$20 LCR ESR Transistor checker project

[moimem]

what do you mean by test at your own risk?

its just a warning since i have only compiled the firmware and coudn't test it, you can always reflash any firmware if something go wrong. My bad for the missing attachement, here is the full firmware with the config files if you want to try compiling it yourselft.

[MaxaM]

moimem THANK YOU!

Firmware tested and working, although I didn't quite understand the main differences with the 1.45m apart from the graphic aspect (honestly as colors and graphics I personally preferred the 1.45m) anyway everything works perfectly and the measurements are correct. Finally I was wondering: among the various firmware versions out there is there any that allows quartz testing? Thank you again for your time.

[madires]

For testing quartz crystals you can run the k-firmware with the SamplingADC feature or get a tester with the extended frequency counter option (e.g. Hiland M644, supported by both OSHW firmwares). BTW, there are many options for the m-firmware to change/optimize the user interface for your needs, including colors.

[vitiv]

Hi I'm new here. After several days reading this thread, I have finally reached the end, with many doubts, different from those before I started reading.
I have a kit on the way from china (supposedly a Mega328 DIP) and just realized I don't know what type of screen it is. Does anyone know how to distinguish them by photo? I attach one.


On the other hand, after following years of answers in the thread, it seems that the m328 is in a terminal state, lack of stock, lack of memory...
Has anyone thought of creating a pcb with all the new options and a mega644/1284? It may be that for all the options there are no entries but it occurs to me to leave one empty and create plug-in modules, for example.

[madires]

You have an AY-AT/GM328A with an ST7735 based display. If the display PCB has an MCU then it's an ST7735 semi-compatible. There are already testers with ATmega644 (e.g. Hiland M644), but please feel free to design a new PCB.

[indman]

There are already testers with ATmega644 (e.g. Hiland M644), but please feel free to design a new PCB.

There is no need to develop a new PCB, since a simple DIP28-TQFP adapter for ATMega644/1284 can be made for this clone.

[vitiv]

You have an AY-AT/GM328A with an ST7735 based display. If the display PCB has an MCU then it's an ST7735 semi-compatible.

Do they only differ by looking at whether it has the MCU? 

There are already testers with ATmega644 (e.g. Hiland M644), but please feel free to design a new PCB.

Yeah, I feel free to design a new PCB, but I haven't designed one in 40 years, what I don't have is the spirit. The Hiland M644 there is no way to get it and your extra options are missing.

There are already testers with ATmega644 (e.g. Hiland M644), but please feel free to design a new PCB.

There is no need to develop a new PCB, since a simple DIP28-TQFP adapter for ATMega644/1284 can be made for this clone.

Yes, I already saw the adapter, but unused pins remain and you have to change the code. If I see myself with strength, surely I will get one to test, but one is already old, sees badly and makes more fatal errors than successes.

[madires]

You have an AY-AT/GM328A with an ST7735 based display. If the display PCB has an MCU then it's an ST7735 semi-compatible.

Do they only differ by looking at whether it has the MCU? 

Both come usually with a 3.3V LDO and a level-shifter. One is a genuine ST7735 display, and the other has an additional MCU to emulate the ST7735.

[MaxaM]

For testing quartz crystals you can run the k-firmware...

About firmware K and related files for compilation (config.h, config_328.h, Makefile) do you have any links where I can retrieve it? I would appreciate it...

[madires]

Source code: https://github.com/kubi48/TransistorTester-source/tree/master/trunk
Dokumentation: https://github.com/kubi48/TransistorTester-documentation
Settings for the k-firmware are all done in the Makefile.

[Fuzzy Star]

...I didn't quite understand the main differences with the 1.45m apart from the graphic aspect (honestly as colors and graphics I personally preferred the 1.45m)

Download the latest firmware source from here:
https://github.com/madires/Transistortester-Warehouse/tree/master/Firmware/m-firmware
Then open the 'changes' file to see the change log of each version.
Also you might open and examine these files to get familiar with the options you have: config_328.h, config.h, Makefile

[MaxaM]

Also you might open and examine these files to get familiar with the options you have: config_328.h, config.h, Makefile

Sorry, honestly I have never edited a Makefile, I would need your help, to activate
SamplingADC for quartz test what should I put in the Makefile?

[madires]

It's already enabled.

[Fuzzy Star]

Sorry, honestly I have never edited a Makefile, I would need your help, to activate
SamplingADC for quartz test what should I put in the Makefile?

