Author Topic: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design  (Read 304879 times)

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Offline koogar

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #75 on: March 25, 2014, 01:37:52 pm »
Try now JoeO

I compressed it as a ZIP, the files are also updated.

I had to rename the extention as ZIP as the forum doesnt allow RAR files. This works fine with WinRAR but windows extracter may not like it.

Thanks
Rupert
Hey Guys

Here are the PCB files for a through hole version .


Eagle PCB Files Attached

Cheers

Rupert

I have downloaded and attempted to extract the files on 2 different systems.  They both indicate that the zip file is empty.
 

Offline koogar

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #76 on: March 25, 2014, 01:44:42 pm »
Hi Guys,

I had some time over the weekend to etch my through hole PCB design, and calibrate a scale.
The more observant may notice the Easter Egg on the scale ;) ( Mr Jones may have a chuckle)



Looks as if it works great, thanks Jay for sharing :)

Now I just need to make an enclosure.

PS. The missing 2.2uf caps on the picture are SMD mounted, underneath the PCB


Thanks

Rupert
« Last Edit: March 25, 2014, 02:22:02 pm by koogar »
 
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Offline akis

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #77 on: March 25, 2014, 02:00:18 pm »
In terms of compactness and size for a through hole your design beats the pants off whatever I can make. Can you please tell me how you designed it?
 

Offline JoeO

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #78 on: March 25, 2014, 02:04:31 pm »
Try now JoeO

I compressed it as a ZIP, the files are also updated.

I had to rename the extention as ZIP as the forum doesnt allow RAR files. This works fine with WinRAR but windows extracter may not like it.

Thanks
Rupert
THANK YOU!  I can unzip it now.
JoeO
The day Al Gore was born there were 7,000 polar bears on Earth.
Today, only 26,000 remain.
 

Offline koogar

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #79 on: March 25, 2014, 02:19:38 pm »

In terms of compactness and size for a through hole your design beats the pants off whatever I can make. Can you please tell me how you designed it?

About a day laying it out in Eagle PCB based off Jays's Schematic :)

I was pretty happy with the layout size wise, but I am sure there are plenty in here that would think I wasted a lot of PCB material ;)

I may have another go at it using smaller resistors, to get it down to 50 x 50mm  for iTeads cheap PCB service.

I also made the meter scale in Eagle PCB, after all it is CAD.

Cheers

Rupert
 

Offline Jay_Diddy_BTopic starter

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #80 on: March 25, 2014, 02:32:26 pm »
Hi group, :clap:

It is nice to see other people successfully building the meter  :clap:

I had designed a thru-hole version of the board. I never built the thru-hole version.

This is my design:



The dimensions are 3.00 x 1.75 inches (75 x 44mm)

The 7805 can be replaced by the 78L05, this saves a lot of space. This layout is single sided. If you use itead you can use both sides and vias.


Regards,

Jay_Diddy_B
« Last Edit: March 25, 2014, 02:34:04 pm by Jay_Diddy_B »
 

Offline koogar

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #81 on: March 25, 2014, 02:39:07 pm »
Hi group, :clap:

It is nice to see other people successfully building the meter  :clap:

I had designed a thru-hole version of the board. I never built the thru-hole version.

The dimensions are 3.00 x 1.75 inches (75 x 44mm)

The 7805 can be replaced by the 78L05, this saves a lot of space. This layout is single sided. If you use itead you can use both sides and vias.


Regards,

Jay_Diddy_B

WOW! that's weird, Jay_Diddy_B

your dimensions are exactly the same as the PCB I designed give or take a  mm
 

Offline w2aew

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #82 on: March 25, 2014, 03:19:45 pm »
Hi Guys,

I had some time over the weekend to etch my through hole PCB design, and calibrate a scale.
The more observant may notice the Easter Egg on the scale ;) ( Mr Jones may have a chuckle)



Looks as if it works great, thanks Jay for sharing :)

Now I just need to make an enclosure.

