B&K Precision 889A Instruction Manual

INSTRUCTION MANUAL

Contents

1. INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................................................1

1.1 G

ENERAL

......................................................................................................................................................................................................1

1.2 I

MPEDANCE PARAMETERS

1.3 S

PECIFICATION

1.4 A

CCESSORIES

..............................................................................................................................................................................................3

............................................................................................................................................................................................. 11

..............................................................................................................................................................................2

2. OPERATION............................................................................................................................................................................12

2.1 P

HYSICAL DESCRIPTION

2.2 M

AKING MEASUREMENT

2.2.1 Open and Short Calibration...........................................................................................................................................................13

2.2.2 Relative Mode................................................................................................................................................................................13

2.2.3 Range Hold....................................................................................................................................................................................13

2.2.4 DC Resistance Measurement........................................................................................................................................................14

2.2.5 AC Impedance Measurement........................................................................................................................................................14

2.2.6 Capacitance Measurement............................................................................................................................................................14

2.2.7 Inductance Measurement..............................................................................................................................................................14

..............................................................................................................................................................................12

..............................................................................................................................................................................13

3. OPERATION MODES.............................................................................................................................................................15

3.1 R

EMOTE MODE COMMAND SYNTAX

3.2 R

EMOTE MODE COMMANDS

.............................................................................................................................................................18

........................................................................................................................................................................18

4. APPLICATION.........................................................................................................................................................................24

4.1 T

EST LEADS CONNECTION

4.2 O

PEN/SHORT COMPENSATION

4.3 S

ELECTING THE SERIES OR PARALLEL MODE

...........................................................................................................................................................................24

.....................................................................................................................................................................26

...............................................................................................................................................27

5. LIMITED ONE-YEAR WARRANTY AND SERVICE INFORMATION.....................................................................................29

6. SAFETY PRECAUTION..........................................................................................................................................................31

1

1. Introduction

1.1 General

The B&K Precision Corp. 889A Synthesized In-Circuit LCR/ESR Meter is a high accuracy test instrument used
for measuring inductors, capacitors and resistors with a basic accuracy of 0.1%. Also, with the built-in functions of
DC/AC Voltage/Current measurements and Diode/Audible Continuity checks, the 889A can not only help
engineers and students to understand the characteristics of electronics components but also being an essential
tool on any service bench.

The 889A is defaulted to auto ranging. However, it can be set to auto or manual ranging by pressing the Range
Hold key. When LCR measurement mode is selected, one of the test frequencies, 100 Hz, 120 Hz, 1 KHz, 10
KHz, 100 KHz or 200 KHz, may be selected on all applicable ranges. One of the test voltages, 50mVrms, 0.25
Vrms, 1 Vrms or 1 VDC (DCR only), may also be selected on all applicable ranges. The dual display feature
permits simultaneous measurements. When DC/AC voltage/current measurement mode or the Diode/Audible
Continuity Check mode is selected, only the secondary display will be used to show the result of the
measurement.

The highly versatile 889A can perform virtually all the functions of most bench type LCR bridges. With a basic
accuracy of 0.1%, this economical LCR meter may be adequately substituted for a more expensive LCR bridge in
many situations. Also, with the basic accuracy of 0.4% in voltage and current measurements, the 889A performs
the functions of a general purpose Digital Multi-Meter and can be used to replace the DMM on a service bench.

The 889A has applications in electronic engineering labs, production facilities, service shops, and schools. It can
be used to check ESR values of capacitors, sort and/or select components, measure unmarked and unknown
components, and measure capacitance, inductance, or resistance of cables, switches, circuit board foils, etc.

