I have been addicted with (vintage) measurement device for quite some time, maybe 5-6 years ago. This is not because of no reason. Vintage measurement device (mostly) uses high quality parts, because they were on ‘idealistic’ world. They were not so cost concern like most of the production line later these days. No surprise if such vintage device has a very long life and very durable. Also, don’t be surprise with the price tag to 😉 One of my favorite is this one.
Back to the topic: I have acquired one of my ‘tool-of-the-dream’, a Capacitor Analyzer. This Sencore LC102 is one of the best tool for the purpose. Not only analyzing capacitor, this little stuff also can analyze inductor (if I remember correctly, it’s able to detect the short inside your transformer winding, cool eh?).
The bad thing, as most of the vintage device, unlikely we can get a fully complete unit with all accessories. So this is the same case. I need to find an appropriate power adapter (shouldn’t be a real problem as any 18VDC supply will do) and the test lead. The later one could need some time to get one.
Opening the unit, then we can see a beautiful craftsmanship at its age. Properly designed of components, layout, wiring, and so on. Not mentioning the quality of the part itself.
This is quite sophisticated design as it uses a lot of micro-controllers to perform the testing. It also support up to 1000 VDC to test the capacitor! Hell yeah!
Toshiba, Motorola, Philips, National Semiconductor, etc work together to create a winning team. Impressive.
Some parts are made in Mexico. Cornell Dubilier, anyone?
Those beauty resistors…
Omron Relay also there.
Interesting to see how to play with this device with a lot of capacitors lying on the box 😉
triodethom
December 8, 2012 07:57Jimmy how does the modern lc102 compare to this for measurement . Well I know it early as you don’t have the test lead yet. From the front it looks like it takes 115 volt (USA) or battery . Given it age the 10 or 12 elec. cap may need replaced and it will be good for an other 30 years . This is at least what I have found with this level of US test equipment . Thanks for sharing this with us.
Rowdy
March 27, 2013 19:22See we are thinking alike. I have used these (well practically since they came out) Love them. I finally obtained one for myself a while back. Great piece of test equipment. Everything Sencore makes is quality stuff. I hate to tell you but I bought the last test probe (the tweezer type for surface mount testing) that they had left at the warehouse. They may still have some other stuff though. They quit making these several years ago. and they will quit servicing or calibrating them the first of July. So if you want a factory calibration better get it now. Would be very good to get it calibrated and then as soon as you get it test and label a range of capacitors and coils and put them away so that you can recalibrate it yourself in the future.
http://www.sencore.com/procare-support there is a link to their web site. They are really good people. But they are really proud of their equipment. Pricey
Good luck.
Auw Jimmy
March 27, 2013 23:48Thanks Rowdy. I have same thought with you regarding this Sencore.
RDB
November 19, 2013 07:34Where did you get the information that the LC-102 uses 18 VDC for its maine power?
RDB
November 19, 2013 08:13The picture you show (has the Cornell Dubilier relay)my unit went into a constant open fuse alarm but the fuse wa good. So I checked the probe tips and found 12 VDC on them and thats why the alarm was going off. I opened the unit and figured that the Cornell Dubilier relay L4 is the one that dumps the charge voltage through two 100 ohm 75 watt resistors that are in parallel and that it might not be closing its contacts so I tapped the relay and the alarm stopped and the 12 volts was gone from the tips. It is working OK now. It was either the contacts or a bad solder joint. RDB