Looks like you have a modified makefile. In the original makefile that section looks like this:

Code: [Select]

# Option WITH_XTAL enables additional Xtal / Ceramic resonator tests.
# Option can be set only together with SamplingADC=1 and OP_MHZ=16
#CFLAGS += -DWITH_XTAL
See reply #8784 of Madires above. Download and examine the pdf document and the makefile inside the mega328_GM328 folder. Also examine the readme file inside the m-firmware source. Probably you'll find all the answers and you can learn how to compile, it's not difficult. Then you can experiment with different configuratons and try them on your tester.

[Maniaxx]

Or is it better to buy an assembly kit, and then I can chose  resistors and caps with tighter specs   for more accurate measurements. Like this one: aliexpress.com/item/32706710335.html

I ordered this (12Eur). Shipped to Germany in 9 days. Has 16MHz quartz.

The sellers assembly instructions are on a chinese cloud storage service though that only allows low-quality preview for unregistered users. For assembling its ok but the schematics.pdf (kicad) resolution is too low. I couldn't manage to register there (they request mobile phone number).

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32706710335.html
https://www.jianguoyun.com/p/Df9U95oQweDQCxjm0YcFIAA

Is someone already registered there or can hack it or whatever to get the high resolutions schematics.pdf?

Edit:
1) Is there an overview/gallery somewhere that shows all the alternative icons and font sizes?
2) How to re-flash the Atmega328P DIP without in-circuit ISP? Or in other words, any good advice how to remove the chip easily out of the socket again (without an official pull tool)? I'm planning to put some strings under the chip to carefully lift it up. I once done that on PLCC Bios chips (hotswap flashing).

[madires]

That's an AY-AT/GM328A. You'll find the schematic and more at https://disk.yandex.ru/d/yW8xa5NJgUo5z/M328Kit%2BTFT. We don't have a gallery of all the fonts and symbols. If you like to program the ATmega out of circuit you can use an universal programmer or an ISP programmer plus adapter board.

[vitiv]

Is someone already registered there or can hack it or whatever to get the high resolutions schematics.pdf?
(hotswap flashing).

You have a PM

[Maniaxx]

Please post it as attachment.
Schematic.pdf and pcb.pdf should be sufficient.

[Obelix2007]

Maybe the resolution will help you

[Maniaxx]

Thanks. Its not only about resolution though. Its a clone and who knows if they changed something. Having the "clone specific" source wouldn't be wrong. You never know.

Edit:
When i measure larger caps (100uF) the tester shuts off everytime during detection. It shuts off sometimes with 2.2uF and it works properly on very small caps. What's wrong here? I have enabled colors, symbols, esr and e-values.
Edit2:
Maybe Brown-Out @4.3V? Fuses were set by 'make fuses'.
$ avrdude -c usbasp -P usb -p m328p -B 20 -U lfuse:w:0xf7:m -U hfuse:w:0xd9:m -U efuse:w:0xfc:m

I will try a lower bod.
Edit3:
confirmed, needs lower bod.

m-firm 1.50
gm328a/ay-at 16mhz

[vitiv]

Schematic.pdf and pcb.pdf

[Maniaxx]

Thanks vitiv!

The fixed cap for self-adjustment needs an ADC pin and an I/O pin for the resistor. Therefore it's an option for an ATmega324/644/1284 based tester.

1) No TP_CAP in 'config_328.h'? Isn't the 324 the same as 328?

2) When i just write the flash rom ($ make prog_fw) to keep my 'self-adjustment data' (in EEPROM) i get a 'checksum error' on 'boot screen' and profiles are gone. I'm on #define DATA_FLASH. How can i keep the data after flashing?

[madires]

The ATmega324 has more I/O pins than the ATmega328. Keeping the old profile(s) isn't supported when flashing a changed/new firmware.

[siealex]

A small bug with the E24 resistor series in 1.50m. This series contains "43", in the firmware it's "42".

Open variables.h and find this declaration:
const uint16_t E24_table[NUM_E24] MEM_TYPE = {100, 110, 120, 130, 150, 160, 180, 200, 220, 240, 270, 300, 330, 360, 390, 420, 470, 510, 560, 620, 680, 750, 820, 910};

Change 420 to 430 in this line, save and rebuild.

[majortom]

To everyone who uses my firmware. You can correctly identify JFET pins by looking at smaller Cg= readings ... Sample measurement in the picture...

Hi Yuriy_K,
I have been having fun playing around compiling and testing the different k-firmware, m-firmware.
I have seen you posted some firmware attachments, with .hex, .eep, and a Makefile in a a few posts.
Where would I find your source repository? I'd like to compile it and try it out as well, on this GM328A that I have.
See if I can get your modifications going.

Thanks,
majortom