The HU-053 is an inexpensive LC-Meter kit available online that measures capacitance, inductance, and frequency. It features easy-to-solder, through-hole components and a transparent acrylic enclosure, making it a great weekend project. Let’s see how useful it is, and if we can make it better. Read this Reverse Project article by Elektor engineer Jean-François Simon.

The HU-053 kit consists of a double-sided PCB, a bag of components, a transparent acrylic enclosure, plus all the nuts and bolts required for assembly. The result is a small device measuring 91 × 106 mm with a height of 28 mm. The most recognizable components are an alphanumeric LCD, a large 40-pin STC89C52RC microcontroller, a three-pole, four-position (3P4T) function selection switch for, and a ZIF socket for connecting the component to be tested. The unit is powered by a 5-V supply.

Improving the LC-Meter

After assembling the device and trying it out, we quickly noticed that the accuracy of the meter was about as low as its price. Excellent! Now we had something to set our teeth in…

In this second installment of our Reverse Project series, Elektor engineer JFS takes the HU-053 LC-Meter apart and looks at ways of improving it. As it turns out, this is not too complicated. Download the article below to find out what can be done to turn a cheap kit into a usable measurement instrument.
 

Reverse Project, a Series of Free Projects by Elektor

This article is the second of a hopefully long series entitled “Reverse Project” about hacking and modding kits, a new initiative that is exclusively available to our e-zine readers. Enjoy!