ESR meters have 100Hz, 10kHz and 100kHz modes so you can test your capacitor near it's intended use frequency: 100/120 Hz: Power-line frequencies (50/60 Hz) or low-frequency circuits. 10 kHz: Represents mid-range frequencies, which might be found in audio circuits or lower-frequency switching power supplies. 100 kHz: Simulates high-frequency scenarios, such as switching power supplies or RF circuits, where capacitors are exposed to high-speed signals. PS. Remember to short the capacitor leads out before testing a cap.
I don't know guys why none of you who tested those LCR meters mention one important fact. Every capacitor have a datasheet where is information about ESR and also for which frequency is that ESR valid. For most of the electrolytic caps it's 120 Hz. That's why professional LCR meters have this frequency in their range.
I don't know what capacitors you use. None of my Panasonic and Nichicon mention the ESR in the datasheets. The only THREE capacitors I have which have ESR mentioned are the WURTH and it's measured at 100KHz :)
@@Tony359_2 because sometimes they use tan δ and ESR could be calculated from this number. The tangent of the loss angle is usually provided, which actually simplifies things a bit. Taking the formula for the impedance of an ideal capacitor and doing a bit of algebra, one finds that an ESR value can be obtained by dividing that value from the datasheet by two pi, the test frequency, and the capacitor value.
I built an lcr meter over 20 years ago and fond it invalueable for tv repairs. I added a couple of diodes across the probes to make sure capacitors were discharged to save destroying the meter if i forgot to discharged one before testing. I also built a really sensitive resistance tester that could measure the resistance of a trace or wire which came is really handy for tracing short cicuits, I could litterally just follow the lowest resistance to ground to the faulty component with out cutting tracks etc.
Hehe, these diodes were shot at my 4263B when I got it, together with an evaporated trace and an exploded through-hole and partly evaporated inner layer ground plane. Looks like someone teste either in a running unit or forgot to discharge some really big cap or even a bank of caps. 4 input protection diodes short, two chip resistors blown and some 74HC series logic chip vented some smoke. Putting some fast and big Zener diodes across the inputs is important. But other than the 4263B the ZT-MD1 does probably not need a calibration after adding / changing the input protection to cover the parasitic capacity of the diodes.
I have one. It's quite accurate at low values. I measured 0,002 ohm shunt resistor and result was 0,0019 ohm, and 0,5uH inductor measurment result 0,6 uH. In the case of capacity, the measurements seem to be very accurate at least to a value of 47 uF, but still results with 10000uF capacitors are within tolerance. I don't like that jog swich fin Frinsi, it's prone to jamming. Switches in Zoyi are better for me, but i think that default frequency value should be 100 Hz.
The 0.01Ω is handy for hunting shorted capacitors, and in general shorts on big boards. (It does not even need to be that accurate, as long it is not too noisy). The Capacitors and ESR at different frequencies also very handy.
In the old days when things were simpler, we first "formed" the Electrolytic using stepped voltages, them we timed how long it would hold a charge. ESR was not a thing. I now use high frequency Capacitors in various Buck or Boost converters. which get warm or even hot in operation, back in the old days of Valve gear, if the Caps got warm, we knew they were leaking and time to change them. Interesting thanks, from an old School Electronics hobbyist and long time Radio Amateur Radio Operator. 73 G1ZQC.
I have designed many switching supplies and found very early in the game that the type of dielectric is critical. X7R is the minimum for reasonable power loss. COG would be best, but the size and especially cost may be prohibitive. Most don't know that some dielectrics, like Z5U will loose over half their value when hot. The ESR may also change. These drastic value changes can cause the feedback loop to become unstable, and are quite possibly the reason for wild regulation changes and smokey failure.
I was debating if I should spend time watching this video but very happy I did! I have a low cost LRC meter but it doesn't have have the features of this one. For such a small device and be able to select the freq and to show the resistance together with the L and C is fabulous!
The ESR is measured by the voltage difference of a signal passing a capacitor. You need a constant current and constant frequency to be able to measure accurate values. There's also not an ideal cap. each cap. , has a frequency range . The lower cap you go you have to raise freq.
Two points not covered are: A. The atmel tester has the built in component lead holder which also allows for using the included test lead clips. Once the component is attached by either method it's a hands free device. B. The screen shows all test parameters simultaneously, while the probe style unit needs to have the mode changed in order to see the test result of each.
Yes, they are two approaches of course. The Zoyi is an LCR meter, the component tester is... a component tester! :) Each does things the other can't so it's nice to have both!
I know - but it's not an LCR meter. It doesn't use different frequencies like an LCR meter does, I showed that on the FNIRSI video. Otherwise LCR meters wouldn't exist! :)
A useful tool and thanks for the honest review. Regarding the misaligned tweezer tips... you may find that if you loosen the screws holding the tips, you may be able to adjust their alignment a little.
Perhaps it's obvious to viewers, but in case not -- the main point of tweezer style meters is that they can conveniently grip and measure smd components. For that purpose they are much better than a conventional LCR meter with probes (assuming they meet accuracy requirements).
Ah yes, of course. This is great for measuring SMD stuff. But I find it simpler for Through Hole as well. Measuring a capacitor with probes needs some dexterity :) Thanks for your comment!
@Tony359_2 well, i agree that the probes on a conventional meter require some dexterity for through-hole parts. But you can exchange the probes for clip leads and those are quite handy to use.
Affordable and accurate LCR meters like this are a game-changer for hobbyists and professionals alike. Having a reliable tool at a lower price point makes component testing and circuit troubleshooting accessible to a broader audience. It’s great to see innovation in functionality without compromising budget-friendly options. Tools like these encourage more people to explore electronics and build their skills! I came across GAO RFID Inc. you might find it pretty useful for this topic!
