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Topic:
Impedance Meter Choice?
This thread has 7 replies. Displaying all posts.
Post 1 made on Friday June 7, 2002 at 03:14
orwave
Founding Member
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I have been searching relentlessly for a decent portable(preferrably handheld) true Impedance Meter.
I have found the ZM1 from Gold-Line, but I've never used their equipment before so am uncomfortable with spending $380 on a piece of equipment I haven't used before.
(I have used the several thousand dollar ESI Video Bridge which does the same thing, among other things, but is too bulky and not very road-rugged for using in the field).
Any other models/recommendations are greatly appreciated!

Dave

PS: For those who don't understand, an Impedance Meter sends out an actual audio signal (usually sweeps or offers several audio frequencies) then measures the actual AC audio impedance of the speaker or speaker/volume control network. It is an invaluable troubleshooting tool when trying to locate autoformer or speaker shorts in large Audio Systems.
A regular multimeter or one that measures Resistance is not effective or accurate for this task because inductors (transformers or speaker coils) have different characteristics to DC which is what a Resistance meter uses as its test signal.
Post 2 made on Friday June 7, 2002 at 10:24
Eric Johnson
Universal Remote Control Inc.
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May 2001
705
Sennheiser make a truly elegant meter, but it is much more money than the Gold Line.

Audioplex make a fairly basic version with only one test tone frequency, but very rugged and inexpensive.

[Link: audioplex.com]

Best Regards,

-Eric

Eric Johnson
www.hometheaterpro.com

1-800-247-7001
Best Regards,
Eric
Post 3 made on Friday June 7, 2002 at 10:34
Eric Johnson
Universal Remote Control Inc.
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May 2001
705
For anyone who wants to understand these products, they are actually voltmeters that measure the voltage drop over the actual circuit via the test tone that they produce. They then compare the voltage drop to the voltage drop over resistors of known values.

-Eric
Best Regards,
Eric
Post 4 made on Friday June 7, 2002 at 21:54
Matt
Founding Member
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August 2001
1,802
Well, you should be able to calculate actual impedance, then hook it up properly.

Simple ohms law people.
Post 5 made on Friday June 7, 2002 at 22:02
Eric Johnson
Universal Remote Control Inc.
Joined:
Posts:
May 2001
705
Matt,

It is only when you have a problem, nothing to do with designing systems. If you have an overheating amp, or other symptom, then you need a quick way to verify that your ohms law calculations were not wrong and a quick way to identify a badly wound voice coil or a mis-manufactured volume control.

There is no substitute for nice tools.

Well, maybe luck.

-Eric

Eric Johnson
www.hometheaterpro.com

800-247-7001
Best Regards,
Eric
Post 6 made on Monday June 10, 2002 at 08:32
Theaterworks
Founding Member
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April 2002
1,898
I bought the Goldline meter in desperation to find the problem I was having with a 70 volt system in a 1.6 million square foot warehouse system. Saved my bacon on that project; why didn't I buy it sooner? I've used it since to troubleshoot other problem PA systems. Works well, and quickly. Time is money.
Carpe diem!
Post 7 made on Monday June 10, 2002 at 17:34
Matt
Founding Member
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August 2001
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Does that meter do 8 ohm? the ZR-1 or whatever?
OP | Post 8 made on Saturday June 15, 2002 at 22:13
orwave
Founding Member
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7
Thanks for the feedback. I did buy the Goldline ZM-1 and checked it against a very expensive ESI Videobridge and found it to be very accurate.
Anyone who troubleshoots large impedance networks will value it.

Dave


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