The HM8118 LCR bridge offers a wide measuring frequency range (20 Hz to 200 kHz) and variable measuring voltage (0.10 to 1.50 Vrms). Additionally, it has a bias function for voltage (0 to 5.00 V and 0 to 40 V ext.) and current (0 to 200 mA). The multi-slope conversion technology and the sophisticated generation of the measuring signal allow stable capacitor measurements down to 1 femto farad (resolution 0.01 fF) and inductors down to 0.1 nH (resolution 0.01 nH). All settings and measurements can be operated manually by the front panel controls and may also be remote controlled via the built-in, galvanically isolated, dual interface (USB and RS232) or with the optional IEEE-488 (GPIB) interface (HO880).

The HM8118 LCR measuring bridge offers measurements of non ideal characteristics of real components. At the push of one button it will measure the Rs of the series equivalent circuit or the Rp of the parallel equivalent circuit of a capacitor or a inductor. The HM8118 also calculates the derived parameters, like the quality factor Q, dissipation factor D, phase angle Theta, as well as the complex values of the impedance Z and the admittance Y.

In addition to the characterization of passive components like L, C and R the HM8118 can determine the specific parameters of transformers — not only on the fixed frequencies 50/60 Hz and 100/120 Hz, but in the whole range of 20 Hz to 200 kHz.

Control Elements

POWER (Pushbutton):Turns the instrument on/off. DISPLAY (LCD) Display  of  measurement  results  and  units,  ranges,  frequencies, level, equivalent circuit, functions, parameters,instrument states and messages. MENU SELECT (Pushbutton) Opening of the menu with the submenus SETUP, CORR, SYST and BIN (with optional Binning Interface HO118 installed) ENTER (Pushbutton) Enters an input value to the HM8118. ESC (Pushbutton) Deletes an input value by pushing the key Rotary knob(Knob/Pushbutton) Selection and adjustment of functions and parameters Arrow buttons (Pushbuttons) Pushbuttons for selection and adjustment of functions and parameters. SET FREQ (Pushbutton) Setting of the test signal frequency with the rotary knob (6) or the arrow buttons  (7). LEVEL (Pushbutton) Sets the test signal level with the rotary knob (6) and the Cursor position with the arrow buttons (7) BIAS (Pushbutton) Sets the bias voltage or current (depending on the measure- ment  function)  with  the  rotary  knob (6) and  the  Cursor position with the arrow buttons (7) ZERO OPEN (Pushbutton): Executes an OPEN correction SHORT (Pushbutton): Executes a SHORT correction LOAD (Pushbutton): Executes a LOAD correction MODE AUTO/MODE (Pushbutton) Activates the automatic selection of the equivalent circuit model of the component being measured (series, parallel)

SER (Pushbutton) Activates the series equivalent circuit model of the compo- nent being measured PAR (Pushbutton) Activates the parallel equivalent circuit model of the component being measured RANGE AUTO/HOLD/ (Pushbutton) Toggles the measurement range mode between AUTO/HOLD UP (Pushbutton): Switching to a higher range DOWN (Pushbutton): Switching to a lower range SOCKETS L CUR (BNC socket) Low Current; signal output for series measurements (signal generator) L POT (BNC socket) Low Potential; signal input for parallel measurement (voltage measurements) H POT (BNC socket) High Potential; signal input / output for parallel measure- ments (measurement bridge) H CUR (BNC socket) High Current; signal input for series measurements (current measurements) BIAS MODE/ESC (Pushbutton) Selectes the bias mode from internal or external; leaving the menu without acceptance of the entered value TRIG MODE/ENTER (Pushbutton) Selects the trigger mode from internal, manual, or external; enters an input value and terminates the key entry for the current input function BIAS /(Pushbutton) Enables or disables DC Bias output; erases the last cha- racter entered when entering numeric values