF measurements, the higher frequency the better.  For larger values, you may run into self resonance problems by 100 kHz.

[ogden]

When someone asks "what kind of VNA/SA/whatever I need: 100MHz or 40GHz?" my answer is: you don't need any until you understand what you actually need

[Electro Fan]

+1 for DER DE-5000
It will get you started and might be the only LCR meter you need, and it will save you a bunch of Euros vs the  LCR-914 and 915

[David Hess]

In most cases the test frequency does not matter beyond how it affects the measurement capability.  Line frequency capacitors are specified at 100 or 120 Hz.  Old impedance bridges use a test frequency of 1 kHz.  Capacitors for switching converters are specified at 100 kHz.

[leftek]

When someone asks "what kind of VNA/SA/whatever I need: 100MHz or 40GHz?" my answer is: you don't need any until you understand what you actually need

If you don't understand the question, it's not necessary to write anything out of topic.

[ogden]

When someone asks "what kind of VNA/SA/whatever I need: 100MHz or 40GHz?" my answer is: you don't need any until you understand what you actually need

If you don't understand the question, it's not necessary to write anything out of topic.

Cool down, kid. I very well understood your Wrong Question. I can rephrase for those who don't get VNA alegory: "I shall get Yaris or Veyron?" You shall be first telling what you think you will be doing with LCR meter, then ask what high frequency LCR meters are good for.

[leftek]

Cool down, kid. I very well understood your Wrong Question. I can rephrase for those who don't get VNA alegory: "I shall get Yaris or Veyron?" You shall be first telling what you think you will be doing with LCR meter, then ask what high frequency LCR meters are good for.

The Wrong Question was -> "It's important the frequency test of handheld LCR meter?"

[bdunham7]

You shall be first telling what you think you will be doing with LCR meter, then ask what high frequency LCR meters are good for.

Why would it be necessary for us to know exactly what the OP is going to use the LCR for in order to provide a simple explanation of the implications of the test frequency?

[wraper]

When someone asks "what kind of VNA/SA/whatever I need: 100MHz or 40GHz?" my answer is: you don't need any until you understand what you actually need

If you don't understand the question, it's not necessary to write anything out of topic.

Cool down, kid. I very well understood your Wrong Question. I can rephrase for those who don't get VNA alegory: "I shall get Yaris or Veyron?" You shall be first telling what you think you will be doing with LCR meter, then ask what high frequency LCR meters are good for.

Regardless of what you will be doing with LCR meter, test frequency poses significant limitations even for quite basic measurements. Writing "you don't need any until you understand what you actually need" as minimum is lame. Even for rookie, LCR meter can be a quite useful tool. What was asked is a very valid question, and not everyone who actually needs to make measurements @ 100kHz (for they rather basic needs) knows that they actually need such measurement frequency.

[ogden]

Why would it be necessary for us to know exactly what the OP is going to use the LCR for in order to provide a simple explanation of the implications of the test frequency?

Implications of the test frequency were explained already. My point was about asking better questions. You guys don't get sarcasm. It is always good to know intended use of hardware in question and experience of the OP. Very often people asks "how to do X" without explaining reasons, then after lenghty discussion about "how to do X", everybody realizes that OP actually is trying to solve problem "Y" and best solution is "doing Z", not "X". Just two cents.

[CDN_Torsten]

leftek:

Having a LCR meter that can operate at higher frequencies can be useful if using the capacitor at a frequency other than what is specified on the datasheet.

DER EE DE-5000 is a good choice as is the East Tester ET4510...though the ET4510 has a bit of a strange UI...

[Electro Fan]

I wasn't aware of East Tester.  Thx. 
How about the East Tester ET430 Handheld Digital?

[leftek]

Thank you for your information. I will try to buy the higher frequency in order to have the choice.

[ogden]

Thank you for your information. I will try to buy the higher frequency in order to have the choice.

If you (hopefully) plan to learn more, get better at electronics then indeed it is wise to buy equipment with extra performance margin, especially if you can afford it

[ogden]

Writing "you don't need any until you understand what you actually need" as minimum is lame.

    Lame is not getting what actually is said by that.