In most cases, I don't think you need to be more than in the ballpark, at least when identifying parts.
My cheap meter reads 14 pico farads with nothing hooked up, and has no null knob. I just ADD 14 pico farads to the small values. A 1 pico farad cap reads as 15.... Inductance seems much better, and I don't often need to know the exact value of parts, just a ballpark or comparison to other parts (to find matching parts), or a range. I often compare known value new parts with old or unknown parts to get the values close enough. A real LC meter would be nice, and they sell them cheap also, but you get what you pay for. If you need a DMM, or have a limited test equipment budget, it might pay to get one that measures inductance and capacitance, even if its not precise... Brett N2DTS > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm > Sent: Friday, August 24, 2007 8:50 AM > To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 - RF choke identification > > I finally broke down an purchased the AADE L/C meter after I > got tired > of doing the calculations required when using my homebrewed K6OLG LC > Tester (the AADE meter is based on that LC Tester). I > believe it is a > bit more trustworthy for small values than the typical DMM with > capacitance and inductance measurement capability, but if all > you have > is the DMM, it can be a big help. Some DMM LC measurements > can be quite > accurate, but I would not trust the exact measurements on a > DMM until it > has proven its worth - give it +/- 20% uncertainty until you > prove it is > more accurate - and remember that the leads contribute to stray > inductance and capacity too, so your measurement fixture can be a big > factor when measuring small values. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > Brett gazdzinski wrote: > > You can buy a DMM that measures inductance. > > I have a wavetech meterman model that was under $100.00 > > that does capacitance from many micro farads to pico farads, > > inductance from henrys to micro henrys, frequency > > to 10 Mhz, plus all the other usual DMM stuff. > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > You must be a subscriber to post to the list. > Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): > http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm > Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com > _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