It's better to take the tips off and bend them inwards for more ease of use and less strain on the legs which are made of the pcb material. Thanks for the fw update heads up.
I was given Alibaba links as well but decided not to include them in the description. The Zoyi website has those links though, feel free to take a look. I don't get paid anyways :)
Seems it displays mH for microhenries. That means millihenries. It always makes me wonder when an instrument uses the wrong units, how careful have they been in other things? OK, it's hard to display the Greek "mu" but it's common to use a lower case u for that - there is no confusing uH with millihenries.
Interesting thing! I did repair my HP Agilent 4263B LCR bridge with what I was ripped off at eBay. But this 4263 is a shelf unit, needing long Celvin cables or the part has to be removed and placed into a test jig. With this handy tool you can do some pre-checking in circuit and at least know if there is a further investigation needed. Even having R&S meters at hand, I often prefer some smaller movable equipment as often the thing to repair is in the view of the bench top equipment in front of you. But all the older Chinese super handy stuff just works for a year and then you have replaced the LiIon Pack the third time. And it is always empty when you want to use it. So, for me this ZT-MD1 looks promising, and I'll order one. Thanks for showing that around!
Indeed - nice to have a proper one but this is good for most of the task. The battery lasts FOREVER! It's still reading full and I charged it after the video!
@@Tony359_2 I already added it to the Aliexpress shopping list. And I agree, far better to accidentally kill a 16€ China tool and still have a 1500€ precision meter for filter measurements. Really looking forward to test that thing myself.
I have a MESR 100 esr meter and it only does 100 hz. Had no idea that there were other options. Guess i will have to learn when to use other frequencies if I get this, or, even if I need to.
@@Tony359_2 That was what I thought. But, since there are other options, I was wondering what the value of them is. I guess, if you are using caps in high frequency circuits, you might want to test at higher frequencies?
This is an amazing tool but still a basic tool. If you’re designing circuits where tolerances are strict, maybe a proper LCR meter would be more suitable. In my case, the 100hz reading is helpful because at 10khz a bad cap might show a slightly off ESR but at 100Hz the bad cap might show a much worse ESR.
I just received mine, and I think they may have listened to your critique, I ordered from your links and mine came with improvements. It's spot on aligned. It's a lot less flexible (doesn't wiggle much to the sides). They've also changed the colors of the buttons (now black instead of grey, not sure that was an improvement, but the text is more readable). The display is extremely crisp and can be seen from all angles. The included cable is actually nice instead of those cheap dinky cables they always include with low-priced items.
I believe that a component didn’t go BAD, but simply evolved into a different circuit. Every capacitor has capacitance, resistance and inductance and overtime it changed those characteristics into a different circuit. Now what that circuit is good for is is in the realm of the advertising department.
Thanks! Your perspective is interesting. & letting us know v1.8 is available. They introduced data logging with v1.7, and the data file was missing the Rs column.
Ah yes, this thing also has data logging :) You're very welcome, I stumbled on the FW by chance, I just wanted to make sure I was using the latest version on camera!
And in many circuits where the impedance of the surrounding circuitry is orders of magnitude higher than the ESR high ESR my have no effect on the circuit. Ex: 1md cap with 45 ohms ESR into a 10K load resistor, common in many audio circuits, will have the effect of a 25 ohm resistor in series with a good 1mfd cap. The loss will be negligible. But the cap may cause distortion depending on the nature of the ESR. FYI
One would think that these microcontroller driven devices, both the one you're reviewing and the ZIF socket device, could AUTOMATICALLY do capacitor ESR tests at a range of frequencies and then display the results in a set sequence. Example 100Hz-10kHz-100kHz or whatever range would be most revealing. It would simply be a matter of properly programming the microcontroller to do this.
Yeah, after your video, Im thinkin' of getting one myself . The price is right. Well, the Sun has just popped up, must be time to put the kettle on. Cheerz.
Naive question : I build antennas for ham radio. Some antennas need loading inductors to shorten the radials. Would such a cheap tester be suitable to test my home-made inductors (wire turns around a PVC tube) against the desired inductance? These antennas operate in the 7-28 Mhz range.
I just checked and e.g. for a shortened end-fed half-wave antenna tuned for up to 80m band, the loading inductor needs to be 110 uH I was also thinking about the issue of testing at frequencies that are way below what the antenna gets.
I just ordered one on watching this vid. However, you don't mention the expected impedance of the cap you're testing. Without it you don't really know what's what. In order to sort out the non reactive impedance or resistance from the ESR you need to know the impedance of the value you're testing. 1mfd has a Z of 15.9 ohms at 100 hz. If you don't know that then you you can't accurately judge the cap's esr. And if you get an esr below the actual impedance of that value cap's labeled rating then the capacitance will be higher than rated. Most electrolytics are +20 to 50% /-20% tolerance.
Thanks for watching, I hope you like it! I still do! I didn't mention much because I feel I am not in a position to evaluate the accuracy of this tool - for that I mentioned the video review from Defpom, he's got professional LCR meters and he was able to do a comparison. I searched through all my capacitors and nobody is sharing the ESR on their datasheet. Only Wurth does but only at 100KHz, which this tool cannot do. In fact, I am sure I did find a Wurth with the ESR measured at 120Hz on the datasheet. I cannot find that capacitor anymore but it did match the Zoyi very closely. I hope you're happy with the tool, let me know! :)
thank you Tony for the review, LCR-ST1 (some online stores listed as having LCR & ESR like FINIRSI) did you get the chance to test on-board capcitor with it?
