Author Topic: Damnit, help choose LCR meter, torn between the two. (Read 23477 times)

Wartex · « **on:** May 31, 2011, 04:33:26 am »

Hi, I have a choice to buy BK 879B or Tonghui TH2822C http://www.tonghui.com.cn/en/goods/index/250.html

BK Precision is 10 KHz and $340 shipped, Tonghui is $450 shipped but 100 KHz.

Some people claim TH makes quality stuff and some said they were disappointed. Anyone wants to be a guinea pig and buy TH2822C and post a review? What would you choose?

nukie · « **Reply #1 on:** May 31, 2011, 07:04:50 am »

Add Taiwanese APPA 703 to the list, they have been around for quite some time. They make meters for Hioki and Benning, such as the £296.24 Benning MM 11 = APPA 109

TH is powered by 9V Alkaline / 8.4v Nimh (16hrs / 6hrs)
APPA703 uses 4xAA (30 hours)

The TH is very well regarded by the Chinese. On the chinese forums always recommend TH products when speaking of LCR meters. The bench versions have pretty good PCBs.

I have first hand experience with the Taiwanese APPAtech DMM but not LCR meters. Their DMM build are beyond my expectation. It's not clear in the specs what are the limitations of each testing frequency so you might want to email the company.

The BK unit has been reviewed by Dave, I don't think there's anymore I need to add to it.

saturation · « **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2011, 11:51:06 am »

June 14th Agilent will release a new set of LCR meters, I'd wait for it, it also list price cheaper than the meters you quoted.

As to the value of 100kHz, there is a thread on eevblog were its discussed I think you are the OP too, I don't think it adds more value than one with 1kHz.

In summary, see what range of capacitance and inductance the meter can measure, the more the better regardless of frequency.

Wartex · « **Reply #3 on:** May 31, 2011, 12:23:18 pm »

I'll wait for agilent just to see what they are, but after recent multiple fiascos with scopes and DMMs, I view them as Mastech-grade equipment and not HP-grade. In the last orange DMM dave reviewed, the board had a shit ton of separate ICs, this just points to me they got a crapload of cheap components and they just mashed them together to get DMM functionality, i.e. there is no specialized IC like in Fluke, Gossen or Extech.

Mechatrommer · « **Reply #4 on:** May 31, 2011, 02:01:54 pm »

Quote from: Wartex on May 31, 2011, 12:23:18 pm

the board had a shit ton of separate ICs

whats the problem with that? who said its a crapload?

Quote from: Wartex on May 31, 2011, 12:23:18 pm

i.e. there is no specialized IC like in Fluke, Gossen or Extech.

you should put 3-10X the budget you quoted above if you need specialized tools. then again, you want the chip? or you want the meter?

DEHiCKA · « **Reply #5 on:** May 31, 2011, 05:46:49 pm »

I need a tool to measure low ESR caps 2000-3000uF. They can have ESR at about 0.01Ohm and even lower.

As I see,
APPA 703 is not an option here, couse of ±0.5%+15D accuracy with 0.001Ohm resolution in lowest 20Ohm range.

BK 879B looks good with ±2.0%+2D and 0.0001Ohm resolition.

Tonghui TH2822C at first sight looks even better with ±1.00%+3D and 0.0001Ohm resolition.
But I notice in the specs, that it's lowest 4Ohm range starts from 0.4000Ohm

p.s update: found another specs on the Tonghui website and magically there is 0.4Ohm range starting from 0 with ±3.00%+5D accuracy. Not as good as BK, but still good enough.

~~Asking the owners of the Tonghui, is it true that it cannot go below 0.4000Ohm readings with resistanse and ESR?~~
Asking the owners of the Tonghui and BK, do this LCR meters measure ESR on LowESR caps (0.05-0.01Ohm ESR) correctly and stable?

Drirr · « **Reply #6 on:** June 01, 2011, 09:14:15 am »

I would prefer APPA703, because all inputs are 4W.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/560s0lkGZvGFg_Flt3bRGA?feat=directlink
1% 0,005ohm vishay DALE, without using zero function
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/WTvtJw7yJBGXlAnC9YJPsA?feat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uM1eUg_SnAnXO5ARMev1Wg?feat=directlink

zaoka · « **Reply #7 on:** June 01, 2011, 06:11:19 pm »

I would rather grab CapacitorWizard ESR meter, its analog meter with good resolution and will last you forever.

DEHiCKA · « **Reply #8 on:** June 02, 2011, 02:29:15 pm »

Quote from: zaoka on June 01, 2011, 06:11:19 pm

I would rather grab CapacitorWizard ESR meter, its analog meter with good resolution and will last you forever.

It's only 0.1 Ohm resolution. Not suitable for modern lowESR caps.

Quote from: Drirr on June 01, 2011, 09:14:15 am

I would prefer APPA703, because all inputs are 4W.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/560s0lkGZvGFg_Flt3bRGA?feat=directlink
1% 0,005ohm vishay DALE, without using zero function
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/WTvtJw7yJBGXlAnC9YJPsA?feat=directlink
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/uM1eUg_SnAnXO5ARMev1Wg?feat=directlink

Hmm... Looks good. Don't know why they claim ±0.5%+15D accuracy then.
Did you measure low ESR caps with it yet? And did you try PC software, does it have extra digit like BK and Tongui?

Leo Bodnar · « **Reply #9 on:** June 02, 2011, 08:12:42 pm »

Quote from: Wartex on May 31, 2011, 12:23:18 pm

I'll wait for Agilent just to see what they are, but after recent multiple fiascos with scopes...

What, where, who, when?!

