Transistor Testers - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: 6E5
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 22, 2014, 10:38:56 pm
content: Hello,I understand simple transistor testers were popular with testing NPN and PNP bipolar transistors. However, I don't see these mentioned or recommended lately. Are these useful pieces of kit and if so, what kind would you recommend?(Yes, I know cheap multimeters have simple gain meters installed. I'm referring to stand alone, high quality testers, such as MOSFET or power transistor testers.)

author: VK5RC
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 22, 2014, 10:57:52 pm
content: Peak do a nice 'identify everything silicon' device, not cheap though.

author: mos6502
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 22, 2014, 11:44:14 pm
content: What do you need it for? Test if a transistor is defective? The diode test on a multimeter is perfectly adequate for that. Beyond that (matching transistors etc.), you're really looking for a curve tracer.

author: Napalm2002
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2014, 02:55:02 am
content: B&k 510 or 520Search ebay

author: Rory
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2014, 03:22:04 am
content: Years ago, in the analog days, the Sencore Cricket was the way to go. Today, maybe Peak Atlas meters.

author: linux-works
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2014, 03:37:17 am
content: bought this a year or two ago on ebay. very nice unit. goes thru the combinations of leads and identifies EBC of transistor.very small meter (almost handheld size) and quite a lot of guts inside; not an empty meter by any measureI like that the power switch forces you to swipe thru a battery test on the way to 'on'. good thinking.

author: 6E5
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2014, 04:02:27 am
content: Hi,I would like it to both identify if transistors are functional or not, and to identify unmarked ones. Identifying Pins, good/bad, gain, and other transistor characteristics for Bipolar, MOSFET, and IGBT are necessary. High power IGBT and MOSFETs (Tesla Coil, and misc HV circuits) are a must. Testing in circuit is something I'd really like. Curve tracing is not needed.Looking at eBay, the Peak Atlas DCA 55 is $80, and the B&K (520 &530), and Sencore (Cricket and Super Cricket) are a little cheaper price. ($50-$150) . Which of the three would you recommend?The Peak Atlas comes in two flavors, the DCA55, and the DCA 75. It seems like the DCA 75 adds curve tracing features and PC connectivity. It is also more than 2 times the cost of the DCA 55. I don't need curve tracing, would you still recommend the 75, or should I go with the much cheaper 55?

author: VK5RC
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 23, 2014, 04:49:47 am
content: I generally tend to go for a feature or two more than you need now in gear if not too crazy price wise, as time goes on your needs generally go up rather than down.I use a home brew tester (rather simple compared to the items you are looking at) but meets most of my needs (so far).Based upon a design by Gary Morton M1GRY published in Practical Wireless, uses a PIC and not much else. It identifies which lead is CBE etc as I have had some Tx that a manufacturers decided to change the lead positions (for fun?)A zip of files athttp://www.vk5dj.com/tester.html

author: B0B45
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2014, 06:58:14 am
content: Hi,If you are still looking for a good Transistor Tester, try this one.http://www.mikrocontroller.net/articles/AVR_TransistortesterThere is an English manual at the bottom of the page.It can measure "NPN, PNP, N- and P-Kanal MOSFET, JFET, Dioden, Thyristor und TRIAC" + Resistor and Capacity by using an ATmega168/328If you don't want to build yourself, there should be some clones with the same software on Ebay from China.RegardsB0B

author: cybermaus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2014, 07:23:47 am
content: I am quite happy withthis chinese thingy.You can get one without enclosure too. Works quite well. Can't say anything about its absolute accuracy of hfe, but it identifies them flawlessly. Even shows ESR. Cannot deal with capacitors below 50pF though, those are classified as 'no device connected'.

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2014, 09:42:54 am
content: here you can get some diy and testers you can buyhttp://kripton2035.free.fr/semiconductorsre.htmlsome of them are already been cited in this thread.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2014, 10:56:33 am
content: Quote from: cybermaus on February 23, 2014, 07:23:47 amYou made me open an eBay account to buy one......... Now have to go tomorrow and pay both ICASA and my credit card. After that no more money left till payday.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2014, 02:42:49 pm
content: I just ordered one too. I was thinking of the peak but if it impressed SeanB its worth a try.

author: cybermaus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2014, 02:52:40 pm
content: Cool. I'm a trend-setter!(Oh shit, what if people are unhappy with it. Oh the agony of responsibility...)

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2014, 03:31:47 pm
content: Cheaper than the Peak, and as I gave my Peak LCR to the club I want something new....

author: cybermaus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2014, 03:41:01 pm
content: One thing to note though: If I understood it correctly, the Peak LCR can do in-circuit ESR.For as much as that is useful, because no device can do in-circuit on parallel caps.This Chinese thing cannot do in circuit. I hooked it up to a scope (just for fun) and it's racing through a test pattern to a few volts, so it would definitely activate silicon. Also OP asked for a transistor tester, not a LCR Like SeanBBut I got into the habit of even using it for resistors: Is that band darker orange, or a bright red? Just chuck it in and see! And you guys are lucky: I paid at least $10 more for it 6 months ago.

author: 6E5
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2014, 04:44:07 pm
content: Quote from: cybermaus on February 23, 2014, 07:23:47 amAright that sounds great Sean!I guess I'll wait until the other members get them so they can give their impressions.Has there been a EEVblog thread on it?Paul

author: kripton2035
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2014, 05:22:58 pm
content: it seems to be the same as this open source one :http://www.mikrocontroller.net/articles/AVR_Transistortesterthat B0B45 showed you earlier in this threadbut with an enclosure box, and almost twice the price by then...

author: cybermaus
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2014, 05:31:45 pm
content: Probably it is. They had to copy it from somewhere.And I did say it was also availablewithout enclosure.Also not everybody can read German, OP has an USA flag to his name.It all depends if you want it 80% DIY (kit from schematic) 50% DIY (prebuild kit from China) or a ready-made with enclosure.I doubt that you could build it yourself from the German schematic for half the price though. Enclosure alone would set you back 10 bucks at least. DIY is for the learning/entertainment experience, but if you can get it that cheap from China, not for the frugality of it.But honorary mentionings should go to that German site probably. Quite possible its a 100% copy. But cannot even call it a rip-off if it is all open.

author: Hydrawerk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2014, 05:36:37 pm
content: Quote from: B0B45 on February 23, 2014, 06:58:14 amThat is a great project. Many people have built it. I am building it too. Here is an old version made by me.See also:http://avrtester.tode.cz/

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 23, 2014, 06:12:47 pm
content: Guys there is a massive thread on this already, well the ESR meter with transistor tester.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/$20-lcr-esr-transistor-checker-project/

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2014, 07:49:43 pm
content: Quote from: robrenz on February 23, 2014, 02:42:49 pmJust showed up in todays mail. workmanship is pretty good, nice solder joints. I am out of 9V batteries

author: w2aew
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 07, 2014, 01:53:34 am
content: FYI - you can do basic go/no-go test with a DMM. And, there are some "old-school" testers that can be found pretty inexpensively if you want just basic leakage/gain measurements. In this video, I show basic DMM test procedures for BJTs, as well as a few old analog entry level basic testers (old Heathkit stuff)....and, I also posted a video on testing MOSFETs too...Of course, these don't do all of the lead identification, component type identification, etc. of the new uC based testers - so you have to use your brain a little with these ;-)