Products > Test Equipment
So what do you do when you need a modern transistor curve tracer?
David Aurora:
--- Quote from: dobsonr741 on February 19, 2023, 10:20:13 pm ---Why would one want to use a curve tracer in 2023?
--- End quote ---
I use the shit out of mine :-//
Quality control of crucial components is the main thing for me, but I've also used it to pin down weird problems to fake or intermittent devices when nothing else made sense. I use it for matching components, I use it to analyse things like zener diode curves in design, all kinds of stuff. Lately it's saved me a couple times when I needed oddball transistors that you can't get new from reputable sources and found fakes/duds amongst them. Problems you just can't catch on a multimeter or basic transistor checker like breakdown voltages not meeting spec etc. Without a curve tracer it's a game of suck it and see, with a curve tracer you can analyse a couple from a batch and go "Oh... this would have died in a week"
David Aurora:
--- Quote from: edavid on February 19, 2023, 10:39:02 pm ---
--- Quote from: David Aurora on February 19, 2023, 10:16:35 pm ---There are current model curve tracers out there but it depends what kind of voltages and currents you want to test the DUT at, as well as the volume of parts you want to test.
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That's a bold statement. Can you name even one that is a standalone unit, not an SMU? (I don't think the above mentioned Keysight B1500A counts, since it's an SMU system in a box, and I also think OP doesn't want to spend $86K+.)
--- End quote ---
A bold statement? Umm... did you even try googling it?
There are everything from these kits https://www.thaikits.com/index.php/measurement-testing-checker/ch-012-transistor-curve-tracer-adapter-xy-oscilloscopes-2-ranges-biasOnline%20Electronic%20Kit%20Store.html to these little handheld ones https://littlebirdelectronics.com.au/products/atlas-dca-pro-advanced-semiconductor-analyser-with-curve-tracing to add ons for other gear like this https://digilent.com/shop/transistor-tester-for-analog-discovery-enables-characteristic-curve-tracing-for-diodes-and-transistors/ to computer based solutions like this https://www.syscompdesign.com/product/ctr-201/ to old style CRT based ones like this https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/MCP-QT4810A-TRANSISTOR-CURVE-TRACER_287713173.html?spm=a2700.galleryofferlist.normal_offer.d_title.29f14c85RyLOVR
So yeah, I can name even one.
timeandfrequency:
Hi,
I don't know if anyone has already mentioned the PEAK Atlas DCA75 Pro which can be connected to a PC via USB to turn it into a curve tracer :
https://printtec.nl/contents/fr/p3905_PEAK-Atlas-DCA75-Pro-Semiconductor-Analyser.html
https://www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/dca75-dca-pro-semiconductor-analyser.html
Anyway, should @slow_rider need a more professional gear, maybe asking a TE brooker could fulfill elevated requirements and provide recent stuff.
--- Quote from: dobsonr741 on February 19, 2023, 10:20:13 pm ---Why would one want to use a curve tracer in 2023?
--- End quote ---
Because it's the best TE you can use to understand how electronic conponents actually work. Also very useful for matching parts and perform ageing or partial failure analysis. With a high voltage unit, you can easily check electrolytic caps for leakage current.
I've got access to a marvellous TEK 576 (dated 1970) and often use a basic component tester/semiconductor analyser for repair and troubleshooting purpose. The latter is even more useful than an oscilloscope when reparing gear with severe failure (e.g. SMPS).
If your DUT is dead, there's nothing much to play with a scope, but you can try to identify some fried or out-of-specs parts with a component tester/semiconductor analyser.
baldurn:
Why are there no cheap SMU available? It is just a power supply combined with a DC load so it can both source and sink current?
I wonder if it would be possible to build DIY style.
alm:
I'd say a SMU has the following properties:
* A four-quadrant source, so it supply positive and negative voltages, and source or sink currents (so any voltage polarity combined with any current polarity). This could probably made using a power supply that can sink and source, which I believe includes the latest GW-Instek series, and also older specialty power supplies like the old HP 663xB or 663xx series or Keithley 2302/3/6/8, and a reversing relay.
* An accurate measurement function (5.5-6.5 digit), which some bench supplies could do an okay job on.
* Sweep and measure at a pretty high speed, but that's probably not so important for hobby purposes.
* Numerous decades of current resolution, since testing semiconductors might span from several amps for collector current down to nAs or pAs of leakage current. I'm not so sure how to get this from a cheap power supply, though the Keithley 230x can go pretty low (with some limitations, read the data sheet/manual).
There are some cheap SMUs. The AD ADALM1000 (no relation ;) ) is one example. Performance is not amazing, obviously.
There have been a couple attempts of open hardware SMUs. I think this is by far the furthest along. TiN (xDevs.com) was planning a project at one point, and Youtuber Marco Reps has/had an OSMU project, but I don't either has gotten anywhere near a finished product.
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