I understand the zoyi is not great at testing in circuit capacitors but I did try a few times and I got some useful info. Apparently the Peak is a better tool for that.
Thanks for the video Tony. At the end, we need a tool to make the job with some margin of error, and this one seems to make the job. We're not repairing the space station here 😉
Exactly! The DE-5000 might have some more features and be more accurate but this seems to be accurate enough. The ATMEL is also accurate enough though it lacks the frequency selection. For £17, this is good! I wasn't expecting it! Thank you!
So, OK, you've tested all your caps ... how do you what the tolerances are? Is there a general rule or do you need each component's spec to check if it is OK? Asking for a friend ... 🤔
Capacitor tolerance is 20% by design. For ESR, you can find tables online which give you an acceptable range depending on the capacitance. At higher capacitance you'd expect lower ESR, at lower capacitance you'd expect higher ESR. I hope this helps your friend! ;)
🤔 New acquisition... LCR Fnirsi dso-tc3... With signal generator and oscilloscope When have some time, I will test it, to see its performance. Bought it after seen a lot of feedbacks. Cheers.
Those testers - more expensive ones too - won't like a fully charged capacitor. A few volts is ok. But when I plugged my 220V motor start capacitor on an ATMEL-based tester, I made a hole in the IC :)
I recently tested the new FNIRSI LCR-P1 and it also was totally useless and ended up in my junk drawer. The older TC1 and TC3 testers are much better than the others and do give a much closer ESR value to what my large LCR meters give. However, one comment; Capacitance of Electrolytics is usually done at 100 or 120 Hz but ESR is measured at 100KHz and that little meter does not seem to have that frequency so I presume it won't be accurate either?
Oh yes, I also need one of those Drawers! :D 100KHz is often used to measure ESR on datasheets etc yes. So yes, it would be nice to have 100KHz as well. The ATMEL based testers approximate a 10KHz reading, I feel 10KHz is ok for DIY work - and 100Hz is a massive addition for troubleshooting purposes. On a good cap, 10KHz and 100KHz ESR should be very close so that doesn't concern me. I don't need anything super accurate, I just need something to tell me "it's good/it's bad". Yesterday I was testing "in circuit" and I have to say I got some useful data there too. So that works for me. Of course if you want a proper, true, accurate LCR meter, then you buy something else :)
100 Hz is close enough, the tolerance variation from one cap to the next would be more than the small frequency difference. The main thing is to use pure sine wave rather that a square or triangle waveform since the non-sine waves will contain higher frequency harmonics which would distort the ESR readings. For most apps 100 Hz and 10 kHz and 100 kHz would be ideal for most designs.
Do you think that perhaps it's displaying Impedance rather than ESR? ESR should increase with frequency in electrolytic capacitors due to poorer Ionic Conductivity, the Diffusion Layer, and the effect of higher temperatures over time. Your tests appear to just be showing simple impedance instead, hence higher values at lower frequency.
@@Tony359_2 - It would be an interesting experiment to test a variety of capacitor types both electrolytic and non electrolytic. Also the design of cap would affect ESR testing I am sure, mica, mylar, tantalum, etc. From my experience with designing switching power supplies most electrolytic caps do have an increase in ESR with frequency and we would always design with 'low ESR' caps to limit heating of the caps in the power supply. Also when 'decoupling' TTL digital circuits we would often put an electrolytic cap in parallel with a mylar or other low ESR cap to get rid of high frequency noise from the switching circuits.
I have a homemade one, I made it in the late 80s. It uses the Intersil ICL7107 and is very accurate, the only problem it has is the size and that it doesn't measure capacitors larger than 999uF. To measure them I put them in series, it doesn't measure ESR either but I'm still happy with it. Of course, if I feel like doing something else I might buy that one, mostly for the ESR and other functions, especially inductances. The last thing I made was an HF RF generator, absolutely all shielded, due to a mistake of mine it was missing about 20 additional db in the attenuators. My capacitance meter can hold inside about 30 or more of those haha
Well if it doesn't go from 1F down to 1 attofarad with .000000000000001% precision, I'm just not interested. ;) Well maybe a little interested. I really could wish for a higher capacitance range, even tho the L upper limit is surprising.
@@Tony359_2 Put it on oscilloscope and you will see it do have the tone.. I don't know what they used to generate it but the tone is present on measurements.
Nice review, but for just a bit more money, you can get a fnirsi lcr meter. Granted, if it was free i will take it. If the target device is entry level, then I would rather spend the extra $5 or $7 and get fnirsi.
@@Tony359_2 Sorry, that was Ali search that messed up. I know they have the TC1 that is crap. It showed another meter which looked much better, but that was in fact not an LCR.
What do you see better in the FNIRSI? I am honestly asking. It's using the same three frequencies, it comes with different tips but everything else seems similar?
What actually is " rs " displaying 🤔 Because if it's displaying reactance, then your test capacitors are seriously broken ( ignoring inductive reactance a 1uf capacitor measured at a frequency of; 100hz has an impedance of 1500 ohms And at 100khz would be 1.5 ohms ) 🤔 Interesting video ( love the product) 😊
🤔 Mine is NEWCASON XC6013L Was about 30 Euros and is really good. I have also capacity testing on my multimeter buut that is... trash So not an arm and leg ( not or ) were the costs 😅 Cheers
The cheap LC100 LCR meters have a variable but not adjustable testing frequency. It can be as high as 600kHz as I noticed its signal appearing on MW on my SDR dongle. The higher frequencies appear to be used when measuring low-value inductors.
