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The Official SENCORE LC103, 102, 101, 77, 76, 75, 53 thread.

Nashou66

Nashou66

AK Subscriber
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Just got this LC102 to replace my LC75 , still works fine but I wanted one with the added features .

On this model if your having issues with Zeroing the meter its usually dirty relays in the unit. Some clean them others look for replacement relays and there are some available on eBay. It could also be a dirty fuse in the connector for the BNC to lead clip cable . That was it for me and now I believe my new to me LC102 is working fine, read a low 6pf cap and a new 22000uf cap with no issues . Last night when I first tested it I was getting bad ESR readings for all caps and much higher pf values for the very small caps. After reading threads on these I cleaned the fuse first as its the easiest to get to with out opening up the unit, that did the trick .

On my LC 75 it had a couple bad diodes that I replaced . I still need to try to calibrate it and the ESR readings are questionable but it works great for testing at the rated voltage for value and leakage and reforming caps.

Here is my new to me LC102 .
54195602091_5639602a36_b.jpg


These require low capacitance clips which are available on eBay along with the 18 volt power supply if the unit you buy doesn't have them.

I'll also need to buy the push down button arm that you use to hold down the leakage button to reform caps. Also to be found on the bay.

Post here of any fixes , or any tips you might have using any of the above units.

The TOTL 103 is still out of my budget, but the others can be found for good deals if you keep a look out.

EDIT: 8/28/2025

Info added for an alternative battery pack in this post

The Official SENCORE LC103, 102, 101, 77, 76, 75, 53 thread.

Are you asking me are the displays back lit ? No, I don`t think the LCD are back lit, though I`ve never tried to operate test equipment on my bench in the dark, especially the Sencore LC-103 while testing capacitors ! I have never have, or needed to have opened up my LC-103 in the 33 yrs. of...
audiokarma.org

Thanks @Richard P

Athanasios
 
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Geez, I can't believe the prices all of those LC units are going for. Even my lowly LC53 is a bucketful of bucks these days.
I should just sell all of my test equipment and retire to a nice warm island somewhere...
 
arts said:
Geez, I can't believe the prices all of those LC units are going for. Even my lowly LC53 is a bucketful of bucks these days.
I should just sell all of my test equipment and retire to a nice warm island somewhere...
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They are great units. Not many LCR unit measure caps at rated voltages or at least close to it.

I got my 102 for 400 buckaroos, it was great deal and it works .



Athanasios
 
I had no idea that this thread existed, I just posted asking about these. I’ve been wanting one for quite a long time, but they do cost a decent amount of money. It seems like in most instances people here like to go through and just do a general recap of the equipment being worked on because of age. So I’m trying to see the real benefit of one of these. In my eyes, I can only see it being a benefit if you really wish to save the original capacitors that are in the circuit, maybe their large ones that are kind of expensive and if you can save that money because the originals are functioning perfectly fine so be it.

Here is my post:

For awhile I’ve had my eye on a LC77, LC102, or LC103. The 103 is crazy expensive so likely one of the other two. I like the fact that it will measure for leakage up to 1000v, also that it has different testing methods for the type of cap.

That being said, these testers are quite expensive and I’m trying to decide if they are worth the cost. Figuring what benefit they have in testing, the only thing I can think of is that they would let you know if a capacitor is a good enough to even circuit? Say you come across some capacitors that you feel are expensive and not worth the cost of replacing so you’d like to leave them in if possible. Otherwise, in most other instances, you will be swapping out the capacitors anyway. I’m using a peak ESR70 gold which came pretty much give me a go/no-go on capacitors up to 99,000 uF and really is very handy. If I really want to measure leakage, I can use one of my digital meters which will measure into micro amps and I have power supplies that will easily get me over 1000 V. Obviously this would be more complicated and more time-consuming than using the Sencore. But it is possible for me to measure that leakage currently.

I also know that the sencore are very complicated, jampacked with microchips and such. I’ve looked at a few and have been offered a few at very reasonable prices, but these were untested. Basically they were powered up and no other testing was done (at least that’s what they say, probably got an error code and was likely “okay, selling as untested!”)

I still can’t decide if it’s really worth investing money into one. I’ve seen them in the two $250-$300 range, but at that cost, I would be taking a gamble. Otherwise getting a known functional would be $500-$1000.

Is there any other real benefit other than the fact it could save you a bit of money by confirming that those $60 filter caps are still perfectly good?

Anyone own one and would like to sing its praises? Or anyone who’s decided not to get one as they feel it really isn’t worth it?

Thank you,
Dan
 
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Sure you can use a power supply and a meter but you're risking killing your self if you forget you have a 500 VDC cap connected and touch the wires. These only have power to the DUT via a momentary switch. That is it has to be depressed for voltage to go through.

I also use small testers that give ESR voltage loss, capacitance etc but I use both to test. Some caps test fine with he cheap tester then under full voltage fail , I have had a few pop on me . I keep a towel over the large ones just incase ;)

I got my latest for 400 bucks the LC102, the LC75 was 200 I think? But it was off on the ESR reading and that was a shorted diode I found.

But the 102 is a nicer unit. Still not schooled in all it can do but I do like the fact that either of my two can reform caps that have been sitting on the shelf a long time. Or to reform caps like the multi value caps in old Tube gear.

I think it's a nice addition for any bench if you can find one cheap. And there are lots of help groups to help get them going if they may not work.

But the original power supplies hardly ever come with them, but there is a seller that has new ones for just around a Benjamin .

EDIT: My new one needs calibration....I'll get around to it eventually but its pretty close .

