LCR meter for repair, UT612 or DE-5000

[chronos42]

I bought 2 equipments ESR70 and LCR DE-5000,

that was a good decision, both are very usefull instruments. For pure ESR tests I prever the ESR 70, it is a very handy tool. (You should also order the needle testprobes for the ESR 70) For all other tasks I use the DE 5000.

[TheDefpom]

I did a direct comparison review video of the DE-5000 and the UT612 last week, here it is for your reference:

[rauldm]

I bought 2 equipments ESR70 and LCR DE-5000,

that was a good decision, both are very usefull instruments. For pure ESR tests I prever the ESR 70, it is a very handy tool. (You should also order the needle testprobes for the ESR 70) For all other tasks I use the DE 5000.

Yeah, what is the applications for your DE-5000? I bought also DCA75 and ZEN 50 peak testers are nice

[rauldm]

I did a direct comparison review video of the DE-5000 and the UT612 last week, here it is for your reference:

Very nice review, really I don't have error with my choose, I bought a kelvin Alligator for update  to DE-5000.

[2N3055]

Both are decent devices, but neither is true Kelvin. If all you need is to measure ESR of electrolytic caps, then you won't care about this. If you are after nH and pF and mR, then it becomes a problem.

LCR Research Pro and Smart Tweezers 5S are both internally true Kelvin and the non Kelvin part of the tips are short.

Both of the units of mine match with my lab's desktop LCR meter (Keysight 4980AL) and VNA (Keysight M9371A) well.

Also, tweezers size handheld units have the advantage of not having cables, which reduces parasitic parameters. No, neither Kelvin connection nor coax can completely cancel out the parasitics.

For nH measures, my tweezers actually agree with my VNA better than the 4980, and the result was verified in a resonant circuit.

I agree.
UT612  has Kelvin connections to banana sockets. If you measure directly on it works well enough for larger components.
I was planning to buy some other device with better tweezers with real Kelvin connections but decided to listen to you and Tautech and got the LCR Research Pro Now I use that most of the time. You guys were right.

[rauldm]

But, De-5000 is true kelvin, or I understand bad it?, With factory configuration test probe not, but with Kelvin upgrade it work or not?

[chronos42]

Yes, the DE-5000 is a true kelvin RLC meter, also all the DE-5000 test leads are true kelvin type. You also can use non kelvin test leads by using the standard plugs at the downside. These plugs are not used by the original DER EE probes, they only serve for fixing the plug. The UT612 is not a true kelvin RCL meter.

[chronos42]

Aren't they only both Kelvin connected to test lead connector?

Are you talking about the DE-5000?
When you plug in two standard testleads in the DE-5000 "not celvin" test lead jacks, each kelvin pair is connected together inside the meter, because these jacks are splitted. The two parts of the jack is connected with the two kelvin lines. The probe plug shorts the two halfes of the jack together, the DE-5000 is then in the non-kelvin mode.

[chronos42]

Are the DE5000 blades actually split internally?

Yes.
The DE-5000 actually has +F, +S, -F, -S and guard. Both the special connector for the DER-EE test leads and the standard plugs are two connector pairs, +F/+S and -F/-S.

[tautech]

Both are decent devices, but neither is true Kelvin. If all you need is to measure ESR of electrolytic caps, then you won't care about this. If you are after nH and pF and mR, then it becomes a problem.

LCR Research Pro and Smart Tweezers 5S are both internally true Kelvin and the non Kelvin part of the tips are short.

Both of the units of mine match with my lab's desktop LCR meter (Keysight 4980AL) and VNA (Keysight M9371A) well.

Also, tweezers size handheld units have the advantage of not having cables, which reduces parasitic parameters. No, neither Kelvin connection nor coax can completely cancel out the parasitics.

For nH measures, my tweezers actually agree with my VNA better than the 4980, and the result was verified in a resonant circuit.

I agree.
UT612  has Kelvin connections to banana sockets. If you measure directly on it works well enough for larger components.
I was planning to buy some other device with better tweezers with real Kelvin connections but decided to listen to you and Tautech and got the LCR Research Pro Now I use that most of the time. You guys were right.

Yep, if you are to venture into SMD and who isn't, LCR tweezers make more sense than a bench or DMM form factor LCR meter.
I couldn't do without them for any repair work, be it TH or SMD.
Their cost is long forgotten once their full usefulness is recognized.

[rauldm]

I bought this for my DE-5000

[rauldm]

The ESR70 it came to home, I tested this capacitor, it has low ESR, but the capacitance is wrong, for example if I test in circuit, and only can measure ESR, I will think this capacitor is right.

Is not common case?

[rauldm]

Same capacitor with multimeter.