But that's subjective, what makes it 'better' ? Reviews for DT71 are dunking on it for being a toy with terrible accuracy issues, sometimes as bad as 50% on a 100uF and apparently weird cal procedures that might not fix it.
@@Tony359_2 I'd never take lone reviews as gospel, but the fact that a few users seem to have general accuracy issues, and that a cal procedure might be needed as soon as you open it, aren't the best indicators.
Sometimes the ‘lone review’ is all you need to discover something. I tend to focus more on those lonely reviews than anything. On Amazon I always sort out the feedback by the worst ones. If I see a trend, chances are it’s true despite how many good feedback the item has.
WHY do you have to hold it like you show? I'm also disappointed that you didn't show it working in AUTO mode just because you don't like it, do you not make the video for your viewer's?
If you hold it the other way round your hand will cover the display! :) Sorry to hear you would have loved to see the AUTO function! There are many reviews online, I'm sure one of them will also show the auto feature working!
ESR meters have 100Hz, 10kHz and 100kHz modes so you can test your capacitor near it's intended use frequency:
100/120 Hz: Power-line frequencies (50/60 Hz) or low-frequency circuits.
10 kHz: Represents mid-range frequencies, which might be found in audio circuits or lower-frequency switching power supplies.
100 kHz: Simulates high-frequency scenarios, such as switching power supplies or RF circuits, where capacitors are exposed to high-speed signals.
PS. Remember to short the capacitor leads out before testing a cap.
Thanks! 100KHz would have been great but I am happy with the 100/1000/10KHz options! :)
The the@@Tony359_2
I don't know guys why none of you who tested those LCR meters mention one important fact. Every capacitor have a datasheet where is information about ESR and also for which frequency is that ESR valid. For most of the electrolytic caps it's 120 Hz. That's why professional LCR meters have this frequency in their range.
I don't know what capacitors you use. None of my Panasonic and Nichicon mention the ESR in the datasheets. The only THREE capacitors I have which have ESR mentioned are the WURTH and it's measured at 100KHz :)
@@Tony359_2 because sometimes they use tan δ and ESR could be calculated from this number. The tangent of the loss angle is usually provided, which actually simplifies things a bit. Taking the formula for the impedance of an ideal capacitor and doing a bit of algebra, one finds that an ESR value can be obtained by dividing that value from the datasheet by two pi, the test frequency, and the capacitor value.
I built an lcr meter over 20 years ago and fond it invalueable for tv repairs.
I added a couple of diodes across the probes to make sure capacitors were discharged to save destroying the meter if i forgot to discharged one before testing.
I also built a really sensitive resistance tester that could measure the resistance of a trace or wire which came is really handy for tracing short cicuits, I could litterally just follow the lowest resistance to ground to the faulty component with out cutting tracks etc.
Good tools are always valuable over time! Thanks for watching!
Hehe, these diodes were shot at my 4263B when I got it, together with an evaporated trace and an exploded through-hole and partly evaporated inner layer ground plane. Looks like someone teste either in a running unit or forgot to discharge some really big cap or even a bank of caps. 4 input protection diodes short, two chip resistors blown and some 74HC series logic chip vented some smoke. Putting some fast and big Zener diodes across the inputs is important. But other than the 4263B the ZT-MD1 does probably not need a calibration after adding / changing the input protection to cover the parasitic capacity of the diodes.
I have one. It's quite accurate at low values. I measured 0,002 ohm shunt resistor and result was 0,0019 ohm, and 0,5uH inductor measurment result 0,6 uH. In the case of capacity, the measurements seem to be very accurate at least to a value of 47 uF, but still results with 10000uF capacitors are within tolerance. I don't like that jog swich fin Frinsi, it's prone to jamming. Switches in Zoyi are better for me, but i think that default frequency value should be 100 Hz.
Yes, it would be nice if defaults could be set!
I managed to get myself one of these, the price is very good and I was quite impressed with how accurate it is at low values.
Nice little honest video, I've just ordered one of these based on your review :)
Thanks! I hope you like it! :)
I just ordered 2 from eBay
Thank you... I was curious about this model. I appreciate your work on this!
You're very welcome!
I bought one after watching this video and I'm loving it
Thanks for letting me know - I don't want to advertise bad tools so I am super happy you love it!
The 0.01Ω is handy for hunting shorted capacitors, and in general shorts on big boards. (It does not even need to be that accurate, as long it is not too noisy). The Capacitors and ESR at different frequencies also very handy.
ah yes, I forgot to mention the milli-ohm reading which I don't have anywhere else!
aaaawe, Thank you! I've been looking for an affordable tool like this one for so long
Me too! For once I am impressed!
In the old days when things were simpler, we first "formed" the Electrolytic using stepped voltages, them we timed how long it would hold a charge.
ESR was not a thing. I now use high frequency Capacitors in various Buck or Boost converters. which get warm or even hot in operation, back in the old days of Valve gear, if the Caps got warm, we knew they were leaking and time to change them.
Interesting thanks, from an old School Electronics hobbyist and long time Radio Amateur Radio Operator. 73 G1ZQC.
Sounds very cool thank you!
I have designed many switching supplies and found very early in the game that the type of dielectric is critical. X7R is the minimum for reasonable power loss. COG would be best, but the size and especially cost may be prohibitive. Most don't know that some dielectrics, like Z5U will loose over half their value when hot. The ESR may also change. These drastic value changes can cause the feedback loop to become unstable, and are quite possibly the reason for wild regulation changes and smokey failure.
I was debating if I should spend time watching this video but very happy I did! I have a low cost LRC meter but it doesn't have have the features of this one. For such a small device and be able to select the freq and to show the resistance together with the L and C is fabulous!
