Viewer request! Blue ESR Tester vs MUL3333 analog ESR meter vs MK168 Transistor Tester

[@ZilogBob]

Interesting comparison. I designed the Blue ESR meter and I'm glad it performed pretty well. 👍

[@buildstoys]

Nice comparison, thanks for taking the time to post the results.

[@whodatdere1]

Thanks for showing us the comparison. Am sure that took some time! You now have the best ESR meter test breakdown on YT. This will help many determine what to trust on their bench. Keep up the good work! I had to settle for a MESR100 V2 (could be a knock off) from Amazon due to a time restricted job that landed on me early this year. I really want to get the Blue ESR, but the shipping delays were (and are still) way too long. Might do my own comparison in the future.

[@sonyajones]

Much better than bulk capacitor replacement. Great devices. Fantastic video. Thank you.

[@jp040759]

Thanx. Great info. I bought my own Blue ESR kit about 6 weeks ago after seeing your video on yours. I hope to get to building it some time next week. I will have to compare it to my home made ESR meter and my similar MK168 style device I have. MUL3333 may be due for a re-cal video if it looks possible after opening and checking viability of fixing it.

[@60gregma]

I have seen these MK168s on various sites, and I just assumed they were a low-end transistor checker. I have wanted an ESR meter but couldn't justify the cost for my needs. This is perfect. Not only does it measure ESR but it will function as an ohm meter, a diode checker and a capacitor tester displaying not only the ESR but the value too! Dandy little unit. Picked one up for under $30 on Amazon.

[@JahanZeb1976]

Awesome comparison. The beauty of analogue meter is one can make it DIY version and it works awesomely.

[@TheDigitalAura]

You can always make your own MK168, I'm tempted to make one as a fun project. Details can be found here (use google translate) avrtester.tode.cz/

[@jp040759]

I built my own ESR meter using one of the circuits out on the web. I chose the ci9rcuit that doesn't require specialty coils or transformers. I have used it for 7 years now. It has saved my butt MANY times in that time.

[@hullinstruments]

Would also love to see the “five transistor” analog esr tester designed and shared on the EEVblog forum. I bet it’s more accurate than the old MUL3333

[@frankpitochelli6786]

Great analysis, I still like the analog movement, but, no question the blue and the Ebay tester were a bit more accurate. If only I had an ESR meter 25+ yrs ago, I could've saved so many more devices. 😔

[@TheDigitalAura]

I have the older Bob Parker tester and it's fantastic, wouldn't trade it for anything.

[@ZilogBob]

Thanks for that! 👍🦘

[@giorgostexnikos6976]

amazing video thenks

[@manuelvillanueva3753]

Wow, see all the differences, amazing!

[@richardhz-oi8px]

I have one of the original Creative Electronics ESR meters from the 1970s. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

[@ZilogBob]

I think that was the first ESR meter on the market. Designed by Carl Vette (I think).

[@richardhz-oi8px]

@@ZilogBob Yep, Carl W. Vette, he held the patent and was the only one making such a meter until the 1990s. Lived in Clawson MI at 1417 N. Selfridge st. as every meter face says. Mine is old enough to still have the 100kHz IC, later ones ran at 50kHz as he couldn't source the 100kHz version any more.

[@ZilogBob]

@@richardhz-oi8px Thanks for the background info!

[@hullinstruments]

Would also love to see the “five transistor” analog esr tester designed and shared on the EEVblog forum. I bet it’s more accurate than the old MUL3333

[@hullinstruments]

Hopefully soon we'll see a decent DIY ESR meter design. Preferably with an option to change the test frequency

[@GeoffSeeley]

"Where's Cheech?" Lol, I'm old enough to get that joke :-)

[@LifeBloodMarketing]

How low is too low? I have some caps that read .00 on the Blue ESR, is that not a dead short? 100v 50uf.

