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Name
pricetype of devicein-circuit?protected?range of capsother infosBuy (URL)infos (URL)other infos
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Another list about ESR meters: http://kripton2035.free.fr/esr-repository.html

We need your help to update this list (last update: 2019_07_31)
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Jay_Diddy_B Device
(the best Open Source & cheapest device)
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Jay_Diddy_B ESR Meter Adapter (version 2.0 designed in 2013)

It's the best version of Jay Diddy, and seems to be the best of all Device		not sold
(DIY only)

 ESR meter✔✔
(but for safety it is better to discharge the capacitors been tested)
?Pros:

- Operates at 100kHz.
- It's a true ESR meter (as oppose to an impedance meter)
- Work in either the 2-Wire or 4-Wire mode.
- using +/- 2.5V power supply instead of +/-5V, so it can be powered by a single 9V battery.
- fully protected against charged capacitors and applied voltages.
- few components
- single sided board project.
- Can handle sustained 240V on input
- no microcontroller
- Jay_Diddy_B: "In many ways this better than the 5 transistor meter (the first version), it is really robust, You can apply a charged capacitor or even line voltage, without damaging the adapter. This is really important if you are working on SMPS, because sooner or later you find a charged capacitor. It does use a few parts that you might not have in your junk box."


● optional (see the previous version)
- by default you read the measure using a multimeter. But you can also add a screen.
- there is a reference chart

Cons:
- no reference chart on front of meter
- easier to use with a multimeter equiped with a Relative/Delta mode (but not required)
- requires more leads
- There are few hidden costs, you need a project case, a set or two of banana leads and minihooks or probes are handy. The device output the resistance in volt, so it's designed to work with a multimeter. It's easier to have one with the Relative/Delta mode option, otherwise you simply have to calculate the "lead offset*". (*See the column "other infos" →)

● How does it work?
The ESR meter output the value in mV (you can read them with multimeter, or a screen) : 100mV / Ohm
10mV = 0.1 Ohm
Voltage resolution (V): 0.1V

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/esr-meter-adapter-design-and-construction/175/

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/low-cost-cap-tester-esr-lcr-2018/msg2161690/#msg2161690

How to use it (with a multimeter - without delta function) :
measure resistance of cables : https://imgur.com/yi9QUyg
measure capacitor : https://imgur.com/CpXm8kI
source : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx4Ln_HsJtg&t=398s

In brief: First I fix my multimeter to the ESR meter adapter and connect the 2 leads on it. Then I put the multimeter in the voltage mode. Then I make a contact between my 2 leads and read the voltage. Then I measure the capacitor with my leads. Then I subtract the voltage of the leads of the voltage of the capacitor. Then I convert 100mV to 1 Ohm
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/low-cost-cap-tester-esr-lcr-2018/msg2156743/#msg2156743

Four-terminal sensing (4T sensing or on ESR meter adapter 4W)= more accurate measurements than the simpler and more usual two-terminal (2T or 2W) sensing.

on esr : round tip to conect battery = noir (the one with clips = red )

How to measure the "lead offset"?
Connect the leads together and take a measurement. Then measure your capacitor and subtract the first measurement. Then convert the result to the ohms value (100mV per Ohm).
source:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/low-cost-cap-tester-esr-lcr-2018/msg2161690/#msg2161690


**** how to built it ****
Gerber file (December 2013)
http://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/esr-meter-adapter-design-and-construction/msg342045/#msg342045

Gerber files (February 2014)
http://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/esr-meter-adapter-design-and-construction/msg391885/#msg391885

instruction are confusing for R3,R6, R8 and R17 cf http://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/esr-meter-adapter-design-and-construction/msg1103233/#msg1103233

picture of a through-hole http://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/esr-meter-adapter-design-and-construction/msg374296/#msg374296

parts (more detailled than in the 2014 instruction zip - cf tab "DIY ESR parts(Jay_Diddy_B ESR Meter Adapter)" )
http://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/esr-meter-adapter-design-and-construction/msg1399602/#msg1399602

last gerber file(There are several versions of the PCB. All the layouts are essentially the same. They have different outside dimensions, to fit various boxes.)
http://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/esr-meter-adapter-design-and-construction/msg1442776/#msg1442776

The term "Hammond" refer to the "enclosure" (the plastic box of ESR meter)
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Oldway ESR4 (version 2.1?)
(improve Jay_Diddy 2.0)		ESR meter✔✔● ESR4 is the good one but modifications has still been made.
But "as schematic and layout must be consistent, I have not placed on the schematic the components who are not mounted on the board as potentiometers, terminals, switches...That's the reason why you have some difficulties to understand this schematic."
(a previous version = ESR3 but less good than ESR4)		http://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/esr-meter-adapter-design-and-construction/msg390546/#msg390546 Schematic ESR4
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5 Transistor ESR Meter (version 1.0 designed in 2012)DIY onlyESR meter✔✔?●The 5 transistor ESR meter use parts that most people will have in their junk box. The circuit can be built with just about any transistors. The only parts that are critical are the two rectifiers in meter circuit. Jay Diddy used 1N5711.

