Any experiences with this ESR meter circuit?

[kikkoman]

I finally thought it's time for an ESR meter, but it's hard to find any here, and shipping costs from the US unfortunately are often ridiculously high....and after all I'm a poor student.
Yesterday I stumbled upon this schematic, and it looks pretty decent, since it also measures capacitance and has a 2x16 LCD display.
has anyone here ever successfully built this one?
Any opinions welcome.

[kc8adu]

Re: Any experiences with this ESR meter circuit?

looks cool.
only problem is getting the code for the pic.
i didnt see any link to download it.

[kikkoman]

Re: Any experiences with this ESR meter circuit?

It is on the main site, forgot to post the link:
http://saint.419.removed.us/esrprg.html

[kikkoman]

Re: Any experiences with this ESR meter circuit?

I decided to build that thing.
Just ordered a few components, but I already have most of the stuff, so it's gonna be cheap - unless I fry the PIC (which is the most expensive part).
I have absolutely ZERO experience with PIC programming, but you can't fail without trying.

[starfury1]

Re: Any experiences with this ESR meter circuit?

I've no idea on that one, haven't seen it before.

you are going to need a pic programmer of some kind and if you are working from that page ASM you will need software I guess to create a burnable file
(not sure how they do it these days)...Its been a very long time since I looked at any of this type of stuff so I am not up on how and whats being used these days.

There is heaps of info out there on programming them and chances are you will find some freebie software or methods to use.

search on that PIC number you are using also

here is a pdf I found its on the 16F84 (I think these are way old)

https://cdn.badcaps-static.com/pdfs/...cdf33892d7.pdf

But should help you work out things you will need to track down.

old again, el cheapo programmer for the above

http://www.rentron.com/Myke4.htm

here a few pages on the type you will be using

http://www.captain.at/electronics/pic-programmer/

http://www.microchipc.com/sourcecode/

http://www.oceancontrols.com.au/micr...rogrammers.htm

http://www.olimex.com/dev/pic-pg3b.html

sure there's a lot more out there and probably user groups in your neck of the woods

Someone here may possibly have better info thats more applicable to what you need kikkoman.

Good luck with it, keep us posted on how you go with it

HTH cheers

[volto]

Re: Any experiences with this ESR meter circuit?

did you build it?

[gonzo0815]

Re: Any experiences with this ESR meter circuit?

May be this one suites your needs:

http://www.elv.de/output/controller....0&detail2=1568
I think the DIY kit is not bad and not that expensive.

If you are not on a budget, this one would although make fun

http://www.elv.de/output/controller....&detail2=16511

[volto]

Re: Any experiences with this ESR meter circuit?

after all I'm a poor student.

I feel ya. Frustrating when people suggest expensive kits when they know we are poor.

[kikkoman]

Re: Any experiences with this ESR meter circuit?

did you build it?

not yet.
last time i didn't have any rs232 level converters lying around so i used a simple low voltage parallel PIC programmer.
i couldn't find a decent burn tool that supports that simple programmer, and the one I used was rather crappy. somehow I messed things up, I guess. i'm not sure if I fried that PIC, and the whole thing has gone to the "unfinished projects" box for now.
I have the parts for a serial programmer now, so once I've passed that nasty oral exam I'm currently learning for I'm gonna dig it up and give it another try.


@gonzo: that first ELV circuit really looks good. i might give that a chance, too.

[yz7myg]

Re: Any experiences with this ESR meter circuit?

ESR meter for PIC 16F873/876
Измеритель C и ESR
http://pro-radio.ru/measure/3288/

[shadow]

Re: Any experiences with this ESR meter circuit?

I feel ya. Frustrating when people suggest expensive kits when they know we are poor.

I know the feeling as well. I have to dig up some information about PIC programmers. It was fun playing with the micro's at uni. That is why when I have spare time, I want to get into some PIC (or any other micro-controller) programming.

You should go through the program as well. Make sure it works well and if anything could be done to improve it (maybe that will be after you get the initial design working ). For example this quote: "Calibration is by adjusting the delays inside this loop, by padding it with goto's and nop's.". I really do not like this sort of approach. It would be much better to find an alternate way that is more flexible to achieve the same result.

[gonzo0815]

Re: Any experiences with this ESR meter circuit?

Yep, goto`s & nop`s aren´t anything to be proud of and not the way this should be done.
But sure, resources are limited on such controllers, thus sometimes the ugly is the real beauty.

[Harvey]

Re: Any experiences with this ESR meter circuit?

Anyone tried making one of these? I've got just about all that's needed except for the actual PIC used in this design, but seeing as they are cheap I'm tempted to give it a go...

[Fizzycapola]

Re: Any experiences with this ESR meter circuit?

I bought my Atlas ESR+Capacitance meter for ~65+vat+p&p, comparitively, to food for example it doesn't seem that expensive, and it still works after eating it.

When I was hard up but wanted luxury goods, I just adjusted my budget.

To buy a new 4 head Panasonic VCR back in 1998, I spent two months eating 16p a loaf genetically modified bread and tap water to pay for it, to stop myself from passing out from starvation and feeling like crap whilst working, I'd go in the work toilet and masturbate for a few seconds to wake myself up, the hormones produced helped alot and after the mission I owned that VCR, more happily for knowing I almost died for it.

[i4004]

Re: Any experiences with this ESR meter circuit?

>masturbate for a few seconds to wake myself up

yeah, sex instinct takes precedence over just about anything..even when you cheat..hehe...

[gonzo0815]

Re: Any experiences with this ESR meter circuit?

[willawake]

Re: Any experiences with this ESR meter circuit?

i wonder how many people masturbate on company time, ie get paid also?

[timarlop]

Re: Any experiences with this ESR meter circuit?

What about his Trivial High Voltage Programmer version using the CD4050 CMOS ?

Any success building the ESR meter ?

[djole_electronic]

Re: Any experiences with this ESR meter circuit?

Has anyone build this esr meter?
http://saint.419.removed.us/esrtest.html
source code:
http://saint.419.removed.us/esrprg.html
I have maked pcb and all parts, but I can't compile source code in mpasm.\
If anyone has hex file, please post it.\ Thanks :-)

[sam67]

Re: Any experiences with this ESR meter circuit?

I have ordered mikes micro ESR v4 meter and the price is very good and value for money.