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  #1  
Old 06-12-2012, 07:25 PM
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AiboPet AiboPet is offline
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Question Modern ESR meters?

I'm relatively new here. Still cutting my teeth so to say.

I have for about a year been collecting and fixing up some solid state "micro" TV sets. For the most part, these are just dirty...been abused, or just plain been TOSSED away for me to run across and clean up. They usually only need pots cleaned, a couple pots turned with a crosshatch generator attached....or require very little troubleshooting to fix "no vertical" or whatever.

Recently....I have decided to start taking on actual projects that would fall more into "restoration". I have recently come across a beautiful little Sony S8-301W set. This is apparently the very first Sony set, and it's still solid state (except I think the HV rectifier at this point).

This set is in need of a real recapping job...and I wanna take it on. AFTER I've got THAT set all happy....I have two other Sony sets that also have linearity problems (900U), and "within a minute horizontal issues" (700U), so yeah, I am running across some 60's sets that need more serious attention, and I REALLY wanna get them looking good again! These are a collection, as a hobby...and I really love rescuing these and Usually DO have a few of these sets scattered around the flat as "daily drivers".

I have done a recapping job on a couple old arcade monitors before, so I'm familiar with the mechanics, soldering, etc...of actually DOING the work. Anyone who has recapped an arcade monitor from a kit knows that you sorta just GET all the required caps...and blow through replacing all the electrolytics. Not really a whole lot of troubleshooting required.

My question (if you ALREADY haven't guessed)...Are the "ESR testers" that come up when you do an ebay search of any use for the pretty basic caps I run across in solid state?

I know the old timers and real serious in here are using Solar and some other serious testers for testing paper, bumblebees, etc. But I want to find something a little more "toolbox" friendly and for just testing of really pedestrian electrolytics. This Sony set consists of three PC modules....and appear to be populated by "nothing exciting" as far as caps are concerned. Just what appear to be some axials and cans....of just pedestrian values under about 1000uf (until you get into those Pepsi cans underneath of course).

Is anyone here actually using one of the more modern testers? Are they having decent luck?...easy to use?....can sit in a toolbox next to a Fluke DMM to carry around in the car like the rest of the tools?

I'd LOVE to see any ebay link or model numbers if you can divulge. I've played with lots of meters and tools..and a few scopes, but don't recall using an actual "capacitor checker" since I was in a TV/Radio repair class in like the early 80's.

I do sorta have a price range, because I can't do "crazy expensive" for just a hobby. I live in a small flat, so aside from maybe ONE nice Predicta or something one day....I'll not likely have room to start taking on tube sets with the real serious caps. (I'll just continue LOVING the passionate work you guys are doing). I'd like to keep within a couple hundred bucks for a decent little ESR meter. I didn't want to just buy some cheapy thing that might be real cryptic or iffy to use. If you advice that I should NOT be trusting these little handheld meters....I'll listen. I just want to be able to actually SEE what a "bad electrolytic" test out like. I don't even need to test "in circuit" like these new ones claim to do. Not sure I really trust that...and I'm not THAT lazy.

Last edited by AiboPet; 06-12-2012 at 07:30 PM.
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  #2  
Old 06-12-2012, 08:24 PM
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Electronic M Electronic M is offline
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I don't own an ESR meeter as I don't do much solid state work, and have not had one show up cheap enough at a swap meet(I don't like buying things online where I can't size something up in person, and have to worry about shipping destruction), but I will say that from what I've read that if I did more solid state work I'd hunt one down.

I believe that there may even be plans on the net somewhere to make your own ESR meeter if you are so inclined.
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  #3  
Old 06-12-2012, 08:54 PM
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I have been tempted to try one of these, but have no idea how well it would work...anybody here have one? (looks like a fun kit to assemble)

http://www.amazon.com/Anatek-Corpora...ords=esr+meter

not affiliated,
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Old 06-12-2012, 10:47 PM
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I'd go with a Sencore LC101 or similar if you can find one at a decent price. The ones on ebay seem overpriced right now.

They'll let you measure leakage at rated voltage and you can also reform electrolytics with them. And you can do the ESR test.

John
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  #5  
Old 06-13-2012, 12:14 AM
bob91343 bob91343 is offline
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I have an ESR meter. I was previously skeptical about the need for one, but have found it very useful. When a capacitor measures proper capacitance and low leakage, it can still have high ESR and not be very effective.

