Author Topic: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer  (Read 19288 times)

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Offline HighVoltageTopic starter

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Re: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer
« Reply #75 on: July 08, 2022, 06:33:25 pm »
and ... Shahriar did a nice video on the LC103 a few weeks ago:



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Offline mapleLC

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Re: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer
« Reply #76 on: July 08, 2022, 07:29:54 pm »
and ... Shahriar did a nice video on the LC103 a few weeks ago:




I saw that, though there was no mention of the other model or any feature differences.
 

Offline HighVoltageTopic starter

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Re: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer
« Reply #77 on: July 08, 2022, 07:35:03 pm »
Feature wise they are the same, as far as I can tell.
The display and the membrane keyboard have been updated significantly on the LC103.

Looking at the picture of the LC102, it seems this one is missing the "In Circuit" testing capability for capacitors and inductors.


« Last Edit: July 08, 2022, 07:37:26 pm by HighVoltage »
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Offline mapleLC

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Re: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer
« Reply #78 on: July 09, 2022, 01:16:16 am »
Is that an option?
 

Offline HighVoltageTopic starter

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Re: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer
« Reply #79 on: July 09, 2022, 07:12:16 am »
Here is the old datasheet of the LC102 for comparison attached.

The "In Circuit" testing was a new feature of the LC103 only. Not an option for the LC102.

Both, the LC102 and the LC103 are sold these days for more than when they were new.
Although I have several capacitor testers, I usually use only the LC103.


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Offline mapleLC

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Re: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer
« Reply #80 on: July 09, 2022, 01:15:40 pm »
I doubt they redesigned the entire board for that feature but looking at the 2 boards, they visually look quite different, so I wonder if the entire tool was redesigned between versions.

I wonder if the 102 can be modded?  The in-circuit thing matters to me.



 

Offline HighVoltageTopic starter

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Re: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer
« Reply #81 on: July 09, 2022, 01:58:59 pm »

I wonder if the 102 can be modded?  The in-circuit thing matters to me.

I don't think so.
If the "In-Circuit-Testing" is important to you, get the LC103.

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Offline mapleLC

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Re: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer
« Reply #82 on: July 10, 2022, 09:42:43 am »
If anyone has a 103, I am in the market.  Not at stupid ebay prices, but nonetheless in the market.
 

Offline jackberg

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Re: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer
« Reply #83 on: July 11, 2022, 03:06:33 pm »
I am in search for that software too. Does anybody have it?
 

Offline HighVoltageTopic starter

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Re: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer
« Reply #84 on: July 11, 2022, 04:00:01 pm »
The software has not been released to "us", still waiting
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Offline HighVoltageTopic starter

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Re: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer
« Reply #85 on: August 07, 2022, 03:10:37 pm »
My LC103 has the firmware v1.53 installed and I was asked to read it out.
Maybe someone else also likes a copy of it.
So, here it is:

LC103_Firmware_v1.53.zip

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Offline jpaudio

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Re: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer
« Reply #86 on: June 07, 2023, 01:56:41 pm »
Hi. I was wondering if someone from members here has a Sencore LC103 for selling. If yes, please send me a PM.
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
John
 

Offline jpaudio

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Re: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer
« Reply #87 on: June 09, 2023, 07:24:00 am »
Hi. I am interested for a faulty unit also. If someone has one on a shelf unused and forgoten...
Regards,
John
 

Offline alm

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Re: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer
« Reply #88 on: June 09, 2023, 07:28:28 am »
How many people would you expect to have suddenly acquired a unit they want to sell since your last message two days ago?

I'd suggest creating your own topic in the Buy & Sell section instead of hijacking this topic.
 
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Offline jpaudio

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Re: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer
« Reply #89 on: June 09, 2023, 07:55:03 am »
Sorry, I did not want to spoil this topic, I didn't know that there is a special "buy & sell" section either. My apologies. I will post a new thread there.
Regards,
John
 
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Offline glicos

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Re: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer
« Reply #90 on: September 02, 2023, 11:19:24 pm »
I have a Sencore LC102 Capacitor inductor analyzer. Working ok in terms of testing but theres always an annoying buzzer sound inside when i turn it ON. Anyone knows whats the propable cause.
Thanks
 

Offline coromonadalix

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Re: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer
« Reply #91 on: September 03, 2023, 04:15:39 am »
could be some coil or xforer oscilations ?

some schematics exists for the 102 ...
 

