Author Topic: $20 LCR ESR Transistor checker project (Read 3452112 times)

bmht · « **Reply #2250 on:** July 23, 2016, 02:16:07 am »

I will try to program the chip based on what I have already read with an USBASP

I got a question if anyone knows
it is really necessary to use a 8 Mhz Crystal for program the chip with the USBASP? The only one I got now is the one on the component tester and I have to desolder that to be able to program the chip, then solder back again again to test and so on.

Or I can desolder the Crystal and solder a 16 Mhz Crystal in the tester? I do have spare 16 Mhz Crystals.
But from where I live there is no electronics shops open for the weekend so I will have to wait until next Monday or go through the soldering desodering procedure.

Thanks
Belen

bmht · « **Reply #2251 on:** July 23, 2016, 02:18:57 am »

Sorry about this
I just looked that I removed the Atmel chip and the tester flickered the same just turn on the display while I had the rotary encoder button pressed.
So it's the same behavior with chip or without chip inserted

Maybe the chip is blank?
I will try to reprogram and let you all know about the results
Thanks anyhow
Belen

Hydrawerk · « **Reply #2252 on:** July 23, 2016, 02:57:04 am »

Well, I prefer a simple two-line LCD with a HD44780 controller. It can be easily replaced when broken. I hope that a LCD with HD44780 will be available almost forever.

dimitrov2000 · « **Reply #2253 on:** July 23, 2016, 05:14:20 am »

"Often this problem is the reason, if the tester starts with the
button hold pressed, but switch o directly by releasing. The problem is enforced by a high
current background light for the LCD. The resistor R7 to the base of the PNP transistor T3 was
optimized with the value 27k
too much to save power consuming. To improve the switching
with lower battery voltage or lower current amplication factor of the PNP transistor T3, you
should reduce the resistance to 3:3k." Quote from the 1.1.1 manual

Willem52 · « **Reply #2254 on:** July 23, 2016, 07:35:13 am »

@bmht: As earlier written: It seems that some of these kits are delivered with a blank chip!
I wrote the seller what the effect was with it and I got a free replacement chip, which works.

To program the chip yourself, see the original readout program files here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/$20-lcr-esr-transistor-checker-project/msg969074/#msg969074

bmht · « **Reply #2255 on:** July 23, 2016, 12:31:36 pm »

Dear all

The tester doesn't turn not. When I press the rotary button the LCD lits and as soon as I release the button it turns off.
I tried to reprogram the chip using the files from mega328_st7565_kit (the last ones on the site).
TransistorTester.eep dated 4/21/2016
TransistorTester.hex dated 7/9/2016

but I do not know it it was success or not here is my result.

C:\AVR>avrdude -c usbasp -p m328p -F -B 4.0 -e -U flash:w:"TransistorTester.hex"
:i -U eeprom:w:"TransistorTester.eep":i -U lfuse:w:0xF7:m -U hfuse:w:0xD9:m -U e
fuse:w:0x04:m

avrdude: set SCK frequency to 187500 Hz
avrdude: warning: cannot set sck period. please check for usbasp firmware update
.
avrdude: AVR device initialized and ready to accept instructions

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 0.01s

avrdude: Device signature = 0x1e950f
avrdude: erasing chip
avrdude: set SCK frequency to 187500 Hz
avrdude: warning: cannot set sck period. please check for usbasp firmware update
.
avrdude: reading input file "TransistorTester.hex"
avrdude: writing flash (29952 bytes):

Writing | ################################################## | 100% 20.10s

avrdude: 29952 bytes of flash written
avrdude: verifying flash memory against TransistorTester.hex:
avrdude: load data flash data from input file TransistorTester.hex:
avrdude: input file TransistorTester.hex contains 29952 bytes
avrdude: reading on-chip flash data:

Reading | ################################################## | 100% 15.55s

avrdude: verifying ...
avrdude: verification error, first mismatch at byte 0x0000
0x00 != 0x2d
avrdude: verification error; content mismatch

avrdude: safemode: lfuse changed! Was f7, and is now 8c
Would you like this fuse to be changed back? [y/n] n
avrdude: safemode: hfuse changed! Was df, and is now 0
Would you like this fuse to be changed back? [y/n] n
avrdude: safemode: efuse changed! Was 1, and is now 6
Would you like this fuse to be changed back? [y/n] n
avrdude: safemode: Fuses OK (E:01, HF, L:F7)

avrdude done. Thank you.

I got a spare blank chip. do you think I should try with that one? In case it doesn't work will I be able to reprogram my spare for use with arduino?

I'm sorry to be this cheap but where I live those chips are not easy to come by and bringing them in here is expensive.

Thank you all for your help
Belen

Strada916 · « **Reply #2256 on:** July 23, 2016, 01:05:06 pm »

Looking at the error feedback. Looks like clock speed is not right.

I'm no expert. It's just what I see in your post.

Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk

stj · « **Reply #2257 on:** July 23, 2016, 01:07:24 pm »

http://www.badcaps.net/forum/showpost.php?p=674892&postcount=519

replied to your other post.

dimitrov2000 · « **Reply #2258 on:** July 23, 2016, 01:45:50 pm »

Quote from: madires on July 20, 2016, 06:19:08 pm

Please read section "2.2.4 Frequency Measurement" in Karl-Heinz' documentation. There's a nice circuit you'll need for the frequency counter. The manufacturer of your clone enabled the frequency counter in the firmware without adding the necessary circuitry.

