looking for a decent quality capacitance meter!

tacobender · August 09, 2015, 02:20:01 AM

Hey everyone, I'm looking for a decent cap meter/tester. I've got a bunch of old caps I'd like to use in a project and I want to test them before hand. I was hoping someone could recommended one, something basic that wont break the bank, any digestions would be appreciated. Thanks, Mike.

J0K3RX · August 09, 2015, 02:32:26 AM

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-All-in-1-Component-Tester-Transistor-Diode-Capacitance-ESR-Meter-Inductance-/321511426333

Many variations... I have one similar, very accurate and has a lot of other very useful functions! That would be my digestion...

GoranP · August 09, 2015, 03:25:58 AM

ditto. very handy gadget, that...
especially for doublechecking those pesky little smds

FuzzFanatic71 · September 21, 2015, 04:19:53 AM

Quote from: J0K3RX on August 09, 2015, 02:32:26 AM
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-All-in-1-Component-Tester-Transistor-Diode-Capacitance-ESR-Meter-Inductance-/321511426333

Many variations... I have one similar, very accurate and has a lot of other very useful functions! That would be my digestion...

Does anyone know if these can test transistor hfe? I've ordered the one exactly the same as the one in the link but cant really find anymore info.

GibsonGM · September 21, 2015, 09:29:59 AM

Quote from: FuzzFanatic71 on September 21, 2015, 04:19:53 AM
Quote from: J0K3RX on August 09, 2015, 02:32:26 AM
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-All-in-1-Component-Tester-Transistor-Diode-Capacitance-ESR-Meter-Inductance-/321511426333

Many variations... I have one similar, very accurate and has a lot of other very useful functions! That would be my digestion...
Does anyone know if these can test transistor hfe? I've ordered the one exactly the same as the one in the link but cant really find anymore info.

I believe they DO test for hfe...they list it as "amplification factor" in their write-up. These things work well; as noted, there are many different ones on ebay, but seem to function the same.

hymenoptera · September 21, 2015, 09:37:43 AM

I know it's an older topic, but I just wanted to answer the OP's question.

I'm really liking the BK Precision 810B. I was using some cheap "Honeytek" capacitance meter, but it was flaky and slow and always seem to have a dead battery when I went to use it. I also had another cheapo multimeter which did alright, but once I got the BK I was finally happy.

Most decent multimeters will measure capacitance, but none that I've found do picofarads. The BK is now my go-to for all film, ceramic and mica caps.

Granny Gremlin · September 21, 2015, 10:17:28 AM

My multimeter goes down to pF (displayed as 0.xxx nF) the problem is higher value caps (above 20uF) which luckily tend to be (mostly) well-labelled electros. (pro tip: use aligator clips: skin contact while measuring capacitance makes the readout jump around alot).

It's the Parts Express house brand so it goes on sale regularly. I got it for <$20 but reg is like $34 which is still not too bad. Also does diode and Hfe, which has been handy.

http://www.parts-express.com/parts-express-multi-function-digital-multimeter-with-capacitance-frequency--390-736

FuzzFanatic71 · September 29, 2015, 12:48:33 PM

Quote from: J0K3RX on August 09, 2015, 02:32:26 AM
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-All-in-1-Component-Tester-Transistor-Diode-Capacitance-ESR-Meter-Inductance-/321511426333

Many variations... I have one similar, very accurate and has a lot of other very useful functions! That would be my digestion...

Mine I ordered turned up yesterday. Had a play around with testing diodes and other bits and pieces for the sake of it. Very simple to use. I'm very happy with this purchase. And I got a breadboard too. Never used one before and I'm not really sure how to use it. But I am getting closer to the goal of trying to design and build my own circuits.

LightSoundGeometry · September 29, 2015, 02:27:29 PM

Hfe is a useless value unless its SI or will measure the leakage as well , and most if not all DMM do not measure the current leakage., I think I have found that a transistor leaking .3-.4 mA will not work ..I used to think it was my soldering until I started learning about the transistor. I am sure there is an application for bad transistors just not sure where that is as.

you will need a a device like the Peak Atlas at minimum in my estimations.

Granny Gremlin · September 29, 2015, 05:40:13 PM

You can measure leakage with a DMM, just takes a bit of doing and a simple test rig. You can also easily check for faults/shorts with just the ohm meter. But fair point I suppose.