● The ESR meter can measure the capacitors in circuit (But there are, of course, some exceptions. If you have two or more capacitors connected in parallel you can not measure the ESR of the individual capacitors

● The circuit is designed to use a 50uA meter movement,

● There is a through hole version https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/5-transistor-esr-meter-design/msg412753/#msg412753

● You can print/glue on your device this reference chart: https://i.imgur.com/gbb5UIP.png It will tell you if the cap is good/bad according to its value (source: http://www.users.on.net/~endsodds/MU52FP.pdf )

● you can use a screen (instead of a multimeter) to read the values
(more research is needed about this. I gathered these pieces)

○ about analog screen:
They talk about 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design with screen on the page 1 to 3 of this thread: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/5-transistor-esr-meter-design

" the circuit will work with pretty much any 50uA meter, as the trimmer pot R24 ( a 10k pot for scaling) will handle pretty much any meter of 50uA, and is simple to calibrate by shorting the leads and setting for full scale on the meter."


On the page 12 of the thread search also for "hope sun"

cellularmitosis designed an analog screen (page 3 of the thread), search "AsiaEngineerGauges") or:
http://jason.pepas.com/wiki/images/5/58/Asiaengineer-0.5-signorm.png
http://jason.pepas.com/wiki/index.php?title=AsiaEngineerGauges

See also http://www.users.on.net/~endsodds/esr.htm
(According to the reference chart (cf above) the screen with colors of the last link ( http://www.users.on.net/~endsodds/SCALEnew.pdf ) seems to be accurate only for the value 22µF (no idea why...))

○ just an info: "Analog meter, does not have the protection of the ESR Meter Adapter".

○ About digital screen, see: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/esr-meter-build/25/

I guess the best way is to use a small controler to:
- divide the reading per 100 (because 100 milivolt correspond to 1 Ω)
- deduce the resistance of the probe wire.

Jay_Diddy_B: "One modification would be to take the output and the meter 0V and measure these with an Arduino. This would make a nice self-contained unit. This would take care of the x10 scaling and deal with the zero adjustment."


● Here is one way you can tell if the meter is accurate.
1) pick a cap (any cap), take a ESR reading off your meter;
2) put a known resistor (1ohm or 0.47ohm for example) in serial with the cap used in 1), take another ESR reading off your meter;
3) the difference between the two readings should be the value of that known resistor.

●
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Kripdiddy (version 2.2 ?) with a screen
(not built: project still in process)		...ESR meter✔✔?kripton2035 says he is working on it...
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Danyk modelESR meter✔http://danyk.cz/
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Bob Parker devices✔● Repair friendly
● Best for in circuit (great protection of ESR - still need to discharge)		http://bobparker.net.au/esr_meter/esrmeter.htm- how to build it : http://clientes.netvisao.pt/greenpal/k7214_mk2.pdf
- It's the one Dave show on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72sJ5Infuu0
explained in circuit protection: http://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/low-cost-cap-tester-esr-lcr-2018/msg2159497/#msg2159497
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Altronics kitset (Silicon Chip)60€ (+ shipping)✔??https://www.altronics.com.au/p/k2574-esr-meter-kit/ http://www.capacitorlab.com/esr-meter/index.htm
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EVB portugual59€ (2018 shipping included from portugal).✔ ✔?
Pro: Easy to use and to source, probably the most reliable, doesn't require assembly, minimal setup time, easy to operate, adequate input protection for in circuit testing (cf below), reference chart on front of meter, clear and easy to read display. It doesn't have a lot of features but is the best for in circuit testing without having to make your own.
Cons : More expensive of thant ESR meter adapter, microcontroller closed source.

