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EDS 88A-II DC-Resistance and ESR (w/ Smart Freq Sel.) – Build Video

Hallman Labs

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 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:

The dumbest part about all of this Pb-free craze is this:

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:

SYMBOLS | DESCRIPTION | PART NUMBER | SOURCE

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

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