Design a New Precision LCR Tweezers with Much Lower Cost 【Shannon Tweezers ST42】

[Martin72]

Thank you both, but I would like a concrete answer to my question about what makes this device better than cheaper ones to buy.

[thm_w]

Thank you both, but I would like a concrete answer to my question about what makes this device better than cheaper ones to buy.

Top right -> "Print" button -> Ctrl-F -> type "Mastech"
Better accuracy, 1.0V range, diode test, etc.

[KungFuJosh]

Thank you both, but I would like a concrete answer to my question about what makes this device better than cheaper ones to buy.

The cheaper products are usually junk by comparison. Any tweezers I've seen that compare at all cost 3 times as much, and typically are not better. These were not my first tweezers, anything else I tried got returned.

I love using these tweezers when I need a quick measurement, or maybe need to measure something away from my bench where the ST2832 is. My DE5000 almost never comes out of the drawer unless somebody asks something specific about the DE5000.

When I use the bench LCR, I let it warm up, calibrate it after warmup time, etc... These tweezers are fast, and if you need to calibrate, that's fast too.

I did buy the ST42 before I bought the ST2832, but had I bought them the other way around, I would have still got the ST42 for it's portability and price. The "real" tweezers for the bench LCR cost just as much. If you look at my cal tests for the earlier firmwares for the bench LCR, I included readings from the ST42, which was always exactly as expected.

It's a solid performer, but whether or not you need it is up to you. I think it would wind up being both highly useful, and still one of your least expensive pieces of TE. 😉

[tautech]

Thank you both, but I would like a concrete answer to my question about what makes this device better than cheaper ones to buy.

The cheaper products are usually junk by comparison. Any tweezers I've seen that compare at all cost 3 times as much, and typically are not better. These were not my first tweezers, anything else I tried got returned.

I love using these tweezers when I need a quick measurement, or maybe need to measure something away from my bench where the ST2832 is. My DE5000 almost never comes out of the drawer unless somebody asks something specific about the DE5000.

When I use the bench LCR, I let it warm up, calibrate it after warmup time, etc... These tweezers are fast, and if you need to calibrate, that's fast too.

I did buy the ST42 before I bought the ST2832, but had I bought them the other way around, I would have still got the ST42 for it's portability and price. The "real" tweezers for the bench LCR cost just as much. If you look at my cal tests for the earlier firmwares for the bench LCR, I included readings from the ST42, which was always exactly as expected.

It's a solid performer, but whether or not you need it is up to you. I think it would wind up being both highly useful, and still one of your least expensive pieces of TE. 😉

I endorse this 100%. ^^
My now retired ST3 was once the bees knees and even all those years ago when Dave reviewed them I could never understand how he couldn't see the value in SMD tweezers. 
I brought ST3 cheap for the sorta $ Shannon now wants for ST42 darn near 20 years back and never regretted it for a minute.
IME SMD tweezer legs will spread to some 30mm which permits connection to all but the larger TH components that we encounter less and less these days.
Mine's had more TH work primarily for fault finding and measuring those darn useless unmarked SMD caps  but probably most use has been to confirm dud electrolytics with high ESR of which it has found many, however.....

ST42 is totally next level !

I'll challenge anyone to a race to measure all the common components using the Auto mode vs any bench or other HH device !
2-3s boot and it's ready to go, faster than you can turn a rotary dial on any DMM.
Test leads, who needs any more than is totally necessary on the bench ? 4 wire measurements to the tips...and yes I have $ $ Kelvin clips that I just don't use. Again 


I've tried a couple of cheap SMD tweezers some years back outta curiosity and quickly gifted those POS to others that might have lesser expectations......and one was a Mastech !

[tautech]

Last to RH choice is NZ$244.95 for us. Everything except the pocket pouch.

[Muttley Snickers]

There's always an "ouch" involved somewhere with any pair of tweezers.   

[Martin72]

I would like a concrete answer to my question about what makes this device better than cheaper ones to buy.

This seems to be more difficult than expected.
Guys, you're forcing me to experience it myself....
But I'm curious by nature, so it probably won't be long now....

