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#90: Measure Capacitors and Inductors with an Oscilloscope and some basic parts

w2aew 352,626 12 years ago
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This video shows how to measure the value of unknown capacitors and inductors using your oscilloscope and a simple pulse generator. There are many ways to do this, but this video focuses on just two basic techniques. The video was inspired by this blog post on scopejunction.com: http://www.edn.com/electronics-blogs/benchtalk/4441696/Measure-small-LCs-with-a-scope The techniques are very simple, and are a good example of basic principles of RC and LC circuits. Another bonus is that it shows another use for the fast-edge pulse generator that was shown in a video I posted several days earlier on making your own basic TDR: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cP6w2odGUc The capacitors are measured by simply measuring the RC time constant, and the inductors are measured by making a simple LC tank circuit and measuring the resonant frequency. A copy of the video notes can be found here: http://www.qsl.net/w/w2aew//youtube/Measure_caps_inductors_with_scope.pdf

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