ESR meter teardown - Hungarian cottage industry unit from ebay

[Fraser]

I purchased an ESR meter on ebay that came was built in Hungary, probably by the seller himself. There are several sellers on ebay of ESR meters who appear to be setting up their own cottage industry as commercial ESR meters can be expensive and are few in number.

Here are the Hungarian sellers auctions...he offers several display colours !


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ESR-Meter-Electrolytic-Capacitor-Meter-DC2-1x5-5-Blue-LCD-/140686944681?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20c19869a9

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Electrolytic-Capacitor-ESR-Meter-DC2-5x5-5-Green-LCD-/130638836649?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e6aae73a9

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ESR-Meter-Electrolytic-Capacitor-Meter-DC2-1x5-5-RED-/140686923074?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20c1981542

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ESR-Meter-Electrolytic-Capacitor-Meter-DC2-5x5-5-GREEN-/140686938033?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20c1984fb1

In another thread where I highlighted the existence of a very tidy looking Mastech 5308 LCR + ESR meter, I was asked to show internal pictures of the Hungarian ESR meter. Well here they are.

You will note that it is definitely not a commercially built unit and the PCB appears to be of home production but it is adequate. The unit does perform as described and does appear accurate in terms of identifying faulty capacitors which is it purpose. I am not an equipment snob and so long as the unit does what it is supposed to, I am content. This unit falls into that category and I do not hesitate to recommend it to those on a tight budget.

I am not aware of the circuit being available in the open source domain and it may be the sellers own design and firmware. He has certainly changed minor elements of the firmware over the months he has been selling it. The chip is a 16F690 which is popular amongst DIY ESR meters so the circuit may be on the WWW somewhere.

Anyway, take a look at the pictures for a better understanding of the build standard. It could be tidied up a little and physically improved but its operation is excellent so any failings are really cosmetic.   

[Fraser]

 I may have found the origins of the ESR meter...a Hungarian project page:

http://www.hobbielektronika.hu/kapcsolasok/lcm3_alkatresz_mero_muszer_-_kit_lehetoseg_oldal4.html

The schematic looks similar but the unit is described as capable of measuring inductance which mine is not so there may be some differences caused by that capability. The display icons look to be the same though.

The LCM3 article starts here and can be translated by google:

http://www.hobbielektronika.hu/kapcsolasok/lcm3_alkatresz_mero_muszer_-_kit_lehetoseg.html?pg=1

Aurora

[kripton2035]

yep, it really seems this is the one ...
but only experimental hex files, no source, but a lot of explanaitions...
thanks for the pictures !

[SgtRock]

Dear Aurora:

--Good post. I have been following these on eBay as well. I finally bought the Antek Dick Smith Blue ESR meter, and I am satisfied with it, and will probably try modifying it, by adding a power supply jack, and Fluke type 5mm banana plug jacks for various probes.

--Also, I think that this device is a good candidate for a Dave Jones Signature Series Kit.

"My favorite things in life don't cost any money. It's really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time."
Steve Jobs 1955 - 2011

Best Regards
Clear Ether

[grenert]

--Good post. I have been following these on eBay as well. I finally bought the Antek Dick Smith Blue ESR meter, and I am satisfied with it, and will probably try modifying it, by adding a power supply jack, and Fluke type 5mm banana plug jacks for various probes.

If you like the Dick Smith design, the meter from EVB has banana jacks standard (you need to provide leads; probably not a problem for this crowd).
http://clientes.netvisao.pt/greenpal/evb1.htm

[Fraser]

The Bob Parker ESR meter has an excellent reptation. I have the Dick Smith supplied MK1 kit but the MKII and Blue meter are improved versions. Your Blue meter will serve you well. Some ESR meters do not have probe connectors so as to avoid the small amount of contact resistance that such a connection can introduce. Hard wired decent sharp tipped probes, like those supplied with Fluke meters or similar, would be a good upgrade path.