I'm glad that you liked it - I was genuinely impressed but it, I wasn't really planning this video! Thanks for watching!
The ESR is measured by the voltage difference of a signal passing a capacitor. You need a constant current and constant frequency to be able to measure accurate values. There's also not an ideal cap. each cap. , has a frequency range . The lower cap you go you have to raise freq.
That's cheaper than some of the capacitors I need to test! Ordering one, thanks!
ahah yes!
Two points not covered are:
A. The atmel tester has the built in component lead holder which also allows for using the included test lead clips. Once the component is attached by either method it's a hands free device.
B. The screen shows all test parameters simultaneously, while the probe style unit needs to have the mode changed in order to see the test result of each.
Yes, they are two approaches of course. The Zoyi is an LCR meter, the component tester is... a component tester! :) Each does things the other can't so it's nice to have both!
@@Tony359_2 The component tester does measure inductors.
I know - but it's not an LCR meter. It doesn't use different frequencies like an LCR meter does, I showed that on the FNIRSI video. Otherwise LCR meters wouldn't exist! :)
I love my zt-md1 got one after defpom video mine got mine from aliexpress for 16gbp at the time
A useful tool and thanks for the honest review. Regarding the misaligned tweezer tips... you may find that if you loosen the screws holding the tips, you may be able to adjust their alignment a little.
Thanks - someone else mentioned that, I'll give it a go!
Perhaps it's obvious to viewers, but in case not -- the main point of tweezer style meters is that they can conveniently grip and measure smd components. For that purpose they are much better than a conventional LCR meter with probes (assuming they meet accuracy requirements).
Ah yes, of course. This is great for measuring SMD stuff.
But I find it simpler for Through Hole as well. Measuring a capacitor with probes needs some dexterity :) Thanks for your comment!
@Tony359_2 well, i agree that the probes on a conventional meter require some dexterity for through-hole parts. But you can exchange the probes for clip leads and those are quite handy to use.
there is no right and wrong of course.
@@Tony359_2 Agreed! Just some things that can make life easier!
Affordable and accurate LCR meters like this are a game-changer for hobbyists and professionals alike. Having a reliable tool at a lower price point makes component testing and circuit troubleshooting accessible to a broader audience. It’s great to see innovation in functionality without compromising budget-friendly options. Tools like these encourage more people to explore electronics and build their skills! I came across GAO RFID Inc. you might find it pretty useful for this topic!
Thanks for watching!
It looks better than the Smart Tweezers product from some years back. I'd love to see a side by side.
I love it, bought it, thanks for the tip!
Yep the tweezer is certainly a handy tool and is great for the price.
Thanks for testing it - I was about to refuse it! :)
Thanks for this!
Thanks for sharing information about device, I bought one afterwards.
You're welcome!
Wow UA-cam actually recommended your video. 😉 good luck!
Thank you!! 😁
It's better to take the tips off and bend them inwards for more ease of use and less strain on the legs which are made of the pcb material. Thanks for the fw update heads up.
You're welcome!
The ZT-MD1 is also offered on Ali Express for 10%-25% more than the Alibaba price.
I was given Alibaba links as well but decided not to include them in the description. The Zoyi website has those links though, feel free to take a look. I don't get paid anyways :)
Seems it displays mH for microhenries. That means millihenries. It always makes me wonder when an instrument uses the wrong units, how careful have they been in other things? OK, it's hard to display the Greek "mu" but it's common to use a lower case u for that - there is no confusing uH with millihenries.
I always mix up milli with micro!
So, what was on the label of the component, mH or μH?
mH
Thanks. In that case I might buy one.
Cute gadget. Thanks for the video Sir.
You're welcome!
this is a very nice tool for a beginner, Tony
Indeed!
Interesting thing! I did repair my HP Agilent 4263B LCR bridge with what I was ripped off at eBay. But this 4263 is a shelf unit, needing long Celvin cables or the part has to be removed and placed into a test jig. With this handy tool you can do some pre-checking in circuit and at least know if there is a further investigation needed. Even having R&S meters at hand, I often prefer some smaller movable equipment as often the thing to repair is in the view of the bench top equipment in front of you. But all the older Chinese super handy stuff just works for a year and then you have replaced the LiIon Pack the third time. And it is always empty when you want to use it. So, for me this ZT-MD1 looks promising, and I'll order one. Thanks for showing that around!
Indeed - nice to have a proper one but this is good for most of the task. The battery lasts FOREVER! It's still reading full and I charged it after the video!
@@Tony359_2 I already added it to the Aliexpress shopping list. And I agree, far better to accidentally kill a 16€ China tool and still have a 1500€ precision meter for filter measurements. Really looking forward to test that thing myself.
I have a MESR 100 esr meter and it only does 100 hz. Had no idea that there were other options. Guess i will have to learn when to use other frequencies if I get this, or, even if I need to.
100Hz is a good one - if a cap is bad, the ESR will deviate most at 100Hz.
@@Tony359_2 That was what I thought. But, since there are other options, I was wondering what the value of them is. I guess, if you are using caps in high frequency circuits, you might want to test at higher frequencies?
This is an amazing tool but still a basic tool. If you’re designing circuits where tolerances are strict, maybe a proper LCR meter would be more suitable.
In my case, the 100hz reading is helpful because at 10khz a bad cap might show a slightly off ESR but at 100Hz the bad cap might show a much worse ESR.
Very nice review, I had to laugh some time :) Its a good thing for some DIY'ers - because of a missing LCR-Meter I will buy it! Thanks
Thank you!
