Siborg will be at the Del Mar Electronics & Manufacturing Show in San Diego, CA from September 16-17, 2020, Booth #233
Visit Siborg at IEDM 2019 in San Francisco, California from December 7-11 at Booth #20
LCR-Reader and new LCR-Reader-MPA was at Nepcon Vietnam, September 11-13 2019.
Siborg Systems Inc presented LCR-Reader-MPA at Nepcon Korea in Seoul from May 15 - 17, 2019
Siborg took LCR-Reader-MPA and LCR-Reader to Nepcon South China, April 24-26 2019.
Now Available: LCR-Reader-MPA, New Generation of MP
Siborg has released a new model in the MP line, the LCR-Reader-MPA. The device features a new design with lighter weight, easier-to-read display, and 4 way-joystick navigation button. Features include 3 test signal levels, more accurate LED testing, and 0.1% basic accuracy.
One of the problems with Smart Tweezers LCR-meter has been the price point. Depending on the region and resellers, Smart Tweezers can be from $300 to $700. Criticism about the screen being crowded has also been sounded on the ST5 model. For companies and professionals using Smart Tweezers, there are few issues, but for the everyday hobbyist, the price point is far too high. Siborg had attempted creating a new device with a lower price (not featuring a 1 Volt test signal) but the price cut was only 20%, and would not affect the overall market.
Around a year ago, development of the LCR-Reader began, based on the availability of new microchips and ideas of how to simplify the circuit without losing much of the accuracy. The result evolved into the prototype pictured (Fig 1.), a physically smaller and lighter device and cheaper manufacturing cost (compared to the Smart Tweezers LCR-meter).
The new LCR-Reader is powered by a Li-Ion battery, rechargeable via micro-USB. The device features a lower weight, with about 0.5% basic accuracy.
First, you need to decide what you want your device to do; both ST-5S and LCR-Reader will automatically identify the type of component and measure for L, C, R and ESR instantly. The main differences between the devices is the functions they preform. The pen-sized device is just 1 oz. weight, making it perfect to stow in a bag or pocket. Both use a Li-Ion battery with micro-USB charging that last up to 80 hours continuous use. All measurements are instantly displayed on a bright OLED display that makes reading the screen easy even in less than suitable conditions.
The ST-5S is best for professionals and companies alike that require more features for better customizing specific measurements, as well as coming with an NIST traceable calibration certificate. The ST-5S allows user to change the test signal (with 0.5 and 1.0 Vrms), as well as variable tolerances of 1%, 5%, 10%, and 20%. This device also does continuity and diode testing, and showed active and reactive impedance components on the display. As one of the features that saves times for users, a semi-automatic offset subtraction feature automatically removes parasitics after set-up. The ST-5S is controlled by a joystick-like navigation; pushing the button directionally will change the test mode, test signal, etc., while pressing the joystick will open the menu to allow more customized measurements and features like changing the screen orientation.
The LCR-Reader is a more budget-friendly model along the same lines as the Smart Tweezers models. While the look and feel of the LCR-Reader is the same as the ST-5S; the LCR-Reader is a more stripped down version, with the basic functions to get the job done. This model does not come with a calibration certificate, or have features such as component sorting, diode, continuity or open circuit testing, nor variable test signals, utilizing only a 0.5 Vrms test signal. The LCR-Reader has a one-button navigation that changes the test mode with each press. The main selling feature of the LCR-Reader is the price, retailing for less than $200 nearly half the price of the ST-5S.
Feature | ST-5S | LCR-Reader | LCR-Reader-MP |
---|---|---|---|
Basic Accuracy | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.1% |
Automatic L, C, R and ESR measurements | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Manual L, C, R and ESR measurements | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Designated ESR measurements | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Variable Tolerances | 1, 5, 10, 20% tolerances | N/A | 1, 5, 10, 20% tolerances |
Continuity and Diode testing | Yes | No | Yes |
Parasitic offset subtraction | Yes | No | Yes |
Li-Ion battery with micro-USB | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Display | OLED | OLED | Backlight LCD |
Weight | 1 oz. | 1 oz. | 1.5 oz. |
NIST Traceable Calibration Certificate | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Navigation | 4-way joystick | One-button | Jog-wheel |
Technical Specs | |||
Frequency | 0.1, 0.12, 1, 10kHz +/- 0.005% | 0.1, 1, 10kHz +/- 0.5% | 0.1, 0.12, 1, 10kHz +/- 0.005% |
Test Signal Level | 0.45, 0.9 +/- 5% Vrms | 0.45 +/- 5% Vrms | 0.45, 0.9 +/- 5% Vrms |
Source Impedance | 62.5 Ω/1k Ω/16k Ω +/- 1% | 62.5 Ω/1k Ω/16k Ω +/- 1% | 62.5 Ω/1k Ω/16k Ω +/- 1% |
Typical Accuracy | |||
Resistance | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.05% |
Capacitance | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.2% |
Inductance | 0.2% | 0.5% | 0.2% |
Measurement Range | |||
Resistance | 0.1 Ohm to 10 Mohms | 0.1 Ohm to 10 Mohms | 0.1 Ohm to 20 MOhm |
Capacitance | 0.5 pF to 1 mF | 2 pF to 5 mF | 0 to 680 000 µF |
Inductance | 0.5 uH to 1 H | 0.5 uH to 1 H | 0.5 uH to 100 H |