The key features are as following:

1. Voltage Measurements:

l AC : True RMS, up to 600Vrms @ 40 ~ 1K Hz
l DC : up to 600V
l Input Impedance : 1M-Ohm

2. Current Measurements:

l AC : True RMS, up to 2Arms @ 40 ~ 1K Hz
l DC : up to 2A
l Current Shunt : 0.1 Ohm @ > 20mA; 10 Ohm @ ≤ 20mA

3. Diode/Audible Continuity Checks:

l Open Circuit Voltage: 5Vdc
l Short Circuit Current: 2.5mA
l Beep On: ≤ 25 Ω
l Beep Off: ≥ 50 Ω

4. LCR Measurements:
l Test conditions

Frequency : 100Hz / 120Hz / 1KHz / 10KHz / 100KHz / 200KHz
Level : 1Vrms / 0.25Vrms / 50mVrms / 1VDC (DCR only)

l Measurement Parameters : Z, Ls, Lp, Cs, Cp, DCR, ESR, D, Q and ?
l Basic Accuracy : 0.1%
l Dual Liquid Crystal Display
l Auto Range or Range Hold
l RS-232 Interface Communication
l Open/Short Calibration
l Primary Parameters Display:

Z : AC Impedance
DCR : DC Resistance
Ls : Serial Inductance
Lp : Parallel Inductance

Cs : Serial Capacitance

(

)

Ω∠=+=

θ

(

)

θ

I

maginary Axis

Real Axis

Figure 1.1

Cp : Parallel Capacitance

l Second Parameter Display:

? : Phase Angle
ESR : Equivalence Serial Resistance
D : Dissipation Factor
Q : Quality Factor

l Combinations of Display:

Serial Mode : Z –?, Cs – D, Cs – Q, Cs – ESR, Ls – D, Ls – Q, Ls – ESR
Parallel Mode : Cp – D, Cp – Q, Lp – D, Lp – Q

1.2 Impedance Parameters

Due to the different testing signals on the impedance measurement instrument, there are DC and AC
impedances. The common digital multi-meter can only measure the DC impedance, but the 889A can do both. It
is very important to understand the impedance parameters of the electronic components.

When we analysis the impedance by the impedance measurement plane (Figure 1.1), it can be visualized by the
real element on the X-axis and the imaginary element on the y-axis. This impedance measurement plane can
also be seen as the polar coordinates. The Z is the magnitude and θ is the phase of the impedance.

X

s

Z

R

s

Z

jX

RZ

R

s

X

s

s

s

θ

( )

Impedance

=

Z

( )

Resistance

=

R

S

( )

Reactance

=

X

S

( )

Ohm

=Ω

sX,RZ

s

22

+==

RZCosZ

s



−

1

==

TanSinZ

θθ






X

s



X

s





R

s



There are two different types of reactance: Inductive (XL) and Capacitive (XC). It can be defined as follows:

X

L

X

C

fLL

πω

2====

11

fCC

πω

2

L = Inductance (H)
C = Capacitance (F)
f = Frequency (Hz)

Also, there are Quality factor (Q) and the Dissipation factor (D) that need to be discussed. For component, the
Quality factor serves as a measurement of the reactance purity. In the real world, there is always some
associated resistance that dissipates power, decreasing the amount of energy that can be recovered. The Quality
factor can be defined as the ratio of the stored energy (reactance) and the dissipated energy (resistance). Q is
generally used for inductors and D for capacitors.

Figure 1.2

Real and imaginary components are serial

+

=

Real and imaginary components are parallel

G=1/R

jB=1/jX

jB

+

=

jXp R

Q

D

X

B

=

G

11

==

δ

tan

L

ω

s

R

s

R

p

X

p

s

R

s

R

p

L

ω

p

1

===

C

ω

===

sRs

R

C

ω

p

p

There are two types of the circuit mode, the series mode and the parallel mode. See Figure 1.2 to find out the
relationship of the series and parallel modes.