I just received mine, and I think they may have listened to your critique, I ordered from your links and mine came with improvements. It's spot on aligned. It's a lot less flexible (doesn't wiggle much to the sides). They've also changed the colors of the buttons (now black instead of grey, not sure that was an improvement, but the text is more readable). The display is extremely crisp and can be seen from all angles. The included cable is actually nice instead of those cheap dinky cables they always include with low-priced items.
ahah amazing, I'm glad you are positively impressed!
Thanks. Great review and great device. On the strength of your review I just bought one. Cost me £22.79 shipped to the UK from AliExpress. 👍
I should have asked for commissions :)
I hope you like it and thanks for watching!
I believe that a component didn’t go BAD, but simply evolved into a different circuit. Every capacitor has capacitance, resistance and inductance and overtime it changed those characteristics into a different circuit. Now what that circuit is good for is is in the realm of the advertising department.
Thanks! Your perspective is interesting. & letting us know v1.8 is available. They introduced data logging with v1.7, and the data file was missing the Rs column.
Ah yes, this thing also has data logging :) You're very welcome, I stumbled on the FW by chance, I just wanted to make sure I was using the latest version on camera!
Nice. May I suggest you do a review on USB cable testers (max data speed and PD ability)?
Thanks! I do have one, I never thought of reviewing it.
And in many circuits where the impedance of the surrounding circuitry is orders of magnitude higher than the ESR high ESR my have no effect on the circuit. Ex: 1md cap with 45 ohms ESR into a 10K load resistor, common in many audio circuits, will have the effect of a 25 ohm resistor in series with a good 1mfd cap. The loss will be negligible. But the cap may cause distortion depending on the nature of the ESR. FYI
Thanks!
One would think that these microcontroller driven devices, both the one you're reviewing and the ZIF socket device, could AUTOMATICALLY do capacitor ESR tests at a range of frequencies and then display the results in a set sequence. Example 100Hz-10kHz-100kHz or whatever range would be most revealing. It would simply be a matter of properly programming the microcontroller to do this.
That would take time though and a firm connection. It could be nice to have it as an option.
G'day Tony. Great video as usual.👍
For me, the Best Tool for the job, is the one in your hand.
The Worst Tool in the shop, is the one covered in dust.
eheh absolutely! That's why I decided to make this video, I could see this tool in my hands very often :)
Yeah, after your video, Im thinkin' of getting one myself . The price is right.
Well, the Sun has just popped up, must be time to put the kettle on.
Cheerz.
Naive question : I build antennas for ham radio. Some antennas need loading inductors to shorten the radials. Would such a cheap tester be suitable to test my home-made inductors (wire turns around a PVC tube) against the desired inductance? These antennas operate in the 7-28 Mhz range.
I do not know to be honest, sorry! What is the expected value of the inductors?
I just checked and e.g. for a shortened end-fed half-wave antenna tuned for up to 80m band, the loading inductor needs to be 110 uH
I was also thinking about the issue of testing at frequencies that are way below what the antenna gets.
I just ordered one on watching this vid. However, you don't mention the expected impedance of the cap you're testing. Without it you don't really know what's what.
In order to sort out the non reactive impedance or resistance from the ESR you need to know the impedance of the value you're testing. 1mfd has a Z of 15.9 ohms at 100 hz. If you don't know that then you you can't accurately judge the cap's esr. And if you get an esr below the actual impedance of that value cap's labeled rating then the capacitance will be higher than rated. Most electrolytics are +20 to 50% /-20% tolerance.
Thanks for watching, I hope you like it! I still do!
I didn't mention much because I feel I am not in a position to evaluate the accuracy of this tool - for that I mentioned the video review from Defpom, he's got professional LCR meters and he was able to do a comparison.
I searched through all my capacitors and nobody is sharing the ESR on their datasheet. Only Wurth does but only at 100KHz, which this tool cannot do.
In fact, I am sure I did find a Wurth with the ESR measured at 120Hz on the datasheet. I cannot find that capacitor anymore but it did match the Zoyi very closely.
I hope you're happy with the tool, let me know! :)
Thank you, just bought one!
Hope you enjoy it!
Does it look possible to take it apart in a non-destructive manner, or was it designed to become ewaste once the battery dies?
I haven't checked to be honest.
yes, there's a single screw on the back and a lipo battery inside that can be swapped easily
Good job, you just solid one!
Thanks!
Good review. I am going to order.
I hope you like it!
Can you measure voltage with it, like in circuit voltage across a capacitor?
No, no voltage unfortunately.
thank you Tony for the review, LCR-ST1 (some online stores listed as having LCR & ESR like FINIRSI) did you get the chance to test on-board capcitor with it?
I understand the zoyi is not great at testing in circuit capacitors but I did try a few times and I got some useful info. Apparently the Peak is a better tool for that.
Nice one Tony, Actually, I watched a couple of vids where it was compared to some expensive meters and it was very accurate. Bob
indeed, Scott's video is one of them!
Thank you. A great video.
You are welcome!
At 3:56 I think you meant 100Khz not Hertz. Thanks for the video!
So... You actually meant 100 Hz. You should check MESR-100 V2, that one can check 100Khz and it's quite cheap as well!
I am not 100% up to date with what's available on the market, it's nice to know that finally we're getting affordable "actual" LCR meters! Thank you!
Try the ESR2501C
Thanks for the video Tony. At the end, we need a tool to make the job with some margin of error, and this one seems to make the job. We're not repairing the space station here 😉
Exactly! The DE-5000 might have some more features and be more accurate but this seems to be accurate enough. The ATMEL is also accurate enough though it lacks the frequency selection. For £17, this is good! I wasn't expecting it! Thank you!
Usb rechargeable too? Sold.
