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Larryhere40

Active Member
Are the fluke 12, 12e, and the mesr100 v2 meters effective for incircuit testing of capacitors as per the utube? Draw backs? Bests ones? The fluke 12 looks simpler than the 12e! And the mesr100 even easier! Want to try out one, just don’t want to throw away my money!! Thanks Guys
 
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Hello. I use a cheap M328 component tester to check capacitors. I can't tell about the Flukes. But, regardless of what the manufacturer says about the capacitor tester, measuring a capacitor in circuit is not reliable. You'll be measuring the capacitance of all the circuit in parallel to the capacitor. Even a shielded wire can measure some hundreds of pF.

The tester I use says it can be used to measure "in circuit" due to the low current used to take the measurements, but that is not 100% true. I wouldn't trust reading a capacitor in circuit.
 
elnaldo said:
Hello. I use a cheap M328 component tester to check capacitors. I can't tell about the Flukes. But, regardless of what the manufacturer says about the capacitor tester, measuring a capacitor in circuit is not reliable. You'll be measuring the capacitance of all the circuit in parallel to the capacitor. Even a shielded wire can measure some hundreds of pF.

The tester I use says it can be used to measure "in circuit" due to the low current used to take the measurements, but that is not 100% true. I wouldn't trust reading a capacitor in circuit.
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Thanks, I really appreciate it!!! Love working on my vintage gear! Seems the same thing using my transistor checker. Didn’t want to buy something I wouldn’t use. Already have a garage/shop full of unused stuff, lol!!
 
I'm using a m328 too. I think it is great for testing transistors and caps. It will also test resistors, diodes, ...

It is only a 9v so it doesn't measure at in circuit voltages but seems good enough for what I need.
 
Sound great, I have a few nice meters but none with the capacitance on them! Older ones but still work great. I will take a look at one of them! Thanks Larry
 
I use the Peak/Atlas ESR70+ capacitance and ESR meter. I find it reliable and works well. only drawback is that it cant measure capacitance below 1uf well, and you do need to pull some DC filter caps out of circuit to measure, or they will read leaky.
 
redk9258 said:
I doubt that will work in circuit or test ESR.
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I gave up on the incircuit tester for now. From everything I keep investigating, none seem to be effective for that. Some claim they worked, but most claim, sometimes and you have to remove parallel conductors, so it seems just as easy to remove a side of the capacitor! Others claim uncertain results. My transistor checker is that way! Sometimes it’s fight on and other times you have to remove it to get an accurate results! I sure it could be me!! Lol
 
sruchris said:
Has anyone used the Capacitor Wizard? It claims to work in-circuit.
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Thought about the cap wizard cap1b/ $189, game 236/$130, or the mesr-100/ $52! All the reviews are by the manufacturer! Going to check with my technician, when I can get there, it’s long distance! The cap wiz is probably the best, but I am retired and a diy guy, so 200 a lot if it isn’t helpful! Thanks for all the advice
 
Anybody who knows a bit about electronics knows that getting a reliable measurement "in circuit" , in every circuit, is not possible.

I'd like to read all the "*" and small print from a manufacturer selling such devices.
 
elnaldo said:
Anybody who knows a bit about electronics knows that getting a reliable measurement "in circuit" , in every circuit, is not possible.

I'd like to read all the "*" and small print from a manufacturer selling such devices.
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That’s why they never advertise the small print, lol!!
 
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