Capacitance Meter

[Buccaneer]

What’s a cheap capacitance meter that you’ve had good luck with?
Would like to check some of the condensers I buy or have to
see what rating they actually have.
Thanks, TG

Prepare to be boarded!

[chris-p]

I was going to buy this but forgot to bid. Cheap enough. I have a few Mercotronics and Stevens testers I use myself.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/351336595557?_t … EBIDX%3AIT

[Buccaneer]

It was probably better than all the Chinese ones I see for sale.
I’m hoping to hear from someone that bought a cheap one
and it actually worked, lol.

Prepare to be boarded!

[frankr]

Well I’ll be darned–I have one of those. Bought it 30 or 40 years ago. It works, but doesn’t give actual capacitance values. You compare the flashing rate with a known good one of similar capacitance. The higher the capacitance, the slower it flashes. The theory of operation is downright simple. The "guts" are a couple of diodes & resistors and a neon bulb.

[chris-p]

There are a lot of cheap meters that will tell you the capacitance. That is the easy part. You can also use a cheaper meter to test for shorts, if you know what you are looking for in the spikes. That is where I find about half the condensors I test fail.

The Mercotronics and Stevens testers make all that very easy, if you can find one. I would consider 25 bucks for that one meter I posted pretty cheap for what you get. You can get Mercotronics anywhere from about 50 bucks to 200 depending on condition.

[Buccaneer]

Chris, Would you elaborate a little regarding "spikes" while testing
condensers for shorts? I’ve noticed some charge up a lot slower
than others when checking with a digital ohm meter.
Also, regarding testers, my uncle has an old Bosch Coil / Condenser
test meter almost identical to the one in the link.
He used it as a snowmobile mechanic back in the 70’s, but
doesn’t remember much about it, and has no manual. I found
a manual online, but it’s in German 🙁
Going by some of the photos in the manual, I tried testing
a coil and condenser, but nothing happened. When turned on,
something inside does "wind up"……. motor?
I’m guessing a spark should jump the electrodes when coil testing,
but what happens when testing a condenser on one of these?
http://www.grayhitandmiss.com/Outboards … tester.jpg
Thanks, TG

Prepare to be boarded!

[chris-p]

Rather than me type something out, have a read here. F_R above would be the best to guide you, he pretty much wrote this.

http://www.pochefamily.org/outboard/Con … sting.html

Here is for coils/points.

http://www.pochefamily.org/outboard/Coils.htm

[Doug Wilson]

I have a wavetech multimeter that reads capaciitance can probably find one for around 100

Doug

how is it motors multiply when the garage lights get
turned off?

[Mumbles]

To check the value of caps, I use a Supco MFD10 which is great for finding the uF rating of them. My auto ranging volt meter also has a cap function. While the Supco will give me the value, it doesn’t actually test them under load as a Merc O Tronic does.

http://www.amazon.com/Supco-MFD10-Digit … B000LDF97U

[jeff-register]

Mumbles,
You took the thoughts out of my head!! Magnetos run very high voltage thru the caps & to load bank not static test is the only accurate way to test for any voltage leakage. It’s like testing a tire sitting stopped in comparison to load testing at full load & speed rating. A mercotronic or Stevens load tests the cap.
At MCM electronics I bought a cap & resistance meter for 40 bucks, non load testing . Make sure the cap is suited for the high voltage encountered with magneto use or it will fail in short order as well.
You can buy many coil & core type caps from automotive use & measure cap mfd rating & use a match like Garry posted a few posts back is one way but then again if it is new old stock may already have leakage from the age of the shelf still new in the box. The high voltage magneto type caps are expensive to manufacture & such a small market such as R.F. transmisson
Look under Vishay brand MKP18394884 HQ for good magneto metalised caps for replacements or specs for dielectric values to rate. Went a little over with the specs, sorry it’s hard to explain half an reply.

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