11 Best Cheap ESR meter (Cap Testing 2024)

Looking for the best ESR meter but want to have no compromise on quality as well as a low price tag. Then, you are at the right place. In this post, we will get to know about the best cheap ESR meter that not just comes with a decent price tag but also with high quality.

An ESR meter is a device that we can use to detect a bad capacitor. Now the capacitor may be outside the circuit or inside a circuit board, an ESR meter is designed to precisely measure its ESR value. And with the measured ESR value, we can say whether the capacitor is faulty or not by comparing it with an available ESR table.

The problem is, as a beginner, a lot of people really don’t know what to look for when buying an ESR meter and somehow fall victim to low-quality products.

They don’t know what parameters to look for and how to identify the real deal-breaker from a lot of models and devices out there on the market.

Hi, I am Abbas. I am Electronics Engineer and in this post, I will try my best to share my knowledge about ESR meters, how to choose the best ESR meter, what it is, how we can use it for in-circuit testing, and much more.

Choosing the right and best ESR meter

ESR is short for equivalent series resistance. And the device we use to measure this value is called the ESR meter. How smart of me 😀 But I can’t explain it in more simple words.

Anyway, when a capacitor is faulty, in this case using a capacitance meter or multimeter cannot be trusted because even a faulty capacitor has the capacitance value equal to its written value. In this case, the only guy we can trust is the ESR meter, because a faulty capacitor has its ESR value changed when you compare it to its manufacturer provided value.

Parameters to look for in a best ESR meter

Luckily, there are a few technical parameters to look for in an ESR meter and this is a very big plus. When things are simple buying decisions are easier to make. So let’s talk in detail about some parameters we got for this guy.

a. Auto Range

Auto range means you connect the device you want to test (DUT) i.e in this case capacitor, the meter automatically sets its range according to the device under test. You don’t have to set the range manually. The problem with manual ranging is that it is prone to human error. Like if you are a  new guy in the field you would probably make mistakes with range selection, and trust me you will make a lot. So to avoid such errors an auto-range meter automatically does it for you.

b. Easy zero adjustments

When you are using an ESR meter the first thing you need to do is to set the meter to zero reference point. And it is always good to have a function on the meter that does it automatically for you by just simply pressing a single button on it.

c. Low resistance probes

Now, this is a very important thing to consider. You will see on the market that almost every ESR meter will have short probes. And the reason for the short probes is that the ESR values are damn freaking small, so we need to avoid any external probe resistance as possible. So, the shorter the probes, the better the meter.

Now there may be meters with long probes but then you have to pay a lot more for that as well. It is up to your budget and requirements but usually, we don’t need such a level of professional meters if we are doing repairs or just having fun with electronics.

d. Easy to use

This is a must-have feature. No one likes a meter that needs training. You have to look for a meter that is easy to use so that human errors can be eliminated to a possible level. Sometimes it is totally us that are responsible for making measuring mistakes, and most of the time the reason is the wrong use of devices. So make sure the meter you decide to buy has a simple to work operation, no fancy stuff there.

e. Bright display

I don’t know much about you, but if you are a total repair guy and busy all the time repairing devices then a good bright display will save you a lot more time than you cannot imagine right now.

Let me share my experience, I once bought a multimeter that has a normal display. I was young and didn’t have enough money, so I bought it (Like I am a freaking Millionaire now :D) Anyway it was so frustrating when sometimes I connected the probes and I could not read the display properly. So I have to reconnect the probes and set the multimeter on the angle where I can read it properly. So the bottom line is you need a display that you can read from any angle and in any lighting.

f. 100kHz sine wave for measurements

This is the standard method manufacturers used to measure the ESR value at the time of manufacturing, so the best ESR meter you buy must use this method, else there will be a conflict between the value your meter measures and the value manufacturer measured.

g. Friendly UI

This is not a deal-breaker, but a nice user interface is what the best ESR meter should have. As you know, a nice battery sign somewhere would be nice so that I can update myself about the battery status of the meter. The digits should have clear fonts and sizes. And UI should be very easy to interact with the meter and very easy to read the results in no time.

h. ESR table

This is the table where we compare our results. In this table, standard ESR values are listed. It is not necessary that you may find every value in this table, but it has almost all the standard values you would need.