Athanasios
 
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I'd love to have one, but I already have a DER DE-5000 so it's hard to justify the cost in my mind . . . that's never stopped be before, of coarse, as evidenced by the mountain of test gear i have on my bench and on the shelf waiting for work, but I don't have too many functional duplicates unless I use them (like DMMs, Scopes, etc.). If I find one at a good price, I'll jump on if to be sure, though.
 
Richard P said:
I'd love to have one, but I already have a DER DE-5000 so it's hard to justify the cost in my mind . . . that's never stopped be before, of coarse, as evidenced by the mountain of test gear i have on my bench and on the shelf waiting for work, but I don't have too many functional duplicates unless I use them (like DMMs, Scopes, etc.). If I find one at a good price, I'll jump on if to be sure, though.
Click to expand...

I have a DER DE-5000 myself, and I am very satisfied with it. A very accurate and sophisticated piece of gear, and the price/performance ratio is incredible.

Unfortunately, like most modern capacitor testers, it doesn't perform what I consider to be one of the (if not THE) most important tests of all: Leakage at rated voltage.
Mind, I guess this is to be expected. This is not a test easily done by any unit powered by a 9V battery or a couple of penlight cells.

Within reason, this isn't a big deal when you're dealing with power supply filter capacitors. But, when you are dealing with capacitors used in coupling or timing applications, any leakage can really upset your apple cart.

This is why I still keep my LC53 and a couple of old Heathkits on the benches. Although they "only" get up to 600V, that covers most everything I do these days.
 
arts said:
Unfortunately, like most modern capacitor testers, it doesn't perform what I consider to be one of the (if not THE) most important tests of all: Leakage at rated voltage.
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Agreed. I have a Heathkit C-3 that I pull out on occasion for leakage and I have an HP 6920B capable of 1000V if needed . . . One of the Sencores could replace 3 pcs of equipment. Sounds like a great reason to buy one, lol.
 
Nashou66 said:
They are great units. Not many LCR unit measure caps at rated voltages or at least close to it.

I got my 102 for 400 buckaroos, it was great deal and it works .



Athanasios
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LC-103`s 999.9 max V DC is high enough voltage testing on any capacitor that I`ve encountered in tube audio repair since purchasing over 33 yrs. ago.

(EDITED for correct Sencore model #)
 
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LC102 alert !!!!

There is one at a decent price on the Bay right now. it also has a make a Best offer choice.

Hope one of you fine Ladies and Gents gets it.

Nashou
 
Yeah, at the low price I paid for mine, in need of a little TLC but now working great, it served as a gateway "drug"; I now have a dedicated 600V leakage tester, 2 HP 4274A LCR meters, a TH2832 LCR meter, and a bunch of smaller, less expensive LCR and capacitance meters. Oh, and a Sprague TO-6A. I know, a lot of folks just throw in new caps everywhere, but these tools are very useful when you want to compare, characterize and validate cap selection and performance.
 
I agree, sometimes I want to put a new cap in and test he old cap at its rated voltage and the ESR and voltage loss is lower than the new cap. So some times they go back in. I most lose them for testing the Main filter caps as they are expensive and now that the Nichicon LGK series is going away If i can keep the original in I will.

Athanasios
 
Interesting - That listing popped up on one of my alerts this morning and I put an offer in right away . . . .they accepted the offer, so I'll soon be the proud owner of an 'untested' LC102. I'll keep you updated on what I find when I get it. I'll need to figure out a way to power it up, though, I suppose I can use my bench supplies for now but I'm wondering if I can use a 19V SMPS from a laptop as I have lots of those. I'll start looking for something in the 17-18 V range and then I need to track down that mini IEC plug. Anybody ever retrofitted a simple barrel connector? Earth ground would be lost, but I'm not sure that is critical.

More to come.
 
Congrats, Richard - fingers crossed it works! I snagged an LC77 with accessories a few months back and have been using it regularly - definitely nice to be able to easily test caps at their rated operating voltage. I still use my CV/CC power supplies with a voltmeter and ammeter to reform big electrolytics, but for board troubleshooting it's nice to lift one end of a cap and test it for leakage, absorption and ESR.

-Pat
 
Richard P said:
Interesting - That listing popped up on one of my alerts this morning and I put an offer in right away . . . .they accepted the offer, so I'll soon be the proud owner of an 'untested' LC102. I'll keep you updated on what I find when I get it. I'll need to figure out a way to power it up, though, I suppose I can use my bench supplies for now but I'm wondering if I can use a 19V SMPS from a laptop as I have lots of those. I'll start looking for something in the 17-18 V range and then I need to track down that mini IEC plug. Anybody ever retrofitted a simple barrel connector? Earth ground would be lost, but I'm not sure that is critical.

More to come.
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Awesome that you got it!!!!

They sell the Powervsupply and probes on eBay. The power supply is new and works well and so do the probes. They need to be low capacitance probes I believe. The one on the bay also work very well.

Good luck hope it works as it should !

Athanasios
 
I am the proud new papa to an LC103. I was initially set on getting an LC102, but I found someone with a 103 that had reduced their price, I reached out to them and ask them some questions regarding the price instead of sending an offer. They sold it to me for much less than they go for usually and really not all that much more than the average LC102. So it made sense to spend the extra cost. It comes with a set of probes and the power supply, and it works perfectly. Woo hoo. I reached out to Choice and purchased a set of three different style of probes from them, all authentic Sencore, so now I will have four different styles of probes. I will post some photos when I get it. Super excited.

Dan
 
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