Article
Simple LC Meter
Measure inductance and capacitance with Platino
Inductors and capacitors are two types of components that have several things in common, yet they are very different. For instance, both can store energy even though it is stored as a magnetic field by the inductor whereas a capacitor stores electric charge. Another thing they have in common is that it is hard to know their exact value. Many multimeters can measure capacitance (C in pico-/nano-/micro-/milli-farad), but only a few do inductance (L in micro-/milli-henry). You have to buy an L meter to measure inductors. L meters usually also measure capacitance and resistance and therefore are often called LCR meters. We will limit ourselves to L & C and leave resistance to the trusty multimeter.
Gerber file
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PCB
Extra info / Update
* Inductance: 10 µH to 1 H
* Capacitance: 47 pF to 10 µF
* Platino/Arduino-compatible
* User-extendable
* Capacitance: 47 pF to 10 µF
* Platino/Arduino-compatible
* User-extendable
Component list
From the Store
130341-1: Platino LCmeter add-on bare PCB
150555-1: Platino bare PCB
Component List
Resistors
R1 = 47kOhm
R2 = 4.7kOhm
R3,R5 = 1kOhm
R4 = 8.2kOhm
R6 = 10kOhm
P1 = 10kOhm trimpot
Capacitors
C1,C2 = 27nF, 5mm pitch
C3,C4,C7 = 100µF 50V, 3.5mm pitch
C5,C6,C8,C9 = 100nF, 5mm pitch
Semiconductors
D1 = 1N4148
D2 = 1N4007
IC1 = HEF4011
IC2 = SN74HC393
IC3 = LM393
IC4 = CD40676BE
IC5 = MAX660CPA+
Miscellaneous
LX,CX = 2-way PCB screw terminal block, 3.5mm pitch
K2 = 2-way PCB screw terminal block, 0.2" pitch
K1 = 10-way (1x10) pinheader socket, 0.1" pitch (optional, mount at solder side)
K4,K5 = 8-way (1x8) pinheader socket, 0.1" pitch (mount at solder side)
K6,K7 = 6-way (1x6) pinheader socket, 0.1" pitch (mount at solder side)
Optional: 14-way DIL socket for IC1, IC2, IC4
Optional: 8-way DIL socket for IC3, IC5
PCB # 130341-1
130341-1: Platino LCmeter add-on bare PCB
150555-1: Platino bare PCB
Component List
Resistors
R1 = 47kOhm
R2 = 4.7kOhm
R3,R5 = 1kOhm
R4 = 8.2kOhm
R6 = 10kOhm
P1 = 10kOhm trimpot
Capacitors
C1,C2 = 27nF, 5mm pitch
C3,C4,C7 = 100µF 50V, 3.5mm pitch
C5,C6,C8,C9 = 100nF, 5mm pitch
Semiconductors
D1 = 1N4148
D2 = 1N4007
IC1 = HEF4011
IC2 = SN74HC393
IC3 = LM393
IC4 = CD40676BE
IC5 = MAX660CPA+
Miscellaneous
LX,CX = 2-way PCB screw terminal block, 3.5mm pitch
K2 = 2-way PCB screw terminal block, 0.2" pitch
K1 = 10-way (1x10) pinheader socket, 0.1" pitch (optional, mount at solder side)
K4,K5 = 8-way (1x8) pinheader socket, 0.1" pitch (mount at solder side)
K6,K7 = 6-way (1x6) pinheader socket, 0.1" pitch (mount at solder side)
Optional: 14-way DIL socket for IC1, IC2, IC4
Optional: 8-way DIL socket for IC3, IC5
PCB # 130341-1
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