proper range for LCR meter?

[punagold]

Will this range work for testing coils? I finally think I found a meter that didn't get terrible reviews. On Amazon for $41.
Sinometer UT58D AC/DC Digital LCR Multimeter

Capacitance: 20n/200n/2u ± 2.5%, 100 uF ± 5.0%
Inductance: 2m/20m/200mH ±2.0%, 20H ±3.0%

I've finally ordered materials: litz and copper foil, now I just need a few tools.

Let me know what you think of the above meter. Thanks

[Silver Dollar]

I have one like this; http://www.ebay.com/itm/LCR-RCL-INDU...item3cc20f59e6

And the 20 mh range barely makes it for doing PI coils so that one would be a bit better.

[punagold]

Thanks Silver D,

Since I have yet to work on coils, I am not familiar with the ranges needed. Can I assume by your answer that the capacitance range is okay too? I am looking forward to getting started on my big DD for my ATX.

[Silver Dollar]

Yes cap range is good. Good luck on the DD, do you have a housing to use?

[punagold]

Thanks, I'll put my order in today. I don't have a housing yet, but I am skilled working with epoxy and fiberglass and have lots of supplies. I may even add some carbon if it doesn't get detected. My 6k carbon twill is much stiffer and would make good cross members, but too stiff to wrap the wire. My goal is a giant beach sweeper that is ultra light for it's size. I've converted my ATX to a chest mount and built some carbon shafts which helps a lot, but still the infinium coil is a bit heavy due to the quantity of epoxy.

[Silver Dollar]

It's easy to add too much weight so be careful.

Here's a huge coil housing I found but never used yet;
http://www.geotech1.com/forums/showt...1900-Big-Coil!

It's a 23 incher! You have to make it light and/or counterbalance it. Or
put it on a sled...

I have a nice PI built with Litz wire but I used a thick fiberglass former and
then epoxied it in to keep it from moving around and it's a bit heavy.
http://www.geotech1.com/forums/attac...5&d=1414270234

[punagold]

That coil is huge!

I am leaning more toward 24" x 8" rectangles overlapped like a DD. Final size around 24" x 14"? I want to just encase the windings and leave the center open, with the exception of cross bracing. I am worried about it being too heavy so I am leaning toward a delicate coil that I cannot abuse. My first concern is just getting it to work though.

Your basket weave looks like it holds a lot of resin. So does that coil work good? Pick up rings at a good depth? Also, many winding of the litz did you use on it?

[Silver Dollar]

Well it is fast but I don't have a working detector to test it yet.
I did 5 layers of 5 windings for 25 windings total. It used about
70" of wire.