Rs jX

s

p

p

jXRZ

ss

1

1

Y +=

jX

R

P

P

p

GY

1.3 Specification

l Measuring Range:

Parameter Range

Z 0.000 Ω to 500.0 MΩ

L 0.030 µH to 9999 H

C 0.003 pF to 80.00 mF
DCR 0.000 Ω to 500.0 MΩ
ESR 0.000 Ω to 9999 Ω

D 0.000 to 9999

Q 0.000 to 9999

? -180.0 ° to 180.0 °

Voltage/Current Measurements
V 0.0 mV to +/- 600 V
A 0.000 mA to +/- 2 A

l Accuracy (Ae):

1. DC Voltage Measurement:
Range : 2V, 20V, 200V, and 600V
Resolution : 1mV, 10mV, 100mV, and 1V
Accuracy : +/- (0.4% + 3 digits)
Input Impedance : 1 M-Ohm

2. AC Voltage Measurement (True RMS):

10M

Range : 2V, 20V, 200V, and 600V
Resolution : 1mV, 10mV, 100mV, and 1V
Accuracy : +/- (0.8% + 5 digits)
Input Impedance : 1 M-Ohm

3. DC Current Measurement:
Range : 2mA, 20mA, 200mA, and 2000mA
Resolution : 1uA, 10uA, 100uA, and 1mA
Accuracy : +/- (0.4% + 3 digits)
Current Shunt : 0.1 Ohm @ >20mA, 10 Ohm @ ≤20mA

4. AC Current Measurement (True RMS):
Range : 2mA, 20mA, 200mA, and 2000mA
Resolution : 1uA, 10uA, 100uA, and 1mA
Accuracy : +/- (0.8% + 5 digits)
Current Shunt : 0.1 Ohm @ >20mA, 10 Ohm @ ≤20mA

Note:
The accuracy of DC/AC voltage/current measurements is only applied when in 5% - 100% of the range.

5. LCR Measurement:

Z Accuracy (Ae):

|Zx|

Freq.
DCR 0.1% ±1 0.2% ±1
100Hz
120Hz
1KHz
10KHz 5% ±1 Œ 2% ±1

100KHz
200KHz

Œ

20M ~

(Ω)

2% ±1

Œ

NA 5% ±1

10M ~

1M
(Ω)

1% ±1

1M ~
100K

(Ω)

0.5% ±1 0.2% ±1

2% ±1 1% ±1 0.4% ±1 1% ±1 2% ±1 5% ±1

100K ~

10K

(Ω)

10K ~

Note:

1. The accuracy applies when the test level is set to 1Vrms.

2. Ae multiplies 1.25 when the test level is set to 250mVrms.

3. Ae multiplies 1.50 when the test level is set to 50mVrms.

4. When measuring L and C, multiply Ae by

Π: Ae is applied only when the test level is set to 1Vrms.

2

1 Dx+ if the Dx> 0.1.

1K

(Ω)

1K ~ 100

(Ω)

100 ~ 1

(Ω)

0.5% ±1 1% ±1

1 ~ 0.1

(Ω)

Œ

C Accuracy:

100Hz

120Hz

79.57pF
|

159.1pF

2% ± 1 u 1% ± 1 0.5% ± 1 0.2% ± 1 0.1% ± 1 0.2% ± 1 0.5% ± 1 1% ± 1

66.31pF
|

132.6pF

2% ± 1

u

159.1pF
|

1.591nF

132.6pF
|

1.326nF

1% ± 1 0.5% ± 1 0.2% ± 1 0.1% ± 1 0.2% ± 1 0.5% ± 1

1.591nF
|

15.91nF

1.326nF
|

13.26nF

15.91nF
|

159.1uF

13.26nF
|

132.6nF

159.1nF
|

1.591uF

132.6nF
|

1.326uF

1.591uF
|

15.91uF

1.326uF
|

13.26uF

15.91uF
|

1591uF

13.26uF
|

1326uF

1591uF

|

15.91mF

u

1326uF

|

13.26mF
1% ± 1

u

1KHz

10KHz

100KHz

u

200KHz

u

L Accuracy:

