Hioki IM3570 LCR & Impedance Analyzer

[KungFuJosh]

I scored a new toy on evilBay. The seller made an offer I couldn't refuse. 🫢

So far, I couldn't be happier with this thing. It's huge, and the fan is loud, but it performs. 4Hz to 5MHz range, full LCR + Impedance Analyzer.

The LCR functions have been straight forward so far. Compensation did not feel long at all compared to my ST2832. Cable compensation works too. 🤯😉


Some things take a little fiddling around, as I couldn't find anything in the PDF manual (and I wasn't about to read the HUGE paper manual that came with it). For example, taking screenshots, you have to go to the File button -> Set tab -> then select what you want to capture. It's nice- it saves a CSV + BMP the way I have it set, though a PNG would be preferred.


After setting all the corrections, I tested the 100nH inductor on my board using the Hioki L2000 Kelvin clips. I'm glad I made the hole sizes what I did on the LCR Cal Test PCB because the clips are thicker than the ones that came with my Tonghui/SourceTronic LCR.


I'm looking forward to learning about the analyzer functions. Though, of course there's also some Option upgrade called the IM9000 that has more features including specific X-Y plots. I don't have that option though. Oh well. For now.

Thanks,
Josh

[KungFuJosh]

The CSV files definitely seem more useful for sweeps.

[Martin72]

It's huge, and the fan is loud, but it performs.

I´m deaf and got space...
Nice catch !!! 

[KungFuJosh]

I´m deaf and got space...
Nice catch !!! 

 

It's not that loud...just louder than everything else on my bench. 😉

It might be very slightly smaller than the 3532-50. ETA: Deeper, but a little less wide.

[KungFuJosh]

Now that I've owned this long enough for a proper warmup, I timed the open/short correction. Either one takes exactly 86 seconds.

The graphing features are cool. 😎

[KungFuJosh]

When I have some time, I'll do a fall cal sheet comparison with this, but right now it's super fast to just get screenshots...

Here's capacitance. 1pF in my previous post.

[temperance]

If you happen to have a dog I would like to know his favorite snack.

[KungFuJosh]

If you happen to have a dog I would like to know his favorite snack.

lol, sorry. No furry pets. 😉

[KungFuJosh]

Resistance is futile.

I don't think I could go back to my other bench LCR meter. I think it's time to sell my ST2832. It's a great meter, but this is...

[mawyatt]

Yep, these Hioki LCRs are just in another league, why we have one

Congrats on your new instrument

You can't appreciate the "total value" until you've spent considerable time with this instrument!!

Would really liked to have the IM3570, but it was out of our price range so settled for the IM3536.

Check the thread on LCR Software we posted awhile back, suspect this should work with the IM3670 as well!!

BTW study up on the Low Z mode, completely understand how this works, it pays dividends with low Z components supporting higher DUT currents than other LCR meters

Best,

[KungFuJosh]

Thank you!

I appreciate it a lot already. 😉 Honestly, I thought it would mostly offer more range than my ST2832, but the workflow, speed, etc. is all better for me. The extra range and features are definitely a bonus.

I will study up on low Z and the other modes, but I don't promise that I'll ever completely understand any of it. 🤣

[mawyatt]

Wait until you start characterizing lots of components over frequency, they have the nifty way of allowing various frequency entry modes...you'll see

And the ease of changing what's displayed, 4 parameters, and the selective calibration for really quick stuff even tho the calibration is quite quick considering it's covering the extended ranges, and on and on!!

All in attempt to keep the user from messing the measurements up!!

Don't forget to take advantage of the Guard Terminal Shield Plate, especially with Kelvin Clips. Also, check out the area in the manual about reducing interference & measurement uncertainty by using a Mains Line Choke. We did and think this has helped measurements in our noisy environment.

Best,

[KungFuJosh]

Whatever 4 parameters I want to see at once is my favorite feature so far. Like my resistor measurements above. Previously I had to measure Rdc separate of the other measurements. Now it's half the work!

[KungFuJosh]

I almost took apart the L2000 fixture, but I decided not to. Too many screws! Which you should love, Mike. 😉

There's no 2 or 4 screw mount option on here like the TH style fixtures. One part has 10, and the other part has 18. Most of those screws hold parts while also holding the enclosure together.

[zrq]

 What makes IM3570 more expensive than IM3536? Seems IM3536 can work at higher frequency and have better precision, what did I miss?

[egonotto]

What makes IM3570 more expensive than IM3536? Seems IM3536 can work at higher frequency and have better precision, what did I miss?

Hello,

Maybe the ANALYZER mode, which allows sweep of frequency, voltage, constant voltage and constant current.
I can't see anything like that with the IM3536.

Best regards
egonotto

[zrq]

What makes IM3570 more expensive than IM3536? Seems IM3536 can work at higher frequency and have better precision, what did I miss?

Hello,

Maybe the ANALYZER mode, which allows sweep of frequency, voltage, constant voltage and constant current.
I can't see anything like that with the IM3536.

Best regards
egonotto

If it's just the sweep it sounds like too much price to pay for something trivially doable with a script. Does it have a higher frequency resolution?

[KungFuJosh]

If it's just the sweep it sounds like too much price to pay for something trivially doable with a script. Does it have a higher frequency resolution?

They're different tools. The IM3536 is an LCR. The IM3570 is an Impedance Analyzer & LCR. The IM3570 also has the option for the IM9000 firmware that brings more features with it.

For most people, the IM3536 would be a better value. I bought mine used; I don't have new Hioki money. 😉

@mawyatt already developed a script to make plots: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/lcr-meter-plot-software/

[zrq]

So my question is what is the difference between a LCR bridge and an impedance analyser.
For old/ancient LCR meters (like the GR 1693 I have), they may only have a few selectable test frequencies so no one can claim they are impedance analysers, but I think many modern LCR meters like IM3536 can set arbitrary test frequencies so that's not really a sell point.

[KungFuJosh]

I'm new to this tool, so here's some answers from smarter people:



https://www.zhinst.com/americas/en/blogs/lcr-meter-vs-impedance-analyzer

[KungFuJosh]

One thing I find awesome about the analyzer is that rather than manually setting every test frequency for use with my LCR Cal Test PCB one at a time, then running the test, then switching, etc. etc... I manually set all the specific frequencies I wanted from 20Hz to 5MHz to run as a sweep (I chose 13 points). Then I can just hit the save button, and I have a CSV spreadsheet with my specific values that I can copy and paste into my Excel spreadsheet...and a graphic plot as well.

I would say this is a pretty basic and lazy use of a powerful feature to save myself time and effort to get the same results that would take significantly longer otherwise. I'm okay with that. 😉

[mawyatt]

Here's the manual for the IM3536 for those interested.

https://www.gmciuk.com/manuals/hioki-im3536_manual_548250.pdf

Best,

[mawyatt]

Some plots of a 0.001 and 0.01 ohm 1% 2512 Resistors over here:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/sensitive-lcr-meter-measurements/

This is using the IM3536 with our Custom Split-Kelvin SMD fixture and software mentioned by Josh above.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/lcr-meter-plot-software/

Best

[KungFuJosh]

These capacitance graphs are interesting. I have the spreadsheets too, so I might plot the useable frequency ranges for each on a graph to see how it all looks together. I might wait until next week when I do the full LCR Cal Test PCB comparison with the ST2832 before I put it up for sale.

[mawyatt]

Believe the IM3570 and IM3536 share the same basic command sets, so you should be able to use our plotting routines with the 3570 if you want.

Best,