So, OK, you've tested all your caps ... how do you what the tolerances are? Is there a general rule or do you need each component's spec to check if it is OK? Asking for a friend ... 🤔
Capacitor tolerance is 20% by design. For ESR, you can find tables online which give you an acceptable range depending on the capacitance. At higher capacitance you'd expect lower ESR, at lower capacitance you'd expect higher ESR.
I hope this helps your friend! ;)
@@Tony359_2 He says, thank you for your answer.
🤔
New acquisition... LCR Fnirsi dso-tc3...
With signal generator and oscilloscope
When have some time, I will test it, to see its performance.
Bought it after seen a lot of feedbacks.
Cheers.
a-hm! :) ua-cam.com/video/go4CKKLaaCU/v-deo.html
Can the display screen flip for left-handers?
yes it can! It's in the menu
@Tony359_2 fantastic. Thank you.
At 4.41 you measure inductance of 4 uH ( microHenry) but the display is showing 4 mH (milliHenry) ?
My mistake, I meant millihenry!
Whats with the test screen that keeps popping up
Test screen?
Will this work for amp repair if I’m trying to check the capacitors without desoldering them off the board ?
I’m told it’s not great for in circuit testing (though it does work to an extend). For that I understand the peak is better.
How do I get you a SoundginZ? I would love for you to do a video on it.
thanks for highlighting this tool, FYI your link to defpom video is for the FNIRSI not the Zotek
Thanks, I changed it many hours ago, it’s should good by now. Thanks for taking the time to let me know!
Why not include voltage and current readings? Why stop there...temperature and humidity? Noise level meter...etc
In Italy we say "vuoi la botte piena e la moglie briaha" (you want the barrell still full of wine but your wife drunk) :)
Be VERY sure to discharge capacitors prior to measurement, otherwise you will end up with just another pair of tweezers.
Always a good idea indeed. That's why I have two of those "Atmel based" testers - one has a hole on the main IC :)
Wouldn’t the auto feature protect you from that?
Those testers - more expensive ones too - won't like a fully charged capacitor. A few volts is ok. But when I plugged my 220V motor start capacitor on an ATMEL-based tester, I made a hole in the IC :)
It would be helpful if you would explain what a EST or a LCR is. At least in your "more..."
Thanks for your feedback!
I saw this one doesnt work in circuit like the little more expensive competitors according to eevblog
yes apparently it's not great but I'm not a lover of in-circuit measurements. that said when I tried, I got some meaningful information!
@Tony359_2 I'll probably get one too see if I can snag one for 15 around Christmas 😀
Will it do in circuit capacitance tests?
Not too accurately apparently. I am not a believer of that method so I didn't really check too much.
No I don't NEED one! (I keep collecting things that I rarely use.) Thanks for the video.
ahaha I can relate don't worry!!
Este aparelho não mostra o vloss do capacitor?
No but it does show D - I’m unclear on what the difference is but I understand VLoss might be misleading.
@@Tony359_2 thanks for informations and the good video.
Micro Harry ? To me its micro Henry 😊
Nice instrument... tx!
Oh well, plenty of English mistakes in my videos, pick your favourite one! :)
I've been using a "Peak" meter for years.
They are excellent indeed - this is a cheaper option for those who do not have the Peak budget.
I recently tested the new FNIRSI LCR-P1 and it also was totally useless and ended up in my junk drawer. The older TC1 and TC3 testers are much better than the others and do give a much closer ESR value to what my large LCR meters give. However, one comment; Capacitance of Electrolytics is usually done at 100 or 120 Hz but ESR is measured at 100KHz and that little meter does not seem to have that frequency so I presume it won't be accurate either?
Oh yes, I also need one of those Drawers! :D
100KHz is often used to measure ESR on datasheets etc yes. So yes, it would be nice to have 100KHz as well. The ATMEL based testers approximate a 10KHz reading, I feel 10KHz is ok for DIY work - and 100Hz is a massive addition for troubleshooting purposes.
On a good cap, 10KHz and 100KHz ESR should be very close so that doesn't concern me. I don't need anything super accurate, I just need something to tell me "it's good/it's bad". Yesterday I was testing "in circuit" and I have to say I got some useful data there too. So that works for me.
Of course if you want a proper, true, accurate LCR meter, then you buy something else :)
That double-beep at the beginning made me jump up and search where it came from...
It can't measure capacitors at 60hz? I want to measure the ESR at 60hz for filter capacitors in power supplies
I’m not aware of an LCR meter which does 60hz to be honest
100 Hz is close enough, the tolerance variation from one cap to the next would be more than the small frequency difference. The main thing is to use pure sine wave rather that a square or triangle waveform since the non-sine waves will contain higher frequency harmonics which would distort the ESR readings. For most apps 100 Hz and 10 kHz and 100 kHz would be ideal for most designs.
Do you think that perhaps it's displaying Impedance rather than ESR? ESR should increase with frequency in electrolytic capacitors due to poorer Ionic Conductivity, the Diffusion Layer, and the effect of higher temperatures over time. Your tests appear to just be showing simple impedance instead, hence higher values at lower frequency.
My knowledge is limited but my understanding is that ESR increases when reducing frequency. You can find graphs online. That’s all I know 🙂
@@Tony359_2 - It would be an interesting experiment to test a variety of capacitor types both electrolytic and non electrolytic. Also the design of cap would affect ESR testing I am sure, mica, mylar, tantalum, etc. From my experience with designing switching power supplies most electrolytic caps do have an increase in ESR with frequency and we would always design with 'low ESR' caps to limit heating of the caps in the power supply. Also when 'decoupling' TTL digital circuits we would often put an electrolytic cap in parallel with a mylar or other low ESR cap to get rid of high frequency noise from the switching circuits.
