878B and 879B LCR Meter User Manual
Contents
1. Low battery indicator OFF Auto power off indicator 1 5 10 20 Tolerance sorting percentage indicator 17 29 MAX AVG MIN Recording mode indicators For model 879B only Not included on model 878B Special Display Indicators hl OPE TI Indicates short connectors Indicates open connectors Error indication Indicates calibration mode Indicates damaged or open fuse AD converter error AD converter error 18 POWERING INSTRUMENT Before beginning to operate the instrument a power source is necessary for it to turn on There are two methods to power the instrument Battery and external source Installing Battery The 878B and 879B LCR meters can use a battery to provide power to the instrument so that it can be portable The meters use a standard 9V size battery or NEDA 1604 JISOO6P IEC6F22 carbon zinc or alkaline battery To install the battery 1 Place the meter upside down Open up the back flip stand and locate the screw that tightens the battery compartment cover as indicated in Figure 3 Use a screwdriver to unscrew and remove the cover 19 2 Figure 3 Back Cover Insert 9V battery into compartment Note the positive and negative terminals as indicated inside the battery compartment See Figure 4 Be sure to insert the battery with matching polarity 20 Figure 4 Battery Compartment 3 Place the battery compartment cover piec2. 00 c scsseeeeeeceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees 98 INTRODUCTION B amp K Precision s 878B and 879B 40 000 count L C R hand held meter is designed ideally for measuring inductance capacitance and resistance components Simple to operate the instrument not only takes absolute parallel mode measurements but also series mode measurement The meter provides direct and accurate measurements with selectable testing frequencies Front panel push buttons maximize the convenience of function and feature selection such as data hold maximum minimum and average record mode relative mode tolerance sorting mode frequency and L C R selection The test data can be transferred to PC through a Mini USB connection great for applications that require data logging A tilt stand provides position flexibility for viewing and operating the meter The over molding rubber case protects the meter for better durability Additionally top rubber visor molding above the screen is designed to prevent scratches on the display when meter is positioned upside down 10 A single 9V battery or the included DC 12V power adaptor model 879B only can be used to power the meter This gives user flexibility for portable or bench top use PACKAGE CONTENTS Each 878B and 879B LCR meters are shipped with the following contents e 878B or 879B LCR meter Instruction Manual Mini USB Interface Cable Red amp Black Banana to Alligator Test Leads 9V Battery AC A
3. Recommendations To achieve optimal measurement results both open and short calibration should be done It is highly recommended to calibrate extremely high or low values for L C R and Z before making precision measurements Notes 1 If test frequency is changed calibration should be done again before making precision measurements Once calibration is done on a selected test frequency calibration data will remain until power off 52 2 Either open or short calibration is not associated with measurement function therefore changing the test function does not require re calibration 3 Re calibration may be necessary depending on many factors such as prolonged use changing environments and contact variation i e alligator test leads or socket contacts USB Gei The USB button or for model 878B are used for remote communication See REMOTE COMMUNICATION section for details Automatic Fuse Detection The LCR meter has an internal fuse that protects the inputs from severely damaging the instrument When the meter detects that the protective fuse is open the FUSE indicator will appear on the primary display see Figure 9 and an internal beep will sound continuously In this situation none of the function buttons can be operated and all other meter functions will be disabled 53 a Err UE Figure 9 Fuse Display In the event that the above screen is displayed
4. 2 O05 400 nF 399 99 nF digits 50 digits Series 0 5 1 0 5 40 nF 39 999 nF digit 50 digit 0 5 2 0 5 4000 pF 3999 9 nF digits 50 digits 0 7 399 99 pF 50 digits Parallel 2 5 39 99 pF 50 digits Parallel Resistance Impedance Frequency 100 Hz 120 Hz 1 kHz 10 kHz Max R Zx e Measurement Range Displa Accuracy Accuracy Mode 55 3 10 MQ 10 000 MQ digits 3 2 Parallel 4000 kQ 3999 9 KQ digits 1 5 Parallel lano Janona RE ee eona 400 kQ 399 99 KQ digits 0 4 Parallel 40 kQ 39 999 KQ digits 0 3 4000 Q 3999 9 Q digits 0 3 0 5 2 400 Q 399 99 Q digits Series 0 7 2 400 39 999 O digits Series 40 3 9999 Q digits 1 2 Series 93 ESR Frequency 100 Hz 120 Hz 1 kHz 10 kHz Max ESR Measurement Range Displa Accurac Mode 9 999 Q digits Series 10 9999 Q digits Series Model 879B only 94 MAINTENANCE WARNING Do not perform any service by yourself Service should only be done by qualified personnel and trained technicians Service If the instrument fails to operate check battery and test leads Replace them as necessary If the instrument still cannot work verify with the operating instructions to make sure correct procedures are followed When servicing use specified replacement parts only Note The meter must be completely turned off while replacing the battery Refer to Installing Battery section for details Cleanin
5. In remote mode the LCD display will show the RMT indicator When this is shown all front panel 65 USB Sal e will be disabled except for the Le or e for model 878B button To exit remote mode and go back to local mode USB s press the or for model 878B button once The RMT indicator will disappear on the LCD display Pushing the same button once more will put the meter into auto fetching mode which is described in the next section Auto Fetching Mode When connected to a PC the meter can be configured to auto fetching mode This means the meter will continuously fetch data to the PC after every measurement cycle is completed It fetches data from measured readings of primary display and secondary display as well as tolerance compared results This mode is useful when doing quick data logging using PC 66 Enable Disable Auto Fetching To toggle between enabling and disabling auto USB A use fetching press the or for model 878B button When enabled data will be fetched constantly after every measurement cycle is completed When disabled no fetched data will be available Note Alternatively auto fetching mode can be disabled when a remote command is sent to the instrument turning it back into remote mode In this event the RMT indicator will appear on the LCD display and auto fetching will be disabled automatically
6. a root level keyword with the second level keyword impa and L is the command parameter The query command ends with a question mark Note SCPI stems from IEEE488 1 and IEEE 488 2 Although the IEEE 488 2 standard addressed some instrument measurements it principally dealt with common commands and syntax or data formats Please refer to the IEEE488 2 and SCPI reference manual for more information Termination Character A terminator is a character sent by a host which identifies the end of acommand string A valid terminator consists of two byte data lt CR gt Carriage Return ASC amp HOD or lt LF gt Line Feed ASC amp HOA or lt CR gt lt LF gt Responding Message Returned result After the meter executes a query command the return of the result will be in the following format lt Result gt lt CR gt lt LF gt For example in auto fetching mode the meter will send the measured data automatically when the 69 measurement cycle is completed The format of the printed data will be shown as the following lt Primary measured data Secondly measured data Tolerance Result gt lt CR gt lt LF gt Data Types Returned message is an ASCII string from the meter responding to a query A query is acommand accompanied a mark Table 4 below explains the different data types Table 4 Data Type of Responded Messages Data Type Explanation Example lt NR1 gt An integer 80
7. and the Council of the European Union on waste electrical and electronic equipment WEEE and in jurisdictions adopting that Directive is marked as being put on the market after August 13 2005 and should not be disposed of as unsorted municipal waste Please utilize your local WEEE collection facilities in the disposition of this product and otherwise observe all applicable requirements Environmental Conditions Operating Environment 0 CT to 40 C Storage Humidity 0 80 R H Storage Environment 20 C to 50 C Pollution degree Pollution degree 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Safety SUMIMALY c ceccceseesseeeesneeeeeeeeseeeseseeeeneeeeeeeees 1 Safety Guidelines ccccssscssseeeeeeeseeesesseeeeseeeeeeees 2 Compliance Statements c cccescesseeeseeeeseeeeeees 4 INTRODUCTION cccsseceeessseceeeseseeeenseseeeeeseeeenes 10 PACKAGE CONTENTS cccessseeeeesssceeeessseees 11 FRONT PANEL OVERVIEW ccccsssseeeessseeees 12 Front Panel Display Descriptions AN 13 Front Panel Buttons A 14 LCD DISPLAY OVERVIEW cccssssereesssceees 16 LCD Display Descriptions eecceeeeeeeeeeeeneeeeeeteees 16 Special Display Indcators A 18 POWERING INSTRUMENT 2 cccssseeeeseseeees 19 Installing Battery AAA 19 Connecting External Power Source ssessseesssresseee 21 Low Battery Indication s e 23 Backlit Display model 879B only A 24 OPERATION IN
