$20 LCR ESR Transistor checker project

[madires]

I need help guys in figuring out whats wrong, i have one of these LCR ESR Transistor checker with case, very handy gadget, till one day i accidentaly dropped it, screen cracked so i looked for a replacement 12864 lcd module, bought a bigger size lcd bec i cant find exact size, and when i hooked it up to the characters are inverted, photos attached, thanks in advance...

You need to compile the firmware with options set to match your display. There are options to flip x and y.

[papabol_24]

I need help guys in figuring out whats wrong, i have one of these LCR ESR Transistor checker with case, very handy gadget, till one day i accidentaly dropped it, screen cracked so i looked for a replacement 12864 lcd module, bought a bigger size lcd bec i cant find exact size, and when i hooked it up to the characters are inverted, photos attached, thanks in advance...

You need to compile the firmware with options set to match your display. There are options to flip x and y.

Oh , thanks very much @madires, ive been doing back reading & thanks to your hard work guys there are firmwares that i can try to work on to, just woried though bec my minipro TL866A (Converted from CS to A Thanks to this forum ) cannot read this through ICSP, gonna give it a try tomorow, Thanks again 

[tom666]

FYI

Hello friends,
recently, the author of the software (Karl-Heinz Kübbeler (kubi48)) working intensively on its improvement Proof of this is a new function that extend the testing of small capacitors (<100pF) by use of a sampling mode for the ADC converter. Extend the resolution of measurement is about 0.01pF. To enable this new functionality is necessary to enable in the Makefile this setting "WITH_SamplingADC = 1". It is designed only for M328 and higher MCUs.

Bye
Tomas

[papabol_24]

I need help guys in figuring out whats wrong, i have one of these LCR ESR Transistor checker with case, very handy gadget, till one day i accidentaly dropped it, screen cracked so i looked for a replacement 12864 lcd module, bought a bigger size lcd bec i cant find exact size, and when i hooked it up to the characters are inverted, photos attached, thanks in advance...

You need to compile the firmware with options set to match your display. There are options to flip x and y.

Oh , thanks very much @madires, ive been doing back reading & thanks to your hard work guys there are firmwares that i can try to work on to, just woried though bec my minipro TL866A (Converted from CS to A Thanks to this forum ) cannot read this through ICSP, gonna give it a try tomorow, Thanks again 

Hello guys, i just flashed my Fish8840 with case tester with "ComponentTester-trendy-1.18m" by Markus, just as @madires said that i have to look for options how to flip the display to work with my LCD module replacement, so i edited config.h, after flashing the display worked properly but the tester is measruring the battery voltage as 16volts and it goes into a probe loop, so now i will try flashing my tester with other firmwares on this thread and il report back, thanks.

[tom666]

Original voltage divider for battery voltage measurement is 10k and 3.3k.
By contrast, the tester Fish8840 used divider with values 47K and 47K.

Note:
Please, use the "quotes" wisely.

[papabol_24]

Thanks @tom666 , found a working firmware for my Fish8840 tester here:
http://www.mikrocontroller.net/svnbrowser/transistortester/Software/trunk/

I dont know why but the 680ohm resistor inline with the MISO pin opened up, Thanks for the guidance guys

[tom666]

Edit:
Use this actual firmware for the Fish8840 Tester:
Fish8840_v1.12k_r554.zip

[papabol_24]

@tom666, the new firmware you provided works  , nice bold like font too, il do further testing after i replace the open 680ohm ressitor and report back thanks a lot....

[tom666]

I'm glad

[indman]

Friends, Karl-Heinz Kübbeler added the very useful and significant changes to fresh audits of a firmware!
Changes concerned the accuracy of samplings of capacities to 100pf. One of participants of the forum mikrocontroller.net suggested to add in makefile a line "WITH_SamplingADC = 1" that increases permission in this range to 0,01pf. Measurement needs to be done on TP1-TP3 pins.
One more addition - the author realized correction of indications of "big" capacities in the additional menu! There was a "Cap correction" point. Values can be changed from-2.0% to +8.0%.

[papabol_24]

Hello, fully tested the newest firmware from tom666 for my fish8840 tester and its realy great  , i have another tester waiting to be picked up in the post, its also fish8840 but with black case, thanks guys...

[madires]

Friends, Karl-Heinz Kübbeler added the very useful and significant changes to fresh audits of a firmware!
Changes concerned the accuracy of samplings of capacities to 100pf. One of participants of the forum mikrocontroller.net suggested to add in makefile a line "WITH_SamplingADC = 1" that increases permission in this range to 0,01pf. Measurement needs to be done on TP1-TP3 pins.

The additional measurement for low capacitance was submitted by PA3FWM. There will be also one for low inductance (based on a resonant circuit with a parallel known C). The problem is that the firmware with both new features and support for a graphic LCD module will exceed the flash size limit of the ATmega328. The classic HD44780 testers should be fine (for some time). Anyway, we're heading to the 644/1284 to allow new features and options. On my todo list is support for touchscreens which requires some additional I/O pins, the 328 doesn't have.

BTW, the low capacitance measurement is very sensible to probe wires and ZIFs/test sockets. Karl-Heinz mentioned that the difference between an opened and closed ZIF is about 0.6pF and that probe wires are a no-go.

[Electro Fan]

Sorry for taking the thread off topic for a short detour on the immediate local road but I've been watching this thread for a while as it progresses toward 100 pages....

