Saturday, January 20, 2018
DE-5000 Handheld LCR Meter Kelvin Clip Upgrade & Comparison (How To)
How To - install an inexpensive set of 4 wire Kelvin Clips to our new DER EE DE-5000 Handheld LCR Meter capable of 4 Wire Measurement.
The standard TL-21 Kelvin Clips that came with the LCR Meter were not long enough or big enough for use on the large electrolytic capacitors we intend to use it on so we upgraded the Kelvin Test Leads with cheap price but decent quality and value Kelvin Clips purchased online from Amazon for $14.70, see info below.
We found for precise measurements like low ESR, Ohms etc that true 4 wire was needed and I could not just calibrate my Fluke Meter leads in the LCR meter. It fails calibration (leads too long?) and the leads have 0.2 ohms of resistance which can be accounted for mathematically unless you need higher resolution hence the need for 4 wire measurement.
As always price compare shop online and look for best prices on electronic components and tester equipment, prices fluctuate. Check Amazon, Ebay, Mouser, AST Labs, Tequipment.net, Test Equipment Depot and other online retailers for best deals on Kelvin Clips and other Test Leads.
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ATOPLEE
Atoplee 1 Set Kelvin Alligator Clipswith 4 BNC Test Lead Set for LCR Meter
Price:
$14.70
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I followed this interesting idea of making a 4-wire Kelvin clamp for DE 5000 by modifying the TL-21 typically supplied with the DE 5000.
ReplyDeleteI also bought the cable already made for sale on Amazon and used by the author of the video.
But I haven't had good results. As you can also read from other videos on the same topic, this cable is very cheap but it is of low quality, it is too long for cable quality and often has constructive defects in the Clip attacks; defects covered by the self-shrinking sheath.
I passed the calibration test both "open" and "short" but then the displayed values vary a lot and the "zero" on resistance after calibration was lost immediately even if I did not turn off the DE5000. To give a quantitative value, visualizations of a few tens of random milliohms were normal. It was useless to do the calibration again because nothing changed.
What was also evident was that moving the cables varied the error: as if disturbances entered: Yet I assure you that the "Guard" contact was wired as indicated with care and cleanliness.
So I decided to do it all again with a better cable from a Hi-Fi shop. Basically a stereo signal cable that has a red and a white wire both individually shielded.
I bought similar Kelvin Clips on Amazon like these:
https://www.amazon.com/Alligator-Clips-Copper-Plated-Kelvin/dp/B08CBWJBXZ/ref=sr_1_17?dchild=1&keywords=clip+kelvin&qid=1615716686&sr=8-17
and I made the cable myself.
I also adopted a shorter length: about 30 cm.
The result was good and stable. The error after calibration fluctuates on resistance values of 1-2 Milliohm and above all when moving the cables with the DE 5000 switched on, the indicated value did not change.
My consideration is:
- Kelvin clips with black cable have better quality cable.
- by reducing the length of the original cable by half, the situation improves a lot
- However it is better to make the cable yourself of better quality especially in the cable and using a maximum length of 30 cm.
I hope I have helped someone.