Comments on: Part I- Can ESR Meter Test Result Be Trusted?

By: Wim P

Wim P — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 23:00:31 +0000

I received my new Peak ESR 70 Gold today and I had expected a little more from it, since you can't test everything in a circuit, so to speak. If 4 capacitors are in parallel, you will see the combined value. Likewise for capacitor connected to another component, the message "In-Circuit/Leaky" can be displayed and after desoldering this capacitor, however, it appears to be perfect with this same meter. So one should certainly not stare blindly at this ESR70 meter without also seeing its limitations.

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By: Robert

Robert — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 19:42:16 +0000

In reply to Jestine Yong.

Hi Mr. Yong. I agree that the Blue ESR is a great meter but I wish I would have bought the kit instead of the pre-assembled. The components are all out of shape and looks pathetic - I'm going to have to dis-assemble the whole board and resolder everything. Also the kit gives you a socket for the chip and 2 test resistors, but they don't give you them with the pre-assembled kit and they don't install the socket!
So I advise people to get the kit form because the pre-assembled unit is just pathetic in my opinion.

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By: Jestine Yong

Jestine Yong — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 14:10:58 +0000

In reply to Warren.

HI Warren,

I don't own any of this UNI-T tester thus I can't give any suggestion on this.

Jestine

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By: Warren

Warren — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 06:34:01 +0000

In reply to marq bartlett.

Which expensive Uni-T LCR meter have you used?
I have considered purchasing UT-612 but will probably keep
using my Blue ESR meter.

Warren

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By: Andy

Andy — Fri, 23 May 2014 15:20:29 +0000

Hi Jestine: The Blue ESR meter & Blue ring testers are excellent bits of kit, to be fair I don't use the ring tester often. I'd recommend both testers to anyone.

Andy

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By: Jestine Yong

Jestine Yong — Fri, 23 May 2014 08:59:10 +0000

In reply to Andy.

Hi Andy,

Good to know you are having the Blue ESR meter. It is a fantastic meter that all repair techs should have on their repair bench.

Jestine

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By: Andy

Andy — Fri, 23 May 2014 07:52:17 +0000

I've had the Blue ESR meter for about 2 years now & it's used almost daily, so far I haven't had any problems with false readings. 1thing I did when I first bought it though was to replace the clips with a pair of needle sharp probes. Jestine is right always use 1 ESR chart, if you start comparing between different charts it's just going to confuse things.

Andy

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By: Jestine Yong

Jestine Yong — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 08:09:53 +0000

In reply to marq bartlett.

Hi Marq,

Don't get confused. Stick to one ESR meter and follow that chart. Blue ESR meter spec rated as 100kHZ thus I don't test cap on any other frequencies as this will confuse you.

Jestine

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By: marq bartlett

marq bartlett — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 14:36:47 +0000

I still have problems trusting ESR's I have two ESR meters, a blue, and a expensive Uni-T LCR Meter. Then I have the ESR chart on the Blue ESR, and two others used by others. I just get to many different readings, and different charts that make a Cap bad on one chart, and fine on the Blue ESR chart (on the product), I've spent hours testing used Caps, and there is just no clear line, and I have waisted more time checking caps with ESR meters, then just replacing them all. I just it was like other test, either its open, or shorted, good or bad. The only caps I have found bad, that were actually bad, looked bad (bulged, leaking or had burn marks). I have bad caps, which show fine with my blue ESR meter. Its still so grey, temp, on board, off board, which meter you use, which chart to use, and in some cases, at which frequency you are testing them at, as with the case when using a good LCR meter, do you test at 100HZ. 120HZ, 1K HZ, 10K HZ, OR 100K HZ, because with each frequency, the test result is also different, both the capacitance, and ESR value. So, for now, if I suspect a bad cap, I replace it, and stop wasting time with different readings, and comparing the different results with different charts. Its frustrating to us new people trying to get a straight answer.

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By: Jestine Yong

Jestine Yong — Fri, 10 May 2013 02:42:23 +0000

In reply to owais akhter.

Hi Owais,

You are right. ESR meter could cut troubleshooting time tremendously.

Jestine

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