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Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

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    Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

    Have wanted to build this for a long time ever since I saw Dave Jones use the old black and red one. It was fun to build and works great. What ESR meters do you guys use?





    Attached Files
    Last edited by Per Hansson; 02-20-2022, 07:02 AM. Reason: Offsite images uploaded
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    Ryzen 3600x
    16GB Patriot 3600MHz
    MSI B450 Gaming Plus
    MSI Air Boost Vega 56
    Acer 32" 1440P Freesync
    Rosewill Capstone 750W
    --------------------------------------------------------------
    Hakko FX-888D Station
    FX-8802 Iron
    MG Chem .8mm 63/37 RA 2.2%

    #2
    Re: Finally built the Bop Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

    There have been a few threads about this meter in the past if you want some history.
    I still have mine, and I used it today at work!
    Sure I have a couple of the Atmega based "transistor testers" that are all over eBay.
    But this original Bob Parker design is special to me, I really like it!

    https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1287
    https://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=6535
    "The one who says it cannot be done should never interrupt the one who is doing it."

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

      i didnt even know the Anatek blue was still being sold!

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

        Oh wow, the Bob Parker lurked on these forums, cool!

        I love it. Just waiting on better probes. Wish the blue meter had the banana jacks like the old Dick Smith model had. Otherwise It's great and was fun to assemble.
        --------------------------------------------------------------
        Ryzen 3600x
        16GB Patriot 3600MHz
        MSI B450 Gaming Plus
        MSI Air Boost Vega 56
        Acer 32" 1440P Freesync
        Rosewill Capstone 750W
        --------------------------------------------------------------
        Hakko FX-888D Station
        FX-8802 Iron
        MG Chem .8mm 63/37 RA 2.2%

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

          you could re-drill the endplate and fit a couple of 4mm shielded sockets.

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

            Originally posted by stj View Post
            you could re-drill the endplate and fit a couple of 4mm shielded sockets.
            They actually give you an extra endplate without any holes, I guess in case you want to do something like this. You'd have to re drill the hole for the power button but that's not difficult.
            --------------------------------------------------------------
            Ryzen 3600x
            16GB Patriot 3600MHz
            MSI B450 Gaming Plus
            MSI Air Boost Vega 56
            Acer 32" 1440P Freesync
            Rosewill Capstone 750W
            --------------------------------------------------------------
            Hakko FX-888D Station
            FX-8802 Iron
            MG Chem .8mm 63/37 RA 2.2%

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

              The Blue ESR Meter works great for me, it just plain works with no hassles and a good investment.

              The Zilog Z8 MCU is obsolete and I wondered about the kit's supply.
              I wanted to write firmware take the concept over to a newer MCU and find a way to add an extra digit, and read capacitance as well.

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

                Is the original code used for the Z8 closed source?
                --------------------------------------------------------------
                Ryzen 3600x
                16GB Patriot 3600MHz
                MSI B450 Gaming Plus
                MSI Air Boost Vega 56
                Acer 32" 1440P Freesync
                Rosewill Capstone 750W
                --------------------------------------------------------------
                Hakko FX-888D Station
                FX-8802 Iron
                MG Chem .8mm 63/37 RA 2.2%

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

                  i think so.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

                    Thanks for the update and the pics!

                    I mostly use the Blue ESR (rev 1) and the DE-5000 (ver 8). I just got looking over the Blue ESR docs and found the self test section (it's been a long while) but have now found my meter is giving an FA error code. Can anyone else confirm their self test is working okay (.8.8 display)?

                    I've never noticed anything really 'strange' about the behaviour of my Blue ESR but now I'm curious. :/



                    From the manual:

                    Switch the meter on by pressing and continuing to hold the button down, regardless of what the displays are showing. After five seconds, they will go blank for a moment and then show a test result for two seconds. The meter will then switch off by itself after you release the button.

                    If everything is more or less OK, you’ll see “.8.8” on the displays (this shows that all the display segments and decimal point LEDs are working). However, if the microcontroller has detected a problem it will flash a fault code
                    consisting of an “F” on the left hand display and a character from 0-9 or an “A” on the right hand one.

                    ...

                    FA: Q6 not switching on. Check around Q6 (2N3904), R24 (10kΩ) and pin 1 of IC2.

