Cheap test equipment

[artag]

There are lots of cheap test equipment modules on ebay and aliexpress, but it's hard to know much about their quality.
In many cases there have been reviews, mod suggestions, schematics etc. posted but these can be hard to find.

Does anyone know of a good resource for such documentation ?

Unless anyone does, I'm going to suggest we create one here. We can post links and I (or a helper) will update the thread start to keep an index. If it works out, perhaps we can get the thread pinned. This thread will do for test equipment - anything from an ESR meter to a nanoVNA - but other modules such as power supplies can have their own thread.

Note that this is an index, not a review site. It will link to other people's information wherever that is, it won't steal or copy it.




 

[AVGresponding]

My personal experience is that the AT328 based component testers are pretty good, the 584 based references also, but the one sig gen (icr the exact model, sorry) was total garbage. Oh, there's some 4.5 digit LED meter modules, they're pretty damn accurate too.  https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275074499660

[nctnico]

Here are a few topics about low cost equipment I have:

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/vc8145-thread-it_s-here-finally/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/xjw01-auto-lcr-meter-review-($120-bench-top-lcr-meter)/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/rek-kps6003-and-gophert-nps-1602-60v-3a-psu-hack-review/

My general rule is that up to around the $100 mark you typically can't go wrong. Equipment in that price range doesn't pretend to replace any A-brand equipment but nevertheless does a good job to privde basic functionality. And if you need to upgrade, you'll still have a nice tool for occasional use.