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Siborg is continually working on updating the devices in order to offer their customers high accuracy devices while still being affordable. For over a year they have been working on a new model of their LCR-Reader devices, the LCR-Reader-R2. The new model offers a basic accuracy of 0.1% and features a record high 300 kHz test frequency. The new device is going to have the ability of using adjustable 100 Ohm and 1 kOhm signal source resistance allowing for better in-circuit testing.

The new model combines advantages of past models LCR-reader-MP and LCR-Reader-MPA due to the ability of switching the test signal source resistance from 100 Ohms as in MPA to 1 kOhm as in MP. Using 1 kOhm increases the stability of measurements and works much better for in-circuit measurements. But, lower source impedance effectively increases the actual test signal applied to the component under test, thus reducing the signal-to-noise ratio in some cases.

The device will feature a new CPU, which allows for 300 kHz test frequency. This frequency also may allow to better measure sub 10 nH inductors.

The new device will have better accuracy for measuring small capacitances and inductances and in-circuit measurements due to the ability to use higher source resistance. The higher accuracy is due to the use of adjustable signal source resistance of 100 Ohms and 1 kOhms, and the higher 300 kHz test frequency.

LCR-Reader-R2 will not feature the same features as LCR-Reader-MPA;

• Automatic and manual LCR, ESR, LED/Diode measurements
• 0.1% Basic Accuracy
• Automatic and manual test frequency including 100, 120 Hz, 1, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 75, 100 and 300 kHz
• Three test signal levels: 0.1, 0.5, 1 Vrms
• Automatic Test Signal Reduction to 0.1 V for in-circuit measurements
• Parasitic offset removal using easy Short/Open Calibration
• Measures compoents to a 0201 size (0.3mm)
• Displays active and reactive impedance components
• Li-Ion battery and micro-USB charging port
• 1.5 oz. weight
• Backlit LCD display
• Gold plated test leads

Features that are only available on LCR-Reader-MPA

• AC/DC voltage measurements up to 5 V
• AC/DC current measurements
• Oscilloscope Transient Voltage up to 100 kHz
• Frequency meter
• Sine Wave Signal Generator

Each device comes with pre-installed set of gold-plated tips, NIST Traceable Calibration Certificate, Offset Calibration Board and hard-shelled carrying case. Other accessories include spare ergonomic bent-tips, spare battery and the LCR-Reader Kelvin Probe Connector.

Siborg has begun offering a new Coil Ring Tester for LCR-Reader-MPA.

The main difficulty for testing coils if that the LCR-meter shows almost no change in the impedance value if there is a short turn in the coil. An accurate way of finding short turns in a coil is by using the Ring Test technique. This method has been used in old AV equipment that us flybacks, motors, chopper transformers, deflection yoke windings, magnetic heads, main transformers and ore.

The coil ring method is based on Gibbs phenomenon that is a response of the system to a step excitation. When a capacitor is connected across the investigated coil and a pulse is applied to the parallel circuit. The wave form across the resonant circuit will create a decaying oscillation, with at least a few cycles if the coil is good. The oscillations will be strongly damped and only complete one or two cycles if there is a shorted turn in any of the magnetically coupled coils of the device. A short turn could also be applied, when applicable, to compare with and without a short turn. If there is no change, there is a short turn in at least one coil. Experience and comparison with a known good device will tell you what to expect.

The LCR-Reader-MPA is connected to the Ring tester using the micro-USB plug and connected to the coil under test using the hook connectors. Set the MPA to “winding turns” in the menu. When the device is set, the screen will show the response on the display. The example below shows a dramatic difference; when a shorted turn is connected, the display shows significantly higher dissipation factor and therefore a fewer number of oscillations following the impulse on the coil.

The Ring Coil Tester Attachment is currently only available from Siborg directly and from their Chinese distributor AI-Rox in Shenzhen.

Siborg has released the MPA with Bluetooth connection in Canada, USA and China. The added Bluetooth capabilities boost the efficiency of LCR-Reader-MPA.

The device is identical to LCR-Reader-MPA with 0.1% basic accuracy and wide range of features, but now can send and receive data from PC, Android and iOS.

