Post by antigua on Feb 1, 2021 23:17:59 GMT -5
I don't know how I didn't know about this LCR meter sooner, the Hantek 1833C www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081B51CHY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 , currently selling for $173
For pickup measuring purposes this LCR meter has a very important feature: a wide range of test frequencies, in particular it has a low end of 100Hz, ideal for measuring inductance, and on the high end 40kHz, 50kHz, 75kHz and 100kHz, which allows for testing capacitance with a variety of frequencies that are above the resonant peak of the pickup.
Other LCR meters are able to measure inductance without issue, but to date the only low cost meter with a high test frequency has been the DER DE-5000, with 100kHz test frequency. Because the pickup is non ideal as a capacitor, the capacitance measurement at 100kHz alone might be incorrect, but if the Hantek 1833C is used, and the capacitance is tested at 40kHz, 50kHz, 75kHz, and 100kHz, this variety of test frequencies makes it possible to verify the capacitance of the pickup at four different data points, more or less ensuring a reliable capacitance measurement. I tested the set of Strat pickups below, and from 40kHz to 100kHz, the capacitance varied from 106pF to 111pF, from which an average could be taken, and if there were any frequency specific outliers, they could be omitted from the average.
The display is also very nice looking, bright and back lit. It also lets you select various update speeds, which at the fastest appears to be nearly ten updates per second, so if, for example, you're observing how the inductance changes as you physically alter something about the pickup, it's very easy to visualize.
Unfortunately, the meter doesn't have DC resistance measurements built in, but it appears that at 100Hz, the series resistance "Rs" value is nearly the same as the DC resistance, as measured with an multimeter. Since a DMM can be had for as little as $10, it's not a big loss, but the DE-5000 does both.
Unlike the DE-5000, which takes batteries or an AC adapter, the Hantek also has a built in rechargeable battery, and USB-C power input.
I still like the DE-5000 for quick and dirty pickup testing, and it's a lower priced LCR meter, but I think the Hantek is the one to have if you could only have one meter, because of the expanded test frequencies making it possible to ultimately know more about the guitar pickup being tested.
For pickup measuring purposes this LCR meter has a very important feature: a wide range of test frequencies, in particular it has a low end of 100Hz, ideal for measuring inductance, and on the high end 40kHz, 50kHz, 75kHz and 100kHz, which allows for testing capacitance with a variety of frequencies that are above the resonant peak of the pickup.
Other LCR meters are able to measure inductance without issue, but to date the only low cost meter with a high test frequency has been the DER DE-5000, with 100kHz test frequency. Because the pickup is non ideal as a capacitor, the capacitance measurement at 100kHz alone might be incorrect, but if the Hantek 1833C is used, and the capacitance is tested at 40kHz, 50kHz, 75kHz, and 100kHz, this variety of test frequencies makes it possible to verify the capacitance of the pickup at four different data points, more or less ensuring a reliable capacitance measurement. I tested the set of Strat pickups below, and from 40kHz to 100kHz, the capacitance varied from 106pF to 111pF, from which an average could be taken, and if there were any frequency specific outliers, they could be omitted from the average.
The display is also very nice looking, bright and back lit. It also lets you select various update speeds, which at the fastest appears to be nearly ten updates per second, so if, for example, you're observing how the inductance changes as you physically alter something about the pickup, it's very easy to visualize.
Unfortunately, the meter doesn't have DC resistance measurements built in, but it appears that at 100Hz, the series resistance "Rs" value is nearly the same as the DC resistance, as measured with an multimeter. Since a DMM can be had for as little as $10, it's not a big loss, but the DE-5000 does both.
Unlike the DE-5000, which takes batteries or an AC adapter, the Hantek also has a built in rechargeable battery, and USB-C power input.
I still like the DE-5000 for quick and dirty pickup testing, and it's a lower priced LCR meter, but I think the Hantek is the one to have if you could only have one meter, because of the expanded test frequencies making it possible to ultimately know more about the guitar pickup being tested.
