Low cost Benchtop LCR meter Review - Matrix MCR-5100 bench LCR meter #benchLCRmeter #LCRmeter

In this video 'Low cost Benchtop LCR meter Review - Matrix MCR-5100 bench LCR meter', I'll review a benchtop LCR meter by Matrix. It is the MCR-5100 model that has test signals from 40Hz up to 100kHz. There is also the MCR-5200 with test signals to 200kHz. There is also an MCR-5010 model that has test signals from 100Hz up to 10kHz and the MCR-5030 which has test signals from 100Hz to 30kHz. There is a discount code at the link below #LCRmeter #MatrixLCRmeter #MatrixMCR-5100

Please use links that cost nothing extra but will help support the channel:

Other videos that might be of interest:

Please support this channel that will not cost anything extra by using my link to Borbede BD-99, this meter is around $47 which is low cost for a high count meter with high accuracy:

Links to support this channel that cost nothing extra;)

_________________________________________________________________________________________
You can support this channel with this link to Patreon - I really do appreciate your support? This support helps me purchase the equipment I use for testing a reviews.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

[versace]

HI Eddie, Your sacrifice does not go unnoticed, you make this easy to understand. Nice Video, thank you 👏😄

[johnwright]

It's worthwhile having a good LCR meter on the bench. That Matrix unit looks great, with a lot of useful features that would have easily found the fault that I had.
I had a faulty German industrial switching supply to repair. A pair of 470n poly caps measured fine when using a Fluke handheld multimeter.
My Keysight LCR meter showed that at 10kHz and above, the capacitance dropped to 6nF, and ESR increased to well over 10 Ohms.
The power supply worked when these caps were replaced.
High ESR is a common failure mode in electrolytic caps, but I haven't seen it in a poly cap before, and I don't know what internal failure could cause it and why a normal multimeter missed it. It must be the different measurement techniques that they use.

[fredflintstone]

Very nice meter, but quite a bit out of my price range and more functionality than I need.
I bought a DER EE DE-5000 High Accuracy Handheld LCR Meter TL-21 TL-23 Set Tools for about $104 which included shipping. I like it and it takes care of my needs.
Test frequency: 100/120/1 k/10 k/100 kHz (0.5 Vrms, sine wave)
Not as elaborate, but does show many of the same variables and seems fairly accurate.
I've collected the parts I need to be able to use BNC connected probes like the ones that came with your meter, and also tweezer probes so I can interchanges them as needed.
I believe as a hobbyist I'm set.

[electronicengineer]

Hey Eddie! Awesome new LCR meter!!! FYI; I bought a Matrix 300W programmable DC Load unit for my private, at home bench, a few years back and its accuracy honestly impresses me. BK Precision makes a very similar unit, but for double the cost... so it was an easy decision for me! In my opinion, Matrix builds some really good equipment. Also, I have an old Sencore LC102, which I bought off of eBay roughly ten years ago, for LCR measurement. Not exactly new, but it works pretty well. I know that you will enjoy the new Matrix toy!

[stevenbliss]

I've been pining one of those for years, but could never justify it. ...looking forward to the rest of your video (just started watching) :)

[Maltanx]

I'm at the 13 minutes mark, and I just noticed something.
You have the model which goes up to maximum 100khz, yet it allows you to select frequencies up to 200khz, weird.

[Maltanx]

What a coincidence! I've been looking for a nice LCR meter to buy for days (also watched your reviews today). I was very unsure about this one, I might buy it if you say its worth the money!

[InssiAjaton]

The meter front and the model capabilities eliminate the 200 kHz. Looks like it has the 200 kHz frequency oscillator, but try to indicate that it does not provide usable readings! As to the resistances at different frequencies, the choke name plate mentioned R-DC. The skin depth with the normal magnet wire of your choke size starts causing resistance to go way up from 10 kHz. And, obviously you get meaningless numbers at 200 kHz!

[alexruffell]

The large port on the back is not for printers but rather instrument control via standardized GPIB hardware and software. There are some GPIB to USB adapters but first look into software availability unless you want to develop your own. The manual will likely detail the commands. :)

[jutukka]

This kind of meter would be very useful for example when comparing wah pedal inductors etc. It would be very easy to tell if specs of reproductions of those mythical vintage coils are even close to original ones. Probably not... 😁

Very nice video.👍

[Big-hgzf]

Hey, how is it that that MCR-5100 goes up to 200 kHz? Spec sheet says top end is 100 kHz. But the MCR-5200 does go to 200 kHz.... The video shows "MCR-5100 100 kHz" sticker on the front of the meter. What gives? Is that really a MCR-5200?
EDIT: I purchased the MCR-5100 and I received it today. After reading the manual (reads more like a datasheet) I checked the frequency selections from the front panel and found the MCR-5100 does in fact go to 200 kHz 😲 The 150 kHz and 200 kHz options are both there. So, pleasantly surprised. And now I'm wonder what the MCR-5200 is capable of?

[andymouse]

Not bad piece of kit, it would have been nice to see some comparisons with your other meter's. looking forward to seeing the JAT501 PSU...cheers.

[jamesking]

The companies website does not inspire confidence. ZERO software available for ANY device they sell. User manual does not even have a table of contents, lacks detail - for example there is an rs232 interface but NO commands for it are detailed. Therefore you cant write your own software to control it for example to create graphs of impedance vs test frequency...
under the service tab on the website, warrantee is a dummy entry, FAQ is a dummy entry, operation guide is a dummy entry....
under download data sheet only has two devices, software is a dummy entry, only catalogue and user manual have links to actual downloads. Given the price of this device I would seriously question the lack of software and documentation. There are also no service or calibration manuals, no firmware updates.
under News on the website the ONLY entry says that they have upgraded the company logo.... and that entry is dated April 1st 2020...

[rayandrade]

Hi Mr. Eddie,
did I read it correctly that your MCR-5100 goes up to 200 KHZ ? ( at 16:44 minutes)
I happen to have the MCR-5200, wich goes up to 200 KHZ.
Would it then only make a difference in software? And have you installed the software version of the MCR-5200 on your MCR-5100 ?

Best regards,

Ray

[oveboss]

Hi, did you receive a software CD? after saving file into .LCR file how to open this?

[akcoord]

I wanna review or model number of the multimeter shown in the review behind the lcr meter with the auto feature plz

[hectorguerra]

Is there a way to calibrate the leads?

[stevenbliss]

Love it, but, I hate the way it does RS. I want RS to be DC RS not entangled with impedance.

[jlev]

I’ve had this same meter in my cart for several days now. After this video I went ahead and purchased the meter. Thanks for the review.
How were you getting the meter to go to 200k? I thought the mcr-5100 was only to 100k and the mcr-5200 was the 200k meter?

[nw]

i have a question that i cant find an answer too. i have a bench lcr meter and it has 4 connections for the kelvin clip test leads. the meter's test lead connections are marked Lcur, Lpot and Hcur, Hpot. which two connections does the positive test lead connect to? i cant find which test lead goes to which two terminals anywhere.