Velleman LCR40 User Manual
electronic design ltd
GB40-4
Peak Atlas LCR
Passive Component Analyser
Model LCR40
User Guide
Peak Electronic Design Limited 2002/2009
©
In the interests of development, information in this guide is subject to change without notice - E&OE
Atlas LCR User Guide January 2009 – Rev 4
Want to use it now?
We understand that you want to use your Atlas LCR
right now. The unit is ready to go and you should
have little need to refer to this user guide, but please
make sure that you read through pages 4-6!
Contents Page
Introduction ......................................................................... 3
Using your Atlas LCR......................................................... 5
Normal use
Probe compensation
Testing Inductors................................................................. 7
Testing Capacitors............................................................... 8
Testing Resistors ............................................................... 11
Low Resistance and Inductance
Taking care of your Atlas LCR ......................................... 12
Battery Replacement
Self Tests
Appendix A – Accessories ................................................ 14
Appendix B – Component Identification .......................... 15
Appendix C – Technical Specifications ............................ 17
Appendix D – Troubleshooting......................................... 18
Appendix E – Warranty Information................................. 19
Appendix F – Disposal Information.................................. 20
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Atlas LCR User Guide January 2009 – Rev 4
Introduction
The Atlas LCR is an advanced instrument that greatly simplifies the testing of
passive components.
Traditional LCR bridges are inherently complex and very time consuming to
use.
The Atlas LCR does everything automatically, it tells you the component type
in addition to component value data.
What's more, the Atlas LCR automatically selects the best signal level and
frequency for the particular component under test.
The software is smart; all internal calculations are performed with floating
point maths. This means that precision isn't lost in the complex internal
calculations and all results are displayed in properly formatted and easy-toread engineering units, eg. 23.6pF.
Summary Features:
• Automatic component identification.
• Automatic test frequency selection (DC, 1kHz, 15kHz and
200kHz).
• Delayed or instant analysis (for hands free operation).
• Auto power-off.
• Probe and test lead compensation.
• Interchangeable probe sets.
• Automatic ranging and scaling.
• 1% basic accuracy for resistors.
• 1.5% basic accuracy for inductors and capacitors.
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Atlas LCR User Guide January 2009 – Rev 4
Important Notices
WARNING:
This instrument must NEVER be connected to powered
equipment/components or equipment/components with
any stored energy (e.g. charged capacitors).
Failure to comply with this warning may result in personal
injury, damage to the equipment under test, damage to the
Atlas LCR and invalidation of the manufacturer's
warranty. Non-destructive overload situations are logged
in the non-volatile memory within the Atlas LCR.
“Analysis of discrete, unconnected components is
recommended.”
The Atlas LCR is designed to provide accurate and
reliable information for the majority of supported component
types (inductors, capacitors and resistors) as described in the
technical specifications. Testing of other component types or
component networks may give erroneous and misleading
results.
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Atlas LCR User Guide January 2009 – Rev 4
Using your Atlas LCR
Normal Use
The Atlas LCR performs its component analysis before
the results are displayed. Therefore, once the analysis has
completed, the probes can be disconnected from the component.
Analysis itself only takes a few seconds and you can choose to
start the analysis after a 5 second delay or immediately.
Delayed Analysis:
test
button the unit will power-up (if it's
not already on!) and then delay for 5
seconds before analysis of your
component starts.
This can be particularly useful if you need time to use both hands to apply the
test probes to the component while the analysis takes place.
If you press the
on-
Analysis starts
Analysis starts
Analysis startsAnalysis starts
in 5 seconds.
in 5 seconds...
in 5 seconds.in 5 seconds.
..
....
Instant Analysis:
second delay by pressing the
button again. The analysis will then start
immediately.
Scrolling through the results
press the
If you reach the last screen of results, pressing
first results screen again. Remember, you can take your time; and you don't
need to keep the component connected.
Starting again
pressing
scroll-off
on-test
You can skip the 5
Analysing...
Analysing...
on-test
: Results are displayed a screen at a time, simply
button to see each screen when you're ready.
: The component analysis can be started again at any time by
.
Analysing...Analysing...
scroll-off
will take you to the
Switching off
following the last keypress. If you wish, you may manually switch off by
holding down the
: The unit will automatically switch off after about 20 seconds
scroll-off
button for about 1 second.
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Atlas LCR User Guide January 2009 – Rev 4
Probe Compensation
If you change the probes on your Atlas LCR, it is good practice to run through
the short compensation procedure. This ensures that the probes' own
inductance, capacitance and resistance is automatically taken into account for
subsequent measurements.
Before you start the compensation procedure, attach a
small length of tinned copper wire between the two test
probes. Now let the leads rest on a non-conductive
surface, try not to touch them during the compensation
procedure.
Probe
Probe
Now press and hold
on-test
until the
ProbeProbe
following is displayed:
After a short delay, the unit will prompt
you to short the probes together. As you
have already shorted the probes with the
piece of wire, the Atlas LCR will then
ask you to open the probes.
Now simultaneously unclip the both
probes from the small length of wire and let the leads rest without touching
them.
If this procedure has been successful, the unit will display “OK” and then
switch off.
At this point the parasitic and stray characteristics associated with the test
Compensation
Compensation
CompensationCompensation
Please short
Please short
Please shortPlease short
the probes
the probes
the probesthe probes
Now open
Now open
Now openNow open
the probes
the probes
the probesthe probes
leads (and indeed the Atlas LCR itself) will be stored in non-volatile memory.
All further tests will have these values subtracted from the measured values,
therefore displaying the characteristics of the component alone.
analysing low value inductors, capacitors and resistors.
Please note that probe compensation is particularly important when
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