8. backlight 88 off Power 28 mA under full power battery for Consumption operation 2 uA after Power off Power 1 DC 9V Battery Requirements 2 Ext AC Adapter DC 12 Vmin 15 Vmax Load 50 mA Min Dimensions 7 5 x 3 5 x 1 6 L W H 190 x 90 x 41 mm Weight 0 7 lbs 830 grams Accuracy Specifications Inductance Frequency 100 Hz 120 Hz Max Lx DF Dx Measurement Range Displa Accuracy lt 0 5 Mode 1 5 3 1 5 1000 H 1000 0 H digits 50 digits Parallel 0 7 2 0 7 400 H 399 99 H digits 50 digits Parallel 0 7 2 0 7 39 999 H digits 50 digits 0 5 1 0 5 4000 mH_ 3999 9 mH digits 50 digits 400 mH 399 99 mH digits 50 digits Series 40 mH 39 999 mH digits 50 digits Series 4 mH 3 9999 mH digits 50 digits Series 89 Frequency 1 kHz Max Lx DF Dx Measurement Range Displa Accurac lt 0 5 Mode e as L eet res 100 H 100 00 H digits 50 digits Parallel 40H 39 999 H digits 50 digits Parallel nan ston Ged Siege 4000 mH_ 3999 9 mH digits 50 digits rae Saat come 400 mH 399 99 mH digits 50 digits Series fom Jangen Le Sash sues 40 mH 39 999 mH digits 50 digits Series fost are Le L N es 4000 uH 3999 9 uH digits 50 digits Series 400 uH 399 99 uH digits 50 digits Series Frequency 10 kHz Max Lx DF Dx Measurement Range Display Accuracy lt 0 5 Mode 1 5 3 1 5 1000 mH 1000 0 mH digits 50 digits Parallel 0 7 2
9. in damage to or destruction of part or all of the product Safety Guidelines To ensure that you use this device safely follow the safety guidelines listed below This meter is for indoor use altitude up to 2 000 m The warnings and precautions should be read and well understood before the instrument is used When measuring in circuit components first de energize the circuits before connecting to the test leads Discharge capacitor before testing The meter is safety certified in compliance with EN61010 IEC 1010 1 Installation Category II CAT II 50 V Pollution Degree 2 environment Use the meter only as specified in this manual Otherwise the protection provided by the meter may be impaired The power for the meter is supplied with a single standard 9V battery But also a line operation is possible using a 12V AC to DC adaptor If a power adaptor is selected please be sure it fulfills the safety requirements of a relevant IEC standard Safety Symbols This symbol is a warning and indicates that the user should refer to the operating instructions located in the manual DC Current ee O Indicates inside pin is positive outside is negative Compliance Statements Disposal of Old Electrical amp Electronic Equipment Applicable in the European Union and other European countries with separate collection systems This product is subject to Directive 2002 96 EC of the European Parliament
10. include payment in the form of a money order or credit card For the most current repair charges please refer to the service and support section on our website Return all merchandise to B amp K Precision Corp with pre paid shipping The flat rate repair charge for Non Warranty Service does not include return shipping Return shipping to locations in North America is included for Warranty Service For overnight shipments and non North American shipping fees please contact B amp K Precision Corp B amp K Precision Corp 22820 Savi Ranch Parkway Yorba Linda CA 92887 www bkprecision com 714 921 9095 Include with the returned instrument your complete return shipping address contact name phone number and description of problem 97 LIMITED WARRANTY B amp K Precision Corp warrants to the original purchaser that its products and the component parts thereof will be free from defects in workmanship and materials for a period of three years from date of purchase B amp K Precision Corp will without charge repair or replace at its option defective product or component parts Returned product must be accompanied by proof of the purchase date in the form of a sales receipt To obtain warranty coverage in the U S A this product must be registered by completing a warranty registration form on our website www bkprecision com within fifteen 15 days of purchase Exclusions This warranty does not apply in the event of misu
11. once With each press the test frequency will be indicated on the secondary display of the meter This will remain displayed until a different function for the secondary display is selected The selectable test frequencies for 879B meter are 100 Hz 120 Hz 1 kHz and 10 kHz The selectable test frequencies for 878B meter are 120 Hz and 1 kHz Relative Mode Relative mode is used when the user wants to zero the meter based on a reference value or wants to obtain a reading that is relative to a reference value For example if test leads are used in the measurement the user may want to set a reference with the test leads inserted into the input terminals so 31 that any measurements taken will not take into account the test leads Setup Relative Mode REL To setup the relative mode simply press the 3 button once The value that is on the display will immediately be stored as the reference value This reference value will be used for all measurements so as long as the meter is in relative mode which is indicated by the REL indicator on the display A common use of relative mode is to zero out the meter With nothing connected to the input sockets and terminals simply press the C button once and the meter will zero out meaning all display reading will become 0 To make measurements within a specific test setup or with test leads it is recommended that the user first have test leads or w
12. press and hold down the E button for 2 seconds After this the meter will exit the menu and all settings will be saved Exiting without Saving If user decides to exit the utility menu without oa any changes or saving any changes to PuP o dEF it can be done by simply pressing a any fron em om kal E ToL d S en Se panel buttons except and Power Note that settings that are changed under bEEP and AoFF options are still temporarily set until the next power up of the instrument 47 Parallel and Series Measurement Mode The LCR meter offers the option to select between parallel or series measurement mode Depending on which mode is selected the method to measure the component will be different Additionally one measurement mode may provide better accuracies over the other measurement mode depending on the type of component and the value of the component to be tested For more details refer to the SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION section Default Settings For Capacitance and Resistance measurements the default measurement mode is parallel For Inductance measurements the default measurement mode is series Selecting Measurement Mode The measurement mode of the meter is displayed by the indicators SER or PAR on the LCD screen SER means meter is in series measurement mode PAR means meter is in parallel measurement mode To toggle between the two
13. primary display The secondary display should also show PrE In order to save the current meter settings for power up st state into internal memory use f FFE ppo TOL mo either or V button to change the settings so that the secondary display shows SEt Press Lan button to select the next menu option Once all other utility options are configured exit the utility menu by holding down G3 button for 2 seconds The meter has now saved all current settings into internal memory At next power up the meter will turn on and recall the saved settings Note The meter allows one set of settings to be stored into memory Therefore the same 44 procedure is used to overwrite previously stored settings into memory Prevent Overwrite of Stored Settings In the utility menu the PuP option default setting is always PrE This represents previous settings Keeping this setting will prevent the meter from overwriting previously stored settings for power up state Therefore when entering the utility menu be sure not to change to GE to prevent overwriting any previously stored power up settings Reset Default Settings dEF The last option in the utility menu allows you to reset the meter to default settings When the primary display shows dEF the secondary display will show NO by default The meter will also default this setting to NO to prevent accidental reset of instrumen
