I bought an AD5933 eval board some time back to facilitate measuring capacitors and inductors. I just got around to actually fooling around with it (using an Arduino Uno) and initially had some problems. While the calibration procedure seemed to work OK (I used a 100K resistor for that), results for different-value resistors and capacitors were WAY off. I thought there was a problem with the driver code, which I downloaded from github. I thought perhaps there was a problem with the board, like a cold solder joint.
But it turns out that the code and board are OK. The main problem was that I was using the maximum-gain setting for the input amplifier so the AD5933's ADC was overloaded.
Once I figured that out I was able to get much-more believable resistor and capacitor measurements. In turn, I measured the capacitance of my headphone cable, to build a load tester for DIY headphone amplifiers. 200pF will do it!
I just recently checked ebay to see what the current prices are for an AD5933 eval board. I found some in the $30-$40 range. However, for about the same price you now can buy a "component tester" that can test R's, L's and C's, but you also get the ability to test some active devices, too. So while the AD5933 eval board is a nice thing to have, i probably would have bought a component tester had that class of tool been available at the time.
But it turns out that the code and board are OK. The main problem was that I was using the maximum-gain setting for the input amplifier so the AD5933's ADC was overloaded.
Once I figured that out I was able to get much-more believable resistor and capacitor measurements. In turn, I measured the capacitance of my headphone cable, to build a load tester for DIY headphone amplifiers. 200pF will do it!
I just recently checked ebay to see what the current prices are for an AD5933 eval board. I found some in the $30-$40 range. However, for about the same price you now can buy a "component tester" that can test R's, L's and C's, but you also get the ability to test some active devices, too. So while the AD5933 eval board is a nice thing to have, i probably would have bought a component tester had that class of tool been available at the time.
These AVR component testers are around for about 10yrs. Quite minimalistic and clever design.
A drawback is that you never know at which actual frequency they measure.
At the end I bought a RLC meter making these things much more handy
This one:
https://www.pollin.de/p/uni-t-digitales-lcr-messgeraet-ut612-usb-100-khz-830529
Contrary to al cheapo component testers
-You do not have to start each measurement with the pushbutton and wait several seconds for the result.
-Instead of a textool socket there are nice measure clips and a practical adapter to insert components directly.
Besides the AVR component tester is useful to check active components like BJTs, MOSFETs etc.
A drawback is that you never know at which actual frequency they measure.
At the end I bought a RLC meter making these things much more handy
This one:
https://www.pollin.de/p/uni-t-digitales-lcr-messgeraet-ut612-usb-100-khz-830529
Contrary to al cheapo component testers
-You do not have to start each measurement with the pushbutton and wait several seconds for the result.
-Instead of a textool socket there are nice measure clips and a practical adapter to insert components directly.
Besides the AVR component tester is useful to check active components like BJTs, MOSFETs etc.
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