After 4 years of owning and using the DE-5000 it is one of the best and most used tools in my arsenal. I repair, restore and custom build/modify HI-FI & Instrument Vacuum Tubne & SS (Guitar/Keyboard/Pro-Audio) amps, effects & accessories. My Simpson DMM, Peak Atlas DCA75 PRO & the DER DE-5000 LCR are always on the bench in close proximity to the DUT (device under test). Along with my Adjustable A/C Voltage Isolation Transformer & homemade current limiter which my DUTs are plugged into - other test equipment includes a Tektronix 2465B Scope, Wavetek Sweep/Function Generator & a Heathkit IT-11 Capacitor analyzer for High Voltage Capacitor leakage tests only, & a variable temperature soldering iron - the DMM, DE-5000 are used most often for diagnostics and repair.
What makes this device special is its LAB grade accuracy, rugged construction, overall reliablity, ease of use, well written instructions and plenty of on line help in the way of forums. I spent several days comparing this LCR to others - and even though I like and own other brands of test equipment - none came even close to this - for example - PEak Atlas - you would have to buy their ESR70 & LCR 45 @ over $260 for both and together they can't do what this does for $118. I love the range of test frequencies for cap/inductor/impedance tests (100hz, 120hz, 1Khz, 10Khz, 100Khz) - no other competitor (when I did research 4 yrs ago) even came close to offering the variety of test signal frequencies. Very useful in testing caps when building audio or power supplies where particular brands/values don't perform as expected in the frequency range you need them to operate in. ESR very important in many circuits that require a low ESR. In circuit testing of devices & being able to select parallel or series - increasing accuracy of in circuit testing. The Kelvin Calibrated Test leads - here is the one place I made a change to what DER provided as test leads - it was a joke - way too short and inferior alligator clips - Amazon sells under the "frequently purchased with" section of the product page is the Kelvin Test leads with large alligator clips and BNC connectors - well I made this modification to the TL-21 test lead adapter that comes with the DE-5000 kit - it is easy to remove top cover of the TL-21 box where the short test leads terminate, unsolder the old test leads, cut off BNC connectors on new set and just follow "on-line/YouTube Video" instructions - very simple - just "google" DER DE-5000 Kelvon test leads upgrade. Took me all of 10 minutes start to finish includes time to heat up soldering iron and watching video. This will provide you with over 2 feet of test leads instead of the 3 or 4 inches provided by DER - you will use the TL-21 and now longer test leads for 99% of your testing needs - the other test adapter is made for SMDs on PC boards used less than 1% over the last 4 years for me anyway - u may have a lot of "surface mount" stuff where the other adapter will work for you. The Kelvin Test leads which use 2 wires for the red and 2 wires for the black test leads are designed so you can "Zero" out the effect of the test lead length & position on the measurement of the actual component especially critical when measuring very low capacitors in the pico-farad range. That is because 2 standard test leads lying in close proximity to each other on a table for example - while you are probing around to measure a small value cap - can impact that measurement by 2-300% since the test leads themselves can add 10-100 pf to a measurement. So the way DER deals with this is to employ lab grade test lead technology by using the kelvin test lead system and a built in calibration sequence (calibrate - "open", then calibrate - "shorted") before taking any small cap measurements - meter stays calibrated so long as it's powered up & same test leads are used - For long test periods - lets say a batch of small caps - this is where external power transformer becomes very important not so much for battery life (changed battery once in 4 years) but to prevent the meter from battery saver- auto power - off, which can be disabled using external power - otherwise if u calibrated test leads and miss window of use before timeout - u would need to recalibrate after every power cycle - PIA....
One of the only measurements that this LCR cannot do that can be done by a few of the much, much more bench lab grade analyzers can do (i.e. Sencore LC series - used can be 800-$2000) is test capacitors for leakage at full rated operating voltages - for example in my tube amp power supplies - I am working with B+ DC Voltages of 600-700+VDC, created by diode (silicon or Vacuum tube) rectification & large filter caps 10 to 220uf @ 500 - 600V ratings. So to test these or even the smaller 0.1 - 0.047 uf caps rated at 200-600VDC used in tone stacks, coupling, bypass etc.. - if these caps leak current even at very low voltages, depending on what function they are performing in circuit can cause anything from hum & noise to erratic operation and ultimately complete failure of the amplifier - severely leaking or shorted caps can even cause catastrophic damage to expensive transformers and/or vacuum tubes. So testing these caps at voltages produced by a handlheld tester running off a 9 volt battery cannot test these caps at their rated operating voltages of 300-600 volts, that is where my 1950's trusty old Heathkit IT-11 capacitor analyzer comes in.. This device and several other models/brands made in the 40's-early 70's when tubes were still "king" were used to test the HV capacitors that operated with the HV hungry vacuum tubes. I RECOMMEND EXTREME CAUTION WHEN WORKING WITH THESE HIGH VOLTAGES _ THEY ARE LETHAL _ U NEED TO KNOW WHAT U ARE DOING BEFORE ATTEMPTING USING HV DEVICES & CHARGING HV CAPS - which BTW STAY CHARGED at lethal voltages for some time unless u take the time to properly/slowly discharge them - which the IT-11 can do if used correctly. Also these old test devices although made to withstand the test of time NEED REFURBISHMENT before they can be put back into service as they use tubes & HV caps that need to be tested and replaced so that the test device doesn't literally burn up when being used to diagnose another old tube device like a radio or amp.
Summary - DE-5000 - Functionality/Accuracy/Build & Reliability - RAting - EXCELLENT; Value: EXCELLENT - hands down, no one comes close to accuracy which is near lab grade, incredible functionality & versatility while being relatively simple to operate, must purchase KIT version with the 2 test lead/probe adapters - and Highly Recommended Modification is replacement of the TL-21 short test leads - with the 60-70cm large alligator clip to BNC (cut off BNC to use) Kelvin test leads - you need to have basic soldering skills and review step by step instructions available on several websites and YOUTUBE under the DER DE5000 search for Test lead upgrade or replacement.
Another Recommended Option is the external power supply / battery eliminator - it is overpriced for what it is - but if u shop around on Amazon / EBAY u can find it for $12 - $20 (higher price usually includes "free" shipping). The transformer is useful if testing many components that require calibration so meter doesn't power down and/or if you need the meter on for long periods this will preserve battery life and display is brighter when powered from transformer.
A carrying case would be nice if u need device to travel with you and don't have a suitable toolbox with enough support / padded protection - I use a HArbor Freight Protective locking thickly padded box with custom foam inserts to fit all my test device/meters/powersupplies/probes etc... all in one larger carry case fits all 7 handlheld meters and accessories.
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