[Amps] Sencore vs hp, etc. TSPA

[John T. M. Lyles]

I just got my first Sencore meter, given to me last weekend at a 
hamfest, a CA55 capacitor analyzer, vintage 1982. It is 1/2 of their 
LCR analyzer. Ordered the manual from South Dakota. Even that was 
pricy. I noted that we have a few of the LCR boxes at work, and that 
they use a short piece of RG62 for the test cable, 93 ohm coax. So I 
cut a piece and made a probe (lower Cshunt). The funnest part was the 
leakage tester button pusher device. They don't have a locking button 
for that mode, instead having a plastic rod that wedges between the 
handle on front and the button. A warning is given in the manual 
about shock hazard when using that attachement. I don't think the 
other test equipment companies of reputable quality would offer such 
a trick, but hey, it works fine.

Reason I got the meter is that it does have that leakage mode and 
ability to reform electrolytics. The laboratory quality units do not 
apply HV and reform caps like that, to my knowledge. Its one of the 
most used devices for refurbishing boat anchor radios these days. 
Until now, i had been using my trusty bench HV supply and a 
milliameter. The Sencore does it and reads down into the uA directly. 
Nice feature. Also, i have an Almost All Digital II LCR meter, which 
is fantastic for pF and nF, but doesn't do big capacitors well. When 
I question my readings, out comes an old Genrad bridge, the one with 
batteries and 1 kc oscillator and the Orthonull dial features. That 
thing reads D, Q, L, C, R very well. I have used it on a few 
modulation transformers recently.

My opinion on Sencore versus the others is, that if you need to know 
D, Q and maybe ESR of components, you are probably in designing mode. 
Hence you need the lab equipment, even something that can have 
different excitation frequencies, to try and derive the equivalent 
model of an inductor or find the self resonant frequency, where pure 
L falls apart. Also if you are manufacturing electronics, automatic 
reading and pass/fail features are great.

But if you are checking caps or L in a shop, repairing sets as 
quickly as you can, then Sencore and their like fill the bill. With 
the fall off in repair shops and the era of throw-away electronics I 
am surprised Sencore is still surviving. However, I have no idea why 
Sencore demands a strong price on EBAY compared to others. Seems to 
me that Hp also gets top dollar on a lot of boxes there. I don't know 
about ESI or Genrad (or Boonton) as haven't bid on them.

73
John
K5PRO

>Are you saying Sencore compares with HP, ESI, or General Radio in 
>impedance or LCR meters? I have all four brands here, and there's a 
>big difference in precision and quality of manufacture to me. The 
>only thing I know that Sencore has on their LCR meter is a ringing 
>test for flybacks which can be done using a scope or a flyback 
>tester, and capacitor leakage. If I recall, even the LC102 cant 
>measure D and Q of a cap or a coil. The Sencore stuff is more suited 
>to the consumer repair industry, IE: TV and radio. When you get into 
>manufacturing passive components like caps, chokes, or resistors, a 
>good top of the line LCR meter like the brands I mentioned win hands 
>down. Heck, even the small Leader LCR-740 can measure D and Q. 
>That's my point, why's these guys rushing to buy these Sencore LCR 
>meters for upwards of $600 used when there's good HP, ESI, and 
>GenRad equipment available for much less on ebay and other places? 
>All I can figure is the folks buying them have been mis-infor
>  med, or don't know what is available out there for real 
>professional use. To me, for what Sencore is charging for a new LCR 
>meter, and for no more than it does, one of those hand held LCR 
>meters for about $69 new will do the same thing. I don't want to see 
>any friends on here be taken and waste a huge amount of cash for no 
>more than their getting in the end.
>
>Best,
>
>Will