Capacitance Meter

[Fret Wire]

Not a bad deal for $29.95. Pretty useful range for most pedal work.

http://www.electronickits.com/gold/capacitancemeter.htm

[Peter Snowberg]

That looks pretty cool. Thanks for the heads up.

Take care,
-Peter

[zeppenwolf]

200pF/2nF/20nF/200nF/2µ/
20µF/200µF/2000µF/20000µF

Now what do you guys think "200pF" means in this context-- that it has a setting of +/-0.5% from zero to 200pF?  IOW, you could reasonably expect to measure such tiny capacitances as 1pF and 2pF...?

Eden

[Fret Wire]

I'm thinking it might be 5pf or 10pf to 200pf. I'll let you know in about 5 days, lol.

Circuit Specialists has one for $ 42.00 that does the same, plus test's inductance. Good for measuring Wah inductors, especially if you wind your own. It appears to measure down to 1pf resolution for capitance.

Plus, spend $50 or more at Circuit Specialists, and you get a free DMM.
http://www.web-tronics.com/digcapandint.html

[petemoore]

One Handy Tool...
 I'd use it.
 I have troubles reading these small ones unless they have something like .0047 or 472 on them.

[Paul Perry (Frostwave)]

You can read pretty low on a cheap cap meter.  There should be a 'zero' control to set to exactly zero, allowing for stray capacitance before you connect the cap. I made a jig to hold loose caps, a couple of metal clops attached to plugs that fit the meter inputs.

[Fret Wire]

Got home from work at 10:30 p.m., and there it was. Ordered it on the 15th..not bad. Worked as advertised, no problems. Nice unit for $29.95. Great for those little caps that you throw in a bag or envelope, and forget to label. Also, good for checking actual cap values on older amps that have the "mojo tone".

Still wondering if the capacitance meter at Circuit Specialists was a better value. Their's measures inductance also. At $42.00, all you need to do was order $8 more and you'd recieve a free DMM.  A capacitance meter, a DMM, and $8 of components for $50.

[Lonestarjohnny]

Nice Cap tester, Just make sure if you ever do any high voltage caps with it that you make sure the cap's are discharged first, this will safe you from poppin the fuse in the meter or worse yet, burning it up,
JD

[Fret Wire]

That wouldn't be a problem with amps, because the first thing you're gonna do is discharge the caps for safety. If someone thought it was ok to pull an amp chassis out of the cabinet and start probing the caps with a meter, let alone with their fingers, without first discharging the caps, they should seek the services of a tech. But, I'm sure someone has done it, lol.

[zeppenwolf]

Thanks for the HUMINT Mr Wire; glad it came, glad it works.  Not glad I still don't have a job, but I've got that sucker bookmarked, for sure...

Great for those little caps that you throw in a bag or envelope, and forget to label.

"Forgot to label"?  I've got silver mica caps over here that NOBODY has labelled, not even the manufacturer.  Not to mention their perverse insistence on using "560" ambiguously. (What is WRONG with these people?!?)

So... speaking of mica, how's it do on those little values?  Do you happen to have a silver mica in say 47pF, a D03 series (+/-0p5F) or an F03 series (+/-1%) ?  It would be reassuring to hear it measures tiny F's within the cap's printed bounds.

Still wondering if the capacitance meter at Circuit Specialists was a better value. Their's measures inductance also. At $42.00, all you need to do was order $8 more and you'd recieve a free DMM.  A capacitance meter, a DMM, and $8 of components for $50.

An annoying consumer quandary.  Already got a DMM, there's not that much I need, their most interesting looking prop caps don't list lead sizes, nor manufacturer for that matter... But I've got to admit that I also have dreamt of rolling my own Wah inductors.  Hmmmmm.  (argh) :?

Eden

[Fret Wire]

You're welcome, whatever a HUMINT is, lol. I tried a 5pf ceramic and 5pf silver mica, and they were within spec. On the 200pf range, the resolution is .1 pf. The zero meter is needed  for the smaller ranges. Neat to see a 1uf cap measure out at .987uf. Fun and useful! I've been trying it out since last night, and it's a great tool. No real learning curve needed. Interesting to see different brands of the same type of cap hold their tolorance specs better or worse than other brands. Most are way withing their spec tolorance, however.

The cap/inductance meter at Circuit Specialists does look nice. That, and a spool of 63/37 solder (thanks Peter Snowberg), or $8 worth of greenie caps, and you're in.

Misery loves company, always glad to help others save, or spend their money, lol! :twisted:  :twisted:

[Sic]

their free DMM after the 50 dollar order actually does measure capacitance.

(circuit specialists that is)


the customer service from CS is AMAZING to say the least.

[ncc]

Not a bad deal for $29.95. Pretty useful range for most pedal work.

http://www.electronickits.com/gold/capacitancemeter.htm

This one does capacitance but it is also a full DVM for less money:
The price of $27.95 for:
http://www.electronickits.com/gold/dt5806.htm

or http://www.electronickits.com/gold/dt5808.htm also for $29.95
if you want to measure temperature (often useful).


I am really interested in purchasing one of them but the
1-800 number supplied on their page does not work
for me (maybe because I am in Canada?). Can someone
confirm that this is a safe place to buy stuff?
"(800) 439-1417 phone (9am-5pm Eastern, Mon-Fri)"

Thanks in advance,

Norm

[Fret Wire]

Not a bad deal for $29.95. Pretty useful range for most pedal work.

http://www.electronickits.com/gold/capacitancemeter.htm

This one does capacitance but it is also a full DVM for less money:
The price of $27.95 for:
http://www.electronickits.com/gold/dt5806.htm

The unit you listed measures capacitance range from 2n to 20uf. The $29.95 unit measures range from 200pf to 20mf. More useful of a range. FX Pedals have caps that routinely range from 5pf to 50uf. If you're looking for both types of meters, the $42 unit I linked to from Circuit Specialists would be the best deal. Their capacitance meter also measures inductance (wah wah builders!) Order $8 more worth of mechandise, and you get a free DMM, which also presently measures capacitance. Circuit Specialists, however, routinely changes the model of the free DMM they offer.

[ncc]

This is great man,

I just put in the order for it. To get the free DMM, the order must
me done on-line (with the promo code).
I am looking forward to use this item on caps and wah inductors.

Thanks again for sharing the info.

ncc