LightSoundGeometry · September 29, 2015, 05:50:29 PM

i forgot, you are correct, its on the geoflex fuzz face page. I was going to set this up and start testing this way to just havent much time. looks like i am taking a step back to the RM circuit still with adding some mods like ranging knob and switchable parts.

hymenoptera · September 29, 2015, 07:52:44 PM

Quote from: LightSoundGeometry on September 29, 2015, 02:27:29 PMI am sure there is an application for bad transistors just not sure where that is as.

Leaky germaniums typically end up just being used as diodes I've read on here, but I've also read that some circuits people prefer a leaky transistor?

Quoteyou will need a a device like the Peak Atlas at minimum in my estimations.

Love these things! Expensive, but sooo nice!

tacobender · September 30, 2015, 02:42:10 AM

I think I'm gona go with the peak as well. I'm told it does just about everything a pedal builder would need so what the hell. And I've heard they are made in Japan, always a plus for me. And measuring germaniums hfe and leakage, you can't beat that!

hymenoptera · September 30, 2015, 05:04:07 AM

Quote from: tacobender on September 30, 2015, 02:42:10 AM
I think I'm gona go with the peak as well. I'm told it does just about everything a pedal builder would need so what the hell. And I've heard they are made in Japan, always a plus for me. And measuring germaniums hfe and leakage, you can't beat that!

There's two LCR meters, the LCR40 and LCR45. I haven't used either, and I'm not sure what's the difference, but I've used several other Peak meters and they've all been great.

I should have clarified in my previous post that I haven't actually used their LCR meters yet.

Electric Warrior · September 30, 2015, 07:19:27 AM

Quote from: LightSoundGeometry on September 29, 2015, 02:27:29 PM
Hfe is a useless value unless its SI or will measure the leakage as well , and most if not all DMM do not measure the current leakage., I think I have found that a transistor leaking .3-.4 mA will not work ..I used to think it was my soldering until I started learning about the transistor. I am sure there is an application for bad transistors just not sure where that is as.

.3 mA is not even particularly leaky. Just build a MKII Tone Bender (OC75 version). They don't sound right with too little leakage.
Q3 in a MKIII needs some leakage to sound good as well.

tacobender · October 02, 2015, 07:40:39 AM

The peak LCR meters are pretty pricey, I was gona go with the dc55 I think it was. These work for testing germaniums as well don't they?

hymenoptera · October 02, 2015, 08:10:55 PM

If you're looking for a transistor tester, and the DCA55 is the one your looking at, I can recommened to pedal builders to spring for the newer DCA75 because it also tests JFETs. DCA55 does NOT recognize FETs...

I have both and pretty much never use the 55 anymore. Its my backup in case the 75 ever stops working or something.

The new one is just great to use! And yeah they both recognize germanium, and even give the leakage in microamps! Both tell you silicon or germanium, NPN or PNP, pinout, the small signal hfe, and leakage, but the DCA75 does one more digit of precision, for instance, DCA55 might say Leakage = 0.21mA, while the DCA75 would say Leakage = 0.207mA, know what I mean? Either way you know the leakage is ~ 200uA, but the 75 is just so much nicer to use.

Oh and you're still thinking about the 55, well the 75 can be connected to your computer and do curve tracing and spit out charts and speadsheets...

tacobender · October 08, 2015, 01:47:50 AM

That's cool, does it measure mosfets as well. I've got a bunch of old GM mosfets I'd like to mess around with, never used one before. I'm gona look into the new Atlas, do you know off hand the price difference?

hymenoptera · October 08, 2015, 04:23:39 AM

The DCA55 identifies enhancement mode and depletion mode MOSFETs, gives their pinout, but only gives the Vgs threshold voltage to two decimal places to the right.

The DCA75 goes on to give separate Vgs(on) and Vgs(off) to 3 decimal places to the right, as well as the transconductance ("gm", in mA/V), and tells you if there's a body diode as in the 2n7000, etc.

The price difference is significant. The 55 is only about US$80, while the 75 is more like US$150. That's shipped, from Japan, and going by current ebay prices new. They can be alot more depending on where you are and where you're buying from. I've bought all but 1 of mine from Japan. In fact the one I bought from a vendor in Florida took almost 2 weeks to get here (DC/Baltimore area) while the ones from Japan were all here in a matter of 5 or 6 days.

tacobender · October 09, 2015, 04:30:29 AM

Thanks for the info man, I'm tempted to go for the new one it sounds pretty sweet. I guess my next pay check will decide for me:)

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looking for a decent quality capacitance meter!