$20 LCR ESR Transistor checker project

[madires]

will this check capacitor esr?

Yes, if you run one of the two OSHW firmwares (k or m).

Anyone built one of these:
https://youtu.be/mogaMWEWWlQ?si=3ij6w7viWwfwyJh3

This looks very simple to do and cheapo.

Several users have built their Transistortester based on an Arduino (Uno, Nano, Mega). But I'd recommend to go for one of the two OSHW firmwares to get all features. The adapted Arduino sketches are limited in that regard.

[slybunda]

will this check capacitor esr?

Yes, if you run one of the two OSHW firmwares (k or m).

Anyone built one of these:
https://youtu.be/mogaMWEWWlQ?si=3ij6w7viWwfwyJh3

This looks very simple to do and cheapo.

Several users have built their Transistortester based on an Arduino (Uno, Nano, Mega). But I'd recommend to go for one of the two OSHW firmwares to get all features. The adapted Arduino sketches are limited in that regard.

Is there a link to where to get started on building one of  those oshw ones?

[madires]

k-firmware: https://github.com/kubi48/TransistorTester-source
main documentation: https://github.com/kubi48/TransistorTester-documentation
m-firmware and more: https://github.com/madires/Transistortester-Warehouse

[jdev99]

1st, thank you to all that contributed to this project. It is amazing.

I noticed something interesting on a  ST7735 display when I un-commented these 2 lines in the config_644.h file:
I wanted to see the effect, thought it would "move" the display to the side and to the bottom by 4 and 2 pixels.

#define LCD_OFFSET_X     4               /* enable x offset of 2 or 4 dots */
#define LCD_OFFSET_Y     2               /* enable y offset of 1 or 2 dots */

The display did not work 100% after this, had some "interference" on 2 sides, and some other odd effects on the displayed contents.
So I just put the // back in-front of the 2 lines, but the display did not return to its previous, good state.

I then did this, and it was good again.

#define LCD_OFFSET_X     0              /* enable x offset of 2 or 4 dots */
#define LCD_OFFSET_Y     0               /* enable y offset of 1 or 2 dots */

Is this the normal way to "reset" these settings?

[indman]

The display did not work 100% after this, had some "interference" on 2 sides, and some other odd effects on the displayed contents.
So I just put the // back in-front of the 2 lines, but the display did not return to its previous, good state.

This means that you did not apply or save changes to the edited rows. Therefore, the firmware compilation chose the previous values.
Or you programmed the old firmware by mistake.
You could try an offset of 2 and 1 pixel respectively for your display.

[pizzigri]

Karl-Heinz's 1.13K manual covers a Atmega644 schematic, with many add-ons, including a relay based protection - But, no definite PCB design.
Please help...

In fact, this work has already been implemented for you by the author of the extended ATmega644-1284 tester scheme - dear Nick Lanchak. It is his great contribution to the development of this project that Karl-Heinz mentions in his manual.You can read the full documentation on his device here
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B4yqyYy2Daakfl9DeTBkMEJVTVNwajkzNGtjVi0wcjdMUG5ZODJXa216WFZEZG1ZZE1ud3M&usp=sharing&tid=0B4yqyYy2DaakZzBVU3JDSXB6S1E
Alternative link
http://vrtp.ru/screenshots/3588_Rev_A0.02C_m1284.zip

Dear Indman,
I finally managed to source everything NickL's project needed. The last parts are on their way and hopefully they are real - BFR93A and BFT93.
I will be starting stuffing the board soon. I sourced the LCD specc'd by NickL for the project, but I have a few questions. Is the FW able to drive this obscure LCD, and is it replaceable by a color version?
Also, the PCB silkscreen requires a 8MHz xtal, however it is ambiguous if the mods needed for a 16MHz Xtal are already there or not - the BOM somehow did place a 16MHz part in the order, but I cannot remember if I modified it or that it was in the xls file.
Which FW should I use with the larger memory I have available using a 644 or even a 1284? I have both MCU on hand for the build.

It took a year... and finally i am going to build it! And, the heck - the parts for this build add up to almost 140 Euro. Not complaining, as most parts have a level of accuracy (i.e. 0.1 resistors!) that will undoubtedly reflect in great precision - and here is one more question, there is a resistor (R35) that can go from 15k to 175k - and the value must be "found adjusting", however it is not clear how to find this value. I was actually thinking of replacing it with a 200K SMD trimmer.