the black version (SBB or SBR) is diode protected but can't measure battery
the white version (SWB or SWR) isn't diode protected but can measure battery

diode protection : An EVB model with diode protection (they don't mark this clearly on their website). The original kit handles ~50V max and Bob says on his website he has not heard of anyone damaging a meter after adding the diode protection mod on the input. This protection is partially provided by back-to-back diodes D3 and D4. If an external DC voltage (ie, a charged capacitor) is connected, one of these diodes conducts and forces non-polarised capacitors C5 and C6 to charge up to that voltage. Additional protection is provided by C7, R12, D5 & D6 which stop excessive input voltages from damaging transistors Q7 and Q8 in the pulse amplifier circuit.
In particular, diodes D5 & D6 acts as voltage clamps – D5 ensures that the voltage on Q7’s base cannot go above 5.6V, while D6 ensures that this voltage cannot go below -0.6V. Finally, extra “heavy-duty” protection can be added by connecting a pair of back-to-back high-power diodes (not shown on the circuit) between the test terminals.
Heavy-duty protection : To provide greater protection against connection to charged electrolytics, some kit builders have connected an inverse-parallel pair of 1N5404 (or similar) high-power diodes between the test lead sockets. So if you’re the kind who’s likely to connect the meter to the 120μF input filter capacitor of a 240V-powered switching power supply without checking that it’s been properly discharged, this modification is for you.

Reportedly, this protects the meter quite well, although it can result in the probe tips being blown off by large charged capacitors. The resulting surge current can also damage the charged capacitor and the power diodes themselves. However, without the diodes, the resulting >600A current spike destroys the microcontroller (IC2) and damages C6.
http://clientes.netvisao.pt/greenpal/evb1.htmhttp://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/low-cost-cap-tester-esr-lcr-2018/msg2161690/#msg2161690

≠ white and black + code debug : http://clientes.netvisao.pt/greenpal/information.htm
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Anatek Blue ESR 117$ (2018)ESR meter✔No (but you can add input protection diodes DIY)?works well for diagnosing failed caps, where precision isn't necessary. It is not a precision LCR meterhttps://www.amazon.com/Blue-ESR-Tester-Fully-Assembled/dp/B00O0BMIYQ/ref=sr_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1548534303&sr=8-14&keywords=esr+meterhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/(cheap)-esr-meter-for-beginner-suggestions/
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Other open source devices
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 AY-AT Version:component tester + ESR meter = capacitance testerOpen Source
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LCR-T4 Mega328 11$ (2018) component tester + ESR meter NO (it throw 9V into the circuit)? 25pF-100000uFuse the using atMega microcontroler (like Arduino)
works with a 9V battery

Limitation:
+ can't test zener diode


Version (old → new) (to sort if you understand it)
green pcb with big screen → LCR-T7 → LCR-T4 (yellow pcb with blue rack)

Old Bob Parker design → The ESR Micro V4.→ 328 based testers (test many more thing)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2017-TFT-GM328-Transistor-Tester-Diode-LCR-ESR-meter-PWM-Square-wave-Generator/112489435576

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mega328-Transistor-Tester-Diode-Triode-Capacitance-ESR-Meter-MOS-PNP-NPN-L-C-R-/171285924831		https://www.edaboard.com/showthread.php?362548-Measure-in-circuit-ESR-using-(LCR-T7)-atmega-component-testerhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/low-cost-cap-tester-esr-lcr-2018/
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Other non open source device
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Peak/Atlas ESR7080$ (2018)ESR meter✔ ✔> 1 uFNot repair friendly

Atlas ESR series has limited in circuit protection and are not really what I would call repair friendly, they do measure capacitance however.		https://www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/esr70-capacitor-esr-meter.html
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/low-cost-cap-tester-esr-lcr-2018/
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deree de5000 90$ (2018)LCR metternoNo?It's an lcr meter (it's a precision instrument not just ESR/Capacitance)

Limitation:
does not have any protection on its input.
there is no proper reverse battery protection in it (one cheap component would do it), but once you know that, it is easy to ensure putting the battery in the right way (or to not use a battery).


Who made it?
it was originally designed by Japanese company ("IET", still sells DE-6000 version), and manufactured in Taiwan (iirc), but now the manufacturer ("DER") sells it directly (at least to resellers, and IET doesn't sell that model anymore). It is apparently still the same design, so one could say it is more or less japanese quality. Many of the current resellers are from Japan.

Version
The components are the same between the 5000 and 6000.
Improved accuracy to 0.2% at 1kHz on the 6000, which is done via firmware. IET provides an updated firmware to do this.
A LabVIEW Driver for the DE-6000 is available		https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/low-cost-cap-tester-esr-lcr-2018/
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MK-328
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MESR-100 *80$ (2018)
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MEC-100
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MLC-500
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DM-4070
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M6013
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Excelvan M601327$ (2018)Auto Ranging Capacitance Meter Capacitor TesterNo?l 0.01pF to 470000uFhttps://www.amazon.com/Excelvan-Capacitance-Capacitor-Professional-470000uF/dp/B009CSR8BA/
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