Comparison of LCR meters vs impedance analyzers
Both, impedance analysers and LCR meters are instruments for performing electrical measurements. LCR meters’ purpose is the characterization of electrical components in terms of their inductance, resistance and capacitance or other equivalent circuit models. Impedance analyzers’ scope is a lot broader than that. Measuring the complex impedance over a broad range of frequencies they can be used for all kinds of applications where determining electrical properties is crucial – e.g. material science, medical, bioanalytical, etc. However, when it comes to characterizing electrical components both impedance analyzers and LCR meters can be a valid choice. Not always an easy choice, as with highly capable modern instruments the lines sometimes get blurred. So, let’s look at some of the key things to look out for when comparing these two instrument classes.