14. seconds Yellow There are total of 3 buttons with UTIL yellow labels They are SS To TOL D X _ _ These functions are exclusively for use when entering UTIL menu only See Utility Menu section for details 15 LCD DISPLAY OVERVIEW 2 34 SE 9 10 Il E 13 nunta HHAH u ie IODS 7 a1 on Figure 2 LCD Indicator Display LCD Display Descriptions 1 LCRZ Primary display function indicator Z display MAX Maximum reading indicator AVG Average reading indicator MIN Minimum reading indicator REL Relative mode indicator akon 16 Phase angle indicator for secondary display Q Quality factor indicator ESR Equivalent series resistance indicator AAA Secondary display Beeper tone indicator for tolerance mode deg Phase angle degree indicator Q ESR ohm units indicator Tolerance percentage indicator kHz Frequency units indicator PAL Parallel mode indicator SER Series mode indicator ba An LJ V g MA _ Inductance units Henry indicator PN UF _ Capacitance units Farad indicator MKQ Resistance units Ohm indicator RMT Remote mode indicator H8488 Primary display D Dissipation factor indicator DH Data hold indicator AUTO Auto ranging indicator TOL Tolerance mode indicator
15. the button is pressed to select a different menu option To save all settings permanently exit the menu using the save and exit method With the exception of DEED and AoFF settings in which case under these settings changes are temporarily saved even when exiting the menu without saving See Exit Utility Menu section for details 39 Beep Sound Setting bEEP The bEEP menu option allows the user to enable or disable the beep sound for every key press Note This option only disables the beep sound for each key press It does not disable the beep sound for Static Recording and Tolerance mode as well as the auto power off warning ke FREQ TOL To turn ON the beep push either the or n m arrow keys until the secondary display enews ON i ke FREQ TOL To turn OFF the beep push either the or arrow keys until the secondary display shows OFF N Default Setting ON Auto power off Setting AoFF The AoFF menu option allows the user to select the auto power off timer This timer is always counting continuously It resets every time a button is pressed or if an action occurred If the meter is left untouched or unattended the timer will count until the configured time is up This is particularly important if the user wants to preserve battery life or run the meter continuously without interruption 40 Note When the timer has reached the co
16. 0 200 100 50 This numeric representation has lt NR2 gt neo e 1 56 0 001 10 5 point This representation lt NR3 gt has an explicit 2 345678E 04 radix point and an 1 345678E 01 exponent A parameter for lt Boolean gt EE ON or OFF Always return 0 or 1 for Boolean 70 query command A string is used as command lt Literal gt parameters with HOLD short literal form SCPI Commands This section described all the SCPI commands supported by the meter The meter can accept both upper case and lower case commands Table 5 SCPI Symbol Conventions Text Symbol Meaning Option can be omitted Exclusive OR Defined element Comment Question mark Separated two command keywords 71 IDN Description Queries the instrument ID Response lt instrument model gt lt firmware version gt lt serial number gt LLO Local Lockout This means that all front panel buttons including the USB key is not available GTL Go to local Puts the meter into the local state clearing the remote state and front panel lockout FREQuency Subsystem FREQuency lt value gt Description Set measurement frequency Parameters Parameters are 100 120 1000 10000 879B only or 100hz 120hz 1khz 10khz 879B only Example FREQuency 100hz Set 100Hz frequency FREQuency Description Query the measurem
17. 0 7 400 mH 399 99 mH digits 50 digits 0 5 1 0 5 40 mH 39 999 mH digits 50 digits Series 0 6 2 0 6 4000 uH 3999 9 uH digits 50 digits Series 90 0 9 2 0 9 400 uH 399 99 uH digits 50 digits Series 2 8 3 2 8 40 uH 39 99 uH digits 50 digits Series Capacitance Frequency 100 Hz 120 Hz Max Cx DF Dx Measurement Range Displa Accurac lt 0 5 Mode 20 mF 20 000 mF digits digits Series eme Jee a La o 4000 uF 3999 9 UF digits digits Series 0 7 2 399 99 uF digits 50 digits Series 0 5 1 0 5 40 uF 39 999 nF digits 50 digits Series foo Je LUS ees 4000 nF 3999 9 nF digits 50 digits joe some Paes L 400 nF 399 99 nF digits 50 digits 40 nF 39 999 nF digits 50 digits Parallel 91 Frequency 1 kHz Max Cx DF Dx Measurement Range Display Accuracy lt 0 5 Mode ais soaa ze 1000 uF 1000 0 uF digits 50 digits Series foe Jemen 400 uF 399 99 uF digits digits Series 0 7 2 0 7 0 5 1 4000 nt 3999 9 nF digit 0 5 2 400 nt 399 99 nF digits 39 999 nF E toa mae age Le a 4000 pF 3999 9 pF digits 50 digits Parallel 400 pF 399 99 pF digits 50 digits Parallel Frequency 10 kHz Max Cx DF Dx Measurement Range Display Accuracy lt 0 5 Mode 3 9 5 3 9 100 uF 100 00 uF digits 50 digits Series 3 7 3 3 7 40 uF 39 999 uF digits 50 digits Series 0 7 2 0 7 4000 nF 3999 9 nF digits 50 digits Series 92 0 5
18. BK PAI mMmar US Z WEED 878B 879B Dual Display LCR METER INSTRUCTION MANUAL Safety Summary The following safety precautions apply to both operating and maintenance personnel and must be observed during all phases of operation service and repair of this instrument DO NOT OPERATE IN AN EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERE Do not operate the instrument in the presence of flammable gases or fumes Operation of any electrical instrument in such an environment constitutes a definite safety hazard KEEP AWAY FROM LIVE CIRCUITS Instrument covers must not be removed by operating personnel Component replacement and internal adjustments must be made by qualified maintenance personnel DO NOT SUBSTITUTE PARTS OR MODIFY THE INSTRUMENT Do not install substitute parts or perform any unauthorized modifications to this instrument Return the instrument to B amp K Precision for service and repair to ensure that safety features are maintained WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS WARNING and CAUTION statements such as the following examples denote a hazard and appear throughout this manual Follow all instructions contained in these statements A WARNING statement calls attention to an operating procedure practice or condition which if not followed correctly could result in injury or death to personnel A CAUTION statement calls attention to an operating procedure practice or condition which if not followed correctly could result
19. Before connecting an external power adapter please check the battery compartment in the rear side of the unit If a battery is installed be sure that the polarity matches the and labels as indicated inside the battery compartment If it is not installed correctly please remove the battery and install it with correct matching polarity as indicated in the compartment See Installing Battery section for details DO NOT at any time connect an external power adapter when a battery is installed incorrectly Doing so will damage the instrument and void its warranty Input sockets banana jack inputs and terminals for positive negative and guard see Guard Terminal in SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION section for details Standard mini USB port for remote controllability For model 879B only Not included on model 878B Front Panel Buttons All front panel buttons have specific colored labels on them They are all marked in white blue or yellow 14 color Each color has a specific representation as described below POWER White With the exception of the Loe button all white colored labels represent the primary function of that button meaning that function will be set or configured upon pressing it Blue Some of the buttons have a blue label underneath a white label This means the function indicated by the blue label will be set or configured if that button is pressed and hold down for 2
20. F or larger a lower frequency of 120 Hz is used Following this trend high test frequencies are best for testing very low capacitance components For large capacitance components low frequency would be optimal For 80 example if the capacitance of the component is to be in the mF range than selecting 100 Hz or 120 Hz for test frequency would give much better results The results will also be obvious because if the same component was tested with 1 kHz or 10 kHz the measured readings may look erroneous on the display In all cases it is best to check with the manufacturer s data sheet in order to determine the best test frequency to use for measurement Inductance Typically a 1 KHz test frequency is used to measure inductors that are used in audio and RF circuits This is because these components operate at higher frequencies and require that they be measured at higher frequencies such as 1 kHz or 10 kHz However a 120 Hz test signal is used to measure inductors that are used for applications such as filter chokes in power supplies in which are typically operated at 60 Hz AC in U S with 120 Hz filter frequencies In general inductors below 2 mH should be measured at 1 kHz frequency while inductors above 200 H should be measured at 120 Hz 81 In all cases it is best to check with the manufacturer s data sheet in order to determine the best test frequency to use for measurement Selecting Series or Parallel Mo
