#1031 Hewlett-Packard 4260A LCR Meter (part 1 of 4)

Episode 1031
I bet you haven't seen this one. This is from Yokogawa HP

[RapperBC]

About 20 years ago, after getting my first 'scope for $50 (a Tek 531), I bought a manual for it, and sat down to read it. It was written early enough in the era of precision 'scopes (about 1958) that there was a full writeup with an introduction to the whole idea of what a 'scope was, how to use it, how it worked, and so on. I was chuffed and surprised at what an amazingly versatile, well-built thing I'd just bought for only $50, and as you say, I learned an awful lot about electronics reading this old manual. I call these "Johnny Electron" manuals, because they always seem to be saying, "Let's join Johnny Electron on his journey through this piece of electronic gear!" It still works. Wonderful manuals for wonderful gear.

[MikeFikes]

Cool! I now have three YHP instruments (conventional LCR as well as LF / HF impedance analyzers). And you are exactly right, the HF impedance analyzer works in terms of reflections, giving the reflection coefficient gamma, exactly like a VNA.

[TonyBarr]

I've been casually searching for one of the later model HP LCR meters. They are certainly not giving these away and then of course the leads are as expensive as the meters. One of these days. . . Great video, but the way. Fun & informative.

[SanthoshRamaraj]

Impressive piece of instrument, looking forward to learn more in your upcoming videos on this instrument design.

[Homer]

Yet another piece that shows just how magic H-P was in the day.

[benmodel]

Really interested to see how this works! Very cool bit of equipment

[gordonwedman]

As Dave likes to say " all the best stuff is made in Japan". I have an LCR bridge made in Japan and it is amazing. It gives a digital readout almost instantly. Measures at 100 Hz and 1kHz. Will measure from pf to 20, 000 mf. Paid less than $100 because not well known manufacturer. Can't recall name offhand.

[willthecat]

My partial explanation for 'journals' it that before Lucent looted it: Bell Labs was the gold standard, for what industrial research labs could do. Although HP accumulated a lot of patents, as did Tektronix, and Phillips... altogether, they didn't come close to number of patehts Bell Labs accumulated. All these companies, at one time or another, had their own industrial research labs. One way to pretend to be Bell Labs was to publish a journal. That's not to say that these 'journals' were not very well written, and an absolute pleasure to read too. The paper, binding, typesetting, printing... the layout, and the photography they presented... along with the excellent technical writing... well all of that is all but a lost art.

[markgreco]

Is is truly that clean? What a beauty.

[Sigmatechnica]

I have one of these and use it fairly regularly

[willthecat]

There was a lot of these old bridges.... including some very high quality ones from General radio, Motorola, Phillips, Rhode & Schwarz and many others. The 6260A had the "automatic" bridge balance, and the crank with the digital readout to differentiate it. Other manufacturers may have been higher quality, accuracy, and precision... but with a lot of size and gravity involved too. HP had a small footprint, and a crank (Did I mention that). The downfalls: a fixed frequency in the audio range (or limited to the audio range)... and they're a monumental pain in the butt, to work through testing/sorting a pile of components. The digital LCR meters are not only usually more accurate; but are far easier to use.

[dyd]

Must have some wild mechanicals to do the range indication

[rfburns]

Nice bridge. How much did it set you back? I've got an old Beckman bridge with an eye tube and a Leeds & Northrup galvanometer. The patent system is crooked. See Don Lancaster's "Case Against Patents"

[jetjumper]

I have one of these, but it has issues.. this will inspire me to take another stab at it.

[AB-yutj]

Can I please get an answer to below question:
Is it necessary for a repair lab to have a hi fequesncy LCR meter (5 MHz)?
Already have hp4263a.

[chriswalford]

I don’t suppose you’re at all tempted for a moment to have a look inside?