In case you face a situation where you don’t find the right value then in that case you have to go for the datasheet of that particular capacitor.

i. Battery and external power

Your meter shouldn’t be a power killer. So look for a meter that has the least power consumption. It is always good if your meter has both battery storage and also external power feature in case your battery is low or something.

List of some of the best cheap ESR meters

The word cheap doesn’t mean that the ESR meter which will be discussed in the post is low quality. It simply means it is more targeted towards beginner people i.e. electronics hobbyists. But no matter what you can definitely use it in your labs for testing all kinds of capacitors.

The best cheap ESR meter that I and other field professionals recommend is the MSER-100 V2. This is the best ESR meter because it is coming from a trusted brand, has high quality, is reliable, and comes with a decent price tag that anyone can happily afford. 

Now, let’s talk in detail about this mentioned guy and see how it can be a lovely asset to your lab.

1. DE-5000 ESR Meter

Let’s start our list by introducing the DE-5000 best ESR meter from DER EE Electrical Instruments. DE-5000 is an LCR meter with a built-in auto function for ESR measurements. You connect the capacitor you want to test, select esr, and there you have its ESR value.

Important features:

• Fully auto operational for both AC Impedances and DC resistance.
• Variety range of test frequencies.
• High quality Guard lines.

You can further investigate this meter yourself. Here is the link for your own research, DE-5000 (Amazon link).

2. MESR-100 V2 ESR Meter

Yaman Electronics is in business for years and its customer-focused policy has made it one of the most reliable and trustworthy brands when it comes to electronic devices.

Talking about the specific model, the MESR-100. It has got some tremendous quality features.

Important features:

• Auto range: The meter is an auto range, which means you don’t need to select the range manually. Just connect the capacitor and it will automatically calculate the ESR value for you.
• Dual terminal
• A printed ESR table for the fast check. This is not a guarantee that every capacitor you would be testing will have written value on this table. But it is nice and almost has got everything for you. And in case you don’t find the value you can always look for the datasheet of the capacitor you are testing, you will definitely find it there.
• Wide Measurement Range
• This meter uses the 100 kHz sine wave to measure the ESR value, which is equal to the testing method of the capacitor manufacturer.
• You can use it for low resistance measurements as well, it has the Ohm range of 0.001 to 100.0. This is amazing.

In summary, MESR-100 (Amazon link) is my recommendation for the best ESR meter (keeping the price tag and quality in mind) if you are just started with electronics. or you are at the intermediate level, or kind of repair guy and interested in just identifying that bad capacitor on the circuit board without desoldering.

3. Atlas ESR70

Atlas is another popular brand for making quality electrical measurement instruments. They make a lot of models and devices, but today we are looking at their product designed for measuring ESR values, i.e. ESR70.

Important features:

•  You can use it to measure the ESR of a capacitor without desoldering it from the PCB.
• Amazing resolution range.
• Protection for undischarged capacitors.

This is an amazing ESR meter for beginners. It has a sound alert system that automatically tells if the capacitor is bad. Here is the link Atlas ESR70 (Amazon link) for your own research and further investigations.

4. LCR-58 Tweezer

You know it is a lot easier to use a tweezer when working with SMDs or generally repairing a circuit board. Tweezer saves a lot of lot and effort. But the best part is it gives much more accuracy as there is no wire resistance involved. LCR-58 is an amazing ESR meter in the form of a smart tweezer.

Important features:

• Option for DCR measurements
• Easy to use
• High accuracy with better resolution
• Safety protection

Here is the link to know more about the amazing esr tweezer LCR-58 (Amazon link).

5. GME 326 ESR Meter

GME is US brand famous for making high-tech measuring instruments. This meter is a professional one so you will have to find out your local distributor for GME. Now you say that the post is for the best cheap ESR meter. I get it but I am including it so you have a better idea of all available ESR meters.

If you got interested in this one. Contact the Amazon seller and ask them to make it available for you. Or in the other case, you have to go to your near electronics store. Here is the link for this amazing esr meter for your further investigation, GME 326 (Amazon Link).

6. GW Instek LCR-916

let’s continue our talk about professional ESR meters. The other great electronics company, maybe you have heard of it, is GW Instek. They make a lot of quality measurement instruments for every level of professionals. For ESR measurements they have this meter called the LCR-916.