21. Figure 14 3 When Windows recognize the USB connection do not follow the default Windows driver installation wizard Simply run the setup file from the downloaded USB drivers and follow the prompt to install drivers 4 When completed the computer will recognize the instrument as a USB virtual COM device meaning it will be detected as a serial COM 63 port Windows will automatically assign a COM port to the instrument Please verify which COM port Windows has assigned by going into Device Manager LCR Meter a SE PZR REL E annii C Bae 2 amp A DISCHARGE CAPACITOR BEFORE TESTING Figure 14 USB Connection 64 USB Virtual COM Configuration The USB will be recognized as a virtual COM on the PC thus serial port settings must be configured properly for remote communication to be successful Below are the settings used by the 878B and 879B meters e Baudrate 9600 e Data bits 8 e Parity None e Stop bits 1 e Flow Control None USB Operation There are two modes that describe the operation of the meter when it is setup for remote communication They are remote mode and auto fetching mode Remote Mode Upon connecting to the instrument sending any commands listed in the Command Protocols section will automatically set the LCR meter into remote mode
22. STRUCTIONG csseeeeeseseeees 26 Data belge ih iit hile bade each eh 26 Static Recording A 26 L C R Z Select Mode 29 D Q O ESR Select Mode A 30 Test Et OUenw ise ai date ie ets 30 KEEN CR E 31 Ree EE 33 Utility Menu ities Ris ae daa ci ete 37 Parallel and Series Measurement Mode s s0seeeseeeee 48 Calibration n tia ae a ee 49 USB ication ee ee 53 Automatic Fuse Detechon 53 QUICK START GUIDE 0 c ccceceseeeessseereesseeeees 55 CAUTION Seed ENEE 55 Inductance Measurement A 56 Capacitance Measurement 58 Resistance Measurement A 60 Impedance Measurement Model 879B only 61 REMOTE COMMUNICATION ccssseeeeeseseeees 63 Connecting Instrument to PC 63 USB Virtual COM Configuration c cccceeeeeees 65 USB Operation Segen 65 Command Protocols A 67 SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION ccceesse 80 Selecting Test Frequency ccceeeeseseeeeeeeteneeeeeretens 80 Selecting Series or Parallel Mode 82 Accuracy Discrepancies 83 Guard Terminal 85 SPECIFICATIONS cccssscccensseeseensseeseenseeeeeensses 87 General Specifications eeceeceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee 88 Accuracy Specifications ecceeeceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeteneeeeeeeee 89 MAINTENANCE 00 cesssececesseeeeeeseseeeensseneeenseeeenes 95 ele gege kati enee eet 95 Cleaning E 95 SERVICE INFORMATION ccceseeeeeeeseeeeeesses 97 LIMITED WARRANTY
23. To re enabled auto E again in f USB this state first press the or d for model 878B button once to exit out of remote o mode and return to local mode Then press the button once more to have it set to auto fetching mode again Command Protocols Overview of Command Type and Format All commands are entered in either the upper case or the lower case There are two types of the meter programming commands IEEE 488 common 67 commands and Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments SCPI Some commands are device specific to the meter They are not included in the version 1999 0 of the SCPI standard However these commands are designed with the SCPI format in mind and they follow the syntax rules of the standard Common Command Format The IEEE 488 standard defines the common commands as commands that perform functions like reset and system query Common commands usually come with the asterisk character and may include parameters Some examples of Common command like IDN GTL LLO SCPI Command Format and Query Format The SCPI commands control instrument functions A subsystem command has a hierarchical structure that usually consists of a top level or root keyword one or more lower level keywords and parameters The following example shows a command and its associated query A FUNCtion impa L Select L as primary parameter B FUNCtion impa Return primary parameter 68 function is
24. a fuse replacement is required Turn off the meter by POWER pressing and holding down the 9J button for 2 seconds If this does not power off the meter remove external AC adapter if that is used and or remove the battery from the battery compartment Refrain from further operation until fuse is replaced Please contact B amp K Precision for assistance 54 QUICK START GUIDE CAUTION k Do not measure a capacitor that is not fully discharged Connecting a charged or partially charged capacitor to the input terminals will damage the instrument When measuring within a circuit the circuit must be de energized before connecting the test leads When used in a dusty environment the instrument should be wiped and cleaned regularly Do not leave the instrument exposed to direct heat from the sun for long periods of time Before removing the cover ensure that the instrument is disconnected from any circuit and is powered OFF 55 Note To achieve optimum precision for all L C and R measurements at either the highest or lowest ranges calibrate the meter before testing See Calibration section for details Inductance Measurement POWER 1 Press down ce J button for one second to turn on the meter LICIRIZ LUCIR 2 Press Gi or ez for model 878B button until L is displayed on the screen to select inductance measurement 3 Insert an inductor into either the input sockets or co
25. alibration 3 DUT and test leads must be properly shielded to guard if necessary 4 Based after 30 minutes of warm up time and operated at 23 C 5 C lt 75 R H 5 Q value is the reciprocal of DF 6 Accuracies based within 10 to 100 of full scale of range values outside of range should be used as reference only 7 Based on battery powered operation 8 means parallel or series measurement mode 87 General Specifications Items 879B 878B Measurement L C R Z D Q 8 ESR L C R D Q Parameters Test Frequency 100 Hz 120 Hz 120 Hz 1 KHz Accuracy is 0 02 1 kHz 10 kHz test setting of actual frequency test setting 100 Hz 120 Hz 120 048 Hz 1 kHz 10 kHz 1 kHz actual actual frequency frequency Tolerance Mode 1 5 10 20 l 5 10 Backlit Display Yes None Test Signal Level 0 6 Vrms Measuring Series mode Parallel mode Circuit Mode Basic accuracy 0 5 Ranging Mode Auto Measuring Terminals 3 terminals with sockets Measurement Rate 1 5 reading second range auto search not included Response Time Response Time 680 ms DUT Auto Power Off 5 15 30 60 mins None Operation 32 F to 104 F 0 C to 40 C Temperature 0 70 R H Storage 4 F to 122 F 20 C to 50 C Temperature 0 80 R H Low Battery 6 8V Indication Battery Life 16 hours using Alkaline Battery 1 kHz with 100 Q DUT with
26. andard value or test reference value for sorting components To select the tolerance range press the TOL LC logo once more For each button press the meter will cycle through the tolerance range percentage in this order 1 5 10 20 model 879B only These percentage ranges will also be indicated on the LCD display by the indicators 1 5 10 or 20 model 879B only respectively The component to be tested for will be verified with the tolerance within the selected of the standard value or test reference value as configured from step 3 Within a few seconds an audible tone will be heard 36 One single beep or tone means the component is within tolerance Three beeps or tone means the component is out of tolerance Disable Tolerance Mode To disable or exit out of tolerance mode simply press Ki and hold down the Lv button for two seconds The TOL and or the percentage indicators 1 5 10 or 20 for model 879B only will disappear on the LCD display Note Changing the primary function secondary function or test frequency will automatically disable tolerance mode Utility Menu The LCR meter has a built in utility menu that allows you to configure some user preferences and settings The buttons used to set and control the menu are FREQ ToL colored in yellow They are a L EJ and f un _ User can con