100Hz

7.957pF
|

15.91pF

2% ± 1

u

0.795pF
|

1.591pF

5% ± 1

u

NA 0.159pF

NA
NA 0.079pF

NA

31.83KH
|

15.91KH

2% ± 1

u

15.91pF

159.1pF

1% ± 1 0.5% ± 1 0.2% ± 1 0.1% ± 1 0.2% ± 1 0.5% ± 1

1.591pF

15.91pF
2% ± 1 0.5% ± 1 0.2% ± 1 0.1% ± 1 0.2% ± 1 0.5% ± 1

1.591pF
5% ± 1 2%± 1 1%± 1 0.4%± 1 1%± 1 2%± 1 5% ± 1

0.795pF
5% ± 1 2%± 1 1%± 1 0.4%± 1 1%± 1 2%± 1 5% ± 1

15.91KH

1591H

1% ± 1 0.5% ± 1 0.2% ± 1 0.1% ± 1 0.2% ± 1 0.5% ± 1

159.1pF

|

|

|

|

|

|

1.591nF

15.91pF
|

159.1pF

1.591pF
|

15.91pF

0.795pF
|

7.957pF

1591H

|

159.1H

1.591nF
|

15.91nF

159.1pF
|

1.591nF

15.91pF
|

159.1pF

7.957pF
|

79.57pF

159.1H
|

15.91H

15.91nF
|

159.1nF

1.591nF
|

15.91nF

159.1pF
|

1.591nF

79.57pF
|

795.7pF

15.91H
|

1.591H

159.1nF
|

1.591uF

15.91nF
|

159.1nF

1.591nF
|

15.91nF

795.7pF
|

7.957nF

1.591H
|

159.1mH

1.591uF
|

159.1uF

159.1nF
|

15.91uF

15.91nF
|

1.591uF

7.957nF
|

795.7nF

159.1mH
|

1.591mH

159.1uF
|

1.591mF
1% ± 1

u

15.91uF
|

159.1uF

1% ± 1

u

1.591uF
|

15.91uF

795.7nF
|

7.957uF

1.591mH
|

159.1uH
1% ± 1

u

26.52KH
|

120Hz

1KHz

13.26KH

2% ± 1

u

3.183KH
|

1.591KH

2% ± 1

u

13.26KH
|

1326H

1% ± 1 0.5% ± 1 0.2% ± 1 0.1% ± 1 0.2% ± 1 0.5% ± 1

1.591KH
|

159.1H

1% ± 1 0.5% ± 1 0.2% ± 1

1326H

|

132.6H

159.1H
|

15.91H

132.6H
|

13.26H

15.91H
|

1.591H

13.26H
|

1.326H

1.591H
|

159.1mH

0.1% ± 1 0.2% ± 1

1.326H
|

132.6mH

159.1mH
|

15.91mH

132.6mH
|

1.326mH

15.91mH
|

159.1uH

0.5%
± 1

1.326mH
|

132.6uH
1% ± 1

u

159.1uH

|

15.91uH
1% ± 1

u

10KHz

100K ~

100K ~

318.3H
|

159.1H

5% ± 1

u

159.1H
|

15.91H

2% ± 1 0.5% ± 1 0.2% ± 1 0.1% ± 1 0.2% ± 1 0.5% ± 1

15.91H
|

1.591H

1.591H
|

159.1mH

159.1mH
|

15.91mH

15.91mH
|

1.591mH

1.591mH
|

15.91uH

15.91uH
|

1.591uH

1% ± 1

u

100KHz

u

200KHz

u

D Accuracy:

31.83H
|

15.91H

NA

15.91H
|

7.957H

NA

|Zx|

Freq.

100Hz ±0.002 ±0.002
120Hz

1KHz

10KHz ±0.050 Œ ±0.020

15.91H
|

1.591H

5% ± 1 2%± 1 1% ± 1 0.4% ± 1 1% ± 1 2%± 1 5% ± 1

7.957H
|

795.7mH
5% ± 1 2%± 1 1% ± 1 0.4% ± 1 1% ± 1 2%± 1 5% ± 1

20M ~

10M

(Ω)

±0.020 Œ ±0.010

1.591H
|

159.1mH

795.7mH
|

79.57mH

10M ~

1M
(Ω)

159.1mH
|

15.91mH

79.57mH
|

7.957mH

1M ~
100K

(Ω)

±0.005 ±0.002

10K

(Ω)

15.91mH
|

1.591mH

7.957mH
|

795.7uH

10K ~

1K

(Ω)

1.591mH

159.1uH

795.7uH

79.57uH

1K ~

100

(Ω)

159.1uH

|

1.591uH

79.57uH

|

0.795uH

100 ~ 1

±0.005 ±0.010

(Ω)

1 ~ 0.1

(Ω)

Œ

1.591uH

|

|

|

0.159uH

0.795uH
|

0.079uH

θ Accuracy:

100KHz
200KHz

u

|Zx|

Freq.

