New LCR meter on way...

[Mark V Guitars]

Getting me one of these off Ebay. I've always wanted an LCR meter....this unit seems to be a good all around device for checking guitar related stuff, caps etc. But I really wanted to gt on to replace another LCR meter I used to have...but somehow disappeared.

And it's cheap!

[ame]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KA9KTM?redirect=true&ref_=ya_st_dp_summary[/ame]

 

[johnh]

I got one with similar capability recently too - different model, but great for $50Aus.

I was impressed with its sensitivity and reasonable accuracy eg 1% resistors read within their spec, so the meter is at least as good as that, also caps read right too, well within their 5% spec.

Then I tested things like guitar cords, and capacitance is getting really low for the lowest 20nF range, but I can still read which of my cords has lowest capacitance and judge them to 0.1nF or even 0.01nF. I'm not expecting accuracy I that last digit, but its good for comparing two cords.

Even with Inductance, I can measure pickups where I know the intended value from the specs and get a matching result, which allows me to test others where I don't know the values. I also get reasonable comparative inductance results just measuring across the guitar jack with pots still connected.

The lowest dc voltage range can be used to check phase of pickups, using the screwdriver pull-off test

So, I think that these days, if you like to work with guitar wiring, one of these more capable meters is a great tool to have, even if not super expensive.

 

[Matt_Krush]

Have the same one....
Getting a good Beta value (Hfe) of the transistors can be problematic (at least on mine)..

 

[Mark V Guitars]

Yeah. The unit I grabbed from Amazon is pretty good. I do seem to be having a hard time getting a resistance reading while measuring 42awg wire. I measured out 10 ft and was going to then divide the measurement by 10 to get ohms per ft. I don't know...it should be a sensitive enough meter.

 

[Wraptail]

I'd recommend this one. It's a little more, put no sense paying any amount of money for something that's not really going to do what you need it to do.

DER-EE-DE-5000
Der EE de 5000 High Accuracy Handheld LCR Meter New | eBay

Regular banana plugs will work just fine with it / don't need any other the paraphernalia they try to sell with it.

I have this meter as well as an Extech 380193. They both get lots of use.

Cheers.

 

[copperheadroad]

It's a good meter for everything besides measuring Henries , for that you will need as Wraptail suggested DER-EE-DE-5000 or the industry standard Extech 380193

 

[DavidRamey]

I'd recommend this one. It's a little more, put no sense paying any amount of money for something that's not really going to do what you need it to do.

DER-EE-DE-5000
Der EE de 5000 High Accuracy Handheld LCR Meter New | eBay

Regular banana plugs will work just fine with it / don't need any other the paraphernalia they try to sell with it.

Cheers.

They ship worldwide except Alaska and Hawaii WTF????

 

[Wraptail]

There's a bunch of other sellers on ebay, maybe another does?

 

[duaneflowers]

They ship worldwide except Alaska and Hawaii WTF????

They are located in Japan but don't ship to Japan either...

 

[Wraptail]

 

[Mark V Guitars]

Well, the VC9808 is pretty nice. For the price, I haven't seen any issues so far. Sure, it doesn't have buttons, which I would have liked, but it's a third of the price. That DER looks good. I'll play around with this one more before I decide.

So far so good, and measures henries accurately compared to a friends' 350 dollar job.

 

[Mark V Guitars]

It's a good meter for everything besides measuring Henries , for that you will need as Wraptail suggested DER-EE-DE-5000 or the industry standard Extech 380193

Why? The one I bought measures henries just fine.

 

[bill m]

Yeah. The unit I grabbed from Amazon is pretty good. I do seem to be having a hard time getting a resistance reading while measuring 42awg wire. I measured out 10 ft and was going to then divide the measurement by 10 to get ohms per ft. I don't know...it should be a sensitive enough meter.

You need to sand off the insulation where you want to measure and an LCR meter is going to measure ACR and won't work on a straight piece of wire. You need a regular DCR meter that will run you about $5 from harbor freight, as you don't need an expensive one for what you're using it for.

 

[bill m]

I stand corrected as it appears your meter does have DCR.