[Peter Demchenko] wanted to use a low power TS555 in an ESR meter design. The problem is, he needed to handle significant current sink requirements for cases where the capacitor under test had a ...

While obvious bulging capacitors are easily identifiable, he discusses the need for an ESR meter and uses a kit-built model to test capacitors that do not have any visual signs of damage.

This circuit is based on a PIC16F883 that controls a simple lock-in circuit to measure in circuit the ESR and in some cases the capacitance of electrolytic capacitors. The circuit has been designed by ...

const int chargePin = 6; // The constant-current source is controlled by this pin. LOW is charging, HIGH is not-charging const int dischargePin = 7; // The discharging MOSFET is controlled by this pin ...

using an ESR meter or an oscilloscope. ESR is the sum of all the resistive elements in an inductor, including the wire, the core, and the solder joints. ESR is measured in ohms and varies with ...