capacitance meter

[LucifersTrip]

My meter (~ $25) seems to have finally died:



I don't think I have a shot in hell troubleshooting it like a fuzzbox, so I'm looking for another.

If anyone has any recommendations in the $25-$40 price range, please let me know.

I was considering this one (~ $35), which has autoranging, so no back and forth on the dial.



Btw, if you're really building a bunch of effects, it really is extremely helpful, especially if you use vintage or salvaged parts or modern ceramics.

Vintage electros are very commonly way off...just simply gone bad, and those small modern ceramic ones are also way off many times. For instance, the .022's I just got all measured .03+, so don't be surprised when a circuit  doesn't sound exactly as it should even when you used the "right" components. Those greenies have been pretty damn accurate, though, both vintage & modern.

[iccaros]

I have been looking at this one
http://electronics-diy.com/lc_meter.php
its more than your range.. but its interesting..

[LucifersTrip]

that's cool...might be worth it since you get the fun out of the build.

how about this one:
http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/capacitance-meter-kit-p-268.html

[iccaros]

interesting.. Will have to look into it..

[LucifersTrip]

I was considering this one (~ $35), which has autoranging, so no back and forth on the dial.

...not a single person here uses this meter?

[aron]

I found a number of cool items at the local flea market. A sencore tester among other things. You might want to check out your local one.

[Mark Hammer]

The thing I find a challenge with many meters is that the slot provided for testing/measuring caps assumes that the cap has long leads, or a given spacing.  Lots of times, I run into caps, es^pecially salvaged ones, where the leads simply won't work with the slot provided.  In which case those alligator clips are a VERY nice feature.

[phector2004]

that's cool...might be worth it since you get the fun out of the build.

how about this one:
http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/capacitance-meter-kit-p-268.html

I have that one 

Fun 30 minute project, and it works really well too

If you do build it, I'd suggest getting a set of wafer connectors and alligator clip leads for easier measurements on larger/axial caps and electros (I like to keep my leads unclipped for polarity checking...)

[LucifersTrip]

@aron
yes, I'm constantly hitting fleas, thrifts and other odd places...also for the vinyl !


@Mark Hammer
actually, I pretty much only use clips or those retractable hooks. I rarely use the probes that come with the meters...


@phector2004
I did purchase it last week and am awaiting delivery...it will be in addition to the other one above I will probably buy


thanx all

[frank_p]

I wonder if all lower cost autoranging ones have that much loss in precision on lower values: some say about 1nF vs +-2% on the 200pF range of the meter you had and died.  It may or may not be a need.  In the multimeters I have, one is auto an other is manual.  The automatic is not very usefull below 1nF as some other say.  Error is about 20% at 1nF.

[LucifersTrip]

I wonder if all lower cost autoranging ones have that much loss in precision on lower values: some say about 1nF vs +-2% on the 200pF range of the meter you had and died.  It may or may not be a need.  In the multimeters I have, one is auto an other is manual.  The automatic is not very usefull below 1nF as some other say.  Error is about 20% at 1nF.

thanx much for the info. I don't need it to be super-accurate, especially when i'm using components that are sometimes +/-5 to 10%,
but the inaccuracy when autoranging is something to consider.

the one that died was surprisingly accurate. the last thing I measured was a 25pf vintage ceramic and it was exactly on

[phector2004]

Sounds like something you can test... of course even if they all seem very accurate, it could just as likely mean that all of your cap meters are the same % off 

I mostly use mine as a "22nF vs 220nF" checker for some of the badly marked WIMAs, or if I REALLY wanna use a precise cap value. I doubt it's ever useful in this kind of DIY, though

[frank_p]

Hmm...  measuring the small caps with your ancient model: at ampgarage :

http://ampgarage.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15264&sid=ac658e05051e238c4ea6267fbe6f487b

It's not an old topic...
Too bad it broke   ...  Wonder also if all Newcason's ones are fragile.

@ Phector

Yes, just want to point out that you can pay too much if you are looking for a more precise meter.  Realised I made this error.

[tubelectron]

Hi All,

Ha ! Just for the FUN and nothing else, I cannot resist to show my oldies but goldies big heavy unpractical forgotten quality obsolete but accurate Wien RLC/losses Bridge meters... I use them sometimes in difficult cases, when my RLC DMMs are doubtful. These can measure as low as 2pF capacitors, 2µH coils and reach 10 000µF and 1000H... If you are willing to take the time to operate them !!!





A+!

[amptramp]

I have a Leader RLC bridge and a number of R-C bridges from Eico and Conar that seem to be good at reading capacitance although maybe not as convenient as a direct-reading meter.  (I have a Sencore meter that has a power transformer short, so it is out of commission for now.)  But that LEA meter?  Outstanding!  I would really have a use for that!

[tubelectron]

Thanks amptramp,

This LEA Bridge (Laboratoire d'Electro Acoustique) is an old industrial/laboratory device, a solid-state unit from the late 60's, discarded for obsolescence and on the way to the trash when I capted it, along with a very compact PHILIPS tube RLC bridge... Of course, I use most of the time my RLC DMMs !

There is a good book about the vintage testing gear, if you don't already know it. You should be able to find it on the web quite easily :

"Tube Testers and Classic Electronic Test gear", by Alan Douglas, SONORAN Publishing LLC, ISBN 1-886606-14-5, reprinted september 2009.

A+!

[iccaros]

that's cool...might be worth it since you get the fun out of the build.

how about this one:
http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/capacitance-meter-kit-p-268.html

sadly they want $72 to ship this to me.. So while its $11 to buy its not worth $83
Looked cool though..

[LucifersTrip]

that's cool...might be worth it since you get the fun out of the build.

how about this one:
http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/capacitance-meter-kit-p-268.html

sadly they want $72 to ship this to me.. So while its $11 to buy its not worth $83
Looked cool though..

I doubt they'd charge that much to ship, but you can find that meter everywhere, like Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/JYE-Tech-Capacitance-meter-kit/dp/B0050ZKXHK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318795492&sr=8-1

shipping is low

[CodeMonk]

that's cool...might be worth it since you get the fun out of the build.

how about this one:
http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/capacitance-meter-kit-p-268.html

I have that one 

Fun 30 minute project, and it works really well too

If you do build it, I'd suggest getting a set of wafer connectors and alligator clip leads for easier measurements on larger/axial caps and electros (I like to keep my leads unclipped for polarity checking...)

I was gonna ask how good it was.
Its on my shopping list.

[LucifersTrip]

I just got mine in the mail today and built it....it does work well. Easily accurate enough for my fuzz projects.

It measured pretty accurately from 1pF all the way up to 1000uF, even tho it says accurate to 500uF