Advice for testing a bunch of op-amps/comparators - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Dannyx
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 03, 2025, 06:38:52 pm
content: Good day folks. I apologize in advance for my lack of knowledge on such a basic subject, hence why I post in the "beginners" section and not the "repair" one. Bare with us, as my terminology may be all over the placeTL;DR: I'd like to ask for a few pointers on how I should go about doing some basic tests on a bunch of op-amps and comparators without a scope or other advanced tools, since I don't have thoseI do have the trusty multimeter and bench supply at my disposalOf course, this is just enough to confirm they're not obviously faulty and may not fully reveal the more "advanced" parameters which may be out of whack - I'm aware of that.The reason I need to do this is because I'm faced with a faulty Legrand UPS I wrote abouthere, but got no replies so far - understandably, it's a very complex issue and that's a very long post, so fair enoughIn an attempt to narrow the issue down, I suspect I'm dealing with a faulty op-amp/comparator/schmitt trigger somewhere, so I need some help with my test methodology, since it doesn't seem to be working the way I initially expected.Based onsome resourcesI found, which don't always seem to agree, the way I did it so far was by removing the comparator from the board (obviously) and then connecting the Inverting input to GND and the N/I input to VCC via 10k resistors (Fig.1 in the crude schematic I drew). I'd power it with anywhere from 5v to 12v from my bench supply and measure the output: in this config, it should read close to VCC (yes yes, I'm aware it will not go all the way up TO the rail, but it's still a good indication it at least did something and it's not stuck at GND).Next, I'd reverse the inputs like in Fig.2 and this is where the confusion began: since the N/I input is now lower than the Inverting input, I'm expecting the output to also swing LOW (to GND).....but it doesn't. Again, I'm not completely clueless: I understand part of the problem, but not all of it: there's push-pull op-amps/comparators and there's open-collector op-amps/comparators. Open-collector ones SINK current, like an NPN (which is what the "output" actually is), so without a pull-up resistor to VCC, the output pin cannot possibly read any voltage. The LM393 is like this and I experimented with it to confirm - fair enough, this part I get.Then there's the Push-pull type: these actually seemed to be even more simple to understand. Ironically, I was having trouble figuring out the open-collector kind and figuring out why the hell my output was always stuck LOW (drove me nuts !), but it turns out push-pulls are tricky too. See, I THOUGHT that since they can both sink AND source current, the output would read high/low as I flipped the inputs between VCC and GND as described above.....which doesn't always happen though. Some do and some don't.An example of one that DOES is theTLCI played around with a while ago: ground the Inverting input and pull the N/I input to VCC and the output goes high. Flip the inputs around, it goes low - simple.Today, I thought I could use the same setup to "test" some of the op-amps on the UPS board and this is where I got confused: it's mostlyTL074cop-amps on it and no matter what I try, the outputs are always stuck HIGH, close to VCC. First off, am I right to assume the TL074C is even a push-pull jobbie ? The schematic shows one transistor pulling up to VCC and another pulling down to GND, sooooooooo.....I then tried another suggestion and connected the op-amp in "voltage-follower" mode: Inverting input tied straight to the output and used the 2 10k resistors on the N/I input as a resistor divider to get half of VCC. This worked and the output pin now showed half VCC as well, so can we assume the op-amp is "functional" just based on that ?I distinctly remember I had the same exact dilemma a while ago with someLM833swhere the same behavior occurs (output always stuck high) and people pitched it and tried explaining why my circuit didn't work, but we never actually got to the root of the issue and whether this simple test CAN be performed on it in the first place.Thanks for any suggestions.

author: Jwillis
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2025, 02:45:41 am
content: Always consult the data sheet for parameters of the opamp or comparator you wish to test. Not all opamps and comparators are created equally .So there is no one procedure and voltage for testing all.To high an input voltage for example can damage or destroy the device. To low a supply voltage and the device may not respond at all.The data sheet has a Typical Application that you use for testing that device.If you have a large quantities of units then investing in a tester may be more practical.

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2025, 12:24:56 pm
content: no need, see mfg for selection/comparison chart or DK/Mouser.j

author: Dannyx
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 04, 2025, 06:17:41 pm
content: I've gone ahead and ordered an op-amp "tester" from Aliexpress, since I found out such a thing exists and wasn't that expensive - just to have it in my tool kit

author: Solder_Junkie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 05, 2025, 09:56:58 am
content: As a slight variation on Op Amp testing. I have been building a two tone test oscillator for SSB transmitter testing, I tried some cheap eBay "TL072" Op Amps and found the harmonic output significantly worse than genuine versions.While it is perhaps a little over complicated, the instrument used for testing the audio output is free! I used Spectrum Lab fromhttps://www.qsl.net/dl4yhf/speclab/It is used with a PC sound card, or in my case an external USB audio card.The oscillator is a Wien Bridge type. The difference between a genuine TL072 and an eBay fake are shown in the attached images.SJ

author: MathWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2025, 01:42:05 am
content: I built some test jigs for measuring the DC parameters like input Voffset, and the input bias currents. It works ok. There's quicker ways tho to test an op-amp.But have a look at these

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2025, 09:43:44 am
content: Build a Schmitt trigger oscillator with an LED on the output.Schmitt Trigger Oscillator Comparator test.asc

author: Messtechniker
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2025, 09:52:51 am
content: If really serious, you might want to build my Opamp Tester. Details here:https://www.wellenkino.de/557/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=358&p=2166&hilit=opamp#p2166

author: Solder_Junkie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2025, 01:04:17 pm
content: “Go/no go” and DC tests will show up a failed op amp, but the problem I found was as a result of using a fake TL072 that came from eBay. The fake basically works, but has nowhere near the same performance as a genuine one.SJ

author: Zero999
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2025, 06:19:54 pm
content: The circuit I posted above will just tell you the op-amp works. It won't tell you if it's fake i.e. doesn't meed its specified characteristics.Note that some op-amps, such as the NE5532, have diodes connected between the inputs, in which case each input will need to have a resistor in series, to make them high impedance.

author: Dannyx
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 06, 2025, 06:50:52 pm
content: Going back to my UPS repair for a moment, ironically, I think I found the issue, or at least part of it: it WAS an op-amp after all and it's on the "backplane" board, where all the "modules" plug in. It's a TL074c which failed the basic DC test: with a 10v supply, a 10k/10k divider on the + input to give me an even 5v, and the - input strapped to the output, it only gives me 2v on two of the channels and 0v on the other two.....definitely not OK. I even triple-checked my breadboard to make sure it's not human error, but I got the same result each time. I confirmed with a new TL074c, but haven't installed it on the board yet because I also found a dead 10ohm resistor between one of the op-amp's outputs and the "PC board".It's not clear to me how this guy died like that and it may be indicative of another issue further downstream, but still....hope is starting to come back to this one