While my ESR meter is really a fancy bridge with ESR as a side benefit, making your own meter is so easy it's ridiculous. In fact, before I realized I could use my bridge, I pulled all the parts I needed from the junkbox and was ready to build.

Basically it puts an audio frequency current through a capacitor, high enough frequency that the capacitance becomes a good bypass, and measures the resultant voltage drop. Piece of cake. Diagrams for the project abound on the web.
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Old 06-13-2012, 10:15 AM
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I have the Blue ESR meter. Very handy for going quickly through a board full of electrolytics and finding the bad ones. Got some little pointy probes for mine so I can get to the capacitor connections whether SMD or leads.
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  #7  
Old 06-13-2012, 06:01 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ed in Tx View Post
I have the Blue ESR meter. Very handy for going quickly through a board full of electrolytics and finding the bad ones. Got some little pointy probes for mine so I can get to the capacitor connections whether SMD or leads.
Did you get the kit version? If so was it fun?

jr
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  #8  
Old 06-13-2012, 06:26 PM
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Ed in Tx Ed in Tx is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jr_tech View Post
Did you get the kit version? If so was it fun?

jr
Yes a kit, bought it from a seller that includes the otherwise optional stand, and yes I guess you could say it was "fun" since it worked first time.
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  #9  
Old 06-14-2012, 03:56 PM
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Phil Nelson Phil Nelson is offline
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I own a handheld EDS 88A capacitor analyzer, which seems to work fine for testing the many electrolytics in solid-state TVs.



It was invaluable when I restored a Sony 8-301W and repaired the Sony KV-11311CR that I've been using almost daily since the early 1980s.

I haven't tried any other similar testers, so I can't say how it compares to them.

This article includes some 8-301W restoration notes that you may find useful:

http://antiqueradio.org/Sony8-301WTelevision.htm

Phil Nelson
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  #10  
Old 12-21-2012, 08:26 PM
MickM MickM is offline
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Hi;
are you able to make your own PCBs?
I built an ESR meter that uses a 50uA analog meter.
I can send you the eagle files if you want.

Mick M
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  #11  
Old 12-21-2012, 09:42 PM
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Dangler Dangler is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil Nelson View Post
I own a handheld EDS 88A capacitor analyzer, which seems to work fine for testing the many electrolytics in solid-state TVs.



It was invaluable when I restored a Sony 8-301W and repaired the Sony KV-11311CR that I've been using almost daily since the early 1980s.

I haven't tried any other similar testers, so I can't say how it compares to them.

This article includes some 8-301W restoration notes that you may find useful:

http://antiqueradio.org/Sony8-301WTelevision.htm

Phil Nelson
Phil's Old Radios
http://antiqueradio.org/index.html
I have one just like that, Phil. Never had a bit of trouble with it and it served me well when I was repairing solid state TV's and equipment.

Merry Christmas.
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  #12  
Old 12-22-2012, 06:48 PM
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reeferman reeferman is offline
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Mick,
Is this the one you built?

http://electronics-diy.com/esr-meter.php

Phil
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  #13  
Old 01-08-2013, 07:02 PM
MickM MickM is offline
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Hi reeferman;
yes it is.
It uses a 50uA analog meter.
I found a surplus one, in some kind of medical gear.


Mick M
Attached Images
File Type: png copper-600-dpi.png (59.0 KB, 9 views)
File Type: png names.png (18.5 KB, 6 views)
File Type: png values.png (18.9 KB, 5 views)
Attached Files
File Type: zip esr-meter.brd.zip (9.1 KB, 8 views)
File Type: zip esr-meter.sch.zip (51.3 KB, 5 views)
File Type: txt ESR-Parts.txt (1.6 KB, 6 views)
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  #14  
Old 01-08-2013, 07:07 PM
MickM MickM is offline
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I scaled the photos with GIMP.
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File Type: jpg small-inside.JPG (41.3 KB, 14 views)
File Type: jpg small-outside.JPG (37.3 KB, 14 views)
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  #15  
Old 01-14-2013, 08:02 PM
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reeferman reeferman is offline
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Thanks Mick
However, I'm unable to open the .SCH and .BRD zip files and have had no luck finding a free download for either one.
Might you be able to direct me to a website?
Thanks
Phil
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