27. d require measurement in parallel mode for optimal results Accuracy Discrepancies In some special cases inaccuracies may occur in the measurement of capacitive inductive and resistive components 83 Capacitance When measuring capacitors it is always most desirable if the dissipation factor is low Electrolytic capacitors inherently have a higher dissipation factor due to their normally high internal leakage characteristics In some cases if the D dissipation factor is excessive measurement accuracy may degrade and even read out of specification Inductance Some inductors are intended to operate at a certain DC bias to achieve a certain inductance value However the 878B and 879B LCR meters cannot produce such biasing scheme and external biasing should not be attempted because external power would be applied to the instrument and cause serious damage to the meter Therefore in some cases measured inductance reading may not agree with manufacturer s specification It is important to check if specification pertains to DC biasing or not Resistance When measuring resistance of devices it is important to know that there are two types or ways of measurement One type is DC resistance measurement Another type is AC resistance measurement The 879B and 878B uses AC resistance measurement method and does not 84 provide an option for DC resistance measurements Therefore when measuring a resistive component that is desig
28. dapter model 879B only This can be purchased as an optional accessory for model 878B Please locate them from the original packaging to ensure nothing is missing If in the case that an item is missing please contact B amp K Precision immediately 11 FRONT PANEL OVERVIEW LCR Meter SCH noon er A DISCHARGE CAPACITOR BEFORE TESTING E 1 GUARD BEER C Figure 1 Front Panel Display model 879B shown 12 Front Panel Display Descriptions Pons 10 11 LCD Display Power ON OFF Button USB Communication Back light button Secondary Display mode for dissipation factor D quality factor Q phase angle 8 equivalent series resistance ESR measurement selection button Primary Display mode for inductance capacitance resistance and impedance measurements Parallel or Series measurement method selection button Tolerance mode Utility down arrow selection button Hold Display mode Record mode selection button Utility menu button Test Frequency Utility up arrow selection button Relative mode Calibration mode selection button 12V DC adapter input use with an external power adapter rated 12VDC 150mA 4mm power plug Note Use with included power adapter only Use with improper power adapters may damage instrument 13 12 13 WARNING
29. de Just as test frequency can greatly affect measurement results selecting between series or parallel measurement mode can also affect the accuracy of the meter especially for capacitive and inductive components Below are some recommendations to consider Capacitance For most capacitance measurement selecting parallel mode is the best Hence the meter defaults to this mode when selecting capacitance mode Most capacitors have very low dissipation factor high internal resistance compared to the impedance of the Capacitance In these cases the paralleled internal resistance has negligible impact upon the measurement Though in some cases series mode would be preferred For instance measuring a large capacitor would require using series mode for optimal reading Otherwise the meter may show the reading results as 82 out of accuracy or erroneous Series mode is use because large capacitors often have higher dissipation factor and lower internal resistance Inductance For most inductance measurement selecting series mode is the best Hence the meter defaults to this mode when selecting inductance mode This is because in this mode accurate Q quality factor reading can be obtained from reading low Q inductors and ohmic losses are significant Though in some cases parallel mode would be preferred For example iron core inductors operating at higher frequencies where hysteresis and eddy currents become significant woul
30. de the MAX indicator will be shown on display This indicates that the value in the primary display represents the recorded maximum value Minimum Mode In this mode the MIN indicator will be shown on display This indicates that the value in the primary display represents the recorded minimum value Average Mode In this mode the AVG indicator will be shown on display This indicates that the value in the primary display represents the recorded average value This average value is obtained by taking the maximum and minimum recorded values and taking the average of the two values 28 Disable Static Recording HOLD To exit this mode press and hold the REC button for two seconds The MAX AVG MIN MAX MIN or AVG indicator will disappear on screen Note Changing the primary function secondary function or test frequency will automatically turn off static recording L C R Z Select Mode The primary display of the LCR meter is used to indicate measured values under four different modes three modes for model 878B which excludes Z impedance measurements These modes are L inductance C capacitance R resistance and Z impedance To change between these four primary modes of DES CS3 measurement press the 2Y or CH for model 878B button The modes will change and repeat upon each button press On the screen the indicators L C R or Z mo
31. del 879B only will be displayed to indicate which mode the meter is in 29 D Q 6 ESR Select Mode The secondary display of the LCR meter is used to indicate measured values for four various parameters two for model 878B which excludes 9 and ESR measurement mode which provide additional information of the component being tested and is supplementary to the primary mode measurements These modes are D Dissipation factor Q Quality factor 8 Phase angle and ESR Equivalent series resistance To change between these measurement parameters oas oa press the KE or for model 878B button The parameters for measurement will change and repeat upon each button press On the screen the indicators D Q 8 model 879B only or ESR model 879B only will be displayed to indicate which secondary mode the meter is in Test Frequency The 879B and 878B LCR meters use an AC signal to test and measure components at the input sockets or terminals With this measurement method a test frequency must be selected The test frequency can affect the accuracy of the results depending on what frequency is selected and what type and value of a component is being measured or tested 30 For details on selecting the optimal test frequency for measurement refer to the SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION section Selecting Frequency To select or change the test frequency push the FREQ L button
32. display readings for resistance measured values 60 Figure 12 Resistance Measurement Setup Impedance Measurement Model 879B only souen 1 Press down es button for one second to turn on the meter LICIRIZ 2 Press Gy button until Z is on the screen to select impedance measurement ff 61 3 Insert component into the input sockets or connect alligator leads into the banana jack input terminals and connect the clips to the component leads as illustrated in Figure 13 N ee Press _ button until the desired test frequency is displayed on screen Read the display readings for impedance measured values Figure 13 Impedance Measurement Setup 62 REMOTE COMMUNICATION The meter has the capability to communicate with a PC over the mini USB interface Upon installation of a USB driver the PC can control the instrument over virtual COM RS 232 The mini USB communication interface of the meter is designed in full duplex and has a 64 byte input and output buffer making it reliable and efficient for data transmission Connecting Instrument to PC Follow the below procedures for connection setup 1 Download the USB drivers from www bkprecision com 2 With the included mini USB cable connect the mini USB end to the LCR meter and the other end to an available USB port on the PC see
33. e auto power off again and OFFP indicator will re appear if a time has been set from the AoFF option of the utility menu Power up State PuP The PuP menu option allows user to configure the power up state of the LCR meter allowing user to restore settings saved into internal EEPROM memory at power up 42 In the utility menu when the primary display shows PuP there are two settings selectable and shown on the secondary display PrE and SEt Default Setting PrE Storable Settings Primary function mode i e L C R Test frequency Secondary function mode i e D Q Tolerance mode state Reference value for Tolerance mode Relative mode state Reference value for Relative mode Configure and Save Power up State Follow the below procedure to setup and store a power up state into internal memory ate Before entering into the utility menu configure all the settings and parameters desired for power up state Do this by turning on any modes and setting values as desired Only the settings listed above in Storage Settings are stored If the meter is currently in the utility menu exit first and setup the desired 43 settings for recalling at power up see Exit Utility Menu for details Once settings are configured enter re enter en the utility menu by holding down the button for 2 seconds Traverse through the utility menu until you see PuP on the
