LCR Meter Measurement Accuracy

LCR meters make taking L, C and R measurements very easy. One can simply hook up the test component between the clip terminals and get the reading on the display with very little effort. However, if you want to be certain of the measurement that you have made, you must understand how an LCR meter operates and how the component being tested interacts with the meter. It is not uncommon for LCR meter measurements to be off by more than 20% due to the specific test parameters and characteristics of the component being tested. The vector nature of impedance and behavior of series-parallel circuits are keys to making reliably accurate LCR measurements. This application note will provide the theoretical background for measuring impedance and tuning the measurement to improve accuracy.