Mechatrommer · « **Reply #10 on:** June 02, 2011, 08:31:08 pm »

Quote from: Leo Bodnar on June 02, 2011, 08:12:42 pm

Quote from: Wartex on May 31, 2011, 12:23:18 pm
I'll wait for Agilent just to see what they are, but after recent multiple fiascos with scopes...
What, where, who, when?!

i think i know what he meant

DEHiCKA · « **Reply #11 on:** July 29, 2011, 10:43:45 am »

Yet another good looking LCR meter:
http://www.tmatlantic.com/e-store/index.php?SECTION_ID=193&ELEMENT_ID=2081
Up to 100kHz, sorting modes, e.t.c. Not as accurate as Tonghui TH2822C or BK, but 3 times cheaper.

Ronnie · « **Reply #12 on:** July 30, 2011, 04:41:33 pm »

Is it worth saving $240 by buying an Aktakom AMM-3035 instead of the new Agilent U1733C price for $400?

http://www.alliedelec.com/search/productdetail.aspx?SKU=8350760

Wartex · « **Reply #13 on:** July 31, 2011, 06:54:54 pm »

Quote from: DEHiCKA on July 29, 2011, 10:43:45 am

Yet another good looking LCR meter:
http://www.tmatlantic.com/e-store/index.php?SECTION_ID=193&ELEMENT_ID=2081
Up to 100kHz, sorting modes, e.t.c. Not as accurate as Tonghui TH2822C or BK, but 3 times cheaper.

Looks like russian company (based on name and chick's face on their website) selling rebranded Mastech stuff.

Wartex · « **Reply #14 on:** July 31, 2011, 06:55:44 pm »

By the way, BK Precision is just rebranded Tonghui.

DEHiCKA · « **Reply #15 on:** August 02, 2011, 07:36:43 pm »

Quote from: Wartex on July 31, 2011, 06:54:54 pm

Looks like russian company (based on name and chick's face on their website) selling rebranded Mastech stuff.

Yes, they are russians and they are rebraning lots of chinease stuff.
But I didn't find that LCR model on Mastech website or from any other chinease seller.

As for Tongui and Agilent, if I really need that 0.25-0.2% accuracy and I definetly choose Tongui. It's better all the way: 100Ohm constant internal resistantce, 40000 counts primary 0.0001 secondary displays (Agilent - 20000 and 999), faster test speed, Auto LCR, 2 kelvin tweezers included. IR-to-USB cable is optional for Agilent if you want to connect it to PC - extra 30 bucks.

Wartex · « **Reply #16 on:** August 03, 2011, 04:35:38 am »

Quote from: DEHiCKA on August 02, 2011, 07:36:43 pm

Quote from: Wartex on July 31, 2011, 06:54:54 pm
Looks like russian company (based on name and chick's face on their website) selling rebranded Mastech stuff.
Yes, they are russians and they are rebraning lots of chinease stuff.
But I didn't find that LCR model on Mastech website or from any other chinease seller.

As for Tongui and Agilent, if I really need that 0.25-0.2% accuracy and I definetly choose Tongui. It's better all the way: 100Ohm constant internal resistantce, 40000 counts primary 0.0001 secondary displays (Agilent - 20000 and 999), faster test speed, Auto LCR, 2 kelvin tweezers included. IR-to-USB cable is optional for Agilent if you want to connect it to PC - extra 30 bucks.

Tonghui has the same problem as BK with "min-max" not working, but they haven't released the firmware to fix it and I don't have the balls to flash it with BK's firmware.

Ronnie · « **Reply #17 on:** August 03, 2011, 12:18:03 pm »

Quote from: DEHiCKA on August 02, 2011, 07:36:43 pm

Yes, they are russians and they are rebraning lots of chinease stuff.
But I didn't find that LCR model on Mastech website or from any other chinease seller.

Same here I wasn't able to find the same model at Mastech website. Since the Aktakom is a rebranded made in China stuff don't know if its performance will be in spec

DEHiCKA · « **Reply #18 on:** August 04, 2011, 08:26:14 pm »

They are rebranding Tonghui LCRs too:
http://www.aktakom.ru/kio/index.php?SECTION_ID=1047&ELEMENT_ID=39283
Changed only logo, all specs are the same as Tonghui TH2822C

shadowless · « **Reply #19 on:** August 06, 2011, 03:32:47 am »

Well if you get an Agilent or BK you are more assured of issue getting resolved. You don't just pay for the hardware, the price includes service, support and warranty.

Ronnie · « **Reply #20 on:** August 09, 2011, 12:24:04 am »

Quote from: shadowless on August 06, 2011, 03:32:47 am

the price includes service, support and warranty.

Looks like I'll go for the Agilent U1733C price at US$400 instead of the Aktakom AMM-3035 since Agilent service & support is available in the Philippines

shadowless · « **Reply #21 on:** August 09, 2011, 12:48:00 am »

You might even get it cheaper than that if you asking around.

jarvis · « **Reply #22 on:** August 13, 2011, 09:10:42 am »

http://www.testequity.com/products/4172/

It seems to be not bad.

Wartex · « **Reply #23 on:** August 14, 2011, 12:11:34 am »

Quote from: jarvis on August 13, 2011, 09:10:42 am

http://www.testequity.com/products/4172/

It seems to be not bad.

EDIT: This meter goes up to 100 KHz, but datasheet does not specify at what ranges.

grenert · « **Reply #24 on:** August 14, 2011, 02:55:47 am »

Quote from: Wartex on August 14, 2011, 12:11:34 am

1KHz... meh.

Your reading comprehension is poor...
and "meh" is tired.


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Author Topic: Damnit, help choose LCR meter, torn between the two. (Read 23477 times)

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