34. e by sliding it into the top slid first Place screw at the bottom of the cover piece and tighten down with a screw driver Power Push and hold down the button for 2 seconds to turn on the instrument Connecting External Power Source The 878B and 879B can also be powered using an external AC adapter The model 879B comes with this adapter included in the package while it is optional for model 878B 21 For external power use AC adapter rated for output 12VDC 150mA with a standard 4mm connector only WARNING Use of incorrect adapters may damage the instrument Please use B amp K Precision s adapter only To connect the adapter do the following 1 Ifa battery is installed please check the battery compartment again that the polarity of the battery matches the polarity as indicated by the labels inside the compartment If it is not please remove and insert the battery with matching polarity If a battery is not installed continue to the next step WARNING DO NOT at any time connect an external power adapter when a battery is installed incorrectly reverse polarity or non matching polarity to indicator of battery compartment Doing so will damage the instrument and void its warranty 2 Connect the AC adapter connector into the right side panel of the instrument See Figure 5 below 22 3 Now connect the AC Adapter socket into an electrical outlet kal 4 Push and hold down the butt
35. ent frequency Response 100hz 120hz 1khz 10khz 879B only 72 FUNCtion subsystem FUNCtion impa lt L C R Z gt Z for model 879B only Description Select primary parameter Example FUNCtion impa L Selects L as primary parameter FUNCtion impa Description Query primary parameter Response Return L C R Z 879B only NULL FUNCtion impb lt D Q THETA ESR gt THETA and ESR for model879B only Description Select secondly parameter Example FUNCtion impb D Select D as secondly parameter FUNCtion impb Description Query secondly parameter Response Return D Q THETA 879B only ESR 879B only NULL 73 FUNCtion EQUivalent lt SERies parallel PAL gt Description Set equivalent mode Parameters SERies serial mode Parallel parallel mode Pal parallel mode Example FUNCtion EQUivalent SERies Set series mode FUNCtion EQUivalent Description Query the equivalent mode Response Return SER or PAL format string CALCulate subsystem CALCulate RELative STATe lt ON OFF gt Description Enable or disable relative function Example CALCulate RELative STATe ON CALCulate RELative STATe Description Query the relative state Response Return ON or OFF 74 CALCulate RELative VALUe Description Query the relative value Response Return lt NR3 gt or format stri
36. figure the beep sound auto 37 power off timing power up state and reset instrument to default settings Entering Utility Menu Press and hold down the pm button for two seconds or until the primary display shows bEEP This indicates the meter is currently in the utility menu Configuration and Settings There are four different menu options and configurable settings under each option Below is a table that lists these options and settings Table 1 Utility Menu Options and Settings SETTINGS MENU OPTIONS PARAMETERS bEEP ON OFF AoFF 5 15 30 60 OFF PuP PrE Set dEF yES NO 38 The four menu options allow users to control the beep sound setting DEED auto power off setting AoFF power up state settings PuP and resetting instrument to default settings dEF By default the first option after entering the utility menu is DEEP The primary display indicates the menu option and the secondary display indicates the current settings or parameters configured for the selected option To change the settings or kal TOL parameters use the Jand arrow keys To change or select a different menu option press the Le button once For each button press the meter will traverse through each menu options and will repeat itself in the following order DEER gt AoFF gt PuP gt dEF Note The settings and parameters are temporarily remembered once
37. g WARNING To avoid electrical shock or damaging the meter prevent water from getting inside the case In the case that water gets inside remove the battery immediately and do not operate the instrument 95 immediately Doing so will immediately damage the instrument and void it s warranty Before cleaning this meter make sure the power is OFF and remove external AC adapter if one is used To clean the meter wipe the dirty parts with a soft cloth soaked with diluted neutral detergent Avoid having the instrument too wet to prevent the detergent from penetrating into the inside components of the meter causing damages After cleaning make sure the instrument is completely dried before operating it again 96 SERVICE INFORMATION Warranty Service Please go the support and service section on our website www bkprecision com to obtain a RMA Return the product in the original packaging with proof of purchase to the address below Clearly state on the RMA the performance problem and return any leads probes connectors and accessories that you are using with the device Non Warranty Service Please go the support and service section on our website www bkprecision com to obtain a RMA Return the product in the original packaging to the address below Clearly state on the RMA the performance problem and return any leads probes connectors and accessories that you are using with the device Customers not on an open account must
38. ires connected to the meter in the REL fashion that they desire Then press the at button once to zero out the meter as reference This way any measurements taken would not be affected by the test leads or setup 32 Disable Relative mode REL To disable relative mode simply press the CH button once more The REL indicator will disappear which indicates the relative mode is disabled Note Changing the primary function secondary function or test frequency will automatically disable relative mode Tolerance The tolerance mode feature is specifically used for component sorting purposes Users who need to test and sort through a large number of components will find this function quite helpful Tolerance Range The tolerance function is configured primarily by range in percentage meaning a percentage is used to define whether a measured value is within tolerance or out of tolerance for model 879B Selectable tolerance range is 1 5 10 and 20 for model 878B Selectable tolerance range is 1 5 and 10 33 Setup Tolerance 1 Select the primary measurement mode based on the type of components to be measured e fiez LICIR This is done by pressing the P S or EPS for model 878B button to configure the desired measurement mode Note Be sure to select the correct measurement mode as tolerance mode cannot be activated unless the correct mode is selected F
39. lue gt Set tolerance range RANGe Query tolerance range RECording 78 STATe lt Boolean gt Enable disable recording function STATe Query recording state MAXimum Query max value of recording MINimum Query min value of recording AVERage Query average value of recording PRESent Query present value of recording FETCh Return data any time last reading is valid Error Codes In certain situations errors may occur and an error code will be displayed on the meter Below defines the error description based on the error code E10 Unknown command E11 Parameter Error E12 Syntax Error 79 SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION This section provides supplemental information for user consideration when operating the LCR meters Some recommendations and explanations are provided to help aid in the use of some functions and features in which can help the user gain optimal and accurate measurement results Selecting Test Frequency Test frequency can greatly affect the results of measurement reading especially when measuring inductors and capacitors This section provides some recommendations and suggestions to consider Capacitance When measuring capacitance selecting the right frequency is important in obtaining the most accurate measurement results Generally a 1 kHz test frequency is used to measure capacitors that are 0 01 uF or smaller For capacitors that are 10 u
