(show your) Transistor testers - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: PA4TIM
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2013, 09:12:49 am
content: I was looking at a EEV blog video about the old electronic magazines. Dave showed a page from a 70's magazin that was an advertisement for a lafayette transistor tester. I happen to have one but could never find info about it. The brand is not printed on it. only the type.I hope someone has more info. It is the left oneBesides that it would be nice to show other transistor testers. My oldest is from 1955, the newest a Peak, the best a Tek 576http://www.pa4tim.nl/?p=971more pictures and info from all my testers

author: ftransform
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2013, 12:32:31 pm
content: I was going to build this micro controller based transistor tester but it has limitations..http://www.mikrocontroller.net/articles/AVR-Transistortesterwhat is the difference between hFE and hfe?The difference between hFE and hfe is: FE is for a fixed DC bias and a fixed DC current gain (and that must be specified for each value of hFE). hfe is the small signal AC current gain (and it is also specified for a given bias). hfe is frequency dependant. hFE is only good at DC.-yahoo answers!

author: PA4TIM
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2013, 12:57:23 pm
content: yes I know the difference, Tek has a nice book from the concepts series that explains all transistor parameters. There are a whole series of h parameters. hFE and hfe are just two of them. if you are buildomg one, GR has an exerimenter about how to measure all other h parameters including the math. they use a GR1650B for that. I want to do that one day. allready used curvetracers Homebuild and Teks, for that. But today most times S parameters are more important. I use a vna for that.The testers are just collectables. If I need to realy know if a transistor is OK I use the 576

author: ftransform
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2013, 01:04:45 pm
content: I wrote the difference because I read on your comment on your web page and I did not know the difference, so I looked it up, and decided to post it here. Initially it was just a question but doing a more through google search found the answer, so I answered my own question. I am not trying to lecture you, sorry if it came out that way.

author: PA4TIM
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2013, 03:53:12 pm
content: No, problem. I bet a lot of people do not know and like to read it. And in a topic about transistortesters it is also on topic.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 04, 2013, 04:14:33 pm
content: Quote from: PA4TIM on June 04, 2013, 03:53:12 pmI didn't know that! what a nugget! thanksHere's my cheap and cheerful testers; btw: the cheap one is at the top ;-)

author: PA4TIM
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2013, 04:28:10 pm
content: This is my Peak component tester together with the LCR meter and ESR meter.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2013, 05:03:06 pm
content: Mine is homebuild. For Eagle files and some pictures seehttp://www.mikrocontroller.net/svnbrowser/transistortester/Hardware/Markus/.You'll find docs and firmware in the same SVN (some directories up).

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 04, 2013, 05:06:47 pm
content: Quote from: ftransform on June 04, 2013, 12:32:31 pmThat's the obsolete version. Please seehttp://www.mikrocontroller.net/articles/AVR_Transistortesterfor the current one.

author: lemmegraphdat
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 05, 2013, 12:51:50 am
content: I don't remember where the heck I got the Micronta. It's still in the box with the plastic bag, cardboard sleeve and the operating instructions.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 05, 2013, 08:32:08 am
content: Regarding the "Peak" transistor tester, they offer a firmware upgrade service for (£12.77 + VAT) + shipping, which I think is quite reasonable.Here is a PDF with some info regarding the firmware updates to date;http://www.peakelec.co.uk/downloads/dca_software_versions.pdf