[indman]

I will be starting stuffing the board soon. I sourced the LCD specc'd by NickL for the project, but I have a few questions. Is the FW able to drive this obscure LCD, and is it replaceable by a color version?

NickL is a very competent, intelligent person and specialist who made a very big contribution to the development of this project, so his tester designs are well thought out and designed, and are also equipped with detailed documentation and proven firmware. Therefore, feel free to repeat what he suggested and everything will work if you do everything correctly.

Also, the PCB silkscreen requires a 8MHz xtal, however it is ambiguous if the mods needed for a 16MHz Xtal are already there or not - the BOM somehow did place a 16MHz part in the order, but I cannot remember if I modified it or that it was in the xls file.
Which FW should I use with the larger memory I have available using a 644 or even a 1284? I have both MCU on hand for the build.

It is better to use 1284, as this will allow you to connect a color display in the future, which requires more memory for all options. With a monochrome display you can leave the crystal at 8MHz, but a color display will require a higher clock speed as well as a hardware SPI connection. If you understand compilation, you can easily assemble your own firmware with the options you need.

[ogulpal]

Hi, I'm looking for this kind of tester. I've checked the PDF (https://github.com/madires/Transistortester-Warehouse/blob/master/Documentation/English/Clone-Comparison-Chart.pdf) that lists all the clones and it looks like the Hiland M644 is a decent option. But the PDF is a few years old and I can't find this particular model anywhere on eBay or Aliexpress.

I liked that it can test Zener diodes above 5V and would have liked it to have external power too.

Are there updated recommendations? If not, what happened to this model and where to find it?

Cheers!

[Messtechniker]

Be careful. I'seen the transistor tester being advertised as "Hiland M644", whereas the corresonduing pic showed a 328 processor of some sort. The current situation is pretty bad, since you will in advance never know what you will actually get.

[moimem]

New builds for LCR-T4 NoStripGrid with cap fix

[SA]

Hello

I have put a config of the m firmware here https://gitlab.com/a11059/t7_328_m.git that works on my recenlty purchased T7 with atmega 328 image below.
There's also a schematic in there, it may have some errors/ommisions.

Thankyou Markus.

(Attachment Link)

I am a newbie. I fried my TC-1, looks exactly like your picture with atmega328p DIP ic. The only way to repair it by replacing the atmega328p. I will be thankful if you provide the Hex , Epp and fuses for it......

[ogulpal]

But so what do I even look for? Hiland m644 has no hits on Alibay.

[Obelix2007]

... https://de-m.banggood.com/Original-Hiland-M644-Transistor-Tester-LCR-Diode-Transistor-Zener-Quartz-Measurement-p-1279042.html

Greeting Horst

[mojoe]

I have an old MK-328 that I bought several years ago. I think I flashed it back then, as when it powers on, it says "GM328" and the "Show Data" menu reports firmware "1.14k".

Attached is a picture of the front of the case (from the net, but mine is exactly the same). Also, a picture of the PCB (again from the net).

It has a real 328P with an 8 MHz crystal. In the upper left corner are several unpopulated pads. Near the center are missing C9, U2, D2 & L1.

Can anyone tell me what the missing components are for? I assume that some may be for zener testing. Is there a full schematic, showing the missing components? Is it worth the trouble adding a rotary encoder and other missing features?

If I hold down the power button, I get a menu with several choices. Short presses cycle through them, and a long press selects one.

[coromonadalix]

mmm maybe was for a rechargeable battery ??  you have diodes and a inductor ...  and the 2 diodes seems to protect against an inverted supply

r22  would be some limiting resistor or can or could blow if over current ?


you would need to dismantle it and try to make a schematic

many teardowns on the web show no populated parts .....

[madires]

Can anyone tell me what the missing components are for? I assume that some may be for zener testing. Is there a full schematic, showing the missing components? Is it worth the trouble adding a rotary encoder and other missing features?