                    The microcontroller cannot perform detailed tests on every component, so it’s possible that your meter is malfunctioning even though the self-testing hasn’t shown up a problem. For example, if the meter is behaving strangely, “freezing” up or giving absurd readings on some values of test resistors, the most likely cause is a mix-up in the values of R6 (10kΩ), R8 (1kΩ) and R10 (100Ω). On the other hand, if the meter produces readings but there’s something wrong with the displayed characters, this is almost certainly due to one or more solder bridges between the pins of the displays or around IC3.
                    Last edited by bcstedt; 04-23-2021, 11:55 AM.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

                      Mine (an original Dick Smith Electronics K-7214 MK2) shows 8.8 for the self-test.
                      It could be that Q6 has been damaged from a charged capacitor.
                      You can check the area around it and ultimately try to replace Q6.
                      "The one who says it cannot be done should never interrupt the one who is doing it."

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

                        I've inspeced the board, checked the battery and voltage while running, reseated the Zilog (IC2) but no change. A damaged Q6 seems like a reasonable explanation I'm just surprised. :|

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

                          The Blue ESR meter firmware does show fault codes for many problems:
                          F0- Q11 not discharging Q10.
                          F1- C10 charging too fast.
                          F2- C10 charging too slow or not at all.
                          F3- Pulse amplifier bias Q8-C <0.44V
                          F4- Pulse amplifier bias Q8-C >1V
                          F5- Test current source is always on.
                          F6- Pulse amplifier has no output.
                          F7- Q3 not sourcing current.
                          F8- Q4 not sourcing current.
                          F9- Q5 not sourcing current.
                          FA- Q6 not switching on.


                          FA might be the input protection diodes D3 or D4 shorted. Those fail if you connect the unit to a big charged cap. Less likely the 22uF BP cap C6 has gone open.

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

                            Bought some cheap modular probes for mine. Thinking about soldering in some thicker/longer wires into it, the ones that came with this probe kit to be exact. Probably don't want them too long right?

                            Attached Files
                            Last edited by Per Hansson; 02-20-2022, 07:03 AM. Reason: Offsite image uploaded
                            --------------------------------------------------------------
                            Ryzen 3600x
                            16GB Patriot 3600MHz
                            MSI B450 Gaming Plus
                            MSI Air Boost Vega 56
                            Acer 32" 1440P Freesync
                            Rosewill Capstone 750W
                            --------------------------------------------------------------
                            Hakko FX-888D Station
                            FX-8802 Iron
                            MG Chem .8mm 63/37 RA 2.2%

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

                              huge probes!
                              i have several of these - i get a pair for every meter!
                              https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32848907433.html

                              Comment


                                #16
                                Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

                                Q6, D3 and D4 are not shorted and seem to test ok in circuit.
                                C6 measures 22uF in both directions, also in circuit.

                                Prefer not to remove components until I have a better idea what's going on. Maybe I'll see if I can contact Bob.

                                Comment


                                  #17
                                  Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

                                  Originally posted by stj View Post
                                  i have several of these - i get a pair for every meter!
                                  https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32848907433.html
                                  Those look pretty neat especially for the price. Do you use this seller specifically?

                                  Comment


                                    #18
                                    Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

                                    Component locations for those playing along.
                                    Attached Files

                                    Comment


                                      #19
                                      Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

                                      Originally posted by bcstedt View Post
                                      Those look pretty neat especially for the price. Do you use this seller specifically?
                                      Probemasters are some of the best probes you can buy and they are like $15 shipped. Highly recommend them.
                                      --------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Ryzen 3600x
                                      16GB Patriot 3600MHz
                                      MSI B450 Gaming Plus
                                      MSI Air Boost Vega 56
                                      Acer 32" 1440P Freesync
                                      Rosewill Capstone 750W
                                      --------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Hakko FX-888D Station
                                      FX-8802 Iron
                                      MG Chem .8mm 63/37 RA 2.2%

                                      Comment


                                        #20
                                        Re: Finally built the Bob Parker "Blue" ESR Meter

                                        Originally posted by stj View Post
                                        huge probes!
                                        i have several of these - i get a pair for every meter!
                                        https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32848907433.html
                                        Not a ton of options when you need modular ones that will accept 4mm banana plugs.
                                        --------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Ryzen 3600x
                                        16GB Patriot 3600MHz
                                        MSI B450 Gaming Plus
                                        MSI Air Boost Vega 56
                                        Acer 32" 1440P Freesync
                                        Rosewill Capstone 750W
                                        --------------------------------------------------------------
                                        Hakko FX-888D Station
                                        FX-8802 Iron
                                        MG Chem .8mm 63/37 RA 2.2%

                                        Comment

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