EEVblog

Dave reviews the new design BK Precision 879B handheld LCR meter.
How does it differ from the legacy Escort design?

[@EEVblog]

@BKPrecisionVideos Awesome work guys. Good to see companies that are so responsive to issues like this.

[@EEVblog]

@sepertude I don't understand why people always want me to "test the accuracy" of instruments. It is a measurement instrument from a big reputable manufacturer, there is little doubt it will meet its specifications. And spot testing one random unit for absolute measurement accuracy on a few ranges is kinda pointless in the scheme of things I think.

[@igsaturation]

@EEVblog errors happen. Just as you found the MINMAX bug all functions should be tested too ... just the extremes of each range is adequate. I found a cal error on a new big name DMM and yes, its supplied with a calibration certificate. I've already brought it to the attention of the maker. If I cal this formally, I'd have to pay another $100 for the service, so they are investigating and will repair it under warranty.

[@garygalo7586]

Thanks for the thorough review. The display would have more contrast if you removed the protective plastic sheet.

[@mikedrz]

I was screaming the same thing. I get upset with ppl that leave those on everything. haha

[@FXGreggan.]

Always liked B&K... Just purchased the last one from Farnell, thanks for the review Dave :)

[@Paddington2000]

Just a thought, when you measured the unit's current consumption, as far as I could tell the backlight was off which would probably explain why it was lower than specified. Good review, thanks.

[@ThomasHaberkorn]

Hi! I have some trouble measuring the inductance of a coil in a bipolar stepper motor (20 Ohm resistance). I have used several methods using function generator and oscilloscope. So far, the results are pretty much all over the map. Please discuss this topic (maybe in Fundamentals Friday..?)

[@andypalm7061]

Six years later i buy one. So far so good,BK did de-bug the unit it seems. I used your testing here as a guide. Thanks Dave!

[@sgajate]

Excellent review as allways!! It's a real shame that BK used that crappy display with such thin digits. At first it didn't seem that horrible, but when you put it side to side with the Agilent one, it was plain to se how awful and hard to read that thing is.(yes, i went into yoda mode). Anyways, Happy new year and I'll be eager to see more awesome blogs on this 2011!!

[@skonkfactory]

They probably put the USB port there so that the cable doesn't pull the device off the tilt bail when it's standing up.

[@Rondal62]

nice job Dave

[@jpmorgan187]

BK Precision: any update on the discrepancy between the manual and the meter regarding the low end range of capacitance/inductance, at 21:50?

[@sepertude]

Very nice Dave! To bad you dont have set of accurate test components to see how accurate it is. In Agilent manual are part numbers of those test sets used to calibrate meters. The only thing I dont like are thiny digits and color of the meter. Agilent has better colors and better looking display, however, im ordering one BK for me :)) Looks like all online stores are out of stock in USA and Canada :((( Nice review Dave! I expected that you would instert a charged capacitor... :)))

[@susanagodinho1909]

Hi, can you advice a good LCR meter on the range $100-200? What major diferences should I expect to have on a more expensive model? Regards

[@amateurtech736]

Hey, I'm a ham in the UK and I was looking for your advice on the best low cost LCR meter. Cheers. 73 from M0JKE

[@kd5gua]

@EEVblog, I see, I noticed someone else had mentioned it before me as well, oops, lol. That is a good review and gave me lots of info to go on in my decision making, even if on another brand.

[@billmoran3812]

Doug Everett if

[@Denvermorgan2000]

Im thinking about getting this since i can have several meters in one since i already need an esr meter.

[@chalisload]

Hey Dave I have purchased one of these BK Precision 879B and I am totally not impressed with its accuracy. I am an engineering student and also work in the electronics industry and also a hobbyist . I have read the manual a few times and I have tried many different components and the readings that I get with this Bk 879B is off by about 10%. My other LCR meter along with my fluke 189 and Fluke 289 all reads my capacitors accurately these are brand new high quality caps that I am testing.

[@miguelgomez5152]

I have a BK 875B LCR METER and works nice!! The newer versions are made with fasters components.

[@fuzzs8970]

Hi. Thank you for the review. I'm very interested to get the tips of what else can be done with this meter when you say it's hackable

[@jelberth]

Great video, good to see the inside too. I'm planning to buy one and checked their website. They now have a version 3 of the software to fix the min max avg bug. In europe the meters are all out of stock at the moment :-(( If you know were to buy one let me know

[@bobloblaw530]

Thanks for another great video. I can't believe the surface mount fuse, and from other accounts, i.e. Amazon, it doesn't seem that hard to blow the fuse. If buying something new I want the darn thing to last. Any recommendations for alternative brands for an LCR meter with the ESR function?

[@FooBar89]

Bob Loblaw Keysight has a really nice one, beyond that, you’re out of luck, unless you want to go for a questionable brand

[@EEVblog]

@herctrap You can buy it from my Merch store!

[@theealdeen6681]

Dear Dave, can LCR bridges/meters measure multiple components connect together? either two or two hundred (a full circuit) I have looked at this meter since this summer & am ready to purchase, Q- is there any "better" LCR in the same range? -- I thought it was nice this one had the polarity angle, that is huge for me, save lots of time. Thank you.

[@theealdeen6681]

+1 The Agilent has a better display -- but does it have the polar angle Dave?

