Nice work!
Well I went into this thread once again, this time because I was having problems updating my ST42 so it's funny that you say "hope you are the only unlucky guy who has this problem" because I'd like to introduce myself: Hi, I'm another unlucky guy, it seems :/ I'm getting exactly the same error, and I'm not really happy to hear it's a hardware problem. Is replacing the chip the only solution?
EDIT2: I would like to add that I remember updating the firmware when I was having the screen glitches (which I also reported here). And I don't remember the process giving me errors that time. Maybe this is not necessarily a hardware problem (in my unit at least) but rather that the sofware gives the same error under different conditions (including faulty hardware).
EDIT3: Ok, "solved" the issue and I'd like to keep a record here despite being a very silly mistake from my part. Apparently the intimidating error shown by the updater is the same in case of any problem communicating with the device. In my case it was either a driver issue or a cable issue, because changing the cable and usb port I got it to work.
BUT I also got the same error during one attempt in which I didn't enter into bootloader mode correctly. The COM port appeared on my computer but it wasn't in *actual* bootloader mode.
So I'd like to leave this post here as a warning for others: Even if you get the same error, it does not mean it's a hardware error. As obvious as it is now, the firmware updater will give the same error in any case in which the device is not responding back.
@Shannon how difficult do you think it would be to implement a special electrolytic capacitor testing mode? Electrolytic caps are polarized, and thus the correct way to test them is (I think) to bias the test signal to the Vpp/2 level, so that it always stays above zero instead of the standard AC signal of +/- Vpp/2.
I'm not sure what difference it will make though, but it just seems to me that applying a reverse polarity voltage to electrolytic caps, even if low and only for a half period, isn't quite right -- might be from the cap damage or the measurement precision perspective, or both. There are some LCR meters that implement this biased signal mode, e.g. East Tester ET432/433. I'm not able to find any good info on this topic, only vague suggestions that it's "better" to test the electrolytics with a positively biased signal, and it gives better precision.
No need to wait any longer, just update your tweezers right now.
Is there a new firmware release? Your website still says 2023/5.
Just upload the new firmware a momenta ago, the website information has not been update.
And there are some other modification is under processing.
Any info about ESR table or calibration ?
Hey Shannon, any update regarding the newer firmware? The OTA tool still downloads the older firmware, and the website also says 5/23.
Also, it's probably a good idea to add Shannon ST42 Tweezers to this thread title by now. 😉
@Shannon how difficult do you think it would be to implement a special electrolytic capacitor testing mode? Electrolytic caps are polarized, and thus the correct way to test them is (I think) to bias the test signal to the Vpp/2 level, so that it always stays above zero instead of the standard AC signal of +/- Vpp/2.
I'm not sure what difference it will make though, but it just seems to me that applying a reverse polarity voltage to electrolytic caps, even if low and only for a half period, isn't quite right -- might be from the cap damage or the measurement precision perspective, or both. There are some LCR meters that implement this biased signal mode, e.g. East Tester ET432/433. I'm not able to find any good info on this topic, only vague suggestions that it's "better" to test the electrolytics with a positively biased signal, and it gives better precision.
It would be great to have that.
Also, as I was looking for a LCR Tweezer before Tautech told me about Shannon's one, here is the LCR-MPA function table, which I think may be added for some of them (the blue one would be great ) ?
However, as a low-power high-precision device, ST42 is basically unlikely to provide a higher DC bias, because the operating voltage of the core device is 3.3V.
Could you give us more details about your idea?
ST42 has the independent ESR measurement mode, so what does the ESR table mean?
Does it mean if ST42 show a ESR measurement table after testing many DUT?
However, as a low-power high-precision device, ST42 is basically unlikely to provide a higher DC bias, because the operating voltage of the core device is 3.3V.
Well, my point was about implementing DC bias that's not high or adjustable (even though that would be nice to have), but only just so high as to shift the test signal above zero, so that it does not change polarity, which, as I assumed, might make sense for electrolytic caps.
Maximum Vpp swing of the test signal in the capacitance mode is only 1.0 V, so it's swinging from -500 mV to +500 mV. With a DC bias of +500 mV it would swing from 0 V to +1.0 V. That should still be well within the capabilities of the device operating at 3.3 V.
As it is now, electrolytic caps are tested with a signal that changes between forward and reverse polarity every half cycle. The level is probably too low to damage the capacitor under test, but my concern was about whether it's ok to use signal with alternating polarity to measure polarized caps (which by definition should never be reverse biased). Maybe it is, I don't know. But there's probably a reason why some LCR meters have dedicated modes for electrolytic caps.
Could you give us more details about your idea?
ST42 has the independent ESR measurement mode, so what does the ESR table mean?
Does it mean if ST42 show a ESR measurement table after testing many DUT?
I don't know if it would be a great addition, because in MPA: we have to set the capacitor voltage manually to have this rejection value, and this is not very convenient IMO.
That's why I have not pointed it out on my previous message
But all other ideas I have put in blue would great addition to the ST42
Do you have the whole user manual?
BTW, another batch of Curved Tweezer Tips has been produced and we have added the option of the ST42+ Elbow Tweezer Tip Kit in the shannon tweezers store
Is there a US seller of these?
Is there a US seller of these?
No, they're only sold directly by the manufacturer.
Is there a US seller of these?
No, they're only sold directly by the manufacturer.Incorrect.
Knowing the high value and usefulness of SMD tweezers after nearly 2 decades of use, Shannon is open to supplying ST42 in bulk to us for marketing in NZ at comparable pricing to AliExpress.
I'm amazed someone in the US doesn't also see what we do and has negotiated with Shannon for local supply.