Economical Auto-Ranging LCR Meter Comes With Dual Display

April 12, 2004

Suitable for just about any bench or tool box, the model 879 dual-display auto-ranging handheld LCR meter simultaneously displays a measured component's quality (Q) and dissipation (D) factors. With its fully isolated optical RS-232 interface, test...

Roger Allan

The microprocessor-controlled meter features four selectable test frequencies of 100 Hz, 120 Hz, 1 kHz, and 10 kHz. The four-and-a-half-digit (19999-count) backlit LCD dual display shows inductance, capacitance, and resistance values within 1%, 5%, 10%, and 20% tolerance modes.

Auto-ranging and manual measurements are possible. Convenient front-panel pushbuttons and controls include selections such as data hold, maximum, minimum, and average record readings. There also is a relative mode as well as a tolerance-sorting mode.

The instrument can prompt the user when calibration is needed. Moreover, the dual display shows the reader whether or not to calibrate the instrument via an open-circuit or short-circuit condition. A "low-battery" indication tells when the instrument's 9-V battery drops to about 6.8 V.

The LCR meter draws 40 mA when operating and just 80 µA after going into an "auto power-off" mode, which activates about five minutes after no measurement activity is detected. Plus, the instrument can run from an external dc adapter of 12 to 15 V. And, it operates from 0°C to 40°C.

A tilt stand provides positioning flexibility for operating and viewing the instrument. An over-molded rubber case is designed to protect the model 879 from any damage. The $295 price includes a 9-V battery, an instruction manual, and test alligator clips. The model 879 is available from stock.

B&K Precision Corp. www.bkprecision.com (714) 921-9095

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About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.