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| Show Us Your Curve Tracer |
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| THDplusN_bad:
Good Day, this is not about a self-made curve tracer, but those interested in PC-based measurement equipment might be entertained by this. I use a "Electronic Explorer" device from Digilent/US for a few years now. This is basically a simple USB-connected, FPGA-based multi-instrument that integrates an 4-channel oscilloscope, 2-channel arbitrary waveform generator, simple logic analyzer and a power supply in combination with a solderless breadboard. I primarily use it for the quick evaluation of simple circuits whenever needed. It also supports Bode plots etc. The "Electronic Explorer" hardware platform is outdated by now, but it still supported by Digilent's "Waveforms" software. If any Digilent employee reads this: Thank you for doing that. Digilent (which is a NI company, by the way) has released a "transistor test adapter" some time ago. That is an add-on for their more recent USB-based instruments such as the "Analog Discovery 2" device. https://digilent.com/reference/test-and-measurement/transistor-tester-adapter/reference-manual And so they have also added the required settings in form of a virtual curve tracer to the mentioned "Waveforms" software. I have created my own version of a curve tracer in Waveforms some time ago (this is primarily a configuration of the two-channel waveform generator, and not too hard to do). However, I have tried this new "tracer" configuration and attached are a few plots I have generated from a standard BC337-40 BJT today. (Side note: The noise level results from the wiring and the two curves on the right are artefacts). It's quite nice to see how the curves are generated, a large data set gets acquired very quickly and how the data can be exported to a database, MS Excel etc. Also, the software offers a 3D-view of the collected data that is quite fascinating. https://digilent.com/reference/test-and-measurement/guides/waveforms-curve-tracer This is not a real curve tracer in terms that the voltage and current supplies are limited (+/-10V, 35 Ohms output impedance each channel for the "Electronic Explorer"). But it's an excellent starting point into the fascinating world of component testing. It's also certainly good enough to match some small signal transistors /BJTs or FETs/ as well as diodes. Have a great weekend, all. Cheers, THDplusN_bad |
| 6SN7WGTB:
I built the Paul Carlson curve tracer, but modified to be (a) SMD and (b) have a power op-amp to provide a split rail supply from a single external PSU. I use it for go/no-go testing in circuits. Shown below, inside and out, and with a germanium diode under test. |
| Martin72:
Nice work ! :-+ |
| Electro Fan:
Thanks to rstofer's posting in this thread: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/oscilloscope-triggering-from-function-generator/msg4058536/#msg4058536 I came across this link to a thread on a curve tracer project: https://circuitcellar.com/research-design-hub/create-your-own-i-v-curve-tracer/ - another nice inexpensive combination of hardware and software |
| deemarkay:
--- Quote from: david77 on October 10, 2021, 08:52:03 pm ---Here's my copy of the ELV KS7000. It works quite well and has turned out to be a useful tool for the workshop when fixing stuff. Hooking up devices with clip leads was not only very messy and annoying, it also resulted in nasty oscillations. So I decided to go the Tektronix route and made up a testfixture. So far I've got this one that works for small & medium power transistors. I've got parts on order to make another one for TO3 packages. This works very well so far. Certainly no Tek but ok for me. --- End quote --- Looks really nice! The testsocket adapter, frontpanel and all is very shmick! I'm currently in the process of collecting all the parts for a build of my own and having trouble sourcing some components. Especially the relais are a mystery and it turns out even replacements for the transformer are no easy feat to aquire. Could you share how you solved parts sourcing problems on this build? |
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