EEVblog 1474 - Can You Measure Capacitors IN Circuit?

I'm assuming there's no technique for measuring a capacitor in-circuit when there are potentially other capacitors in parallel with it? You'd just get the parallel equivalent capacitance? I recently wanted to identify some unmarked SMD caps in a circuit, and couldn't get anything sensible out of my DE5000. I'm guessing the culprit was other stuff in parallel...

HI
the DE5000 can measure on circuit?...rightly after checking that all the capacitors are discharged

Thanks!

Can the leakage current be calculated from esr ?

I have only the possibility of continuity mode on my meter. I took the capacitors out and they start counting from minus 300 and up to 1999, then it goes to 1, whatever that means.

What do you consider a “high value cap”? What would The lowest value cap be that you’d be safe to measure in circuit at 100hz?

You sound like the NPC guy in the newer Jumanji movies, can you make a video where you are on a Safari or something lol

During the presentation, I observed that you had the LCR-Reader-MPA on your desk; however, you did not utilize it. I would like to point out that the LCR-Reader-MPA offers a convenient feature - it can indicate the presence of a p-n junction in parallel to the measured component. When a p-n junction is detected, the device automatically switches to a 0.1 V peak-to-peak signal level. This capability greatly simplifies in-circuit measurements and can be quite useful.

What about SMD caps in-circuit? (for fault checking)..

I've owned the DER DE HERP DERP DE-5000. "OL" is what it's good for.

The MESR-100 is cool stuff, so far.
I was tempted to buy the nice and very esspensiff HP rackmount LCR bridge meter. But are these tools worth thousands of dollars to us?
To get meaningful trustworthy readings: I do it out of circuit. Most of the time, if it's not over $100 in replacement capacitors: you've already got it out, replace it! THAT's a MUCH better test result! A new one!

And all the people wonder about how much of this you can do with your mocked up EEV multimeter or even a cheap as component tester or cheap as general tools, the conclusion obviously is, that you can do jack as ottherwise Dave would ofcourse have voiced that and not only refered to a specified tool that 5 to 10% of his viewers got vs the main tool that he even sells and that most people likely use to measure capaicitors.
but that is EEVblog...
show my 1 grand Agilent LCR meter and take for granted that his viewers use that for cap measurement.
unsympathic mr nose in the sky, and constantly whinning about cheap tools.

Dave is is truly a genius thanks again

I have cheap smart tweezers it doesn't do ESR but it does measure capacitor value..made in china I find it's very useful.

This is some great information. Thanks for making the video.

Why has nobody told me any of this stuff after decades of hobby electronics? Thanks so much for this

subbed great content !!!

Can you explain how best to measure capacitance in the end. Your jumping around all the different adjustments is hard to follow... That would help the normal living, not totally absorbed in electronics... Thanks

3 minute video extended to 23 - you over did it

I would like to know how to measure inductance in circuit, its useful to identify the faulty transformer for a damaged coil or any inductor

I have no idea why I'm watching this video. It's mostly way over my head. I just do esp chips and arduino stuff for now. Don't plan on repairing anything, any time soon.. good to know I guess.

😊

I've often found that with electrolytics you have to apply some DC voltage to get an accurate reading.

I always use klevin leads

A standard asks to measure line to neutral capacitance and line to chassis capacitance of a product and they should be below a specific uF. Can anyone tell me why the cap between these points are important ?

You might get a better measurement if you tilt the board on its side to drain it out :)

While I have bought an ESR analogue meter. I don't know how to use it. I did not understand your presentation - at all.

David Lixenberg

Use a few meters> Or how Dick Smith staff used to call a metre to measure.

What's "camigazza" or what did that aussi
actually say?😵‍💫

Lulz, Davey Jones locker

Thank you.

as a beginner this is really helpful, but on the forum users generally warn against this in case the caps still storing a charge that could kill ya meter? maybe a video on properly discharging caps in a circuit? I've got a lot of vintage gear to repair from old psus to crts but even modern TVs have 450v+ caps would be helpful to know how to handle those in circuit even though the consensus seems to be avoiding in circuit esr/lcr tests with that kind of equipment?

I hear a lot about the better efficiency of a heat pump water heater versus a geyser. I just don't understand how because it must get the extra energy from somewhere. Maybe you could make a video about that sometime...

Very interesting info. Thanks for the video.

If you you are looking for some new projects can I suggest HUM-900-PRO radio module. Made by linxtechnologies. I have been working with these but there is very little information online other than the supplier data sheets. They don’t have a forum or any other support other than email and it takes 3-5 days to get any response. Its a good module with UART interface. I would like to see what others with technical experience think of this module.

Awesome demonstration of how an LCR meter works and how to use it. The interlude was great, like a college lecture + lab

Dave, man u were speaking as if u were on speed... lmfao U need to slow down a little for the newbies and oldies chiming in.

Wow, super useful, thanks!

Good series, learned some good tips. Thanks!

great video !

Are you concerned that Odysee which is getting overrun with extremists might get banned in Australia for sharing content that violates AU law?

What about if there are 2 capacitors in parallel and one of them is open.

Topic very well explained here!
But what if you were trying to measure the capacitance of a power-rail smoothing Electrolytic in circuit.... All other caps sprinkled around the PCB that are attached to the same rail will all add up, as they all appear in parallel to the ESR meter... Surely you have to desolder this cap to measure it accurately?

I've been doing it for years with my manual ranging LCR meter. It works well for the high value caps like you've shown. Even with the parallel resistor if it has one, that just makes it look like a leaky cap which usually doesn't affect the value but, we're not testing for leakage and you wouldn't want to do that in-circuit anyway. ESR, yes. EPR, no.👍

Very very beautiful, thanks for sharing my friend 👍🤩
fully watched

Cheaply is the problem

My Peak LCR meter only has auto mode as far as I know.

What's the model of that blue decade box with capacitors inductors and resistors??

Great video! Answers many questions I did not know how to ask. :)