TLDR:

Here is the newest (full-length) build video by HL. This time I am showing my EDS (Electronic Design Specialist) 88A (Series-II) Capacitor Analyzer. This module is a very handy lab tool and is available in a DIY format. That allows you to do everything, except program the IC (Dave won’t share the code, but I don’t blame him and he barely charges anything for the configured ICs). It does a Capacitor Discharge, then a DC-Resistance check and finally a smart frequency selected ESR test (based on the capacitance).

Reader Question on Max Capacitance

Keith: Readers want to know what the maximum capacitance is, that you’d recommend testing on this unit? I know the chart goes to 2200uF and the limit is 0.1 ohm on the ESR chart, but can the smart frequency select allow up to say 10,000uF? It might not have the ESR resolution to say it’s a top-shelf capacitor, but it could still check them for general performance, right?

Dave: Correct. We guarantee 100% accuracy in-circuit only up to 2200uF but it will measure larger caps, just not with the same accuracy. A 4700uF cap could do some leakage and be down to 2200uF and check good, but be forewarned that caps this size are never used at critical high freqs anyway so ESR is actually not important at all. Capacitance is much more important at low 120Hz frequencies. The other problem is such large caps could short out the auto-discharge circuit which is only rated up to 2200uF.

Keith Hallman (HL) & Dave Miga (EDS)

Average (Full) Test Time: 2-3 seconds per capacitor
Average Quick ESR Test: < 1 second per capacitor
Boot-Up Time: < 1 second

Notes on soldering shown: When I did use Pb Free solder it was way too small in diameter. This is why you see me feeding in so much solder for a single joint, compared to the ES9038 Upgrade Video.

Pb-free solder was the only issue I had with this build. I actually bothered to come back and remove all the lead-free solder; then I re-soldered it all back, with leaded solder. It might sound odd, but it fixed my issue with the unit always going into Quick-ESR mode.

Important EDS 88A Builder Note: If you want to build the DIY version, you must buy the IC’s from Dave through the EDS website. If not, you will have no way to burn the chips yourself, without the source code. Not even licensed EDS builders can get the source code, so do not expect to get your hands on it and burn your own ICs. Dave also has copyright protections enabled (on chip), so don’t think you can pull it off, once you buy it.
EDS 88A
EDS 88A Capacitor Analyzer

EDS 88A-II Manual/Guide by Dave Miga

My Original FB Post:

I want to thank Dave Miga for his help in acquiring the parts for and answering questions on, the DIY/custom version of the EDS 88A-II (PCB Version: Jan 2014 | Purchased in May of 2018). This device is a modern capacitor analyzer. (Mainly for use with electrolytics). This unit checks the DC Resistance and ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance) of each capacitor (in circuit or out). Also, depending on the capacitor value, the unit automatically selects the best test frequency for measuring ESR.

YouTube Build Video

You can find more on the EDS Capacitor Analyzer here:
https://eds-inc.com/cap.html

Follow Up

I will create another video, showing the same identical parts and board working fully, once I am back in town and can make it. Therefore, I had to create this one off my laptop, good thing I have one with a 6-core i7 + GTX 1060 + 32GB DDR4 and 2x SSD.

Wanted to go ahead share what I had already located and worked on. I’ll follow up with a 2nd video in the next month or two. I promise you though, it does work completely.

I really think I just had a bad soldering joint due to using Pb free solder (something I never do now). Although Dave thought it could have been the resistors being slightly out of the “precision range” 5-10% versus 1%.

Headache: Pb Free Solder (non-Leaded)

Here are the reasons I don’t use Pb free solder:
  • It requires 500-600°F vs. 420-450°F for leaded
  • It has a much rougher finish when hardened and is more prone to error, due to how it hardens. I have had more issues with non-leaded builds, than all my leaded build issues, added together and multiplied by 2 fold.
  • It’s just ugly compared to a leaded solder joint
  • It usually cost more and has inferior mechanical and electrical properties

The dumbest part about all of this Pb-free craze is this:
  • The only dangers of leaded solder are from touching the solder itself, as you can’t vaporize lead with a 600-650°F iron (about as hot as most go). So, unless you are licking your PCB’s, there is no danger of having leaded solder in your build. The biggest thing is, wash your hands after touching the solder (during the building process), before touching anything near your eyes, mouth or nose.

Main Costs to Build:

(To save money, buy the pre-programmed ICs and Tweezers at the same time)

Complete BOM from Dave Miga (Owner/Designer at EDS):
Note: Do not buy IC1 and IC5 on Digikey, you need the programmed chips from EDS.