Offline Mike Flosse

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Re: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer
« Reply #92 on: January 12, 2024, 11:11:18 am »
Hello,
Thanks for sharing all that valuable information. How can I get a copy of all your files? I would be very grateful. I have the chance to buy a used old Sencore LC103, but I cannot spend 2000$ If I am not able to calibrate it.
Thanks a lot in advance
Mike
 

Offline coromonadalix

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Re: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer
« Reply #93 on: January 12, 2024, 02:39:14 pm »
go to ko4bb  website  everything is supposed to be there, search in sencore

http://www.ko4bb.com/getsimple/index.php?id=manuals


self calibrations    as far as we know is impossible, you need some reference material and the software was not made public,  an eevblog member was supposed to post here


but in the end if you do not need an 1kv  test

you have plenty of bench lcrs  who can do  in serial or parallel tests and wont cost as much as the lc102 or 103, and some can be easily calibrated

Sencore are in a special niche ....  obsolete, still good if you find one in very good shape   but way over priced
« Last Edit: January 12, 2024, 02:44:57 pm by coromonadalix »
 
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Offline Mike Flosse

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Re: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer
« Reply #94 on: January 15, 2024, 07:38:06 am »
Hello,
Thanks a lot for the prompt answer. I checked carefully on the ko4bb website and I was not able to find the "C103 Final Cal" software to calibrate the LC103. Did any of you ever download that software? Any help will be much appreciated.
Thanks again in advance
Mike
 

Offline The Real MC

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Re: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer
« Reply #95 on: February 11, 2024, 04:13:04 am »
New member here, 40+ years experience with bench test equipment.  My day job is Systems Engineer with automated test systems.

Last weekend I was browsing a guitar show and found a box of various bench test instruments labeled "make an offer".  Pulled out a Sencore LC-102 thinking "why does this look familiar?"  Included the power supply, test lead (with missing clip), and the test lead adapter (but not the hold down rod).  A capacitor analyzer would be useful on my workbench.  I opened my wallet to the seller that had less than $60 inside - he took $50 for the LC-102.  He says that it does work.

It was later that night that I realized a) what their value is on the market :wtf: b) the demand for these things, and c) from discussions in this forum that these units have a lot of common malfunctions.  From pictures of other LC-102 units, the panel on mine has yellow aging so it must had seen a lot of sunlight.  As you can see from my website http://www.analoguediehard.com I am not intimidated by instrument restorations.

Soooo... after printing the manual, schematics, patents, tech tips, calibration procedures, circuit descriptions, references in this forum (THANK YOU!), and organizing them all in a three ring notebook, I reviewed the unit operation and prepared to fire it up - expecting the worse.

Power on self test - PASS
Test Lead zero test - PASS
Test Lead short test - PASS
LCD Display test - PASS

Other than the test lead needing a replacement clip, this thing is free of defects!  8)

I popped the hood - by the datecodes on the ICs and other components, this unit was built in 1996.  So it's a fairly late model.  There's a bunch of jumper wire modifications combined with floating components, I haven't documented them yet. 
Firmware eprom is v17.  Expecting to find eight of the Fairchild relays known to fail, I only found five.

In place of three of the Fairchild relays are American Relay Inc substitutes Z051B300R0A (L4) and Z051A550R0B (L1, L9).  The relays are cylindrical (you're not prying these puppies open!), are axial pin-for-pin direct replacements, and have 1996 datecodes like the rest of the unit.  They show no sign of solder reflow/repair so they must be original from the factory.

Hello...!  Did Sencore identify a more reliable substitute late in the product life?!?

American Relays Inc was acquired by Standex Electronics in 2021.  I tried various search terms to locate any info on the American Relay "Z" series and came up empty.  None of the usual suppliers (Mouser, Digikey) show any available.

One thing I have learned in restorations: if your unit has the 4xxx CMOS ICs made by RCA, replace them with new NS or TI CMOS.  The RCA CMOS of the 70s/80s have a history of rotting substrates due to chemical interactions causing a short to ground, and according to my RCA databook they do NOT have overvoltage protection on the input pins now standard on modern CMOS.
 

Offline HighVoltageTopic starter

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Re: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer
« Reply #96 on: February 11, 2024, 11:07:41 am »
Hello,
Thanks a lot for the prompt answer. I checked carefully on the ko4bb website and I was not able to find the "C103 Final Cal" software to calibrate the LC103. Did any of you ever download that software? Any help will be much appreciated.
Thanks again in advance
Mike
That software has not been made available to us.
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Offline HighVoltageTopic starter

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Re: Sencore LC102 & LC103 Capacitor & Inductor Analyzer
« Reply #97 on: February 11, 2024, 11:09:15 am »

I opened my wallet to the seller that had less than $60 inside - he took $50 for the LC-102.  He says that it does work.


What a great deal!
I am sure you will enjoy this unit, once you get to know it.

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