B&K Precision Upgrades Handheld LCR Meters

Two New LCR Meters Raise the Level of Performance

YORBA LINDA, CA  - August 2010  -  B&K Precision has enhanced two of its handheld LCR meters.  Models 878B and 879B add increased and improved features such as wider measurement ranges as well as higher accuracy and speed, offering more precise and reliable measurements of inductance, capacitance, and resistance.  Models 878B and 879B provide these necessary features including new capabilities not previously available in handheld LCR meters.

Updates for Models 878B and 879B include greater flexibility with a variety of measurement capabilities: 0.5% accuracy, wide frequency and voltage test ranges, and three tolerance modes with visible or audible alerts for batch component sorting. Both units can measure D (dissipation), Q (quality factor) and transfer all measurement results to a PC via USB interface using the provided logging software.  Alternatively, users could write a custom program and control the meters remotely via SCPI commands. With their 40,000-count plus 10,000-count dual display, these improved LCR meters rate as the first meters in this price category to offer such high-resolution performance displays.

New and unique to Model 879B is the inclusion of an ESR (equivalent series resistance) function to measure and rate the true quality of a capacitor, and calculation of impedance (Z) and Theta—features usually reserved for bench top LCR units.

The specialized feature sets of Models 878B and 879B make these LCR meters particularly suited for passive component testing, electronic assembly, or quality control.

Available for immediate delivery, models 878B and 879B are competitively priced at $249 and $299, respectively. Both models are covered by three-year warranties. Visit www.bkprecision.com for detailed data sheets, additional specs or for more information on where to purchase these LCR meters.

About B&K Precision

For more than 50 years, B&K Precision Corporation has been building a reputation for excellence in the design and manufacture of reliable and cost-effective test and measurement instruments. The company’s products are used in a wide range of applications including design, research and development, production line testing, industrial maintenance, and electronic field service. B&K Precision test and measurement instruments are standard equipment in a large number of universities and technical schools which train future engineers and technicians. B&K Precision was founded in 1951 and is headquartered in Yorba Linda, California.

• Hi-res 878B images
• Hi-res 879B images

Press Contact:
Lucinda Farwell
(425) 210-8060   
LFarwell@TheTurnedStone.com

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New Powerful Waveform Editing Software Solution

Create Real World Test Signals with Ease

YORBA LINDA, CA July 2010 - B&K Precision, a key manufacturer of benchtop test instrumentation, has developed and launched WaveXpress™, a powerful, new software application for creating complex test signals which can be transferred and reproduced on B&K arbitrary waveform generators (AWG). WaveXpress on your PC interfaces via GPIB, RS-232, or USB–and when used along with B&K Precision AWGs and DSOs–it functions as a complete test solution for performing demanding circuit validation tasks. This integration not only allows for designing and debugging in industry applications, but also serves as an excellent educational tool.

WaveXpress users can edit waveforms downloaded directly from a B&K Precision digital storage oscilloscope (DSO), or alternatively create new waveforms from scratch without any external instruments. Once a waveform has been set up as desired, WaveXpress enables direct upload of the modified signals to a B&K AWG to stimulate circuits and systems. The software’s scan feature automatically detects connected AWGs and DSOs when interfaced via USB or GPIB.

To help expedite certain types of signal tests, WaveXpress contains a large library of noise distributions that can easily be added to waveforms. The software conveniently stores dialog settings for faster repetitive work, and features easy panning and zooming down to the individual point level. The WaveXpress PC interface comprises five full language settings, namely English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish, with the unique feature of user-modification of existing languages, or complete addition of new language libraries.

More advanced users can take the program’s capabilities to another level via the Python programming language. As a Python-based open-source application, WaveXpress allows any number of user-defined signal transformations through a wealth of Python libraries relevant to the scientific and engineering communities. Even with limited Python knowledge, users can automate waveform-processing tasks, or customize the software for more complex requirements.

Experience firsthand the intuitive interface and limitless editing features of WaveXpress.  Visit http://www.bkprecision.com/WaveXpress/ to download this invaluable free software tool, and to get more information about B&K Precision’s WaveXpress-compatible DSOs and AWGs.

About B&K Precision

For more than 50 years, B&K Precision Corporation has been building a reputation for excellence in the design and manufacture of reliable and cost-effective test and measurement instruments. The company’s products are used in a wide range of applications including design, research and development, production line testing, industrial maintenance, and electronic field service. B&K Precision test and measurement instruments are standard equipment in a large number of universities and technical schools which train future engineers and technicians. B&K Precision was founded in 1951 and is headquartered in Yorba Linda, California.

Press Contact:

Lucinda Farwell

(425) 210-8060

LFarwell@TheTurnedStone.com

NOTE TO EDITORS: To obtain high-resolution images, visit http://www.bkprecision.com/hires. The majority of our hi-resolution photos are saved in a compressed Zip file format so we can deliver multiple angles of the products at once.