Equivalent Series Resistance (ESR) Meters

ESR or Equivalent Series Resistance is how much resistance is in a given capacitor. As a capacitor begins to fail ESR typically begins to increase and impact the electronic device. This video exams three low prices ESR meters against a known good and known bad capacitor.

Cheap Multifunction Component Tester: Are they any Good?

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00:00 Title
00:04 Introduction
02:33 ESR Meter Testing
07:11 Amazon Detail on Meters

[matambale]

I've found that the DER DE-5000 LCR meter is a much better choice than the GME in that price range. I've had great success with it, and its in-circuit ESR performance is quite good. A recommended improvement for the DER is to make your own Kelvin test clips for the unit.
A good test for it was a subwoofer amp that had 12 out of its 16 electrolytics gone to the dark side. All 12 read bad both in-circuit and out-of-circuit. Accurate in-circuit ESR testing is extremely useful.
The unit is also excellent for testing inductors, and of course resistors.
One MUST DISCHARGE THE CAP first. Beyond safety for the unit, a small charge left on a cap can confuse an ESR/C meter.

[jonathanguepe]

Great video - question. How did you fix your MESR-100 tester when you tested a charged cap? I just did it and it's not working now. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[toG-ii]

I have seen a video that the TC1 type meters need to be calibrated before use.have you done that?

[ferndog]

Can you do a comparison between Antek blue ear vs this one ? How close are the readings ( out of circuit & in circuit )

[Scottyman]

Are ceramic capacitors treated any differently than electrolytic caps as far as testing ESR?

[fritzj]

Great tutorial. You can also test the resistance and microhenries of the inductors with the esr meter. The reactance formula is 2𝛑FL. That would be 2 x 3.14i x frequency of esr meter x 100 (uH) Just plug it in.

R=0.628 X L(uH)
L(uH)=R(ohms)/0.628

[DrN]

Interesting how the the 3rd one is obviously subpar to MESR, and yet more than twice the price... Who would pay for that?!?