coil capacitance

[Pin Head]

Hi all, I know how to figure the capacitance of a coil with a oscilloscope by feeding a certain frequency through it and get it to sing. I have a oscilloscope but do not have a frequency generator. What would be the requirements of a freq gen that I would need to check capacitance of my coils, and is there a differences between a signal generator, a function generator and a frequency generator?

[bbsailor]

Look for a function generator with a 2 MHz maximum high frequency with a digital frequency read out. This way, once you know the coil inductance and an accurate resonant frequency, you can accurately calculate the coil capacitance.

[Pin Head]

Ok, Thanks, Can you give me like a brand name and model so I can look it up and understand more of what I am looking for and any idea how much US dollars you are talking about. (bare minimum).

[bbsailor]

Look at this or something similar: http://www.ebay.com/itm/EZ-FG-7002C-...6#ht_22wt_1106

[Pin Head]

Thanks now I have a base to go by. Have a nice day

[Carl-NC]

You can do something as simple as using a 555 timer to drive the coil with a square wave and then look at the undamped ringing frequency on the oscope.

[WM6]

If scope is able to present FFT signal transformation (frequency spectrum presentation), even better (easier).

[Pin Head]

It is a new scope still learning what it can do. First digital scope I have used and its been a long time since I have used a scope at all, having to relearn everything as I go. The scope is a Siglent SDS1052DL. Kind of in over my head right now but slowly digging my way up. It is amazing how much you forget stuff over time.