40. m 24 brightness for 15 seconds After another 15 seconds 30 seconds total from the time of turning on the back light will automatically turn off to conserve battery power When Using External Power When the meter is powered using an external AC adapter the back light c display will turn on upon use usB holding down the E Jputton for 2 seconds It will stay at maximum brightness continuously until the j USB user presses and holds down the 3 J seconds again Z button for 2 Note If a battery is installed while using an AC adapter simultaneously unplugging the AC adapter will automatically turn off the back light after it has been lit for 30 seconds 25 OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS Data Hold The data hold function allows the user to freeze the display when pressed holding the measured value until data hold is turned off Turn On Data Hold Horo SS To use data hold press the S button once The DH indicator will display on the screen when data hold is active Turn Off Data Hold HOLD To disable the data hold press again The DH indicator will disappear on the screen ane meter will remain in normal operation mode Note Changing the primary function secondary function or test frequency will automatically turn off the data hold Static Recording This mode is used for recording maximum minimum and average values It is often useful for testing the range of values in which a c
41. modes press and hold LICIRIZ Pes LICIR teas J for model 878B button for 2 48 down Jior L seconds The indicators on the display should toggle between SER and PAR Calibration Calibration is available on all modes It is recommended that to achieve optimal readings calibration should be done before making any measurements To enter calibration mode simply press and hold down the EI button for 2 seconds A calibration prompt will be displayed There are two types of calibration available One is the open circuit calibration The other is the short circuit calibration To exit calibration mode simply press and hold down eet the D button for 2 seconds again Open Calibration Open calibration can be done when meter first enters into calibration mode If the input sockets or terminals have nothing connected the display should show Figure 7 Also REL indicator will be blinking on the display This is to prompt the user that the meter is waiting for an action At this point open calibration 49 REL will be done when the LS button is pressed once Within a few seconds the meter will return to normal display and meter will be calibrated based on the test frequency and settings selected prior to entering the calibration mode Figure 7 Open Calibration Short Calibration Short calibration can be done when meter first enters into calibration mode If the input sockets
42. ned to be measured with DC readings will be incorrect or inaccurate Before using the meter to measure resistance please verify whether the DUT device under test requires DC or AC resistance measurement method Depending on the method results will vary greatly Guard Terminal One of the input sockets and terminals is labeled as GUARD This terminal does not have to be used in all instances for the meter to make measurements But in some instances it is very useful Guard terminal generally serves two purposes If user is using test leads the guard terminal can be used to connect to the shielding of the test leads Doing so can be useful when making large resistive component measurements For example when measuring a 10 MO resistor with test leads at the high range the reading may seem to be unstable as a few digits may continuously be changing Having the shield of the test leads connected to the guard terminal will help stabilize the reading in some instances 85 Guard terminal is also used to minimize noise and to help minimize parasitic effects coming from the component to be measured thus allowing high precision results 86 SPECIFICATIONS Below are some remarks in regards to all specifications pertaining to both 878B and 879B LCR meters Specifications are subject to change without notice Notes 1 Measurement performed at the test socket 2 Measurements performed after correct open and short c
43. nfigured time the meter will make an audible beep sound continuously for 10 seconds before auto power off To stop the beep sound simply press any button to resume operation and reset the timer count The available timer settings are 5 minutes 15 minutes 30 minutes 60 minutes and off When the primary display shows AoFF push the FREQ D TOL l l 5J or V button to select the timer setting The settings will be shown on the secondary display as follows F Table 2 Auto Power off Options SECONDARY REPRESENTATION DISPLAY 5 5 minutes 15 15 minutes 30 30 minutes 60 60 minutes OFF No timer Manual power off only Default Setting 15 41 When the auto power off option is set to any of the configured settings in Table 2 except for OFF upon exiting the utility menu the LCD display will have a OFF indicator This means a timer has been set for auto power off Note When an external 12VDC AC adapter is used to power the instrument the auto power off feature will automatically be disabled This is indicated on the LCD display when the OFF indicator disappears Under this condition the meter will remain powered ON continuously In this state powering off the instrument would require manually pushing and POWER holding down the gt button for 2 seconds When external power is removed the meter will automatically re enabl
44. ng CALCulate TOLerance STATe lt ON OFF gt Description Enable or disable tolerance function Example CALCulate TOLerance STATe ON CALCulate TOLerance STATe Description Query the tolerance state Response Return ON or OFF CALCulate TOLerance NOMinal Description Query the nominal value of tolerance Response Return lt NR3 gt or format string CALCulate TOLerance VALUe Description Query the percent value of tolerance Response Return lt NR3 gt or format string CALCulate TOLerance RANGe lt 1 5 10 20 gt Description Set tolerance range Parameters 20 879B only Example CALCulate TOLerance RANGe 1 Set 1 tolerance range 75 CALCulate TOLerance RANGe Description Query the tolerance range Response Return BIN1 BIN2 BIN3 BIN4 or format string CALCulate RECording STATe lt ON OFF gt Description Enable or disable recording function Example CALCulate RECording STATe ON CALCulate RECording STATe Description Query the recording state Response Return ON or OFF CALCulate RECording MAXimum Description Query the maximum value of recording function Response Return lt NR3 NR3 gt or format string CALCulate RECording MINimum Description Query the minimum value of recording function Response Return lt NR3 NR3 gt or format
45. nnect alligator leads into the banana jack input terminals and connect the clips to the component leads as illustrated in Figure 10 e 4 Press LC 2 button until the desired test frequency is is displayed on screen Dive oe ER 5 Press EH or for model 878B button to select between D factor Q factor 8 angle or 56 ESR measurement for secondary display 9 and ESR function for model 879B only 6 Read the display readings for inductance measured values and selected measured values on secondary display Figure 10 Inductance Measurement Setup 57 Capacitance Measurement A WARNING Fully discharge capacitor BEFORE inserting it into the instrument Failure to do this may result in damage to the meter and may cause electrical hazards ks 1 Press down button for one second to turn on the meter Les es 2 Press Hi or for model 878B button until C is on the screen to select capacitance measurement 3 CAUTION BEFORE inserting a capacitor or capacitive component into the input sockets or terminals be sure to fully discharge the component Some larger capacitive components may take longer to discharge In these cases please allot enough time for a full discharge If proper discharging of the component is not done correctly it will damage the input terminals of the meter 4 Insert the DISCHARGED capacitor or capacitive componen
46. omponent is expected to fall within upon measurement 26 Enable Static Recording Ki Press and hold down the button for two seconds to enter the static recording mode The display should indicate MAX AVG MIN simultaneously This indicates the meter is in static recording mode and recording is performed immediately Using Static Recording There are four different modes that can be selected in static recording They are indicated by the descriptions below These modes can be changed with each LEE button press Per each press of the HOLD REC J button the modes will change and repeat in the following order V Recording Mode gt Maximum Mode gt Minimum Mode Average Mode Recording Mode This is the default mode when first enabling static recording In this mode the screen will display MAX AVG MIN indicator At this point the meter will start making recordings based on measured values from 27 the input sockets or terminals As recording is performed maximum minimum and average values will be stored after a brief moment A beep tone will sound once a recording has been stored Note Subsequent beep tones may occur in this mode if there are new values that are recorded For example if a new maximum is detected it will beep once again to indicate that the new value has been stored Any previously stored values will be overwritten with the new recorded values Maximum Mode In this mo
