Induction Balance Stuff - Single/Multi Frequency Response, GB, Disc, Measurements, Ideas, Fun, etc.

[Aziz]

Hi all,

well, I can work with Claude Code with minimum settings (low effort mode).
It is better than waiting and not getting any answer.
It fixed the LCR meter code for me finally.
Aziz

[Aziz]

Hi all,

can the AI fix a code, even there is no obvious bug in the code? Yes, it can fix it to have more bugs thereafter. If you persist on saying, that there is a specific bug there.
This happened to me. There was a sign bug in the old Lock-in demodulator. I was feeding the code with wrong phase information.

I have tested the LCR meter code now. It works perfect.

Calibration: 4-stage step-calibration in these order
1. LCRCALIB_REFSHORT : Reference resistor Rref (0.1%) shorted -> input channel L/R calibration (amplitude + phase correction)
2. LCRCALIB_DUTOPEN : DUT open calibration
3. LCRCALIB_DUTSHORT: DUT short calibration
4. LCRCALIB_DUTLOAD: DUT load calibration with a second precision reference resistor (0.1%)

Stage 4 improves the accuracy of the LCR meter radically.
The fixed code for the LCR meter has been placed in the attachment.

All calculations will be done in the complex plane.
I can measure D and Q of the capacitors more accurately now. The LC-tank will be made with the best D and Q capacitors.

Aziz

[Aziz]

Big big surprize!

I have found a bunch of WIMA MKP10 capacitors:
Guess what!
Even they are metalized film capacitors (not foil), they have very low D and high Q. Some of them outperforming FKP1 and FKP2.
They are available upto very high voltage ratings.
And they are small enough to place them inside the coil housing for the LC-tank (low voltage ratings).

It seems, I have to order some more capacitors.

[Aziz]

Hi all,

I am very delighted about the MKP10 capacitors.
They have lower ESR (half) and very low loss factor D compared to FKP1 and FKP2 capacitors.
I have found much more MKP10 capacitors in my box. But I'll focus to low capacitance and low voltage ratings this time to get the capacitors small enough.

I won't use the FKP2 capacitors in the LC tank anymore.
This is an insiders tip (also from audiophile forums).
The low budget MKP10 capacitors are the next best option. The best capacitors would be mica capacitors (extreme low loss and temperature stable). But they would cost me 5 bucks (!!!) for one 10 nF capacitor. I would require 2 - 3 of them. 15 bucks for the LC-tank only? No way!

Anyway, I have enough 10 nF MKP10 capacitors at home right now. And they are small enough too (with 630 V= rating).

I will test some other capacitor types. Maybe I will find another good types.
Cheers

PS: Typo found, it should be MKP10 of course.

[Aziz]

Hi all,

it is high time, to change the bad clips and wires of the basic passive sound card LCR meter. This has an huge impact for accurate measurements.
I should look for the other LCR meter breadboard. It has active j-fet buffers (dual op-amp voltage followers) for much more accurate and extended range measurements due to the input impedance of the line inputs. It is lost without a trace and I don't know, where it is.

Can you imagine, that the 24 bit, 192 kHz sound card LCR meter can outperform a 200 - 300 buck professional LCR meter?

I can measure ESR and D, Q much more accurate now. My PeakTech LCR meter isn't required anymore. It isn't accurate enough too.
ESR and D must be as low as possible at the operating frequency. Both parameters are critical.
MPK10 capacitors are showing very good measured figures. Particularly for ESR.
Aziz