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Instrument Basics: LCR Meter -- Workbench Wednesdays 22

 

 

Learn how to use an LCR meter, such as the Tenma 72-1046572-10465, to measure reactive components. An LCR meter uses an AC signal at different frequencies to characterize capacitors, inductors, and even resistors. They can also provide impedance measurements. These include phase angle, ESR, quality factor, and dissipation factor. You can even use the 72-1046572-10465 to sort components by their tolerance range..

 

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Bill of Material:

 

Product NameManufacturerQuantityBuy KitBuy Kit
Tenma 72-1046572-10465, Handheld LCR MeterTenma1Buy NowBuy Now
MP7300256 Handheld DMM with BluetoothMulticomp Pro1Buy NowBuy Now
Tenma Capacitor Decade BoxTenma1Buy NowBuy Now
KEMET A750 Aluminum Polymer Capacitor, A750EK107M1CAAE018A750EK107M1CAAE018KEMET1Buy NowBuy Now
100 uF Tantalum Through-Hole CapacitorMulticomp1Buy NowBuy Now
Keysight E4980L Bench LCRKeysight1Buy NowBuy Now
Analog Discovery 2 Impedance Analyzer Add-OnDigilent1Buy NowBuy Now
  • in reply to kl0s7388

      wrote:

    I have a complete set of Peak analyzers but thought the Tenma would give me a bit more capability and since I'm stuck here in my ham radio shack anyway...you can never have too much test equipment!  Stay safe James...

    I forgot the specs, but I think the LCR45 does a better job than the Tenma with smaller inductor values. The Tenma is only good for relatively large inductors. Probably good enough for filters being used in ham circuits but certainly not helpful for a dc-dc converter design.

     

    I do like my set of Peak analyzers as well. They are a really nice bit of kit.

  • in reply to baldengineer

    Being that old I figured it was going to be limited in functionality anyway but being OCD I like to have stuff work regardless!  I'm a Mac guy anyway so just fired up the PC laptop to see if it would load.  ;-)

     

    I have a complete set of Peak analyzers but thought the Tenma would give me a bit more capability and since I'm stuck here in my ham radio shack anyway...you can never have too much test equipment!  Stay safe James...

  • in reply to kl0s7388

      wrote:

     

    Hello James - based on your review I purchased the meter...only disappointment was the software that came with it is dated 2004 and my Windows PC simply won't even recognized the CD. Do you know if there's a newer version available? Thanks!

    Hi Dino. To be clear, I do not consider the "basics" videos a review. So I focus on the operation and not so much about what is good or bad about a particular tool. For example, this Tenma meter has a lot of the same functionality I see in two other popular designs for handheld LCRs.

     

    That said, I had no luck with the software either. I did not try very hard though. Since the meter can only test a few frequency points, I did not see much value in getting it to work. I have been using the meter for a couple of months and, so far, haven't been too upset about not being able to connect it to my PC. In fact, when I first read your message, I had to think, "does it even have a USB port?" Because I forgot.

     

    Long story short, I do not know of a newer (or just plain functional) software for it.

  • Hello James - based on your review I purchased the meter...only disappointment was the software that came with it is dated 2004 and my Windows PC simply won't even recognized the CD. Do you know if there's a newer version available? Thanks!

  • Hi James,

     

    Thanks for the presentation. I have a meter just like the one you used and I have found it very helpful and dependable.

     

    John

  • Another good episode.

     

    I had forgotten some of these issues on reactance and ESR, thanks for the refresher.

     

    DAB