First look at an LCR meter

[@PeterMilanovski]

Seems okay but.... This LCR meter has the same problem as most do, and that is it doesn't show all the parameters on the one screen! If you want to know what the capacitor drain is, you have to scroll to the next page! I have purchased a no name made in china LCR meter from eBay for $95Au and it's the only affordable meter that displays all the details on the one screen... The three most important factors that are needed when measuring capacitors are capacity, ESR and Drain! Without drain you don't know if it's leaking DC! In those cheap multi component testers it's usually called Vloss instead of drain.... What most people don't realise is that a capacitor could show a very low ESR but have high drain and should higher than what it's rated for in capacity... When capacity goes up, it's a very good clue that it's leaking DC and should be replaced! It doesn't mean that it's an over achiever! Capacity readings for a good capacitor should always be just below what is printed on it... Too low or too high is bad and should be replaced. If a capacitor is located near a heat source or above it, it's good practice to go up in voltage rating so long as space permits... Going up in voltage will ensure that the device being repaired or restored will function without failure longer than it did with it's original capacitors. The old paper in wax capacitors could be used in a circuit at twice it's rated voltage, their design wasn't as good as modern day capacitors and it's the fact that they were so underrated that they lasted so long. We find in modern equipment that the designer will specify a capacitor at just above it's working voltage and this is the reason why modern capacitors fail so soon. If all capacitors are replaced with higher voltage rated capacitors, that equipment will last twice as long as it did with it's original capacitors... RCA back in the 50's was conducting testing on components and they made sure that their TV's would survive at twice the rated voltage... They don't make stuff like that anymore! I hope that this is helpful to someone... I put in a lot of research into why my capacitor is showing good ESR and yet the transistor right after it will still die after being replaced. I knew that there was something more to it than just ESR and capacity... It's rare that a high ESR capacitor destroys a transistor, but a DC leaking capacitor will over bias the transistor and kill it... Always remember to make sure that you check for capacitor drain! Always!

[@engjds]

Note, meters like the Fluke 87V use AC, but at a much lower frequency than 100Hz, so it will generally show an higher capacitance than these.

[@engjds]

Be interesting to compare it to the benchmark Keysight U133C (or equivalent BK meter), this seems to have more features like compare.

[@markclark787]

I got one of the cheap ones (like your old one), in a case with a Li-ion battery, good for bad eyesight, I am amazed at how far out some resistors are.

[@SeanBZA]

Best way to show it is to measure a large wirewound resistor with a steel bolt mounting. Has all 3 that will show up on a LCR meter, and around a 1k 20W one shows up the best for all. Those can actually sing at high power.

[@pileofstuff]

I was going to play with one, but the video was starting to get too long. - I already cut over an hour out from what I recorded...

[@markfergerson2145]

@@pileofstuff You might be surprised how many of us wouldn't mind seeing that. Hint hint. ;)

[@chefbink61]

1st I would like to say that these LCR meters are well worth the $$. I really like the 18650 batts and the fact that you can replace them if needed a really nice touch. I really hate to see a battery pack that locks you into having to buy it from the manufacture. Also I would like to add the the industry standard for test caps is is 100Hz.

[@mttr4003]

I pickup the 1833c and it didn't include the batteries and the USB power came with a Eu (two round pin) not Can plug and no manual.

[@jstro-hobbytech]

Quick acquisition time with stock leads. I'm too traditional for fancy screens on my handheld meters. Hantek make quality products for their price. They have a 100mhz 2 Chan dso with 15mhz awg on Amazon for 405cad delivered. But the probes are lacking but you can't argue with the price. I plan to buy it at some point for reasons explained in my other comment. One of the few meters I do not have. I have an esr meter and a diy lcr atmega328p based kit ordered. I have a capacity meter but not for in circuit which is why I ordered an esr from China for over 100cad cheaper than have it next week Amazon prices haha. I have some vintage audio equipment to recap and one has 127 of them so I'd like to save some bucks on audio electrolytic caps if I can haha you're right about the little diy meter, it's perfect for curiosity, especially if writing is rubbed off a mosfet or something and you just want to know what it is for a build. It's why I ordered the little red one. If I needed it for work then the hantek all the way. Good video

[@station240]

Interesting, was looking at a UK made LCR meter around the same price. Didn't have the same range of frequencies to choose from, or the accuracy. Afraid there is a lot more expensive stuff I need first.

[@wooferhound7571]

Oh Yes, I work with capacitors and inductors for speaker crossovers. Have had an LC meter for awhile now

[@Luke-12V]

good evening, the device can also measure capacitors in the circuit, thank you very much

[@pileofstuff]

Measuring *any* component in circuit is seldom going to give you an accurate result, no matter what test equipment you use. Other components in the circuit are always going to have the possibility of impacting your measurements.

[@paolorecchia2714]

Why it does not give the Vloss for the capacitors?

[@TheEmbeddedHobbyist]

I would be surprised to see a resistor have such a difference in resistance to reactance as can be seen at 12:48 at 40KHz. Only just above audio how do we use them in radios R=100K X=1.3, as modern resistors tend to be cut in a sprial to trim their values, I would expect the reactance to increase with frequency as they are starting to act as more like an inductor. hence solid carbon resistors used to limit inductance at RF.

[@mfr58]

I am considering buying one of these, but I want to use the guard connection for more accurate readings. Another reviewer found that this was not actually connected to circuitry inside his Hantek and the company told me they don't supply the required connectors..... I wonder if you can see if you one has the guard connected as it should be? or maybe its another bit of Chinese smoke and mirrors....