47. on for 2 seconds to turn on the instrument 12VDC Input AC Adapter Figure 5 Connecting AC Adapter to Meter Note The meter can be operated with a battery installed while an AC adapter is plugged in at the same time As long as the battery is inserted properly with correct polarity In this event the meter will automatically switch to consume power from the AC adapter instead of the battery to preserve battery life Low Battery Indication The LCR meter has a low battery indicator to notify the user when to replace battery When the display 23 starts flashing the indicator the battery voltage is below normal working voltage In this case accuracy of the meter will also decrease It is recommended that the battery be replaced as soon as possible before continuing operation See Installing Battery for instructions Backlit Display model 879B only Model 879B LCR meter has a backlit display that allows you to see the LCD display in dark conditions To turn on the back light press and hold down u button for 2 seconds Back light will turn on and brighten the LCD display To turn off the back light at any time press and hold down L i J button for 2 seconds again Back light will turn off and return to normal display When Using Battery Power When the meter is powered using 9V battery the back e light display will turn on upon holding down the L J button for 2 seconds It will stay at maximu
48. or example if the component is a capacitor be sure to select C for capacitance If not tolerance mode will not be activated following the proceeding steps below Insert the component to be used as the standard reference value Another words insert a known good component that will be used for testing against all other components See Figure 6 for illustration Note The tolerance mode cannot be activated unless the meter senses a component is connected to either the input sockets or terminals 34 WARNING If the component to be measured is a capacitor be sure that the capacitor is fully discharged BEFORE inserting it into the input sockets or terminals For large capacitors it may take longer periods of time for a full discharge Inserting a charged or partially charged capacitor into the meter s input sockets or terminals may produce an electric hazard and may also damage the instrument making it unusable Figure 6 Inserting Component to Inputs 35 Once the desired measured reading is TOL displayed press the J button once to store the reading as the standard value or test reference value At this point the TOL will be displayed on the screen indicating that the tolerance mode is activated Note Any value which appears on the LCD display such as DH data hold or MAX MIN AVG can also be used as the st
49. or terminals have nothing connected the display will be like Figure 7 For short calibration simply put a shorting bar or a short piece of conductive metal i e paper clip across the and input sockets or terminals Within 2 seconds the meter will display the same screen as 50 Figure 8 which prompts for a short Also REL indicator will be blinking on the display This is to prompt the user that the meter is waiting for an action At thi this point short calibration will be done when the REL St button is pressed once Within a few seconds the meter will return to normal display and meter will be calibrated based on the test frequency and settings selected prior to entering the calibration mode Figure 8 Short Calibration Quick Procedure Below is an example of steps to follow to do both open and short calibration 1 Select the primary function mode for measurement i e L C R Z 2 Select the test frequency for measurement 51 3 Select the measurement mode i e Series or Parallel 4 Once all settings are configured hold down REL Si E button for 2 seconds to enter into calibration mode 5 First do open calibration Follow instructions under Open Calibration section 6 Next do short calibration Follow instructions under Short Calibration section 7 Now the meter should go back to normal display and user may proceed to take measurements of components
50. se or abuse of the product or as a result of unauthorized alterations or repairs The warranty is void if the serial number is altered defaced or removed B amp K Precision Corp shall not be liable for any consequential damages including without limitation damages resulting from loss of use Some states do not allow limitations of incidental or consequential damages So the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you This warranty gives you specific rights and you may have other rights which vary from state to state B amp K Precision Corp 22820 Savi Ranch Parkway Yorba Linda CA 92887 www bkprecision com 714 921 9095 98 Page intentionally left blank Page intentionally left blank BK PRECISION 22820 Savi Ranch Parkway Yorba Linda CA 92887 www bkprecision com 2010 B amp K Precision Corp Printed in China v010511
51. string 76 CALCulate RECording AVERage Description Query the average value of recording function Response Return lt NR3 NR3 gt or format string CALCulate RECording PRESent Description Query the present value of recording function Response Return lt NR3 NR3 gt or format string FETCh Subsystem FETCh Description Returns the primary secondary display value and tolerance compared result of device s output buffer Response Return lt NR3 NR3 NR1 gt format string Example FETCh 77 Summary of Supported SCPI Commands Table 6 Summary of SCPI Commands Command Parameter Explanation FREQuency lt Value gt Set Test Frequency FREQuency Query Test Frequency FUNCtion impa lt Literal gt Select primary display parameter timpa Query primary display parameter impb lt Literal gt Select secondary display parameter timpb Query secondary display parameter EQUivalent lt Literal gt Set equivalent mode EQUivalent Query equivalent mode CALCulate RELative STATe lt Boolean gt Enable disable relative function STATe Query relative state VALUe Query relative value TOLerance STATe lt Boolean gt Enable disable tolerance function STATe Query tolerance state NOMinal Query nominal value of tolerance VALUe Query percent of tolerance RANG lt Va
52. t into the input sockets or connect alligator leads into the banana jack input terminals and connect the clips to the component leads as illustrated in Figure 11 58 FREQ 5 Press ws button until the desired test ere is Olay eas on screen f pos or e ESR Press a for model 878B button to select morte D factor Q factor 8 angle or ESR measurement for secondary display 9 and ESR function for model 879B only Read the display readings for capacitance measured values and selected measured values on secondary display STE reg S Ile es Figure 11 Capacitance Measurement Setup 59 Resistance Measurement ks 1 Press down button for one second to turn on the meter ISS t 2 Press 7 or for mode 878B button until R is on the screen to select resistance measurement 3 Insert resistor or resistive component into the input sockets or connect alligator leads into the banana jack input terminals and connect the clips to the component leads as illustrated in Figure 12 4 Press LZ button until the desired test frequency is displayed on screen Note This meter does not provide a DC resistance measurement of the component It uses an AC signal for measurement For this reason some applications or device under test may not give correct readings if they are designed for measurement in DC 5 Read the
53. t settings Default Setting No To reset the meter to default settings first select the dEF menu option by using the use Lon button to browse through the utility menu When the primary 45 display shows dEF either press or ZC button to change the setting so that the secondary display shows yES Upon saving and exiting the utility menu the instrument will automatically reset back to its original settings Below is a table of all the settings that will be restored za Table 3 Instrument Default Settings Settings Default Configuration Primary Function C Capacitance Secondary Function None Measurement Method SER Series Test Frequency 1 kHz Beep On Auto Power off 15 15 minutes Power up State PrE Reset Default Settings No Note In the case where under PuP option GEI is selected and dEF is set to yES the PuP setting has priority over the dEF setting This means the instrument will not be set back to default upon saving and exiting the utility menu Instead the power up settings will be stored and will be recalled upon the next power up of the instrument 46 Exit Utility Menu There are two methods for exiting the utility menu One saves all the changed settings before exiting and the other exits the menu without saving any changes Saving and Exiting To save all utility menu option settings and to exit the menu
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