LCR Meter question for guru

[Brian Deese]

Is a BK Precision 875 LCR Meter a good choice for coil experiments? I am going to start making my own coils and I dont own an LCR meter,so I have to buy one. I think BK makes good instruments.

[WM6]

Is a BK Precision 875 LCR Meter a good choice for coil experiments?

.

Good enough for coil experiments.

[Qiaozhi]

Is a BK Precision 875 LCR Meter a good choice for coil experiments? I am going to start making my own coils and I dont own an LCR meter,so I have to buy one. I think BK makes good instruments.

This is a cheaper alternative and works well ->
http://www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/jz_lcr40.html

[WM6]

This is a cheaper alternative and works well ->
http://www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/jz_lcr40.html

Hi Qiaozhi,

I have one LCR40 but I am not satisfied with it at all, for two main reasons:

1. Waiting time before diplay results is about 5 second (it compute results so cannot measure LRC in real time).

2. You cannot set test frequency. It is set by computation algorithm but too often wrong (if you use your coil at 1kHz it is unproper measure coil inductance at 200kHz - since error can be about 10%) and you are not allowed to set proper test frequency.

Also test probe / crocs are of very low quality and unliable (crocs fall away).

LCR40 needs some further development to be OK.

[Altra]

I have a BK Precision 875 LCR and it works fine for making coils.

also use a Extech 380193, which I like because the series resistance can be displayed at the same time as the inductance. It also can measure, Q or quality factor. Has a serial interface for a pc

Here's a review of the extech on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEA5MfllPdg

On ebay you can find china made lc meters for $19. As an experiment I bought one. Out of the box it didn't work. The readings were constantly changing and inconsistant. I opened it up and discovered the rotory switch contacts needed degreased. It was surprisingly accurate, good enough for coil experiments.

Here's DIY thats accurate, kits are avaliable

http://ironbark.bendigo.latrobe.edu.au/~rice/lc/

Mark

[taliesin]

i bought a second hand victor 6243+ off ebay.the seller did say in the add that the inductance part doesn't work(unusual on ebay).had a look at the rotary brass looking springy hard to find things once you drop them.popped um all back in.works ok.it's consistant if anything.

[Carl-NC]

The 875 is a good meter. I use the BK 878 which is just an auto-ranging version.

[taliesin]

I have a BK Precision 875 LCR and it works fine for making coils.

also use a Extech 380193, which I like because the series resistance can be displayed at the same time as the inductance. It also can measure, Q or quality factor. Has a serial interface for a pc

Here's a review of the extech on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEA5MfllPdg

On ebay you can find china made lc meters for $19. As an experiment I bought one. Out of the box it didn't work. The readings were constantly changing and inconsistant. I opened it up and discovered the rotory switch contacts needed degreased. It was surprisingly accurate, good enough for coil experiments.

Here's DIY thats accurate, kits are avaliable

http://ironbark.bendigo.latrobe.edu.au/~rice/lc/

Mark

thanks for introducing me to EEVblog .good stuff.
tal