$20 LCR ESR Transistor checker project

[Gandalf_Sr]

There seems to be a million variations of this project, I already have the 2x16 one but am looking for better firmware.  Considering a graphic one but which one is best? Thanks 

[ja421]

I had used a fish8840 version that worked well until I ran over it with a chair.  I have read some negative things about them, but it seemed to work ok for me. (I was able to update the firmware w/o issue)

My current one is a "gm328a" version from ezm electronics studio... All surface mount.  it, too, worked well for me, until...
I don't know if it was due to upgrading the firmware to current version, or the hardware, but I tested a diode that looked similar to one that was broken on a pcb (hoping to gleam some info to buy a similar diode) - however, I was able to test it once and got a reading; but after that, the diode failed all tests, using a dmm it registered as about a 1 ohm resistor in both directions... 

(Trashing a diode is another reason I'm looking for a new version...)
Both the versions I had, had the mpu soldered on, but had provisions for an ISP header (but no header) -- as I recall, both headers ended up being on the bottom, so it's not something you want to leave on the tester.  From what I can tell; you want a socketed chip so you can replace it if they locked the firmware... but I am a novice there...

[stj]

it cant trash a diode, it cant supply enough current.
it can only just light an led.

you dont replace a locked chip btw, you erase the lock bits before you program it.

[ja421]

it cant trash a diode, it cant supply enough current.

OK -- so then it was complete coincidence that it was able to test the diode once & then the diode failed -- it's not surprising, I am expecting the board that we're working on to have other components fail as we fix the dead ones...
In that case the fish & gsm versions have worked great, up until I broke it or lost faith in it...

you dont replace a locked chip btw, you erase the lock bits before you program it.

I would have to look it up; but I read one where you needed to use a HV programmer to reset the lock/fuse bits; something not everyone has; but if it's just a matter of rewriting the lock bit, then any version is going to be upgradable...

Sorry I was so off the mark there -- didn't mean to mislead anyone.... thanks for educating me.

[stj]

no, to erase the lock bits you just send the global erase command.

you only need a high-voltage programmer if you accidentaly set the fusebits to disable the SPI debug port.

[hansibull]

There seems to be a million variations of this project, I already have the 2x16 one but am looking for better firmware.  Considering a graphic one but which one is best? Thanks 

I'm very happy with the transistor tester with a color LCD! It has a nice enclosure, large rechargeable Li-Ion battery that you can charge with a micro USB cable. It can also measure zener diodes up to 27v, because it has a built-in step-up converter (use the K/A area). It's a winner 

[mauroh]

@hansibull:

Is it possible to upgrade the firmware?
Mauro

[stj]

i just built this latest firmware for the TFT COLOUR KIT,
8 & 16MHz builds - enjoy.

BTW, i am refering to this kit as the "AY-AT" because that's printed on the pcb.
be carefull - some chinese bastards are calling them "GM328" and they arent!

[ja421]

@STJ -- do you have a link for the pb you bought?  I would rather build my own than buy a whole pre-made unit, but haven't found a pcb source...

[stj]

@STJ -- do you have a link for the pb you bought?  I would rather build my own than buy a whole pre-made unit, but haven't found a pcb source...

i didnt buy it, i built it for a friend and built the latest firmware for it.
i dont really recomend the colour kit - it's slow and needs more memory.

if you want to build you own,
either get the EZ-Studios GM328r or the banggood kit with a case.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331873741389
http://www.banggood.com/DIY-M12864-Graphics-Version-Transistor-Tester-Kit-LCR-ESR-PWM-With-Case-p-997023.html

[tom666]

damn those chinese bastards ...

... some chinese bastards ...

Sorry, but I do not like this!

[stj]

damn those chinese bastards ...

... some chinese bastards ...

Sorry, but I do not like this!

it's not because they are chinese - it's because of specific misleading behaviour.

[tom666]

Despite all this I do not like to use these terms!

[jjelec]

In reply to bmht post:2247
Hello, I built this same unit today and when turned on had exactly the same symptoms as yours(bmth).
I immediately thought that I must have been sent a empty micro.
But after checking all my work discovered that I had put the LED in back to front.*&%.
Got it out put it in the right way, switched on and presto all fixed!!.
I'm very happy with it, works well.
JJ

[Willem52]

i just built this latest firmware for the TFT COLOUR KIT, 8 & 16MHz builds - enjoy.

Thank you STJ, the only thing I missed in the menu was the Rotary encoder test. 

[stj]

too bad, the extra flash needed for the colour function means sacrifices must be made.
unfortunatly i'v not been able to compile it with the crystal test function no matter how much unimportant stuff i disable 

[hapless]

I'm not saying that it can be crammed into the firmware, but if it can, maybe a different (not necessarily newer) version of build tools will help.

[stj]

i think i already have the best version - for size.

[Dwaine]

@hansibull:

Is it possible to upgrade the firmware?
Mauro

I'm wondering the same thing.  Is it possible?

[Willem52]

i just built this latest firmware for the TFT COLOUR KIT, 8 & 16MHz builds - enjoy.

@STJ:  While testing the various  options in this software, I did see 2 strange errors
in the f-Generator table:  431.0345Hz showing here about 27.6KHz and 529.6610Hz
is showing about 33.9KHz on two different frequency counters. The rest of the
frequency table seems OK. I'm using the 8 MHz version.

[stj]

hmm....

i would test that, but i only have one battery right now, so cant power the tester & the 8digit counter simultaniously.
 

[stj]

o.k. - confirmed with a multimeter - i'll look into it. 

[stj]

fixed.
 

[madires]

New m-firmware 1.24m:
- Measurement of self-discharge leakage current for caps > 4.7µF.
- Added type detection logic for BJTs with diode on the same substrate.
- Improved leakage current measurement to support currents in the nA range.
  The leakage will be shown for diodes and BJTs, when it's larger than 50nA.
- Improved the display of instrinsic/flyback diodes for transistors to check
  for the proper diode (pins and polarity).
- Fixed an error in the display of a BJT's flyback diode.
- Added a function for searching a specific diode and adapted several
  functions to use the new diode search instead of the old local search.
- Improved detection of diodes to support also Germanium types with very low
  Vf at low currents.
- Fixed problem with LCD_ClearLine(0) for ILI9341 and ST7735.
- Improved detection of depletion mode FETs to exclude Germanium BJTs with
  high leakage current. Added detection of FETs with low I_DSS. Added
  measurement of I_DSS.

The last point in the list is the most interesting feature of the new version. The tester detects problematic JFETs like the PN4171A, 2SK117 or 2SK170 now. And Germanium BJTs with a quite high leakage current shoudn't be identified as JFET anymore.

[Dwaine]

There seems to be a million variations of this project, I already have the 2x16 one but am looking for better firmware.  Considering a graphic one but which one is best? Thanks 

I'm very happy with the transistor tester with a color LCD! It has a nice enclosure, large rechargeable Li-Ion battery that you can charge with a micro USB cable. It can also measure zener diodes up to 27v, because it has a built-in step-up converter (use the K/A area). It's a winner 

I just got my TC1 Tester.   Very nice unit.   It's running version 2.12k.  I'm going to open it up and see if there is a header to flash.  It has nice to have the rechargeable battery.

Been reading the pages, what's the latest version for k?