It is a professional-level tool. It doesn’t just have an ESR option. You can do a lot of other measurements with it. To know more about this amazing best esr tester. Here is the link, LCR-916 (Amazon link).

7. M328 ESR Meter

M328 is an all-component tester tool. You can measure the esr of a capacitor as well using this tool. It is very cheap and will get the job done for you.

The best part of this device is, it’s very easy to operate. Plug the capacitor you want to test. Press the test button, and get the capacitor capacitance value as well as its ESR value at the same time.

From Yaman Electronics you can buy this amazing esr and all component tester for a very low wholesale price. Here is the link, M328 Meter (Amazon Link) for your further investigation.

8. TCI ESR Meter

The best alternative to the above guy is this guy the TC1 component tester. Look at this device, it is so beautiful and it has the same features as the above m328 component tester.

The difference between the M328 and TC1 best component tester is that TC1 has a rechargeable battery inside it. Here is the link for your own further research, TC1 ESR And Component Meter (Amazon link).

However, I don’t recommend it for a fully professional level, for which it is not designed entirely. Sure, you can use it to test a bad capacitor on the professional level, but if you are really looking to use it for some research or other purpose then this guy may not be for you.

9. Extech 380193

Extech is another great manufacturer and is in business for decades. They make quality instruments which means you get a product that is reliable and has a long working life. The downside of it is of course the high price tag.

A worth word to be noted here is that some LCR meters use the word SER instead of ESR which refers to the same value. So don’t be confused when you see SER instead of ESR.

Also, this meter is good for all other passive components measurements as i.e. L and R. To know more about this device yourself, here is the link for your research, Extech – 380193 (Amazon link).

10. Reed Instruments R5001

Until now you have got the idea that the LCR meter can be used for measuring ESR value if the LCR meter has that option. Not every LCR meter ESR. So you have to be very careful if you want to search and select any LCR meter online yourself.

Now, talking about the specific Reed R5001 LCR meter. It has an option for ESR measurement with high repeatability and accuracy.

Some important features of this amazing LCR meter:

• High accuracy of 1.5%
• Both AC impedance and DC resistance measuring options with auto range selection.
• Industry-standard testing frequencies i.e. 10Khz up to 100KHz

To know more about this best ESR meter then here is the link for your research, Reed R5001 (Amazon link).

11. B&K Precision 881

881 ESR meter is another popular meter from the very famous B&K Precision. It is compact and designed for reliability and accuracy. If circuit preparing is what you do for a living then this meter is the best suited for you.

Because it is very professional and not that cheap. There is a big chance you have not heard of it. And if you really want to have an accurate piece of equipment in your lab. Then this guy is worth the money. Here is the link 881 Esr meter (Amazon link) for your further inquiry.

Measuring ESR value by an ESR Meter

Now, you have a better understanding of what an ESR meter is and how to select the best ESR meter. I think it is time to learn how to use it properly in our lab to find out that bad capacitor in the board. Note: The following steps are specifically for the MESR-100 (Product link). Sure you can apply it to any other ESR meter.

• First thing first, discharge the capacitor you want to test. This step is crucial, don’t compromise on this one else you may end up losing or burning your ESR meter.
• Discharging of a capacitor is done y shorting their legs
• Turn on your best cheap ESR meter and check for the zero reading.
• If the display is not showing the zero then short the probes of the meter and press the zero button.
• Once you clearly see the zero on the display, connect the capacitor you want to test.
• The ESR meter auto-range feature will automatically set the range and you will be to see the results in no time.

Conclusion for best cheap ESR meter

ESR meters are useful devices we use to measure the ESR value of the capacitor. ESR stands for equivalent series resistance. And this value is our only hope to check if a capacitor is bad or not. Sure we can use a multimeter or capacitance meter, but they fail in the mentioned situation.

So, to get a precise ESR value, we need the best ESR meter. In this post, I talk about the best cheap ESR meters that you buy right away without compromising on quality. I talk about what is ESR meter is in detail and how to use one properly. Also, I recommend some of my favorite models on the market today.

I hope you enjoy the article. Thank you and have a good life.

You may also love to read the below articles as well:

• How to test capacitor without desoldering [incircuit testing]
• Best Lab Power Supply [How to choose and buy the best ]
• The best Beginner Oscilloscopes
• Best Beginner Multimeters
• Best USB testers for everyone
• How to use ESR meter (Easy answer with MESR-100)