Looks like a signal input stage for the frequency counter. A rotary encoder helps with menu functions. And the firmware is a modified k-firmware (the latest k-firmware is 1.13k). If you like to update please see https://github.com/kubi48/TransistorTester-source/tree/master/trunk/mega328_MK-328,

[indman]

In the upper left corner are several unpopulated pads. Near the center are missing C9, U2, D2 & L1.

U2 is the place to install the same +5V stabilizer as U6, just a slightly smaller form factor.
C9 is an additional capacitor for filtering the +5V output voltage. In some MK-328 models, 47μFx16V is installed in this place. L1 is an inductance for additional filtering of the input voltage to the stabilizer U6 (instead, jumper R14 is now installed). D2 is a protective diode. In general, these additional elements are not needed for this circuit, since it works stably without them.
Connector J5 and the circuit for it are an input signal bufer -  for the frequency counter option (as dear madires answered correctly).

[Per Hansson]

Hi, I'm looking for this kind of tester. I've checked the PDF (https://github.com/madires/Transistortester-Warehouse/blob/master/Documentation/English/Clone-Comparison-Chart.pdf) that lists all the clones and it looks like the Hiland M644 is a decent option. But the PDF is a few years old and I can't find this particular model anywhere on eBay or Aliexpress.

I liked that it can test Zener diodes above 5V and would have liked it to have external power too.

Are there updated recommendations? If not, what happened to this model and where to find it?

Cheers!

... https://de-m.banggood.com/Original-Hiland-M644-Transistor-Tester-LCR-Diode-Transistor-Zener-Quartz-Measurement-p-1279042.html

Greeting Horst

Just adding my $0.02 opinion: the Hiland M644 is not worth $40
It has quite a few design mistakes that reduce the accuracy and usefulness of the device.
But on this note I wonder if any nice DIY projects exists to make a tester based on the Atmega 644 or 1284 chip that still stays true to the original intent of keeping this a simple low cost device?
On the previous page a very advanced SMD version was shown but I'd be more interested in a cut down version.
Maybe the PCB could be designed to both accept through hole and SMD components (or two separate PCB designs).
So far the closest designs I've found are these but I don't know if they have been published?
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/show-us-your-$20-transistor-tester-enclosures-and-mods/msg1201483/#msg1201483
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/show-us-your-$20-transistor-tester-enclosures-and-mods/msg4851821/#msg4851821

A cursory Google search also brought up this design, but I could not find the original author of it:
https://oshwlab.com/amilio.spring/ESR-Atmega-644

I think it would be nice if someone competent in PCB design would make a project on Github to make the hardware as accessible as the software is.
I could try myself but I'd probably make the same kind of mistakes that the original Hiland M644 design has as I'm not a PCB designer by trade...

[madires]

For the 644/1284 dev kit please see https://github.com/madires/Transistortester-Warehouse/tree/master/Hardware.

[Per Hansson]

Thanks madires! Is the display PCB also available?
I just found a post by snapper on the German forum where he made an updated version of the Hiland M644 PCB.
I'm not sure if he published it anywhere though?
Relevant posts:

https://www.mikrocontroller.net/topic/transistortester-avr?page=32#7511818
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/$20-lcr-esr-transistor-checker-project/msg4886483/#msg4886483

[coromonadalix]

same for a mega 2560 ... nothing so far  ...  but code is there ...

[madires]

Is the display PCB also available?

No, it's just a 3.3V LDO and level shifters (74HC4050, 74HCT125).

I just found a post by snapper on the German forum where he made an updated version of the Hiland M644 PCB.
I'm not sure if he published it anywhere though?

AFAIK, he didn't publish the PCB. However, you could ask him for a copy.

[madires]

same for a mega 2560 ... nothing so far  ...  but code is there ...

I'm using an Arduino Mega 2560 clone for testing, especially for displays with an 8-bit parallel bus.

[Bibbbi]

Has anyone successfully managed to compile the madires Transistor project via the IDE Platform VSCode/PlatformIO instead of using the old WinAVR environment?

How does it work? 

[jdev99]

I tried your settings with a 16MHz ATmega644 tester but couldn't reproduce what you've seen. Also after running the RCL monitor a 1µF cap measured fine for all probe combinations.

Can you use the ATmega644 with a 16MHz crystal?
I tried it and it does not work. If I look at the fuse settings for oscillators, it only goes to 8Mhz.
What am I missing?