Fnirsi LCR-P1, $30 LCR tester (August 2024)

[BillyO]

Here is the reply I got from FNIRSI.

Dear Bill,
Thank you for your feedback. I’ve shared the details of this issue with our technical team. If their testing confirms the problem, it will be addressed in the next firmware update.
We appreciate your support and patience.
Best regards,
FNIRSI

Please folks, add you voice to this and let's get our concerns addressed.  At least at FNIRSI there is someone at the other end offering to help.  If your TC-1, TC-4, TC-7 is not working right, well, you are on your own.

[derwhalfisch]

Has anyone used it connected to a PC for the 'data export'? I'd love to see how that works (if it works).

[zenon]

LCR-P1 Firmware v1.0.7
2025.01.07
1.0.7
1. Modify part of the double diode and diode can not test the problem
2. Modify part of the triode pin serial number is messed up problem
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ov6j6qDWejzmLdUSdjI1Biaitw_gOh88/view

[AndreasF78]

I did a quick test of this recent 1.0.7 firmware: Now all diode types are identified correctly as diodes (in both directions), but still the polarity is not detected at all. So it seems a rather gradual improvement. No idea why it can be that difficult to identify a diode polarity 

[Paldin]

Same issues with diodes/transistors polarity on v1.0.7 . It also shows to me 10M resistor as 8M compared to around 9M on v1.0.5 . If they didn't fix it until now, I wouldn't rely on a fix and return the device.

[HezkyDen]

This test meter has also problem with NPN transistor, see the first picture,
about polarity of silicon diodes was written before (the second picture)

[BillyO]

I think they are too busy developing new products.  I wish they would come here to the forum and engage by at least looking at the threads relating to their products.  We are doing a lot of testing for them and they should take advantage of it to improve their products.

For instance, I do not think they have a single product with banana sockets at the the correct standard spacing.  I have seen wider and narrower but never correct.  WTF?

That said, their products do seem to be getting better over time, but they could get better much quicker if they took a little input from their target market.

With this product they have released 3 firmware versions in less than 5 months.  They may get it right yet. 

[1audio]

The Banana plug  spacing (3/4") has been a problem with "consumer" oriented gear. Its the same as an EU 2 pin plug and thats considred a NO-NO in EU CE parlance. Big nusiance for audio amps. Different spacing is a work around.  However it may not be an issue for industrial/professional products. Do they see this as pro or conumer?

[KungFuJosh]

Do they see this as pro or conumer?

Fnirsi doesn't make any pro products, or care about them. Their business model is "new and cheap." Sell a bunch of crap, make a new shinier version, repeat.

[Paul T]

Here is the reply I got from FNIRSI.

Dear Bill,
Thank you for your feedback. I’ve shared the details of this issue with our technical team. If their testing confirms the problem, it will be addressed in the next firmware update.
We appreciate your support and patience.
Best regards,
FNIRSI

Please folks, add you voice to this and let's get our concerns addressed.  At least at FNIRSI there is someone at the other end offering to help.  If your TC-1, TC-4, TC-7 is not working right, well, you are on your own.

Looks like a form letter to me. I’d rather use my TC-7 than be fooled around with empty promises. The only way to get the full attention of companies like this is make a video about the problems with the unit and get it watched by a lot of people.

[BillyO]

The only way to get the full attention of companies like this is make a video about the problems with the unit and get it watched by a lot of people.

Good idea, and a great way to add your voice.  We'd all like to see your video.  Do you have a link to it, or will you supply one when it's up?

[Paul T]

I do not have this unit, someone else will need to do it.

[Paldin]

Fnirsi informed me they made a new version of the 1.0.7 firmware that address the diode/transistor issue.

[BillyO]

It's been out since January 8th.

There are still some bugs though.

Oh, wait!  The current V1.0.7 is different than the older one.  It has a new date on it of Feb 21st.  Hmm, will have to give it a try!

Old V1.0.7 log says:

1.0.7
--1. Modify part of the double diode and diode can not test the problem
--2. Modify part of the triode pin serial number is messed up problem

New V1.0.7 log says:

1.0.7
--1. Fixed some issues with dual diodes and diodes that could not be tested
--2. Fixed some issues with the disordered pin numbers of transistors
--3. Fixed the issue with the diode measurement direction

[KungFuJosh]

It's been out since January 8th.

There are still some bugs though.

Oh, wait!  The current V1.0.7 is different than the older one.  It has a new date on it of Feb 21st.  Hmm, will have to give it a try!

You'd think they could count above 7. Maybe that explains the bugs? 🤣

[BillyO]

Tried the update to the "new" V1.0.7.

It now gets the direction of diodes and transistors correctly.   

It also seems a little faster, but I did not rigorously compare before and after.

