TC1 lcr-meter transistor-tester fix

[belzrebuth]

Is the zener diode test somehow disabled in the alternative firmware?
I tried testing a zener today (a 18V one) but no luck..

[Gyro]

The tester is only capable of putting out a maximum of 5V (and a little less in practice).

[belzrebuth]

Ahh okay.
Thought TC-1 could measure up to 20V zener or something..
edit:
@Gyro I think you may be mistaken.
TC-1 is able to test zeners so maybe my unit has a hardware problem since I've repaired it as can be read a couple of pages back in this thread.

I'm using firmware 1.34m.

[madires]

Is the zener diode test somehow disabled in the alternative firmware?
I tried testing a zener today (a 18V one) but no luck..

I'm using firmware 1.34m.

Have you enabled the Zener test in config.h? The settings should be:
 

Code: [Select]

#define HW_ZENER
#define ZENER_DIVIDER_CUSTOM
#define ZENER_R1         100000
#define ZENER_R2         12000
#define ZENER_UNSWITCHED

And in config_644.h:

Code: [Select]

#define TP_ZENER         PA4

You can find the required settings in the 'Clones' files.

[madires]

Thought TC-1 could measure up to 20V zener or something..

The older models go up to about 40V. Later models have a different boost converter good for 30V or so.

[belzrebuth]

If I haven't done anything to firmware I should assume the diode test is disabled by default?
Because I don't think I've configured anything; just transferred a hex file to the MCU IIRC..

[indman]

I'm using firmware 1.34m.

If you are using this firmware version(1.34m), then checking the zener diodes can only be done from the main menu in the item "Zener". Automatic zener testing, which is similar to the Chinese factory firmware, is available in newer versions of m-firmware.

[Gyro]

... edit:
@Gyro I think you may be mistaken.
TC-1 is able to test zeners so maybe my unit has a hardware problem since I've repaired it as can be read a couple of pages back in this thread.

Indeed I am. I'm clearly well out of date on these things, my apologies.

[distefanom]

Hi Madires, this morning replaced the U4 with the 2 transistor schematic and I tried to flash the micro (see the enclosed images).
The programming has gone successful,
But all I get is that splash screen, which holds until I have the button pressed, and nothing more happens.
Maybe the firmware I used is wrong, but I don't have a link for the correct files,
Can you help?
Thanks

[madires]

For the m-firmware:
- download source at https://github.com/madires/Transistortester-Warehouse/tree/master/Firmware/m-firmware
- see 'Clones' files for settings
- edit config.h, config_644.h and Makefile
- run 'make'
- run 'make upload'

[distefanom]

Sorry Madires, for my deep ignorance, so I still need help.
Keep in mind that my Transistortester is a TC1, which has an ATmega324 @ 16 MHz quartz crystal (see the enclosed shot of it, my previous posts you can see the PCB) and I have an old Win7 PC:

- I don't even know how to download ANY of those files from Github: even though, I'm a registered user, I can't find any "download" on any of those pages.
- I don't have any idea on how to compile the sources (if I could eventually download any of them) to have the right .eep and .hex files I need, to send to the micro via eXtreme burner.
I'm not a developer, so I don't know how to "makefile" these...

Could you or someone else help me with this harassment, since I would like simply to have those .eep and .hex files even the first edition is enough for me?

Many thanks

[belzrebuth]

To download you have to get to the master folder:
https://github.com/madires/Transistortester-Warehouse
and press code (green button).
I imagine that you need to have WinAVR or mingw64 or maybe both to be able to "make"..
Anyways I did run the command with default settings and I attached the output files (.eep and .hex).
Hope it helps you.

edit:
Default settings shouldn't work for because I just saw that default frequency is 8MHz..
Hmm..
I should recompile with 16MHz and reupload..
I could also wait for you to edit the Makefile to your needs and compile with that one maybe?
Let me know how I can be of help.

[madires]

Go to https://github.com/madires/Transistortester-Warehouse/blob/master/Firmware/m-firmware/ComponentTester-1.45m.tgz and click "Download" at the right side while not being logged in. And for getting started please see https://github.com/madires/Transistortester-Warehouse/blob/master/Documentation/English/FAQ.Feliciano.pdf. There's a ready-to-use k-firmware for the T7 (https://github.com/kubi48/TransistorTester-source/tree/master/trunk/mega644_T7_Mod) which could possibly also work with the TC1.

[belzrebuth]

There's a ready-to-use k-firmware for the T7 (https://github.com/kubi48/TransistorTester-source/tree/master/trunk/mega644_T7_Mod) which could possibly also work with the TC1.

