PIC based high-resolution cap meter

Status
Not open for further replies.
Yeah i know im still working on it. I have to add a couple caps and the regulator is all. Then ill add the ground plane. I find it a bother in eagle
 

Attachments

  • fin.jpg
    179.8 KB · Views: 899
Last edited:
Roman Black Nice job i just got done play with it on a bread board here a vid nice work agin thanks Burt
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I think the bread board is adding about 85pf the cap was a 22 that I use with my crystals there supposed to be 1% caps
 
be80be said:
I think the bread board is adding about 85pf the cap was a 22 that I use with my crystals there supposed to be 1% caps
Click to expand...
That's exactly why I asked -- I was wondering what kind of stray capacitance there was from the solderless breadboard. I've never been able to use a crystal on the solderless breadboard I have here.

Regards, Mike
 
I never use capacitor on solderless breadboard with crystals they never seem to work
 
Funny, they always work with me Also shouldnt you be able to zero it out ? if so can you connect it via wire and zero out before connecting both ends?
 
Last edited:
Also shouldnt you be able to zero it out
Click to expand...

Not on a solderless breadboard any way

I made a pickit2 on one worked fine so I moved it to a strip board and it wouldn't work, I looked and couldn't figure what was wrong. Then it dawned on me I forgot the caps on the crystal didn't need them on the solderless breadboard and had to have them on the strip board.
 
Last edited:
The board is looking good Atom! This is fun.

I still have some suggestions (haha);
1. adding another trimpot to let the user do global calibration is a good idea. Please see what i said in post #17.
2. The button on PCB may be under the LCD? I still think the button is better OFF the PCB as they can position it nice on front panel. Then the space on PCB can be used for that 2nd trimpot.
3. Does it really need the ICSP connector? With through hole they/you can program the PIC and plug it in a socket. Removing ICSP connector makes the PCB simpler and smaller and probably makes routing easier.

I just measured two adjacent empty rows on a solderless breadboard (5holes/row) and they measured 3.1pF. Much less than I expected! Maybe it is double that or more depending what is on each side of a row (what is plugged in).

In the past when I have used xtals in breadboards I left out the 22pF caps and it always worked ok.

Burt, did you remove the link for the video? I can't see it on this page but maybe it's my clunky old web browser...
(edit) Can that last statement I had Flash turned off in my browser. I was able to see your vid from the url; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FZDP-8Osyk

If that 107pF is the base reading (ie C1 and all the wires etc) you can zero it out by pressing the zero button (or short PIC pin RB2 to GND).
 
Last edited:

1 & 2: Ok will do and remove the button
3. I like the ICSP because will allow debugging.

In the past and till this day i never measured the capacitance on a breadboard but never ever had a problem. Never knew it could jump that much. Try a newer breadboard and see if you have same issue...

I knew you could still zero it out on breadboard.

Roman, ill get working on this today, since i will make the order by friday. Since the max is 50 x 50 mm i can still make the board a bit larger since its already smaller. Its not like its cheaper for smaller than the 50x50.
 
Romam I just posted the video didn't edit it here it is with links showing you design it hope you like this

If that 107pF is the base reading (ie C1 and all the wires etc) you can zero it out by pressing the zero button (or short PIC pin RB2 to GND).
Click to expand...

Bread board not much good for a cap meter it doesn't read them right I'll post my finished one this weekend I have a nice box for this.

Thanks gin Roman Black for you hard work nice job
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hello Roman,

Nice work ! Thank you for sharing !

How about making an even simpler version of cap meter using a PC terminal as a display and to power it from USB/RS232 port ?
The same thing could be done with a high res frequency meter and or a PIC DDS function generator ...

By the way have you seen this one :

http://www.myplace.nu/avr/minidds/index.htm
 
Atom, that was a new breadboard but I only tested 2 rows, capacitance would be more with 3 rows (ie middle row to outer two) and a lot more if they had components with long legs plugged into those rows.

Burt, the cap meter should zero out ok, the zero function in software will remove all the breadboard capacitance and fixed delays like comparator switching times. Then the only thing displayed will be the extra (test) cap when it is added.

Hugo, that is a nice little DDS project in your link! He doesn't say what the top frequency is or the phase accuracy but it's still a cool project.

I'm not keen on PC-driven test gear as it's very limiting when you have to have a big PC next to whatever you are testing. I prefer small self contained testgear so it can be connected to whatever in the field and doesn't have grounding issues or need mains power etc.
 
Hey Roman im working on my own version... so far i can read 1nF to 10uF!!! I need a better resistor to get a better resolution but im using a 1k 1% and get great results. Imagine with a 10k or 100K resistor with a 1% tollerance i would get great results. Im uploading a video now and will post ASAP
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

E
  • Question
High res cap meter with PIC 16F628
Replies
7
Views
5K
Elekktrishun
E
A
  • Question
Why? PIC Frequency Meter code
Replies
7
Views
2K
Nigel Goodwin
  • Question
Library to work with displays based on TM1638 (Oshonsoft Pic Basic Compiler).
Replies
0
Views
1K
DogFlu66
  • Question
Had a PIC fail
Replies
3
Views
1K
schmitt trigger
S
  • Question
programming a pic using pickit2/3
2
Replies
39
Views
6K
be80be
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…