Any chance that this particular product might be a reasonable contender?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Small-12864-LCD-Transistor-Capacitance-ESR-Meter-Diode-Triode-MOS-LCR-NPN/171815404897?_trksid=p2046732.c100040.m2060&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140107095009%26meid%3D4bf4a0d9d5fe4256add580abc3381565%26pid%3D100040%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D171815404897

Or is there something similar (already built, not a kit) that might be a better gift for a student to use as a simple component tester?  Just looking for something that gives hands-on experience / feedback / measurements on a variety of components.  Thx

[Overtuner]

The problem is that the firmware with both new features and support for a graphic LCD module will exceed the flash size limit of the ATmega328. The classic HD44780 testers should be fine (for some time). Anyway, we're heading to the 644/1284 to allow new features and options. On my todo list is support for touchscreens which requires some additional I/O pins, the 328 doesn't have.

644/1284 because of the 20MHz clock? - well done, it improves the felt speed with higher resolution displays on old-school-8bit-mcu's 
the bad thing with them ist the restriction to TQFP-44.

BTW, the low capacitance measurement is very sensible to probe wires and ZIFs/test sockets. Karl-Heinz mentioned that the difference between an opened and closed ZIF is about 0.6pF and that probe wires are a no-go.

to solve this, I'd recommend to "duplicate" the circuitry for the three test pins, one set on ZIF, the other on wires.
most well designed self-made testers have already a ZIF (or other 3pin) socket AND probe wires on 2mm banana jacks.

[Messtechniker]

the bad thing with them ist the restriction to TQFP-44.

??
As far as I can see there are DIL40 644s and 1284s.

[Electro Fan]

not sure if these were posted previously; if not they might be helpful

Battery Life Improvement Mod:


General Review:

[Overtuner]

the bad thing with them ist the restriction to TQFP-44.

??
As far as I can see there are DIL40 644s and 1284s.

of course, yes.
but who wants to have such large bricks of plastics? 

if I had a wish for free - a mega256, with 25MHz, integrated USB like the U4 - within a TQFP-64 

[tom666]

not sure if these were posted previously; if not they might be helpful

Some information (about Fish8840 Tester) has been already published some time ago.
For example:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/$20-lcr-esr-transistor-checker-project/msg639330/#msg639330
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/$20-lcr-esr-transistor-checker-project/msg643885/#msg643885
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/$20-lcr-esr-transistor-checker-project/msg644055/#msg644055
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/$20-lcr-esr-transistor-checker-project/msg644091/#msg644091

In the attached pdf document you will find extracted part from the official manual:
https://www.mikrocontroller.net/svnbrowser/transistortester/Doku/trunk/pdftex/english/

Another option is upgrade to the software by Karl-Heinz Kübbeler:
https://www.mikrocontroller.net/svnbrowser/transistortester/Software/trunk/

Backup of the original firmware in case of restoring the original software is available here:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/$20-lcr-esr-transistor-checker-project/msg639330/#msg639330

Bye
Tomas

[papabol_24]

Hello , aftr a month of waitng i got my 2nd tester from the post office, and when bad luck strikes yay  another cracked screen 

another LCD hunting and i hope this time il get the correct dimensions....

[neslekkim]

Isn't the 12864 LCD fairly standard in size?

[papabol_24]

No @neslekkim, these testers with case (Fish8840) use 12864 lcd,s with dimensions of 46mmx29mm LxW to propperly fit on the viewing window of the case, a ST7565 Driver and a 12 pin flex flat bar solder connection directly soldered on the atmega328 pcb. there are many 12864 lcd modules on ebay and aliexpress but im having trouble finding the right connector and dimension.

[neslekkim]

No @neslekkim, these testers with case (Fish8840) use 12864 lcd,s with dimensions of 46mmx29mm LxW to propperly fit on the viewing window of the case, a ST7565 Driver and a 12 pin flex flat bar solder connection directly soldered on the atmega328 pcb. there are many 12864 lcd modules on ebay and aliexpress but im having trouble finding the right connector and dimension.

Ah, without the frame, I have the earlier types which uses the types with pinheader, but maybe this would be close?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271760155514

And I would guess that if you send a message to the seller about yours, maybe he would provide you new display?

Do you have link to the two you bought?

[papabol_24]

Here you go @neslekkim
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Multi-functional-LCD-Backlight-Transistor-Tester-Diode-Thyristor-Capacitance-ESR-Meter-Tester-LCR-with-Grey-Plastic/32322667293.html

and the firmware posted by tom666 on page 84 works great on this 

[ralphd]

Friends, Karl-Heinz Kübbeler added the very useful and significant changes to fresh audits of a firmware!
Changes concerned the accuracy of samplings of capacities to 100pf. One of participants of the forum mikrocontroller.net suggested to add in makefile a line "WITH_SamplingADC = 1" that increases permission in this range to 0,01pf. Measurement needs to be done on TP1-TP3 pins.

The additional measurement for low capacitance was submitted by PA3FWM. There will be also one for low inductance (based on a resonant circuit with a parallel known C). The problem is that the firmware with both new features and support for a graphic LCD module will exceed the flash size limit of the ATmega328. The classic HD44780 testers should be fine (for some time). Anyway, we're heading to the 644/1284 to allow new features and options. On my todo list is support for touchscreens which requires some additional I/O pins, the 328 doesn't have.

Have you tried avr-gcc 4.9.2 or 5.0 with LTO?  10-20% code size reductions with LTO are fairly common.

[madires]

Have you tried avr-gcc 4.9.2 or 5.0 with LTO?  10-20% code size reductions with LTO are fairly common.

Not yet. My current avr-gcc version is 4.8.1. But thanks for the hint!