How much is it?
Очень ценная информация!
Thank you!
The link to the Defpom video in the description is the wrong one
Thank you and my apologies - it's fixed not! :)
I have a homemade one, I made it in the late 80s. It uses the Intersil ICL7107 and is very accurate, the only problem it has is the size and that it doesn't measure capacitors larger than 999uF. To measure them I put them in series, it doesn't measure ESR either but I'm still happy with it. Of course, if I feel like doing something else I might buy that one, mostly for the ESR and other functions, especially inductances. The last thing I made was an HF RF generator, absolutely all shielded, due to a mistake of mine it was missing about 20 additional db in the attenuators.
My capacitance meter can hold inside about 30 or more of those haha
Well if it doesn't go from 1F down to 1 attofarad with .000000000000001% precision, I'm just not interested. ;)
Well maybe a little interested. I really could wish for a higher capacitance range, even tho the L upper limit is surprising.
Of course this won't compare with a Fluke. But it's priced accordingly :)
Awesome.
Thanks!
Please buy the TC1 instead of that 9V battery one..
TC1 use 100khz tone.
The TC1 I saw online seems to be based on the Atmel design, that is not using a waveform for measurement - see my previous video!
@@Tony359_2 put it on oscilloscope and you will see
@@Tony359_2 Put it on oscilloscope and you will see it do have the tone.. I don't know what they used to generate it but the tone is present on measurements.
I don't have it so I trust you. But then there might be various revisions - or copycats. The Atmel shouldn't be able to do that.
@@Tony359_2 that's true.. finding the good one is hard.
The finirsi one is ok at this point, 30€ is a good price.
Nice review, but for just a bit more money, you can get a fnirsi lcr meter.
Granted, if it was free i will take it. If the target device is entry level, then I would rather spend the extra $5 or $7 and get fnirsi.
which one is it because the FNIRSI component tester I got was junk :)
@@Tony359_2 Sorry, that was Ali search that messed up. I know they have the TC1 that is crap. It showed another meter which looked much better, but that was in fact not an LCR.
You can look at FNIRSI LCR-ST1. Might be a better build quality than the zoyi, but most likely the same in measurement
What do you see better in the FNIRSI? I am honestly asking. It's using the same three frequencies, it comes with different tips but everything else seems similar?
@@Tony359_2 The tweezer bit looks higher quality. Hence I said it just improves on build. Inside it may be exactly the same thing.
You sold me, 1 in my basket.
I should have asked a commission! :)
What actually is " rs " displaying 🤔
Because if it's displaying reactance,
then your test capacitors are seriously broken
( ignoring inductive reactance a 1uf capacitor measured at a frequency of;
100hz has an impedance of 1500 ohms
And at 100khz would be 1.5 ohms ) 🤔
Interesting video ( love the product) 😊
I do not know to be honest! :)
Here’s an LCR meter that’s accurate and affordable. Thanks!
You're welcome!
🤔
Mine is NEWCASON XC6013L
Was about 30 Euros and is really good.
I have also capacity testing on my multimeter buut that is... trash
So not an arm and leg ( not or ) were the costs 😅
Cheers
I'd be curious to know what measurement method yours is using! :)
Yes, even my Fluke capacitor measurement is not great...
I have a 6013 type capacitance meter tens of years old.
It measures only capacitance, nor ESR.
I believe it's based on a R/C timing circuit.
No 100kHz ???
No! Remember it’s a £19 tool!
In the "Nuova Elettronica" magazine issue 212, page 104 there is an ESR meter @100Khz. It's simple and it works nice
Ce ne sono tanti disponibili compreso quello di Pier Aisa e MVVBlog 🙂
The cheap LC100 LCR meters have a variable but not adjustable testing frequency. It can be as high as 600kHz as I noticed its signal appearing on MW on my SDR dongle. The higher frequencies appear to be used when measuring low-value inductors.
Miniware has a much better LCR meter. I got the DT71 on Amazon for around $60.00.
For sure, then for £90 you get the Peak Atlas. But for £19 this is not bad :) It depends on budget as usual!
But that's subjective, what makes it 'better' ? Reviews for DT71 are dunking on it for being a toy with terrible accuracy issues, sometimes as bad as 50% on a 100uF and apparently weird cal procedures that might not fix it.
50% is not cool...
@@Tony359_2 I'd never take lone reviews as gospel, but the fact that a few users seem to have general accuracy issues, and that a cal procedure might be needed as soon as you open it, aren't the best indicators.
Sometimes the ‘lone review’ is all you need to discover something. I tend to focus more on those lonely reviews than anything. On Amazon I always sort out the feedback by the worst ones. If I see a trend, chances are it’s true despite how many good feedback the item has.
nice
The fact that it says 4.7 millihenrys rather than microhenrys would annoy me.
ahah I always mix that up :)
👍
WHY do you have to hold it like you show? I'm also disappointed that you didn't show it working in AUTO mode just because you don't like it, do you not make the video for your viewer's?
If you hold it the other way round your hand will cover the display! :)
Sorry to hear you would have loved to see the AUTO function! There are many reviews online, I'm sure one of them will also show the auto feature working!
@@Tony359_2 so it's not a requirement to hold horizontal as implied mm that makes sense but not clear in your own words in the video
If you would speak faster I guarantee no one would understand what you are saying. Slow down and annunciate your words clearly. Thank you.
It's a good thing that I speak slower then! Feel free to activate the subtitles!
For those that speak fast, I set my playback speed to 0.75. For those that speak slowly, I set it to 1.25
I usually set myself to 1.5 :)