[ceut]

I would like a concrete answer to my question about what makes this device better than cheaper ones to buy.

This seems to be more difficult than expected.
Guys, you're forcing me to experience it myself....
But I'm curious by nature, so it probably won't be long now....

I think all has been said
I was looking for a LCR Tweezers too, have listened to master @tautech  and buy the ST42 
I don't have much money, the ST42 was in my budget, and now I'm really super happy with it.
And also great support from @Shannon 

The only true competitor is the russian one (but impossible to buy it), all others are bullshit (the worst is the DT-71).
My previous post is here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/lcr-tweezers-test-and-analysis/msg5234478/#msg5234478

I think the best thing you could do is to check Youtube reviews (I have done that for many hours )
You will see for example that the mastech is slow, and have low precision, with a not backlighted LCD screen, lacks of setting/calibration etc..

In DMM form factor: the Uni-T UT622E seems to be the best (better than the DE-5000), but no much review on it.

Edit: you can check my non-professional review on Youtube here 

[KungFuJosh]

Can confirm, DT71 is absolute trash. That was one of the tweezers I ordered before the ST42.

[paul_b_78]

Hi Shannon Tweezer,

I am getting a Connection Timeout when I try to upgrade the latest firmware -See attached image

Is anyone else having the same problem?

I have followed the necessary steps.

I even "turned off" my Realtime virus scanning in case it was causing the issue, but it still refuses.

[watchmaker]

Hi Shannon Tweezer,

I am getting a Connection Timeout when I try to upgrade the latest firmware -See attached image

Is anyone else having the same problem?

I have followed the necessary steps.

I even "turned off" my Realtime virus scanning in case it was causing the issue, but it still refuses.

I just tried the win.exe in the zip package posted for May.  First got a virus warning (picked "run anyway") and then got a command screen that popped up and quickly closed before I could read it.  Win 11, all updates.  Tried twice.

[KungFuJosh]

Hi Shannon Tweezer,

I am getting a Connection Timeout when I try to upgrade the latest firmware -See attached image

Is anyone else having the same problem?

I have followed the necessary steps.

I even "turned off" my Realtime virus scanning in case it was causing the issue, but it still refuses.

I just tried the win.exe in the zip package posted for May.  First got a virus warning (picked "run anyway") and then got a command screen that popped up and quickly closed before I could read it.  Win 11, all updates.  Tried twice.

It doesn't work that way. It needs to be run from a command prompt. You use it by typing the command followed by the com port. I renamed the updater file to fwu.exe (because I don't want to type the whole thing), then run it by typing "fwu.exe com6" without the quotes.

Your firewall or antivirus might stop it from connecting to the internet, obviously it won't work if it can't download the firmware.

It can't update right now because the ota server appears to be down. I emailed Shannon, hopefully they'll have it fixed soon.

[Shannon]

Hi Shannon Tweezer,

I am getting a Connection Timeout when I try to upgrade the latest firmware -See attached image

Is anyone else having the same problem?

I have followed the necessary steps.

I even "turned off" my Realtime virus scanning in case it was causing the issue, but it still refuses.

I just tried the win.exe in the zip package posted for May.  First got a virus warning (picked "run anyway") and then got a command screen that popped up and quickly closed before I could read it.  Win 11, all updates.  Tried twice.

It doesn't work that way. It needs to be run from a command prompt. You use it by typing the command followed by the com port. I renamed the updater file to fwu.exe (because I don't want to type the whole thing), then run it by typing "fwu.exe com6" without the quotes.

Your firewall or antivirus might stop it from connecting to the internet, obviously it won't work if it can't download the firmware.

It can't update right now because the ota server appears to be down. I emailed Shannon, hopefully they'll have it fixed soon.

Sorry for that.

The server has crashed, and it has been fixed now, please try again.
"Connection to ota.shannontweezers.top timed out." is server error.

[KungFuJosh]

Confirmed fixed, and it updated super fast. I have fw v1.5.4 now. Thanks, Shannon!

