Vartech's LCR meter range covers four instruments across two very different formats - a portable handheld unit, a combined multimeter-LCR meter, and two bench-top precision instruments. The right choice depends on where the measurement happens (field or bench) and how much precision and test-frequency flexibility the work actually requires.
Portable or Bench-Top?
The LCM-1 is a portable digital LC meter with a wide measurement range - from 1 pF/1 µH up to 100 mF/100 H across two range modes - suited to field and workshop verification of an unknown or unmarked component. The LCR-1B and LCR-2A are bench-top instruments with a 5-digit display and continuously variable or stepped test frequencies, built for characterising components properly rather than just a quick field check - the practical choice for an R&D bench, incoming inspection, or production test station.
Multimeter Plus LCR - The V 8222 H
The V 8222 H combines a full-function True RMS multimeter (1000 V DC / 750 V AC, 20 A) with a handheld LCR meter in one CAT-rated instrument - inductance, capacitance, resistance, frequency and temperature alongside standard multimeter functions. This is the right instrument when you need occasional component verification (checking a capacitor's actual value, for instance) without carrying a dedicated LCR meter alongside your regular multimeter.
Test Frequency - LCR-1B vs LCR-2A
Both bench models measure L, C, R, D, Q and ESR at 0.1% basic accuracy with USB/RS232 interface, but differ in how test frequency is selected. The LCR-1B offers continuously variable test frequency from 10 Hz to 10 kHz - useful when you need to sweep frequency and observe how a component's measured value changes (revealing frequency-dependent behaviour in real components). The LCR-2A instead offers 10 fixed, discrete test frequencies across the same 100 Hz-10 kHz band with a wider measurement range - the more practical choice when you're testing against a known standard frequency (a component's rated test frequency per its datasheet) rather than exploring frequency response.
Why test frequency matters for LCR measurement
Auto Component Identification and Bin Sorting
Both LCR-1B and LCR-2A include auto component identification, automatically detecting whether the connected component is primarily inductive, capacitive or resistive rather than requiring the operator to pre-select a mode - a genuine time-saver when testing a batch of mixed, unmarked components. For production environments, this pairs with USB/RS232 interfacing to log results directly rather than transcribing readings by hand.
Quick Reference by Use Case
- Field/workshop component verification: LCM-1, portable LC meter.
- Occasional LCR checks alongside routine multimeter work: V 8222 H.
- Bench characterisation, frequency-response investigation: LCR-1B, continuously variable test frequency.
- Bench characterisation against a standard test frequency, wider range: LCR-2A.
CIE Instruments is an authorised distributor for the full Vartech LCR and capacitance meter range. See our general guide on how to choose an LCR meter, or contact us for a recommendation matched to your component types and test-frequency requirements.