Author Topic: Cheap component tester Ebay UK Ideal for begginer?  (Read 1434 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Terry01Topic starter

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 907
  • Country: scotland
Cheap component tester Ebay UK Ideal for begginer?
« on: July 04, 2019, 01:36:27 pm »
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AF-117-AF117-Transistor-TESTED-WORKING-Germanium-PNP/333176022934?hash=item4d92d6a796:g:tr8AAOSwAC1Z~0lB

I was scanning Ebay and came across this wee gadget....

I know they are just a cheap Chinese tester, but for a couple of quids must be worth a punt for a beginner ? ? ?
Sparks and Smoke means i'm nearly there!
 

Offline bd139

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 23099
  • Country: gb
Re: Cheap component tester Ebay UK Ideal for begginer?
« Reply #1 on: July 04, 2019, 01:49:19 pm »
I think that's for the transistor, not the tester.
 

Offline Terry01Topic starter

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 907
  • Country: scotland
Re: Cheap component tester Ebay UK Ideal for begginer?
« Reply #2 on: July 04, 2019, 01:52:09 pm »
 :-DD

I think you might be right...DOH!!

Time for a quick 40 winks I think! LOL
Sparks and Smoke means i'm nearly there!
 

Offline JamesAllen

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 8
  • Country: gb
Re: Cheap component tester Ebay UK Ideal for begginer?
« Reply #3 on: July 04, 2019, 01:53:28 pm »
If you search on eBay for Transistor Tester, there are literally hundreds on there that do a very similar thing.

I have one of the those DIY Kits with a 16x2 LCD screen which I soldered myself.

They are useful as a beginner but don't rely on values, they can be wildly out.

Thanks

James

 

Offline bd139

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 23099
  • Country: gb
Re: Cheap component tester Ebay UK Ideal for begginer?
« Reply #4 on: July 04, 2019, 01:56:44 pm »
:-DD

I think you might be right...DOH!!

Time for a quick 40 winks I think! LOL

 :-DD ... If I'm honest I nearly bought one before I realised  :-DD
 

Offline Terry01Topic starter

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 907
  • Country: scotland
Re: Cheap component tester Ebay UK Ideal for begginer?
« Reply #5 on: July 04, 2019, 01:59:55 pm »
That's well funny!   :-DD
Sparks and Smoke means i'm nearly there!
 

Offline lordvader88

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • !
  • Posts: 935
  • Country: ca
Re: Cheap component tester Ebay UK Ideal for begginer?
« Reply #6 on: July 04, 2019, 07:34:13 pm »
IDK about the 1 you're looking at, I don't see any spec's listed at all, or did I miss them ? At least buy 1 from someone that lists the chip, and what things it can test, like inductance or not.

Mine was $5-15 years ago, uses some ATmel micro-processor, and does measure ESR and inductance, as well as identify all kinds of 3 terminal silicon devices. But it never included probes tho. ESR function lets u test caps and see how leaky they are.

For a beginner they are great as a general purpose tester and ESR/LCR meter. And also still quite useful for testing transistors/diodes, especially un-readable ones.
 

Offline richnormand

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 721
  • Country: ca
Re: Cheap component tester Ebay UK Ideal for begginer?
« Reply #7 on: July 04, 2019, 09:06:46 pm »
I have a Tektronix 576 curve tracer to really check transistors but I have two of these inexpensive gizmos on the bench.
I end up using them more than the curve tracer or the ESR meter or the LCR meter.

They are great for a quick check and identifying unknown components.
They also make  mistakes and if the measurement needs to done better that is when I go to the real proper instrument.

I bought both without the case so I can solder surface mount devices on the board to test them (one has a few pads designed for that), also soldered miniclips (as shown in the ebay listing for your transistor) using a good length of wirewrap wire on the other. Very handy.
They are cheap ($15-20) and do vary in capability and programming versions.

So, yes, I would recommend one or two of these for someone starting up in the field.

« Last Edit: July 04, 2019, 09:12:25 pm by richnormand »
Repair, Renew, Reuse, Recycle, Rebuild, Reduce, Recover, Repurpose, Restore, Refurbish, Recondition, Renovate
 

Offline Mr.B

  • Supporter
  • ****
  • Posts: 1249
  • Country: nz
Re: Cheap component tester Ebay UK Ideal for begginer?
« Reply #8 on: July 04, 2019, 09:11:18 pm »
These types of testers are widely discussed in this 230 page thread: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/$20-lcr-esr-transistor-checker-project/
Where are we going, and why are we in a handbasket?
 

Offline vinlove

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 518
Re: Cheap component tester Ebay UK Ideal for begginer?
« Reply #9 on: July 06, 2019, 02:27:57 pm »
I have a tester similar to that one shown on eBay. I think I paid about  20£ a few year ago.
 Haven't used for a while.  Need to replace the battery.

It works well.

« Last Edit: July 06, 2019, 04:17:39 pm by vinlove »
 

Offline Vtile

  • Super Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 1146
  • Country: fi
  • Ingineer
Re: Cheap component tester Ebay UK Ideal for begginer?
« Reply #10 on: July 06, 2019, 08:58:44 pm »
These types of testers are widely discussed in this 230 page thread: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/$20-lcr-esr-transistor-checker-project/
Yep. There is also one of the project authors on that thread frequently discussing about the testers floating on the market.
 

Offline vinlove

  • Frequent Contributor
  • **
  • Posts: 518
Re: Cheap component tester Ebay UK Ideal for begginer?
« Reply #11 on: July 06, 2019, 11:13:01 pm »
I just took out mine from the drawer, and it is MK-328.
I have had it for about 5-6 years, and still works great.
 


Share me

Digg  Facebook  SlashDot  Delicious  Technorati  Twitter  Google  Yahoo
Smf