[paul_b_78]

I can confirm, Shannon sorted the problem, and I was able to complete the Firmware update.  Must have crashed at there end.

Latest update is so much better than the last one.

I can't think of anything else these tweezers could actually do anymore.

[shapirus]

Latest update is so much better than the last one.

In what respect exactly?

I'm looking at the changelog and can't justify going through the effort of upgrading, as my tweezers work just fine as is (still using factory firmware).

Were there any changes besides those mentioned in the changelog at https://shannontweezers.top/docs/upgrading-firmware/ ?

[KungFuJosh]

When you have tons of tiny SMT components to test before installing, nothing beats a nice tweezers.

[Martin72]

That´s right.

[KungFuJosh]

I don't like tethered tweezers. They're limiting in range of motion, and location. I hated them on the DE-5000, and tore them out to make kelvin clips for it instead.

Also, if I wanted the real TongHui TH26009B tweezers (or the ST version ST26009B), they would cost more than I paid for the ST42.

With the ST42, I can turn it on and start measuring. Super fast cal if needed.

With the bench LCR, I need to turn it on, wait 30 minutes minimum for warmup, then compensate the tweezer attachment. By that time, I'm already done with the project prep using the ST42. 😉

Don't get me wrong, I like my bench LCR. But as usual, different tools are appropriate for different jobs.


ETA: to get the ST tweezers you showed an image of would also cost me more than I paid for the ST42.

[Zucca]

FUUU you all I will buy one too 
TEA TEA TEA TEA GAS GAS GAS GAS

[tautech]

FUUU you all I will buy one too 
TEA TEA TEA TEA GAS GAS GAS GAS

I mentioned ST42 on Discord and curiosity killed the cat Zucca. 

[TomKatt]

I love using these tweezers when I need a quick measurement, or maybe need to measure something away from my bench where the ST2832 is. My DE5000 almost never comes out of the drawer unless somebody asks something specific about the DE5000.

If you didn’t have an LCR meter and wanted something for your bench that could also serve to check capacitor health in addition to identifying its value, which  would you purchase - ST42 Tweezers or a Der DE-5000?

I can appreciate the mobility of the ST42 (especially for smd parts), but I wonder if the DE-5000 would be the better general purpose instrument?

I need something to help check capacitors for good/bad in a wide variety of equipment from power supplies to amplifiers to computerized equipment…. I may work my way up to getting both, but looking for the best value general purpose device and I can only afford one to begin with.

[Hydron]

De5000 can step in for tasks that otherwise would need a bench meter or where separate sense leads are critical, st42 is superior for quick checks and especially smd. They are both great value but honestly complement each other in utility rather than compete.

[KungFuJosh]

If you didn’t have an LCR meter and wanted something for your bench that could also serve to check capacitor health in addition to identifying its value, which  would you purchase - ST42 Tweezers or a Der DE-5000?

I can appreciate the mobility of the ST42 (especially for smd parts), but I wonder if the DE-5000 would be the better general purpose instrument?

That depends on what you need it for. If you have large electrolytics that are too big for the tweezers, that could be an issue. If you're usually working with radials, then chances are most of them will fit (unless you're using huge stuff that's well beyond the capability of either tool).

I bought the DE-5000 a couple years before I got the tweezers, and the DE-5000 was retired when I got my bench LCR. But that's based more on the size of things. I build guitar amps, so I do use a wide variety of large capacitors.

I use the bench LCR when it's convenient for testing a lot of THT components quickly. I use the tweezers when it's for SMT stuff because it's at least 20x faster than using the SMT attachment on my LCR. I'd only use the bench meter for SMT if it's something out of range for the tweezers.

If you don't think size is an issue, go for the tweezers. If you need broader range of sizes, then pick the DE-5000...and get the tweezers anyway later. 😉

[TomKatt]

Might I inquire what bench LCR meter you use?

Also to clarify - does the ST42 do well for identifying bad caps?

I’m most likely to be working on through hole parts and larger filter caps…. Sounds like the ST42 is better suited to smaller components?  Though I get the impression they are valuable all around…