PS. The missing 2.2uf caps on the picture are SMD mounted, underneath the PCB


Thanks

Rupert

Love the Easter egg(s) on the meter scale.  Thanks Doc!
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Online BravoV

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #83 on: March 25, 2014, 03:43:50 pm »
Rupert, aesthetically, that is one lovely pcb work you've done there, thanks for sharing.   :clap:

Also really love the idea using a printed paper for the silkscreen for a single sided through hole electronic project, definitely will adopt this idea for my next one.  :-+
« Last Edit: March 25, 2014, 03:45:50 pm by BravoV »
 

Offline koogar

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #84 on: March 26, 2014, 10:40:44 pm »
Looks like we made it on to Dangerous Prototypes :P

http://dangerousprototypes.com/2014/03/26/dr-browns-capacitor-esr-tester/

I was also thinking something like these student lab meters would make an excellent meter/enclosure, with the correct meter sensitivity




Cheers

Rupert
« Last Edit: March 27, 2014, 02:37:17 am by koogar »
 

Offline at2marty

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #85 on: April 04, 2014, 04:54:17 pm »
Just a quick question.

I've been researching a lot of different DIY ESR builds, and have decided to give this one a try.  My question is, would  2N2222 work in place of the 2N3904 transistors?  From what I can tell from the data sheets, they seem pretty similar.  The reason that I ask is I have a ton of 2N2222's sitting in my parts box.
 

Offline dannyf

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #86 on: April 04, 2014, 05:39:24 pm »
Quote
I had some time over the weekend to etch my through hole PCB design, and calibrate a scale.

Nicely done.

Here is one way you can tell if the meter is accurate.

1) pick a cap (any cap), take a ESR reading off your meter;
2) put a known resistor (1ohm or 0.47ohm for example) in serial with the cap used in 1), take another ESR reading off your meter;
3) the difference between the two readings should be the value of that known resistor.
================================
https://dannyelectronics.wordpress.com/
 

Offline Jay_Diddy_BTopic starter

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #87 on: April 04, 2014, 09:21:29 pm »
Just a quick question.

I've been researching a lot of different DIY ESR builds, and have decided to give this one a try.  My question is, would  2N2222 work in place of the 2N3904 transistors?  From what I can tell from the data sheets, they seem pretty similar.  The reason that I ask is I have a ton of 2N2222's sitting in my parts box.

Yes, you can use 2N2222, BC548 will work for European constructors, for the npn transistors.

2N2907 or BC558 etc. will work for the PNP transistor.

Regards,

Jay_Diddy_B

 

Offline at2marty

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #88 on: April 04, 2014, 10:47:12 pm »
Just a quick question.

I've been researching a lot of different DIY ESR builds, and have decided to give this one a try.  My question is, would  2N2222 work in place of the 2N3904 transistors?  From what I can tell from the data sheets, they seem pretty similar.  The reason that I ask is I have a ton of 2N2222's sitting in my parts box.

Yes, you can use 2N2222, BC548 will work for European constructors, for the npn transistors.

2N2907 or BC558 etc. will work for the PNP transistor.

Regards,

Jay_Diddy_B

Thank you very much for the answer Jay_Diddy_B!  I have been re-drawing the circuit with the parts that I plan to use.  I haven't deviated much except for the power supply portion (and the NPN transistors).  I am planning on using a L4931-50 regulator since a) I have some on hand and b) it has a bit smaller form factor.  I believe that I found a suitable meter so I can work out what resistor value I need for the final stage.

I plan on sharing my design so that others can try it out.  I would really like the 4 wire option to be included in this project.  I need to do some more research to determine what I need to add in order to accomplish this.  Rest assured, you and R. Hirst will be given the credit that you deserve.  That's part of the beauty of Open Source!  Thank you so much for all that you contribute.   :-+

I really like your other design, and I would attempt it, but my old eyes and shaky hands scare me when it comes to SMD stuff.  The way that you presented the design and showed the Spice models is truly impressive.  Please keep this up because us old geeks really dig this stuff.   :-+
 

Offline koogar

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #89 on: April 05, 2014, 01:43:42 pm »
Good luck with your build at2marty :P

I just finished the my enclosure.



As usual the enclosure becomes the hardest part of the project!




« Last Edit: April 05, 2014, 01:56:28 pm by koogar »
 

Offline at2marty

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #90 on: April 06, 2014, 11:15:55 am »
Very nice koogar!  :-+
 

Offline XombyCraft

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #91 on: August 04, 2014, 01:45:57 am »
Gahhhh... why is it so hard to find 1n5711's in my random e-waste board pile?  How terrible would it be to use 1n4148?
Your Flux Capacitor has nothing on my Oscillation Overthruster, monkey boy!
 