100Hz ±0.105 ±0.105
120Hz

1KHz

10KHz ±2.615 Œ ±1.046

100KHz
200KHz

u

NA ±0.050

20M ~

10M

(Ω)

±1.046 Œ ±0.523

NA ±2.615

10M ~

1M
(Ω)

±0.020

1M ~
100K

±0.261 ±0.105

±1.046

±0.010 ±0.004 ±0.010 ±0.020 ±0.050

10K

(Ω)

(Ω)

±0.409 ±0.209 ±0.409 ±1.046 ±2.615

10K ~

1K

(Ω)

1K ~

100

(Ω)

100 ~ 1

±0.261 ±0.523

(Ω)

1 ~ 0.1

(Ω)

Œ

Z Accuracy:

As shown in table 1.

C Accuracy:

1

CxfZx⋅⋅⋅=π2

CAe = Ae of C
f : Test Frequency (Hz)
Cx : Measured Capacitance Value (F)
|Zx| : Measured Impedance Value (Ω)
Accuracy applies when Dx (measured D value) ≤ 0.1

When Dx > 0.1, multiply CAe by

Example:
Test Condition:
Frequency : 1KHz
Level : 1Vrms
DUT : 100nF

Then

=

Zx

=

π

Refer to the accuracy table, get CAe=±0.1%

L Accuracy:

LAe = Ae of L
f : Test Frequency (Hz)
Lx : Measured Inductance Value (H)
|Zx| : Measured Impedance Value (Ω)
Accuracy applies when Dx (measured D value) ≤ 0.1

1

π Cxf

⋅⋅⋅

2

1

−

3

102

9

⋅⋅⋅⋅

10100

LxfZx ⋅⋅⋅= π2

1590

1 Dx+

Ω=

2

When Dx > 0.1, multiply LAe by

Example:
Test Condition:
Frequency : 1KHz
Level : 1Vrms
DUT : 1mH
Then

⋅⋅⋅=

π LxfZx

−

3

3

⋅⋅⋅=

10

Refer to the accuracy table, get L

1022π

Ω=

283.6

1 Dx+

= ±0.5%

Ae

2

ESR Accuracy:

100

100

100

100

Ae

ESR ⋅±=

Ae

ESRAe = Ae of ESR
f : Test Frequency (Hz)
Xx : Measured Reactance Value (Ω)
Lx : Measured Inductance Value (H)
Cx : Measured Capacitance Value (F)
Accuracy applies when Dx (measured D value) ≤ 0.1

Example:
Test Condition:
Frequency : 1KHz
Level : 1Vrms
DUT : 100nF

Xx

2

Then

=

Zx

=

Refer to the accuracy table, get
CAe=±0.1%,

ESR

Ae

D Accuracy:

D ±=

Ae

DAe = Ae of D measurement value
Accuracy applies when Dx (measured D value) ≤ 0.1
When Dx > 0.1, multiply Dx by (1+Dx)

Example:
Test Condition:
Frequency : 1KHz
Level : 1Vrms
DUT : 100nF

1

π Cxf

102

3

Ae

1

Xx

⋅⋅⋅

1590

−

9

⋅⋅⋅⋅

10100

Ae

Ω=

Ω±=⋅±= 59.1

2

π

LxfXx

=⋅⋅⋅=ππ

1

Cxf

2

⋅⋅⋅

Then

=

Zx

=

Refer to the accuracy table, get
CAe=±0.1%,

D

Ae

1

π Cxf

102

⋅⋅⋅

1

3

Ae

⋅⋅⋅⋅

10100

±=⋅±=

1590

−

9

002.0

2

π

Ω=