$20 LCR ESR Transistor checker project

[Szybkijanek]

I haven't any hardware jumper. I guess. I just set software prescaler 1:16 (tip in file "Clones"), tester have soldered 8MHz crystal to ATMega.

[madires]

So problem is when put 7-9MHz and 15-17MHz HF crystal, tester show wrong value (300-800kHz) and when put osc. probe directly to crystal during the measurement scope show correctly value. There is something with the wrong reading. Can anyone check it? Max read freq on BNC mode is 1MHz?

The next step is to check the output fed into PB0 / T0.

[Dumidan]

I haven't any hardware jumper. I guess. I just set software prescaler 1:16 (tip in file "Clones"), tester have soldered 8MHz crystal to ATMega.

Please detail a bit what hardware version you have? Is it bought ready assembled? Is it made by you? If so, what scheme?
I know that when you ask for help on a forum, as an unwritten rule you have to give details about the problem, details of what you tried and what you got. No offense, yes?

[Ricky25]

Hello friends,

i have (tried) to read up the thread (searched, checked indman Table of clones, ...) , but still cant find what is the best LCR to buy at this moment (or link to aliexpress) with support the firmware updates posted here.
Looks like i have to spend a little bit more time, but advice what to buy would be really helpful.

I did come as far as this  : TC-T7-H
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4001208715581.html

Thx
R.

[madires]

Do you need an LCR meter and/or a component tester?

[Ricky25]

I would like to have a component tester (LCR functionality would be nice to have too ). They have today 20% for everything sold on AliExpress, would order one today.
I have read here a lot of comments about T1 / T7 and Bside ESR02 Pro, but could not read/figure out an "advice" for what to buy (with m/k firmware support).

R.

[madires]

The problem with recommending a specific clone is that there isn't any perfect or all-in-one tester. It's always a trade-off. The TC-1/T7 has the nasty U4 (a small MCU controlling power and test button) which needs to be reprogrammed or replaced with a small circuit. The Bside ESR02 Pro has only basic features. The Hiland M644 comes with the extended frequency counter, but no case and no LiPo. And there's the AY-AT (GM328A) which is still a good choice if you don't need a nice case.

[indman]

Hello friends,
i have (tried) to read up the thread (searched, checked indman Table of clones, ...) , but still cant find what is the best LCR to buy at this moment (or link to aliexpress) with support the firmware updates posted Thx

I believe that since we have 2 respected authors of the project and 2 firmware versions, it will be reasonable to purchase several devices from Chinese friends that will complement each other. Considering the very low price at present, which essentially amounts to the price of component parts, this will be a small investment that will quickly pay off.

[Maniaxx]

And there's the AY-AT (GM328A) which is still a good choice if you don't need a nice case.

There are cases for the GM328A.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33036516954.html

Or are they that bad not worth to mention?

And yes, that's my favorite as it has color display and (in my opinion) the best h/w layout (more connectors for freq in/out, 9V plug, no LiPo (unnecessarily dangerous)).

[Ricky25]

Thank you very much for your answers, i would start with a TC-T7-H .
Can i use the K/M firmware updates on that device?

Thx
R.

[indman]

Ricky25
Read my message carefully here https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/$20-lcr-esr-transistor-checker-project/msg2910034/#msg2910034
TC-T7H will most likely be equipped with a 128x128 display with an unknown controller. Therefore, the firmware update on this clone will not be possible until the controller type is recognized. Clones TC-1 are most preferred for buying and updating the firmware.

[eti]

I need to know (not guesses please):

Can this LCR-T4 tester output logging via UART, and how would this be accomplished, please?

Thanks.

[madires]

Yep:
- find an unused I/O pin
- add a pull-up resistor to the pin (many TTL-serial2USB adapters will also work fine without the pull-up)
- compile k or m-firmware with the software UART enabled (set pin and features)

[eti]

Yep:
- find an unused I/O pin
- add a pull-up resistor to the pin (many TTL-serial2USB adapters will also work fine without the pull-up)
- compile k or m-firmware with the software UART enabled (set pin and features)

Trawling through the "Make" file and the others, put my mind in a spin... not sure which bits to flip, which code to change etc... 

[madires]

k or m-firmware?

[eti]

k or m-firmware?

How does one know?

[madires]

So you're running the modified firmware which came with the T4?

[eti]

So you're running the modified firmware which came with the T4?

Yes

[madires]

For serial output you need to choose between k and m-firmware. Are you familiar with compiling software and programming ATmegas?

[eti]

For serial output you need to choose between k and m-firmware. Are you familiar with compiling software and programming ATmegas?

I know what commands to run, I can compile, yes, I just got thrown by all the serial options. As for what firmware I need, I found this in my email...

"TransistorTester 328p_st7565 1_13k r713"

[madires]

That's the k-firmware which uses PC3 as serial output. Edit the Makefile and uncomment "CFLAGS += -DWITH_UART".

[eti]

That's the k-firmware which uses PC3 as serial output. Edit the Makefile and uncomment "CFLAGS += -DWITH_UART".

Thanks so much! I now have serial data coming out into "minicom", via my Bus Pirate (in "transparent UART" mode) @ 9600Kbps!

[eti]

I have two of these component testers:

#1: The one my UART enquiry was about (ST7565 LCD - gorgeous green screen)
#2: A "Fish8840" type tester, colour LCD, in a black case


On tester #2 (Fish8840), the ". . ." when it's testing the component is animated with growing periods ("."     ". ."   ". . ." etc) and also animates over serial. On tester #2, it is a static ". . ." symbol, which is fine on the LCD, but shows a non-printing characted over serial (attached). Any ideas how I can animate the ". . ." on tester #1?

@@ Also, you may have surmised, I got serial working on tester #2 (Fish8840) but I don't like this unit that much - it blew the "Z14" 3.3v reference when I first flashed a new firmware, and... well, I don't use it.

@@ Error? @@
Unit #1 (green screen, LCR-T4) complains with the message below, after each test when I give a long press for a subsequent test:

"Not calibrated!                                                                 
For calibration clamp                                                           
the 3 pins together                                                             
and start with                                                                 
the key. Acknowledge                                                           
the self-test with                                                             
the key within 2s.                                                             
Disconnect pins after                                                           
                                                                               
the message                                                                     
"isolate Probe!" is                                                             
shown. Software and                                                             
documentation is at                                                             
svn://                                                                         
mikrocontroller.                                                               
net/transistor tester "

[madires]

On tester #2 (Fish8840), the ". . ." when it's testing the component is animated with growing periods ("."     ". ."   ". . ." etc) and also animates over serial. On tester #2, it is a static ". . ." symbol, which is fine on the LCD, but shows a non-printing characted over serial (attached). Any ideas how I can animate the ". . ." on tester #1?

AFAIK, the k-firmware just displays "...". The animation could be a modified firmware.

@@ Error? @@
Unit #1 (green screen, LCR-T4) complains with the message below, after each test when I give a long press for a subsequent test:

"Not calibrated!                                                                 

Simply run the calibration. Please see https://github.com/madires/Transistortester-Warehouse/blob/master/Documentation/English/ttester-1.13k.pdf.

[Szybkijanek]

Something is with Your fw or my config because now I try with fw 1.13k Karl and all it's ok. I try Your older fw. I test 16MHz crystal and oscillation is correctly but LCD show wrong value. See picture.
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