Email Dave here, to buy IC1 and IC5:

EDS Programmed IC Email

SYMBOLS | DESCRIPTION | PART NUMBER | SOURCE
  • BH1 BATTERY HOLDER 4 AAA FLAT BC4AAAW DIGI-KEY
  • CABINET CABINET-GREY-MODIFIED 36TDB SIMCO
  • C1 33pF CERAMIC P4018A DIGI-KEY
  • C2,9,10,11 0.001uF 50VDC POLYESTER 495-2456-1 DIGI-KEY
  • C3 220uF 16VDC ELECTROLYTIC P5139 DIGI-KEY
  • C4 470pF 50VDC POLYPROPYLENE 445-4734 DIGI-KEY
  • C5 100uF 16VDC ELECTROLYTIC P13476 DIGI-KEY
  • C6,7,8,14 0.01uF 50VDC STACKED POLY 399-5437 DIGI-KEY
  • C12,13 1uF 50VDC ELECTROLYTIC SU P5174 DIGI-KEY
  • C15 1000uF 10VDC ELECTROLYTIC P6218 DIGI-KEY
  • D1,2,3 1A 1KV SILICON DIODE 1N4007DICT DIGI-KEY
  • D4,5 100MA SILICON DIODE 1N4148DICT DIGI-KEY
  • DS1,2 RED 10 SEGMENT LED BAR LTA1000HR DIGI-KEY
  • FPO FRONT PANEL OVERLAY EDS88FPO EMPIRE
  • HDW 2-56 1/4 SCREWS FLAT(2) MPX-256-4F SMALL PARTS
  • IC SOCKETS IC SOCKETS 10 PIN (x2) 28-240 MCM
  • IC1 MICROCONTROLLER-SYSCON PIC16C54C-04/P DIGI-KEY (See Above)
  • IC2 555 TIMER LM555CNFS DIGI-KEY
  • IC3 DUAL R-R TLC2272CP OPAMP 296-1812-5 DIGI-KEY
  • IC4 QUAD R-R LM324N OPAMP 296-1391-5 DIGI-KEY
  • IC5 MICROCONTROLLER-LEVEL PIC16C710-04/P DIGI-KEY (See Above)
  • IC6 2.5V REFERENCE LM285LP-2-5 296-31449-1 DIGI-KEY
  • IC7 5V LM2931Z-5.0 REGULATOR LM2931Z-5.0GOS DIGI-KEY
  • J1 Optional DC PWR JACK 27-750 MCM (“Really, not needed” – HL)
  • K1 5V SPDT RELAY-OMRON G5V-1 Z773 DIGI-KEY
  • L1 RED 3MM DIFFUSED LED 160-1139 DIGI-KEY
  • L2 ORANGE 5MM DIFFUSED LED LTL-4293 DIGI-KEY
  • L3 GREEN 5MM DIFFUSED LED LTL-4233 DIGI-KEY
  • L4,5 RED 5MM DIFFUSED LED LTL-307EE DIGI-KEY
  • PCB PC BOARD DBL-SIDED,3.25×5.75 EDS-88A SII EDS
  • SPKR 40 OHM PCB SPEAKER SBT-1205 PE-47 or PZB-5 ALL
  • Q1 NPN 100MA XSISTOR 2SC945 MCM
  • R1,2,3 390 OHM 0.25W CARBON 390QBK DIGI-KEY
  • R4 100 OHM 0.25W CARBON 100QBK DIGI-KEY
  • R5,6,7,29 10K OHM 0.25W CARBON 10KQBK DIGI-KEY
  • R8 5.6K OHM 0.25W CARBON 5.6KQBK DIGI-KEY
  • R9,32 47K OHM 0.25W CARBON 47KQBK DIGI-KEY
  • R10,20,34 100K OHM 0.25W CARBON 100KQBK DIGI-KEY
  • R11,12,13,14,15,16 270 OHM 0.25W CARBON 270QBK DIGI-KEY
  • R17 470K OHM 0.25W CARBON 470KQBK DIGI-KEY
  • R18 4.7M OHM 0.25W CARBON 4.7MQBK DIGI-KEY
  • R19 390K OHM 0.25W CARBON 390KQBK DIGI-KEY
  • R21 10 OHM 0.25W CARBON 10QBK DIGI-KEY
  • R22 22 OHM 0.25W CARBON 22QBK DIGI-KEY
  • R23,24 56K OHM 0.25W CARBON 56KQBK DIGI-KEY
  • R25 7.50K 0.25W 1% METAL FILM 7.50KXBK DIGI-KEY
  • R26,27 220 OHM 0.25W CARBON 220QBK DIGI-KEY
  • R28 18K OHM 0.25W CARBON 18KQBK DIGI-KEY
  • R30 680 OHM 0.25W CARBON 680QBK DIGI-KEY
  • R31 2.2K OHM 0.25W CARBON 2.2KQBK DIGI-KEY
  • R33 22K OHM 0.25W CARBON 22KQBK DIGI-KEY
  • R35 0.6 OHM 3W WIREWOUND 7042-RS MPJA
  • R36 4.7 OHM 1W METAL OXIDE 4.7W-1 DIGI-KEY
  • R37,38,39 1K OHM 0.25W CARBON 1.0KQBK DIGI-KEY
  • R40 68K OHM 0.25W CARBON 68KQBK DIGI-KEY
  • S1 APEM SWITCH MHPS2283 679-3532 DIGI-KEY
  • CAP FOR SWITCH MH16 DIGI-KEY
  • TEST LEADS EDS CUSTOM TWEEZER Merced Electronics
  • VR1 50K TRIMMER .25 INCH HORIZ 4LG54BK DIGI-KEY
  • VR2 5K TRIMMER .25 INCH HORIZ 4LG53BK DIGI-KEY
  • VR3 10K SLIDER POT w/ KNOB 312-319BF-10K MOUSER

Front Sticker (Click here for full-size PDF)
EDS 88A-II Front Sticker
EDS 88A-II Front Cover

For any questions, feel free to comment below, or see the Contact page, for my email.

Join the discussion and let HL know what you think!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.