Thanks man, I build the circuit and I'm just about to test as soon as I find good variable frequency source.
By the way, does anyone knows what is the variable potentiometer for?

Strada916 · « **Reply #2259 on:** July 23, 2016, 01:49:51 pm »

Quote from: dimitrov2000 on July 23, 2016, 01:45:50 pm

Quote from: madires on July 20, 2016, 06:19:08 pm
Please read section "2.2.4 Frequency Measurement" in Karl-Heinz' documentation. There's a nice circuit you'll need for the frequency counter. The manufacturer of your clone enabled the frequency counter in the firmware without adding the necessary circuitry.

Thanks man, I build the circuit and I'm just about to test as soon as I find good variable frequency source.
By the way, does anyone knows what is the variable potentiometer for?

Screen contrast?

Sent from my SM-G925I using Tapatalk

dimitrov2000 · « **Reply #2260 on:** July 23, 2016, 01:51:59 pm »

It seems no. I tried it very carefully but nothing happens.
I'm afraid to try it harder because it can be some calibration...

tom666 · « **Reply #2261 on:** July 23, 2016, 01:55:12 pm »

Quote from: bmht on July 23, 2016, 12:31:36 pm

... I tried to reprogram the chip using the files from mega328_st7565_kit ...

For your tester (with TFT display) is designed firmware in the folder "mega328_color_kit".
You can use the firmware from the attached zip file.

madires · « **Reply #2262 on:** July 23, 2016, 02:28:39 pm »

Quote from: dimitrov2000 on July 23, 2016, 01:51:59 pm

It seems no. I tried it very carefully but nothing happens.
I'm afraid to try it harder because it can be some calibration...

All self-adjustment is done in software. The only reason for a potentiometer would be the display, if it doesn't got a software controlled contrast.

dimitrov2000 · « **Reply #2263 on:** July 23, 2016, 02:33:28 pm »

It does have software contrast adjustment. That's why I wonder.
Judging by the trace in the unit's back (my second picture few posts above)
it seems to be related to the display. Maybe the background light,
but it does nothing....

stj · « **Reply #2264 on:** July 23, 2016, 02:53:41 pm »

it's an old design board - probably originally fitted with a character display.

maxcombor · « **Reply #2265 on:** July 23, 2016, 11:50:04 pm »

To bmht answer , i was order three peaces , same like yours (all of them came with a same simptoms) and all 3 are with a blank atmega 328 ,reprogram with a "mega328_color_kit" firmware and all is ok .

vinceroger · « **Reply #2266 on:** July 24, 2016, 09:21:16 am »

Quote from: maxcombor on July 23, 2016, 11:50:04 pm

To bmht answer , i was order three peaces , same like yours (all of them came with a same simptoms) and all 3 are with a blank atmega 328 ,reprogram with a "mega328_color_kit" firmware and all is ok .

have you got a link to the firmware you found that worked ok for these testers.

maxcombor · « **Reply #2267 on:** July 24, 2016, 09:55:14 am »

The official link is down from yesterday

Here in attachment you have all you need.

maxcombor · « **Reply #2268 on:** July 24, 2016, 10:14:02 am »

And if you like to cook your version here is complete trunk folder (last version), i`m changed to 16mhz and direction of rotary encoder ,works perfect. Because maximum single file size for upload is 1Mb i was splited in three peaces ,just remove .jpg extension and open with winrar or winzip ,leave only trunk.z01 ,trunk.z02 , trunk.z03

tom666 · « **Reply #2269 on:** July 24, 2016, 10:38:49 am »

SVN repository (mirror on github):
https://github.com/svn2github/transistortester
Download:
https://github.com/svn2github/transistortester/archive/master.zip

vinceroger · « **Reply #2270 on:** July 24, 2016, 11:25:01 am »

Regarding the programming now we are seeing there are a lot of the kits being sold with blank ics theres going to be a lot of people unsure how to programme them, it would be great if someone had the time too upload a video/guide with step by step instructions on how to use avrdude/USBASP and add the hex files etc check the fuses and programme the ic solely to programme these esr testers as a lot of newbies like myself have probably never done programming, i have been looking for a good video guide with step by step instructions but have not found a good one.

madires · « **Reply #2271 on:** July 24, 2016, 11:50:24 am »

I think, such a how-to-program-my-transistor-tester video for beginners should be done by a beginner, because he's got the best point of view for the issues and things important to beginners. For me it's just plugging in the programming cable and a "make upload".

Willem52 · « **Reply #2272 on:** July 24, 2016, 01:02:29 pm »

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tom666 · « **Reply #2273 on:** July 24, 2016, 01:02:54 pm »

@vinceroger
LCR ESR Transistor checker error and reprogram

JoeO · « **Reply #2274 on:** July 24, 2016, 04:35:01 pm »

Quote from: Willem52 on July 24, 2016, 01:02:29 pm

To get real cheap atmega328pu IC's, try:
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Author Topic: $20 LCR ESR Transistor checker project (Read 3452112 times)

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