Just tried to upload it to my TC1 and I bricked it so I don't think that firmware works with the TC1...
Is there any other .hex that can restore it now that I did what I did?

[indman]

There's a ready-to-use k-firmware for the T7 (https://github.com/kubi48/TransistorTester-source/tree/master/trunk/mega644_T7_Mod) which could possibly also work with the TC1.

Madires, k-firmware works only for ATMega644, it is not suitable for ATMega324.

Just tried to upload it to my TC1 and I bricked it so I don't think that firmware works with the TC1...
Is there any other .hex that can restore it now that I did what I did?

Here is a ready-made working firmware for the clone TC1 and ATMega324

[madires]

There's a ready-to-use k-firmware for the T7 (https://github.com/kubi48/TransistorTester-source/tree/master/trunk/mega644_T7_Mod) which could possibly also work with the TC1.

Madires, k-firmware works only for ATMega644, it is not suitable for ATMega324.

My bad. Some TC1s come with an ATmega324, some with an 644. MCU lottery. This is one of the reasons I don't provide any ready-to-use firmwares. There are simply too many hardware variations to cover.

[distefanom]

Hi Indman!
thanks for your efforts, but the link you provided me won't me download it, since it says the file is too big and  I need Yandex installed.
Which I did, but the installation program says that this program can't run in my region (Italy).
BTW the processor inside my TC1 is an Atmega324, as I said several times.
Personally, I don't think the .eep and .hex files should be so big, so maybe a direct link anywhere would be good enough.

[distefanom]

Hi Indman. Sorry I didn't recognize it 
I successful programmed it in the Atmega 324. But I get kinda bootloop (see attached images) showing the first, then the second an then again the first
Also seems to me that the image is shifted 2 dots left and 2 dots up in respect of the display itself.
What's the meaning of the number shown?

[indman]

What's the meaning of the number shown?

This means that your device has a problem. Read advice from other owners on how to fix it.

[belzrebuth]

Here is a ready-made working firmware for the clone TC1 and ATMega324

Mine has a 644 and I think I already have v1.34 somewhere, I was hoping for a newer edition of the m-firmware.
I guess I need to roll my own..

[distefanom]

Hi indman, I think no.
Some weeks ago I broke my TC1 incidentally measuring a charged capacitor, I was sure it was already discharged.
I'm a hardware engineer, and I found several damaged components on the testing path, like the protection diodes including DZ1, DZ2 as well the other resistors that go to the uP I/O ports (see the enclosed schematic for reference).
Now they're all ok now, and changed the uP Atmega324 so I cannot imagine what else could be if not a FW problem.
Maybe I should learn how "compile" the firmware, as you said, to tailor the sources to my TC1 device needs, but at my age, I find a thing really hard to do, starting from zero, as I am.
I thought, as I already did with several other appliances, I felt it was way easier to find the already compiled FW and program it inside the micro.
But I have to say is really harder than I thought.
I'm still in the hope that someone else already has done it, and could kindly link me the firmware he/she used.
Many many thanks to those who can help 

[indman]

Mine has a 644 and I think I already have v1.34 somewhere, I was hoping for a newer edition of the m-firmware.

Here is the working firmware for ATMega644
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/$20-lcr-esr-transistor-checker-project/msg3578117/#msg3578117

Hi indman, I think no.

But I still think you're wrong! The firmware that I suggested is 100% working and tested on a very large number of clones like yours. Here is another 100% working firmware in Russian(1.41m) for your clone. Try it and if the display shows the same messages as on 1.34m, then your device has a hardware problem. Remove the protective diode assembly DZ2 for a while and check the operation of the firmware without it. I also advise you to check the quality of the soldering of the ATmega324 processor. Very often problems arise precisely for this reason. Check the resistances of each of the processor test ports(PA0-PA2) against +5V and GND. I also do not advise you to check the operation of the device with the USB charging cable connected.

[distefanom]

Hi indman!
quote: "But I still think you're wrong!"
Trust me indman, I really HOPE I'm wrong since I would like to recover this device, and not throw it into the bin!
All the suggestions you give, like the DZ2 zener, all the protection diodes are already out of the PCB, as well to control the soldering joints of the I/O ports
Also there's no problem reading/verifying the uP at all.
This evening I'll try you Russian version, and let you know.
Thanks 4 the moment 

[stefanus]

You forgot to check DZ2, (SRV05-4) ,when you tested capacitor without discharged, DZ2 will protect forward/reverse voltage, and mostly DZ2 will short. ATMega will saved all the time.

[distefanom]

I removed it already long ago.
It still won't work and the micro shows what's in the attached photo-
Of course it won't make any measurement