[Evi]

30 - 100 ohms defines as two diodes in series. V 1.0.7

[zenon]

LCR-P1 Firmware v1.0.8

1. Fixed the bug of misdetecting diodes with resistance less than 100 ohms
2. Fixed the bug of mismatched pin numbers of some transistors

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0694/8310/2426/files/LCR-P1_Firmware_v1.0.8.zip?v=1744257533

[splitchipper]

I applied update 1.0.8.

I am regretting this purchase. When I insert a transistor and try to identify the leads, I get completely different results depending on the orientation. C and E are often swapped like HezkyDen reported in this post back in January:

This test meter has also problem with NPN transistor, see the first picture,
about polarity of silicon diodes was written before (the second picture)
(Attachment Link)
(Attachment Link)

[BillyO]

It does not seem to be happening with mine.  I tested the following: 2N3904, 2N3906, 2N7000 and a BS250.

They were all tested correctly.  I wonder if they have some consistency issues?

You do realize the pin numbers reported are the pin number shown on the test socket, not the pin numbers of the transistor, right?

[RAPo]

same here no problems.

It does not seem to be happening with mine.  I tested the following: 2N3904, 2N3906, 2N7000 and a BS250.

They were all tested correctly.  I wonder if they have some consistency issues?

You do realize the pin numbers reported are the pin number shown on the test socket, not the pin numbers of the transistor, right?

[splitchipper]

I have a KSC2383 (NPN) here. It test correctly in one orientation, but flip it around and C and E are swapped on the display.

I have a KSA992 handy too, and that tests correctly in various orientations. But that is PNP.

So... the firmware seems to be... half baked, at best. This is such a basic function, that it is inconceivable they have not gotten it right yet.

[IAmBack]

New 1.09 firmware is available.
"20250415
1.0.9
--1. Fixed 10M measurement failure bug'

NPN transistor legs still with wrong recognition.

[jebem]

New 1.09 firmware is available.
"20250415
1.0.9
--1. Fixed 10M measurement failure bug'

NPN transistor legs still with wrong recognition.

Got my unit with FW v1.07.
It can't identify the NPN transistors pinout correctly.
It is incapable to identify the Collector and the Emitter. It keeps telling me that a C is a E and vice-versa.

As others reported above, the firmware version 1.09 did not fix this issue.

It keeps telling me that the Collector is the Emitter and vice-versa, as long as the silkscreen label is facing the user.
However, if I flip it around, then it will match the correct pinout.
I am using the upper second column of slots 1,2,3 to insert the DUT. Same result using the 1st column of 1,2,3 slots, or the lower 1,2,3 slots.

The first transistor I tried was a plain vanilla TO-92 2SC1815GR NPN transistor - Got a wrong pinout.
The second one is a TO-92 2N5551B NPN - Again got a wrong pinout.
I stopped there as I do not have spare time to keep checking this unit for now.

I was checking the results against a cheap Multi-function tester TC1, and datasheets to be sure.

How hard is to identify a Collector and a Emitter in such a generic NPN transistors?
What special specification the above NPN transistors have that is causing confusion on the Fnirsi  tester?

As it is, the LCR-P1 can not be trusted to check transistors.
It is a pity because I really like the design and the alleged ability to measure Zenner diodes (did not test it so far, I am afraid of what I might find).

Note: I also own a Fnirsi LCR ST1 tweezers and so far I could not find issues using it.

Pictures:

2SC1815GR_facing_wrong: 2SC1815GR with silkscreen facing user - TC1 reads the pinout correctly, while LCR-P1 confuses E and C.
2SC1815GR_OK_pinout: 2SC1815GR with silkscreen facing user - Pinout correctly identified by the TC1 meter.
2SC1815GR_wrong_pinout: 2SC1815GR with silkscreen facing user - Pinout incorrectly identified by the LCR-P1 meter.

2SC1815GR_flipped_OK: 2SC1815GR with silkscreen flipped around - Both meters correctly identified the pinout.


2N5551B_facing_wrong: 2N5551B with silkscreen facing user - TC1 reads the pinout correctly, while LCR-P1 confuses E and C.
2N5551B_OK_pinout: 2N5551B with silkscreen facing user - Pinout correctly identified by the TC1 meter.
2N5551B_wrong_pinout: 2N5551B with silkscreen facing user -  Pinout incorrectly identified by the LCR-P1 meter.

2N5551B_flipped_OK: 2N5551B with silkscreen flipped around - Both meters correctly identified the pinout.

FNIRSI_FW_V_1.0.9: My unit running firmware 1.0.9.

By looking into the pictures, we can see that the LCR-P1 is not checking which pin is the Collector - It just defines a slot number as being the Collector, no matter how you insert the DUT into the slots. This indicates that the programmer is not coding the required routine to identify where the Collector actually is.
Just my opinion, I might be wrong, as well they are identifying the NPN pinouts.

[madires]

It keeps telling me that the Collector is the Emitter and vice-versa, as long as the silkscreen label is facing the user.
However, if I flip it around, then it will match the correct pinout.

Does that happen only with NPNs, or also with PNPs?