[@javierrincon6710]

Hi. Is there any way to add a protection with 2 diodes in the DER EE DE5000 input, as they have done with mesr-100? For you, what do you think is the best instrument, the DER EE DE-5000, Atlas Peak 70ESR or the mesr-100v2? For me your opinion is important, I would greatly appreciate your response.

[@octapc]

You took the capacitor out on the Agilent and not the BK when you pressed for the results

[@ms767210]

It's saying discontinued on sales sites

[@0MoTheG]

The lowest inductance range is 40uH which makes it 1nH per display count. I hardly need anything below 1uH so that is good enough for my job.

[@clintronicsrva]

So I come into work and turn on my 879B and I got an error02, fuse not blown. So I contact BK and ask for a schematic and they reply no schematics but they'll put in a new PCB for $170US. so lame.

[@EEVblog]

@kd5gua The plastic sheet makes very little difference.

[@EEVblog]

@santiks Yep, i like it, apart from the battery life.

[@Akantrex]

I have no idea what you're talkin about, I have no knowledge about electronics, I'll never buy such a thing cause I'll never need it... but I still like to watch your videos... really kinda fun just listening to stuff I've no idea about what's so ever :D and you're a good talker :)

[@EEVblog]

@ms767210 That's probably the old model. This is the new B model.

[@EEVblog]

@JustinRLynn Nope, I tried that, same result.

[@EEVblog]

@BaCkFiR3 Yeah, but to be fair it's really only a demo app. The real power comes when you write your own app.

[@Nater_Tater]

btw i love the Tandy claculator! =]

[@VolksTrieb]

Mine doesnt have relative mode or min/max or something like it. But it was cheep. The page says the BK costs 300$... Well if the display was nicer and the menu better i maybe would buy it my self.

[@barrybogart5436]

I bought the 878 version, but I have a Blue ESR meter. But I wonder if it can be hacked into an 879.

[@antonioclemente7854]

Puedes dejar las manos quietas ?

[@wesleymatthews137]

I have the 880 version of the B&K. Does anyone know if the min/max/avg feature works on that one?

[@alecjw11]

You use 230V do you? I thought you used 120V like the americans... What type of plug do you use? Nice looking meter :P I was gonna say it seemed strange that the USB port isnt isolated, but then i guess you arent likely to encoutner high voltages or anything dangerous testing resistors/inductors/capacitors Display guard is a nice touch

[@gbowne1]

I use one of HP 4260/4270/4280 series LCR meters on my bench. Be careful, if you get one of these HP's, the 4280 series are usually very expensive.

[@FXGreggan.]

Just got a reply from B&K they are looking into the recording min/max/avg problem and they will post the fix to these comments (once they figure out what's wrong :) )

[@SinnerSince1962]

It's hard to read because you still have the plastic film protection on the display. Remove that and the glare will be significantly reduced. Oh well, since this was 13 years ago, I'm a bit late to the party.

[@bborkzilla]

@BaCkFiR3 I suppose you'd prefer a gratuitously animated Flash app instead. Sometimes simplicity of use and information quality trump slick graphics and custom controls.

[@jeanious2009]

My 879B records min/max/avg without issues. lol.

[@andypalm7061]

i just got my unit; first thing i did was check this: all good so far. ( 3/25/17)

[@barearsed]

If you take the display protector off you may find the display will be better. In the video the reflection on the display is bloody awful.

[@herctrap]

nice t-shirt

[@engjds]

I don't understand why they have a nice FPGA in there and yet decided to put all those logic chips in, is this design so complex they run out of space on the FPGA?

[@ELECTROxigeno76.]

Exelent video 💯🎩🚭

[@jan.tichavsky]

@BaCkFiR3 I can't believe that in 2011 you still type single letters... Now seriously, what's wrong with the app besides the com port selector (and isn't the text actually editable)? It's great and has all what you need for measurement, huge buttons are still easier to use than tiny buttons. Ok, maybe using more radio buttons instead of drop down list would save you some clicking but I don't see point in "cool&shiny look" which serve you no purpose.

[@kd5gua]

To mention the glare, with the protective plastic sheet still on the display, hmm. Good review otherwise. TY

[@grindererrofficial3755]

Good "OLD" Dave. I like those older videos so much more, than those new ones. Those new ones with super over acting and very affected voice acting and pitching, so annoying. Its so pleasant to watch ld videos, when Dave using his voice in calm and gentle way. :)

[@OldSkoolF]

OMG.... He doesn't start the video by screaming like he does in the newer vids... So much better..

[@tmmtmm]

All that effort to redesign, and still no 4-wire....

[@andypalm7061]

right. seems odd we have to improvise

[@vjekoslavcvetnic7500]

But still it has no on ESR 100kHz frequency measurement! I mean does it exist some super-nazi high quality flawless LCR meter on the market and when it will be on on EEVblog Dave!? We are continuously watching some semiproducts it might be good, but for who!

[@Nater_Tater]

no sex on that stick? lol

[@GreatJoe]

Drinking game: Obviously = Shot.

[@TomLeg]

Everyone's shop has ghastly lighting. Perhaps equipment manufacturers should design their equipment to look good under bad conditions? :-)

[@Asmodath]

Dave you are getting balder