$20 LCR ESR Transistor checker project

[hapless]

And we're in agreement. I guess I just don't know how to make my point. Maybe I'll try to find the words again later. 

[mauroh]

Hi Markus,
    I tryed ENCODER_PULSES 4 and while the sweep mode is improved, the manual one is too slow an I need to rotate the encoder several times to reach the min/max rotation.
In this days I was too busy and didn't had time to look at the firmware by myself.
I'll try again in the following days.
BTW the basic functionality to test the servos are there and it is just a matter of twick it a bit to improve the user experience.

Thank you
       Mauro

[madires]

Thanks for checking! So "ENCODER_PULSES 2" seems to be correct for your rotary encoder. The next step is to investigate why the turning speed is so high (function TestKey()).

[upsss]

Hi, which is the latest firmware version from here https://www.mikrocontroller.net/svnbrowser/transistortester/Software/trunk/ do I need for this tester?

Thanks

[madires]

Are you sure about the GM328? The rotary encoder isn't enabled for mega328_GM328/. Maybe it's mega328_color_kit/.

[bitseeker]

That looks like an AY-AT, no?

[upsss]

Are you sure about the GM328? The rotary encoder isn't enabled for mega328_GM328/. Maybe it's mega328_color_kit/.

Sorry, I am not sure the correct "name" of the tester.  That was the description on an Aliexpress listing (it may be inaccurate) but the picture is of the actual tester I have.

[bitseeker]

Take a look at the silkscreen on the PCB. If it's the "AY-AT", it'll have those letters somewhere on there (I don't recall exactly where). But from the photo it sure looks like it with the rotary encoder and screw terminals.

[imidis]

If it helps that's what mine looks like and I use the mega328_color_kit

[upsss]

Yes, it does say on the the PCB 2578AY-AT

[bitseeker]

Very good. Confirmed. As madires and imidis said, you can use the mega328_color_kit.

If you want a manual and schematics for it, see the following post:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/$20-lcr-esr-transistor-checker-project/msg990421/#msg990421

[linux-works]

@upsss:

I just bought that one.



here is the makefile diffs for that model; I built the firmware and it looks great



also, here is the command to upload using the old adafruit usbisp dongle:

Code: [Select]

sudo avrdude -c usbtiny -B 1.0 -p m328p -P usb -U flash:w:./TransistorTester.hex:a -U eeprom:w:./TransistorTester.eep:a

[linux-works]

@upsss:

you soldered the zif socket in the wrong way ;(

the lever is supposed to be on the right side!

[upsss]

@linux-works, thanks but that is not an actual picture of my tester.  My original picture was from the website I bought my tester, they installed the socket wrong. 

I installed my socket the right way, I also added an ISP connector, Banana Jacks, replaced the crystal with 16MHz and I use a Li-Ion battery which I charged through the DC connector.

[linux-works]

nice case!  so funny - I was wondering HOW to solve the lever problem with my own plastic case.

would you be willing to share the design files for that case?  I'm planning on making some for myself and friends on the local laser cutter at my hackerspace.

I like the opening you notched out, kind of, for the lever.

nice job!  good photo, too

[madires]

My very first tester with the rotary encoder and frequency counter options:

[linux-works]

we almost need a sub-forum for this topic

would love to see what people have done for cases, for this.  I'm thinking of making some and still collecting ideas.

looks like the banana jack idea is popular so I will add that to my to-do list.  was also thinking of having it be Qi rechargeable via simple credit-card style adapters like these:

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/61V8AbhnLNL._SL1200_.jpg

you get a simple 5v out from the micro usb connector.  cut it off, tap into it and go into a TP4056 lipo charger board, then use any 3.7v lipo battery.  that's the charging side.

then, you need a step-up, such as this: https://www.amazon.com/Control-Converter-Module-Charger-0-9V-5V/dp/B01FDD3AYQ

that will get you back to 5v from the lipo.  after that, you don't need the 5v regulator chip anymore in the circuit.

not sure how clean the psu output will be - might need some filtering.

put the Qi coil on the very bottom of the case and use thin plastic to cover it.  1/8" is ok but thinner is even better.  then you simply lay the box into a Qi cradle and that's the charging solution.  this cradle is nice since it lets you center the coil on the sender side:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0177SPJP8/

it has a knob on the back that lets you raise/lower the coil, so once you build your coil rx into your box, you align the 2 coils with the knob on the stand.  it works pretty well and is good fun for DIY.

[bitseeker]

Great idea. I've made a new thread for enclosure and other physical mods and included upsss, madires, and pepe10000's recent case photos as examples to get started.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/show-us-your-$20-transistor-tester-enclosures-and-mods/

[upsss]

nice case!  so funny - I was wondering HOW to solve the lever problem with my own plastic case.

would you be willing to share the design files for that case?  I'm planning on making some for myself and friends on the local laser cutter at my hackerspace.

I like the opening you notched out, kind of, for the lever.

nice job!  good photo, too

I didn't design the case, I bought it from Aliexpress.  Take a look at post 3069 this was my original tester which I built more than a year ago.  What I ended up doing there was bend the lever up.  As far as the LCR T4 tester, I never liked it, it doesn't work properly with a rotary encoder.

[upsss]

@bitseeker, thanks for starting the new thread I too think it is a great idea.  I added already some more pictures. 

For some reason your link doesn't work properly.  I tried to add another link and it does the same thing, for some reason it goes to the top of the forum.

[bitseeker]

Thanks, upsss. I fixed the link. It has to have a slash at the end of the URL to work properly.

[IvoS]

Hello, I just got my kit as well. Using AT328P chip and color display.
Could the firmware be burned as HEX file using this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/122355661168?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true
MiniPro programmer? Help is appreciated.

[madires]

Presumably yes. "AVR" indicates that.

[IvoS]

Actually, more accurate question would be how do I make the hex file out of the firmware files? Is there someone with MiniPro programmer willing to share a hex file (project file) for mega328P?

[rrinker]

 Mine is like the last couple pictured, it came with an 8MHz crystal. What is involved with changing it to 16MHz? Swap the crystal and reflash the firmware with the proper fuse settings? Anything else need to be altered?