Offline XombyCraft

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #92 on: October 03, 2014, 07:00:36 pm »
Hi group,

The deflection of the meter versus ESR comes from the properties of the unbalanced bridge circuit used in the design. You can adjust the resistor values in the lower legs of the bridge to bend the meter response.

This is an LTspice model that illustrates the effect of changing the resistor value. I have normalized the models to show 0-100% deflection.



These are the results for 1,3 and 10 Ohms:



3 Ohms was chosen the design to give the best scale on the meter, for the majority of applications.

Most electrolytic capacitors have an ESR less than 20 Ohms, if they are good.

Note: this model does not include the non-linearity introduced by the 1N5711 diodes.

It is not easy to adapt the circuit for a 1mA meter.



Jay_Diddy_B

For this part you're talking about R10, right?
Your Flux Capacitor has nothing on my Oscillation Overthruster, monkey boy!
 

Offline m3vuv

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #93 on: March 01, 2016, 03:02:13 am »
hi is there a black and white version of the pcb artwork,as having it in color makes it imposible to use the toner transfer method of making the pcb,cheers Paul.
 

Offline Jay_Diddy_BTopic starter

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #94 on: March 01, 2016, 03:29:40 am »
hi is there a black and white version of the pcb artwork,as having it in color makes it imposible to use the toner transfer method of making the pcb,cheers Paul.

Are you looking for the SMD version or the thru-hole version?

I can make them available.

Regards,

Jay_Diddy_B
 

Offline Jay_Diddy_BTopic starter

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #95 on: March 01, 2016, 03:47:47 am »
Hi,

Here is the pdf file for toner transfer. I have mirrored the image, so it is ready to use.

I have indicated the size in the file.

This is the SMD version.

Regards,

Jay_Diddy_B

« Last Edit: March 01, 2016, 03:51:14 am by Jay_Diddy_B »
 

Offline Jay_Diddy_BTopic starter

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #96 on: March 01, 2016, 04:05:58 am »
Hi,

Here is the thru hole version.

It matches the layout in this message:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/5-transistor-esr-meter-design/msg412753/#msg412753

I have removed the copper pour and replaced it with a ground trace. It should make the board easier to make.


It is ready to go.

Regards,

Jay_Diddy_B


 

Offline m3vuv

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #97 on: March 01, 2016, 07:05:59 am »
cheers i was after the thru hole version,cheers Paul.m3vuv
 

Offline m3vuv

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #98 on: March 01, 2016, 07:37:38 am »
thought the copper pour was better tbh,uses less etchant,is the image mirrored and ready to print and iron on?,cheers.
 

Offline mauroh

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Re: 5 Transistor ESR Meter Design
« Reply #99 on: March 01, 2016, 10:25:00 am »
Attached you can find my Eagle design of the through hole version.
I just made few changes to the Jay_Diddy_B Design of R.Hirst Design (I left all the names on the silkscreen :)).

The idea was to have a super easy layout that can be toner transferred and also built on a veroboard, since all the holes are on a 100mil grid as the traces.

I have't build it as I ended up building the M12864 DIY Kit instead (http://www.banggood.com/it/DIY-M12864-Graphics-Version-Transistor-Tester-Kit-LCR-ESR-PWM-p-986954.html), but please let me know if you will build it (post pictures...) and if you have any suggestions.
The attached PDF is mirrored to be toner transferred.
Do not scale it and verify the print dimension against the measurement (70*43mm)

Can someone explain me why you prefer to build this analog version instead of the microcontroller one?
That kit came with a nice PCB, the micro already programmed (if this is your issue), a case is available, it can measure capacitance, ESR with 0.01ohm resolution, it can test also BJTs, MOS… and you can find a great support in this tread:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/$20-lcr-esr-transistor-checker-project/

Mauro

Edit: To answer my question, reading Jay_Diddy_B early posts: "In my design, I wanted to see if I could do something useful with a few transistors"
         Well you actually did it great  :-+ and thank you for sharing it.

Edit:Do not use files with version below 1.3. There was a mistake in the routing.
« Last Edit: February 20, 2019, 10:57:22 am by mauroh »
 


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