[@guateque1718]

ZB-L100K Handheld LCR Test Clip. This is one of two kelvin test leads that work with the Hanteck.

[@guateque1718]

The other is made by Uni-T but I dont remember the model number.

[@embededfabrication4482]

so these things are just for testing capacitors and inductors?

[@pileofstuff]

capacitors and inductors is their main function. They can also test resistors. They can't test voltage or diodes.

[@embededfabrication4482]

@@pileofstuff can you tell me how to test the SMD power mosfets in my VESC? u can see me trying to fix it on my channel, i crossed the output momentarily by accident

[@fredflintstone1]

is the Q reading looking at ringing of the inductor or something else??

[@pileofstuff]

Not sure the exact method this meter uses to determine Q, but it is likely a calculation based on the test frequency and the inductance. That seems to be the typical method according to the Wikipedia article on Q.

[@jstro-hobbytech]

@@pileofstuff isn't Q shorthand for time and time based measurement(s)?

[@sumitm8904]

What is the highest frequency up to which we can measure the LCR of the component using this LCR meter?

[@totallyfrozen]

100kHz

[@DustinWatts]

You didn't loose me when it got to theory, you got my attention :D For most purposes you can let Rx = R. Off course, no component is ideal but. when calculating impedance, you can let the reactance of the resistor by the same as it's resistance. Q triggers my audio engineer brain. Q how I see it is, how steep the curve is, how big the bandwidth of the affected frequencies. Good review!

[@pileofstuff]

I haven't had to think about Q or inductive reactance much since I left the broadcasting industry over 20 years ago. It was interesting to touch on it a little bit again.

[@GeorgeWMays]

Very good. Thank you for a cool video. It is genuinely appreciated. Are there German, Chinese, American, Japanese, and the like beers that can be included? How does resistance vary between the beers?

[@pileofstuff]

I occasionally wander into the international section at my local beer supplier, but I prefer to explore all the new offerings from my local breweries. What's that old phrase? "Think globally, drink locally"

[@GeorgeWMays]

@@pileofstuff HaHa. Yep. I get it. Cheers.

[@johncoops6897]

I really don't think he has ANY resistance to beers.

[@GeorgeWMays]

@@johncoops6897 Ah, but what about his capacitance?

[@pileofstuff]

@@johncoops6897 I'll drink to that!

[@stevenspmd]

How sensitive are these meters to charged capacitors? Like if you test a cap do you need to discharge it before testing it again? I have both a DER-5000 and a cheap-o component tester for LCR measurement and I managed to kill the cheap one seemingly but testing a cap twice in a row without discharge?

[@pileofstuff]

The manual and a label on the device itself warns not to test charged caps. it tests at less than 1 volt, so I suspect having that much still on a cap won't be a problem, but a charged power supply capacitor may cause some problems. I'm not really inclined to do a destructive test, though...

[@stevenspmd]

@@pileofstuff that is sorta what I thought. I guess I was unlucky with my trusty Chienisum LCR meter.

[@stevenspmd]

I wonder why no protection circuitry is ever added?

[@pileofstuff]

@@stevenspmd Tghere are some diodes near the input jacks that appear to be part of a protection circuit , but I didn't bother to reverse engineer them to be certain.

[@videoalyoum5904]

😢😢😢

[@Antyelektronika]

Hi greata video, but capacitor having parasitic inductive component i parallel would work as a short in DC :), so this I think is not correct :)

[@qua7771]

Can you do in circuit testing with this meter?

[@juancarlossandoval5628]

Can we use the ESR mode to measure 18650 battery Internal Resistance?

[@pileofstuff]

Interesting thought. I'm not sure. Normally measuring battery internal resistance is done using an AC source, so it might work. To get a meaningful result, you'd want a proper battery tester to compare against to make sure you were getting useful measurements, I suspect.

[@markderlo212]

no need to risk damaging the meter; instead just do this: - measure battery voltage with no load (lets call this voltage value E0) - then measure voltage U1 volts and current I1 miliamps when battery is loaded with resistor R1 Ohms; You can draw say 10mA or 100mA or whatever suits you - then calculate internal battery res Rb using formula: E0 = U1 - (Rb x I1)

[@adam850]

Looks like the PCB has a spot for a WiFi or BT module

[@pileofstuff]

Tghat does look like a footprint for an ESP8266 or ESP 32 or similar module, doesn't it. I don;t see that as a currently available option on the manufacturer's web page, though

[@adam850]

@@pileofstuff there are even caps populated there.

[@johnlucier8572]

Can this hantak be used in circuit testing caps thanks good video

[@pileofstuff]

In-circuit testing is always challenging, regardless of the tool you are using. It will depend on the circuit and the other components that are electrically adjacent to the capacitor you want to test.

[@jamess1787]

Thanks!!!!

[@rectify2003]

Looks like a good piece of kit I don’t trust Banggood tho

[@fredflintstone1]

very nice review :-)

[@johnchristopherrobert1839]

What’s the point of an expensive meter if you’re not going to get accurate readings.

[@pileofstuff]

There are a lot of factors that can influence capacitive and inductive measurements. And, while being more expensive than a regular multimeter, this is about as cheap as LCR meters come. It's a good hobby grade device. Proper professional LCR (and ESR) meters cost thousands.

[@johnchristopherrobert1839]

@@pileofstuff thanks for your response

[@fumthings]

the LED sign is repaired, yay.

[@pileofstuff]

nothing a good 'ol "switch it off and back on again" couldn't fix...