This is the EVB ESR meter from sunny Portugal. It's the same basic design as the Dick Smith unit (below) except that it has big protection diodes in parallel with the test leads (you can't measure battery ESR with it), brighter displays, and it's powered by a 9V alkaline battery (not 6 AAA cells as in the DSE meter).
Here's the brand-new Blue ESR meter from Anatek Corp in the USA!
Designed for easiest possible construction, everything is mounted on the circuit board. It's powered by a 9V battery which lasts even longer thanks to its low-current cool blue displays and low-dropout voltage regulator.
Available in kit and fully-built form, click here for all the info on the Anatek Corp website.
And this is the Dick Smith Electronics K-7214 kit. Unfortunately Dick Smith Electronics has permanently stopped making all kits, including this one.
Please note that the kit is quite complex and is not recommended for inexperienced hobbyists.
It uses a custom-programmed microcontroller chip. A blank Z86E0412 will not work.
You can download the notes for the DSE kit as an Adobe Acrobat file...
(1.3MB)
For Firefox users, right click here and select 'Save Link As...'
For Internet Exploder users, right click here and select 'Save Target As...'
Then save the k7214.pdf file to an appropriate subdirectory on your hard drive.
Brief Specifications...
Measurement range: 0.01 to 99 ohms, auto-ranging
Peak voltage across capacitor under test @ full scale: 100mV
Update speed: 4 readings/second
Power supply: EVB & Blue meter: 9V alkaline battery. DSE: 6 x "AAA" cells.
Controls: Single push button for power on/off and zero
Dimensions: EVB: 65mm x 131mm x 30mm. Blue meter: 3.4 x 5.8 x 1.0". DSE: 2.7 x 5.2 x 2.2"
Microcontroller: ZiLOG Z86E0412PSC 1866
Features
* Tests electrolytics in circuit, & test leads are
non-polarized.
* Test lead resistance compensation.
* Automatic power off when reading is unchanged for 3 minutes.
* Low battery voltage warning ('b' flashes on right-hand digit).
* Big, easy to read 0.5 inch (13mm) LED displays.
* Table of typical good capacitor ESRs on the front panel.
* Self-testing firmware for easier identification of construction problems.
* Kit contains all hardware and components, except batteries (prohibited in postal system).
massless
Note: A variable DC power supply is needed to calibrate the kit meters. Click here if you don't have one.
Overload Tolerance
This ESR meter can generally handle being connected to capacitors charged to about 50V without damage, but like most other ESR meters it will be seriously damaged by being connected to such things as the main filter capacitor charged to 300V or more, of a 240V-powered switching power supply. The EVB meter has extra protection as noted above.
Thanks to everyone who responded to my poll! This is how you voted....
Here's the brand-new Blue ESR meter from Anatek Corp in the USA!