[@ZilogBob]

Everyone hates that weird graph on the front of the Blue ESR meter. You can download a copy of the nice simple chart of typical ESR figures from the front of the Mk2 Dick Smith Electronics ESR meter from bobparker.net.au/esr_meter/2003esrchart.pdf

[@levimevis5192]

I have one of those MK-168 testers, but unfortunately mine died recently (the display won't light up anymore and the LCD Display itself won't display anything anymore) when you push the "test" button the red power LED lights up but the LCD Display doesn't light up or display any readings anymore, is there a repair for that or is it just something that needs to be thrown away? because my MK-168 died and I needed an ESR meter to help in repairing some old Transistor radios and a couple of old VCRs I bought one of those MUL3333 units used on feebay for $30 (I couldn't afford nor justify the $100+ price tag of the other units they had for sale on there including the Capacitor Wizard, and I didn't want to get another MK-168 because of the one I had dying in the manner that it did in case it was some sort of design flaw.) I had to buy some new test leads for my MUL3333 because mine didn't come with its original test leads, but mine works pretty decently for what I need (I used it along with my own observational skills to repair a portable GE cassette recorder from the early 1980s that had two bad Matsushita capacitors (the light purple ones) that were causing the tape player to not play any audio when it was playing and put out a low pitched hum (its a 4 "C" battery or 6V DC Wall wort powered unit.)

[@norcal715]

I have had the same MK-168 for almost 10 years and just recently ordered a replacement just in case my original died. I did cook a previous one by trying to test a charged capacitor though.

[@levimevis5192]

@@norcal715 mine was only half a decade old when it finally died, and even after only 3 years I started having trouble with it misidentifying known good capacitors as either resistors, or giving me a “no or unknown part” messages when I was trying to test capacitors or even diodes or transistors.

[@norcal715]

Were you testing out of circuit?

[@levimevis5192]

@@norcal715 yes I was. Unfortunately I think the batteries I used with it may or may not of had something to do with it because I used the cheapest batteries I could get ( 9v batteries have been $15 for a 2 pack recently.) so I would usually get the store brand batteries.

[@hullinstruments]

It’s hard to beat the DE-5000 LCR meter. Compared to my high end calibrated benchtop LCR meters… like the Syncor Z meters, and HP meters….Pound for pound it is always the most reliable and accurate. I also love the “cap-Analyzer“ that used to be sold by electronic design specialties. If you can snag one they are also extremely reliable with a very unique ESR circuit. Anything designed by Dave migga from EDS is a device that should be on every bench! Especially their cap-analyzer and leak seeker

[@hullinstruments]

Would also love to see the “five transistor” analog esr tester designed and shared on the EEVblog forum. I bet it’s more accurate than the old MUL3333

[@kwd57]

Good video. I think the MUL3333 belongs in the trash.

[@mp1454]

Esr 👏👑👍👍👍

[@uricohen5463]

From where did you buy the test leads ..can you point a link pkease Thank you

[@norcal715]

They are Keysight Technologies brand. www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Keysight/U1169A?qs=YCa%2FAAYMW00oL5wtpCD3GA%3D%3D

[@uricohen5463]

its not the one you use !! this are bulk , i wat the exact one you use

[@KuntalGhosh]

Mk168 should be good enough for my hobby work 😆

[@norcal715]

I just ordered a spare MK-168. Its pretty good.

[@barryg41]

Cheech? Fore Twenty Heaven? 😃 I like my blue esr.

[@uricohen5463]

hello ,Pleeeese help me , i am very frustrated have the capacitor wizard , it cost 180$ witch i payed ,also i have the "der de-5000" that cost 110 $ , every one give me a defferant result ' how can i test its accuracy ? can you do that , i dont know is the caps i am testing is good or bad on board , because of value difference . p.s - i love you videos , i am am donation from time to time thank you

[@ZilogBob]

Check a selection of resistors, as shown in the video.

[@norcal715]

That's what I was going to suggest. Thank you Bob!

[@norcal715]

uri cohen I have credited you in my videos. Thank you.

[@ZilogBob]

@@norcal715 👍🙂

[@ZilogBob]

@@norcal715 Just wait till the "Blue2" ESR meter goes on sale soon. The "deluxe" version *speaks* the readings too!