When connected with the Bluetooth dongle (for PC), the MPA will automatically send the measurement results in a string of comma separated values. This string represents the main impedance value, secondary value, measurement mode, type of series, test frequency. This data can be saved to a spreadsheet or other database for later analysis.

Users are also able to set custom profiles; set specific values that components must comply with. When a component is measured, it is granted a pass or fail depending on if it met the requirements.

When using the LCR MP Bluetooth Logger program, users can compare components to a pre-measured component. Users can use this program or other programs, like National Instrument’s LabView.

The ability to test and record the values in real-time is an exceptional ability for tasks where quality control is important but time is essential, such as production lines.

Siborg is updating their LCR-Reader-MP after a year on the market. The new LCR-Reader-MPA is their most advanced multifunctional device yet. MPA offers a 0.1% basic accuracy and long list of features.

The main difference between the old MP and the new MPA is the design. The new model is more compact and nearly 1.5 times lighter than the MP. The tweezers stability was improved with more rigid tweezer handles. The screen is slightly smaller but is now available in grey or black, providing high contrast in all lighting conditions. The jog-dial navigation was replaced with a 4-way joystick which drastically changes the functionality; users can change basic test parameters, such as measurement mode, test frequency, etc., from the main display without entering menus. The device now offers 3 test signal levels: 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 Vrms; the latter is most important for accurately testing ceramic capacitors. The Slide switch for voltage measurements was removed and replaced with an automatic relay switch. LED test voltage was increased to 3.2 Volts. The signal source resistance is reduced to 100 Ohms allowing better accuracy while testing smaller resistances, inductances and larger capacitances.

Features on LCR-Reader-MPA:

• Fully automatic and manual LCR, ESR, LED/Diode measurements
• 0.1% Basic accuracy
• AC/DC Voltage measurements up to 15 V
• AC/DC Current measurements
• Automatic and manual Test Frequency including 100, 120 Hz, 1, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 75 and 100 kHz
• Test signal levels 0.1, 0.5, 1.0 Vrms
• Easy open/short calibration and offset removal
• Oscilloscope transient voltage up to 100 kHz
• Signal Generator with Sine wave up to 100 kHz
• Handles components to a 0201 size (0.3 mm)
• Automatic Test Signal Reduction to 0.1 V for in-circuit measurements
• Displays active and reactive impedance components
• Li-Ion battery and micro-USB charging port
• 1 oz. weight
• Backlit LCD display in grey or black
• Gold-plated test leads

LCR-Reader-MPA offers the widest range of features and highest basic accuracy of all LCR-Reader and Smart Tweezers devices. The MPA is able to quickly determine the types of components and best test parameters before measuring with 0.1% basic accuracy. One of the main features on MPA is the ability to test using a 100 kHz test frequency, which allows for a 0.001 pF resolution for capacitance and 0.1 nH for inductance measurements.

MPA also offers an oscilloscope mode that shows voltage waveforms on active circuit boards on an analog graph. When used with the Kelvin Probe Connector kit, the device becomes a probe station allowing to test waveforms at various nodes on a PCB.

LCR-Reader-MPA is available in the LCR-Reader Store, and on Amazon sales channels in North America and Europe.

Starting midnight on November 21st, 2017, Siborg is offering up to 30% off on devices, accessories and task kits in the LCR-Reader Store and on Amazon sales channels in Canada, USA, UK, Germany, France, Spain and Italy.

The sale includes the new LCR-Reader-MP; a multipurpose device for testing and troubleshooting surface mount technology with the highest basic accuracy of all Siborg’s devices at 0.1%. This device also offers the most features including: LED/diode measuremsnts, signal generator, super large capacitance measurements, AC/DC voltage measurements, oscilloscope mode, pulse counting, and more. The MP is also able to test components with a 100 kHz test frequency with 0.01 pF resolution for capacitance and 1 nH resolution for inductance. It also offers a Large Cap mode that measures large and super capacitances up to 680 mF.

Siborg will be showing the LCR-Reader-MP at this years International Electron Device Meeting Exhibits (IEDM) in San Francisco from December 3rd to 5th, 2017.

 

Visit the LCR-Reader Store from now until Sunday November 26th at 11:59 PM for Black Friday discounts.