[kripton2035]

for me today the best DIY esr meter remains this russian one :
http://kripton2035.free.fr/digital%20esr/esr-go-russian.html

this hungarian one seems lower manufactured, and the overall cost of the design are very close

[alm]

Hardwired probes will limit flexibility, for example to connect alligator clips or smaller probes for SMT. Contact resistance should be a non-issue as long as it's constant since the ESR meter allows you to zero it out.

[Fraser]

kripton2035,

No contest, I agree....but is the Russian unit available built ? DIY is great if you have the spare time to build. COTS products offer no build time overhead which to some users can be important.  I opted to buy a Mastech MS5308 as it offers me a very cable meter and in a very tidy package complete with the accessories that I will be needing.

I used to build test kit for fun, sadly my spare time is limited these days. Most of my time is now spent designing and building solutions to problems,  repairing high end test equipment bought on ebay or other consumer/commercial equipment. I miss the days when I could 'play'    Someone provide me with some violin accompaniment 

Aurora

[Short Circuit]

What a piece of junk!
I'm surprised it actually works...

[Fraser]

Please expand on your analysis. What exactly is "Junk" about the build that makes you think it shouldn't work...i'm intrigued.

Aurora

[aluck]

kripton2035,

No contest, I agree....but is the Russian unit available built ?

These http://www.radiodevices.ru/esr/esr4.htm are available. It's about $70, including domestic s/h.

Going to order one of those... someday.

[Fraser]

I saw that unit recently. Looks to be a good meter but it would be a $100 delivered to the UK and possibly 20% VAT + admin charges to be added as well 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-ESR-and-capacitor-circuit-analyzer-meter-tester-low-R-v-4-0s-/220952815492?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3371d06784


The probes could be improved with better quality ones but it looks pretty neat. For the designer, it is always difficult to produce a decent component socket like those fitted to commercial LCR meters. I personally don't like the DIL socket solution and would use a small ZIF socket plugged into it for my test socket.

[aluck]

I saw that unit recently. Looks to be a good meter but it would be a $100 delivered to the UK and possibly 20% VAT + admin charges to be added as well 

Yep, shipping from Russia is pricey and slow. I sold some unused technical books on ebay, and economy shipping from Russia to U.S. took 60-70 days. And it was so expensive that it was barely more profitable than to trash them (but at least someone somewhere will benefit from reading).

Also those units are usually out of stock and some people have been waiting for several months after ordering them.

Maybe Dave should consider building an Open Hardware ESR meter after he is done with PSU?..

[Short Circuit]

Please expand on your analysis. What exactly is "Junk" about the build that makes you think it shouldn't work...i'm intrigued.

Look at the PCB, particulary the layout. I consider that a very unfinished design job, which isn't even acceptable for a proof of concept prototype. Yet, this is "production"... Wiring isn't too impressive either, although that does not account for the surprise of working. And no, I have nothing against this kind of smallscale production. As a matter of fact, I do that quite a lot myself. But with nowadays tools and low PCB manufacturing cost, there's hardly an excuse for shitty unfinished layout or selfmade PCB's anymore.

[Fraser]

OK fair enough. I admitted as much in my posting on the MS5308 thread, that lead to this one 

Message #4 here:   

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/product-reviews-photos-and-discussion/mastech-ms5308-lcr-meter-with-esr-measurement-on-discount-at-the-moment/msg90676/#msg90676 

Cheers

Aurora

[flolic]

for me today the best DIY esr meter remains this russian one :
http://kripton2035.free.fr/digital%20esr/esr-go-russian.html

I just built it and it works GREAT!
Thanks for the link 

[jackbh]

Hello everyone
I'm new here

 I have BK-878 LCR Does not work well, and i did not see reference to the products of BK Company
 i want to know how LCR instruments of BK compared to other products that offer here

 I want to get a reference for LCR device with ESR, they have quality compared to products of BK Like the 879, for example

 Actually I think  go for  879 , 878 does not support ESR. What do you think

 I am willing to hear suggestions.

 Thank you