BSIDE ESR02 Pro Transistor Tester (teardown & quick test)

[sorenkir]

Hello,

I have bought this small device ($22 shipped):



It is cute (wine red box, as stated on the box, I like that  ) and well thought: external 9-12V DC jack, test probes jacks, SMD socket, plug-in sockets, discharge resistor, ESR chart (on the back).
The two buttons have the same function: for left & right handed .

A few additional functions:



The most useful is the "continuous" capacitance/ESR meter (C+ESR): no need to press the button for measurements.

Even a decent "user manual" is provided:


Don't turn it on, take it apart:


Atmel MEGA328P, LM339 comparator, AMS1117 3.3V & HT7150-1 5V LDO regulators:


Quick test:
330? resistor:


10mH inductor:


SMD 1mH inductor:


White LED:


470 uF capacitor:


Transistors:



Not impressed by a big power NMOS:


No accuracy specification but measured values roughly agree with other instruments I have. Ideal for component identification.

Michel.

[Gyro]

Quite a nice case variant of https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/$20-lcr-esr-transistor-checker-project/

[CustomEngineerer]

Hopefully didn't cost more than $20. 

[doctormord]

I find it a quite neat interpretation of the original "Komponententester" by Karl-Heinz Kübbeler.

I made one myself in the past:

http://www.360customs.de/2013/12/transistortesterkomponententester-das-universalgenie/

Tooling yourself a nice (handheld) case isn't normally achieved at $20, so the price looks good to me. 

Regards, doc

[precaud]

I find it a quite neat interpretation of the original "Komponententester" by Karl-Heinz Kübbeler.
[snip]
Tooling yourself a nice (handheld) case isn't normally achieved at $20, so the price looks good to me.

Likewise. I picked one up a couple months ago and have found it to be well executed and quite useful.

[dirtcooker]

I just bought one of these from Amazon, and the build quality is very good. Software is v 1.11 I've tested a variety of components, and the results are reasonable close to values obtained using my Fluke DVM.
Has anyone been able to measure coil Q and L via sampling (putting a calibrated capacitor across the coil) with this meter? I've tried a variety of L and C combinations and the meter always returns only an Ohm value, as if a resistor were being measured. Calibration step 13 (connect capacitor to pin 1 and 3) is present, so evidently the tester is configured with the samplingADC function.

[malagas_on_fire]

That's the rugged version of the ESR tester and the ATmega 328 is present has well. Will it hold some bumps? Or has some input protection??

[rhb]

I just got one of these.  I'm fairly impressed.  I notice that the reviewer and I used a 2N3906 and got similar numbers.

Does anyone know how compatible with the other generic 328 based testers these are?  It would be nice to have  source code for the device even if it's not the factory software.

[xrunner]

Nice designer color they chose - "Wine Red". 

[precaud]

Powered mine up a couple days ago, it only shows a blank white screen after pushing the Test buttons to null the leads. I was fairly happy with it up till then. Probably not worth trying to repair... sigh.

[indman]

I already showed an new firmware which is suitable for a clone in this topic.
BSideESR02 has no protection of measuring ports! If you have connected the capacity which had a charge, then the processor it is necessary to replace with new.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/$20-lcr-esr-transistor-checker-project/msg1495258/#msg1495258

[001]

I already showed an new firmware which is suitable for a clone in this topic.
BSideESR02 has no protection of measuring ports! If you have connected the capacity which had a charge, then the processor it is necessary to replace with new.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/$20-lcr-esr-transistor-checker-project/msg1495258/#msg1495258

Thanx a lot
Is it actual firmware version for Bside?

[indman]

001,yes!

[001]

is bside unit good variant of marcus design?

[indman]

I have collected an firmware only for the Karl-Heinz 1.13k version. I think that there are no obstacles to use the version 1.33m Markus. 

[001]

I have collected an firmware only for the Karl-Heinz 1.13k version. I think that there are no obstacles to use the version 1.33m Markus. 

What did You mean? Is factory firmware for BSIDE so old?

[indman]

The Chinese firmware of BSideESR02 is based on the version 1.11k  Karl-Heinz!
It is already quite outdated firmware which has no new opportunities of the version 1.13k.

[001]

The Chinese firmware of BSideESR02 is based on the version 1.11k  Karl-Heinz!

Sorry
Is BSideESR02 is ONE chineese version housed in fabric-made enclosure?

[precaud]

BSideESR02 has no protection of measuring ports! If you have connected the capacity which had a charge, then the processor it is necessary to replace with new.

Yes, I always discharge capacitors before testing. But I wasn't testing capacitors last time it was used - I was sorting thru a box of pulled transistors,  separating FETs from BPs. It's quicker than looking up the numbers    So this failure is unexpected.

[indman]

Sorry
Is BSideESR02 is ONE chineese version housed in fabric-made enclosure?

This clone can have the name chineese version DTU-1701. They are identical on an firmware and a hardware stuffing.

Yes, I always discharge capacitors before testing. But I wasn't testing capacitors last time it was used - I was sorting thru a box of pulled transistors,  separating FETs from BPs. It's quicker than looking up the numbers    So this failure is unexpected.

I don't find any serious obstacles not to manage to repair this device. The scheme is rather simple in understanding if to study a detailed manual from dear Karl-Heinz.

[001]

Sorry
Is BSideESR02 is ONE chineese version housed in fabric-made enclosure?

This clone can have the name chineese version DTU-1701. They are identical on an firmware and a hardware stuffing.

Yes, I always discharge capacitors before testing. But I wasn't testing capacitors last time it was used - I was sorting thru a box of pulled transistors,  separating FETs from BPs. It's quicker than looking up the numbers    So this failure is unexpected.

I don't find any serious obstacles not to manage to repair this device. The scheme is rather simple in understanding if to study a detailed manual from dear Karl-Heinz.

Thanx

I`m looking for version with BIG monochrome display for my old eyes
Any ideas?

[indman]

I have also weak eyes therefore I have here such clone with the big monochrome blue display!
https://ru.aliexpress.com/item/Free-Shipping-New-12864-LCD-Transistor-Tester-Capacitance-ESR-Meter-Diode-Triode-MOS-NPN-LCR/2044590569.html? spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.274233edI9VCwo
But he has no case.

[all_repair]

Powered mine up a couple days ago, it only shows a blank white screen after pushing the Test buttons to null the leads. I was fairly happy with it up till then. Probably not worth trying to repair... sigh.

My piece failed not long after I got it, but I was testing some uncharged cap .  After putting a new chip, so far it has been lasting quite a while.  I am suspect the original chip might be 2nd rated part.  I don't and can't  fault them at such a low price they are selling.

[precaud]

Interesting. I wonder if there's a difference between DIP and flat pack packages in this respect?

[rhb]

How does one do a FW update?  Is there a pinout for J6 somewhere?   

I can think of lots of features to add such as Vbe at Vce_sat.