ESR Meter Suggestions

[304HUC]

I would like to purchase an inexpensive ESR meter to check capacitors in circuit. Looking for suggestions. I am not fat with cash and would like too to keep the meter cost around $60. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
304huc

 

[nullvalue]

I got one of these recently and it works very well

 

[Chuck(G)]

You use a dog to check capacitors?

Wonder if my Labrador retriever would work?

 

[nullvalue]

Fixed. Lol stupid copy/paste. Though my standard poodle does love to watch me solder. Hey, maybe we're onto something!

 

[Unknown_K]

The cheap multitesters on ebay work fine for me.

 

[jlang]

Wonder if my Labrador retriever would work?

I expect the cost of dog treats to train my yellow lab to sniff out bad caps would greatly exceed the cost of a high end ESR meter

joe

 

[maxtherabbit]

The cheap multitesters on ebay work fine for me.

this exactly what the amazon listing is (the correct one not the dog)

it's just one of those generic testers in a case

 

[Dwight Elvey]

I've been using an old analog RLC bridge to check ESR. It can measure inductance and resistance as well.
All this in one box.
Dwight

 

[g4ugm]

I would like to purchase an inexpensive ESR meter to check capacitors in circuit. Looking for suggestions. I am not fat with cash and would like too to keep the meter cost around $60. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
304huc

I have found the cheap meters and I have two pretty useless for testing ESR on PSU capacitors. I think they simply don't pump enough current through the device and report low ESR and high capacitance, but after replacing apparently "good" capacitors the PSU they were in worked.

 

[maxtherabbit]

I have found the cheap meters and I have two pretty useless for testing ESR on PSU capacitors. I think they simply don't pump enough current through the device and report low ESR and high capacitance, but after replacing apparently "good" capacitors the PSU they were in worked.

I've noticed similar results, what would you recommend instead?

 

[Dwight Elvey]

The problem is likely the frequency. Most ESR meters use 1KHz while switching supplies are in the ten's of KHz. Most analog RLC bridges, even those with internal oscillators, have the ability to use an external oscillator. They usually give a quality ratio reading. You need to use a calculator to find the actual series effective resistance. Still at a particular frequency, the quality number is more useful.
Dwight

 

[g4ugm]

I've noticed similar results, what would you recommend instead?

Well in the UK the gold standard is the "Peak" which measures at 100Khz

https://www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/esr70-capacitor-esr-meter.html

but I think you will think its too expensive.....

 

[Chuck(G)]

Going back to the OP's question, are there any reliable ESR testers that work in circuit?

 

[NeXT]

I've been using a Capacitor Wizard for almost four years now. The build quality can be questionable given the price (though as of this post it's currently 25% off) but it's been correct at determining weather or not a cap was good or bad enough times while in circuit I would say it's worth the price and paid for itself twice over.

 

[Hugo Holden]

It might be a case that you get what you pay for, the budget is a tad low.

Cheap test equipment could be a "Highway to Hell" with misleading results, but good test equipment is more like a "Stairway to Heaven". Those two songs might also say something about the ratios of the numbers of people going each way.

In any case, in my opinion, the best ESR meter in the world was designed by Bob Parker. These came out as a kit in Australia years ago, they are about $100 AU dollars, , roughly 75 USD, but you would have shipping:

https://www.altronics.com.au/p/k2574-esr-meter-kit/

They are also available on Ebay and go under the name "Anatek Blue", in assembled or kit form, but I really would recommend the Altronics kit. It has a sturdy case with a painted and detailed screen printed Steel panel, the printed ESR data for the capacitors is actually more helpful and quicker to use than a graph, and Red LED's with a red acrylic cover, very nicely done for a kit. The Anatek ones never struck me as being as robust.

The reason these are so good is that they use a micro current pulse to measure the capacitor and the voltage developed across it is very low. They give very reliable results with in circuit testing, especially in computer & other SMPS units . Also, they have a lovely LED display. In addition, I have other ESR meters. One type uses a sine wave to perform the analysis, it is not nearly as good, Dwight mentioned this issue with the sine wave frequencies, the pulse design of the Bob Parker meter avoids this problem.

Plus the Bob Parker meter is very accurate at measuring low Ohmic resistances, that a standard DVM cannot do, and which logically you would expect a high quality ESR meter should be able to do well.

 

[maxtherabbit]

Well in the UK the gold standard is the "Peak" which measures at 100Khz

https://www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/esr70-capacitor-esr-meter.html

but I think you will think its too expensive.....

They seem to be fetching about $120 USD on ebay shipped, that's acceptable if it's as good as you claim

 

[the3dfxdude]

So should I not trust my Amazon special ESR meter from Asia, but buy Australian?

 

[modem7]

In any case, in my opinion, the best ESR meter in the world was designed by Bob Parker. These came out as a kit in Australia years ago, ...

That sounds like the one described in the construction manual at [here]. Circuit diagram and description included. When published, I built some from kits, and still have at least one.

 

[Hugo Holden]

That sounds like the one described in the construction manual at [here]. Circuit diagram and description included. When published, I built some from kits, and still have at least one.

Yes, that is the one.

It is one of those things where the designer hit on a perfect design. The operating principle sound, the design great, and the physical execution of it very well done. After buying the first one and studying it and using it, I was so impressed that I bought a second kit and assembled it on a rainy day. So I have two of them, which fits in with my M/O of having lots of backup parts & equipment.

It is superior to meters that use a sine wave test and its testing methodology is quite suited to testing capacitors used in current pulse applications, such as smps.

 

[Hugo Holden]

So should I not trust my Amazon special ESR meter from Asia, but buy Australian?

I have no idea about the design & performance of other ESR meters, except for the Bob Parker ones (and the sine wave types I have tested made by GME)

I have no knowledge of the performance of any of the ESR meters from Asia. Also it is not about where an item of test equipment is made, could be Asia, Australia, USA, Germany, Timbuktu or anywhere else in the world. The real question is, is it any good ? I can promise that the Bob Parker meter is an excellent machine, due to the combination of the pulse operating principle and the physical execution of it, especially for the kit from Altronics, which is really a bargain for $103 AU dollars.