Video/Review: Cheap $15 ESR meter and component tester - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2014, 09:58:32 pm
content: Hi folks,I'm currently fixing up my Philips TV (power supply issue) which has it's own separate thread in the Beginner's section (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/beginners/basic-fuse-question-philips-tv/)... but in the meantime I needed to get a cheap component tester to help me check out a few parts. I found one on eBay and it arrived recently. Here's the quick unboxing/review:In the video above I open up the box from China, power it up for the first time and try it out on a few components. Obviously far from professional grade, but not a bad little piece of kit to have when you need to figure out something quick and dirty that your multimeter can't do. I'll be using this to help me test a few more components on my Philips TV power board and hope to finish the repair job over the holidays.Looks like its based on the ATMega328 project here (it's in German):http://www.mikrocontroller.net/articles/AVR_TransistortesterDoes anyone else have one of these and any instruction manuals or hints on how to use it? Any interesting extra features? And how do you calibrate this thing?

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2014, 10:06:11 pm
content: Here we go:-https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/$20-lcr-esr-transistor-checker-project/-http://www.mikrocontroller.net/articles/AVR_Transistortester(mostly German)-http://www.mikrocontroller.net/svnbrowser/transistortester/-http://www.mikrocontroller.net/svnbrowser/transistortester/Doku/tags/english/for the documentationBTW, I'm author of the m-firmware

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 07, 2014, 10:15:33 pm
content: Hi, Thanks for the info. This one from China seems to use a different sized LCD panel and is called MTester v2.07 by Efan & HaoQixin. Also the blue/cyan socket has 1,2,3,1,1,1,1 written on it and in the photo it shows the Capacitor plugged into 1 with leads going to either side (top and bottom) of the same one. When I did my testing, I plugged it across 1,2 and it still seemed to work. I'll have to figure out these pins, which are common and what exactly the idea is with using them and why.Here's the eBay listing "specs":Features :1,2013 latest M328 version of the software ,more functions.Chip: Atmega3282.128*64 big Backlight LCD display,only 2mA when stand by.3,Using 9V battery (Not included)Test ranges:Inductors, capacitors , diodes, dual diode , mos, transistor, SCR , the regulator, LED tube , ESR,Resistance,Adjustable potentiometerResistance :0.1 ohm resolution, maximum 50M ohmCapacitor :25pf -100,000 ufInductors : 0.01mh-20HNEW Function:1:Automatic detection of NPN and PNP transistors, n-channel and p-channel MOSFET, diode (including double diode), thyristor, transistor, resistor and capacitor and other components2: Automatic test the pin of a component, and display on the LCD3:Can detect the transistor, MOSFET protection diode amplification coefficient and the base to determine the emitter transistor forward biased voltage4: Measure the gate and gate capacitance of the MOSFET threshold voltage5:Use 12864 liquid crystal display with green backlightSpecifications: For you reference1,One -button operation, automatic shutdown .2,Only 20nA shutdown current.3,Automatically detect NPN, PNP bipolar transistors , N -channel and P -channel MOS FET, JFET , diodes , two diodes, thyristors small power unidirectional and bidirectional thyristor.4,Automatic identification components pin arrangement .5,Measuring bipolar transistor current amplification factor and base - emitter threshold voltage.6,Via the base - emitter threshold voltage and high current amplification factor to identify Darlington transistors.7,Can detect bipolar transistors and MOS transistors protection diodes.8,Measuring the gate MOS FET threshold voltage and the gate capacitance.9,Can simultaneously measure two resistors and resistor symbol is displayed. Displayed on the right with a decimal value of 4 . Resistance symbol on both sides shows the pin number. So you can measure the potentiometer. If the potentiometer wiper is not transferred to an extreme position , we can distinguish the middle and both ends of the pin.10,Resistance measurement resolution is 0.1 ohms , 50M ohms can be measured .11,Can measure capacitanceCan measure capacitance of 30pF-100mF , resolution 1pF.12.2uF more capacitors can simultaneously measure the equivalent series resistance ESR values. The two can be displayed with a decimal value , resolution 0.01 ohms.13,Can be in the correct order and the diode symbol display two diodes , and gives the diode forward voltage.14.LED is detected as a diode forward voltage higher . Combo of the LED is identified as two diodes.15,Eeverse breakdown voltage is less than 4.5V Zener diode can be identified.16,Can measure a single diode reverse capacitance. If the bipolar transistor connected to the base and collector or emitter of a pin , it can measure the collector or emitter junction reverse capacitance .18 can be obtained with a single measurement rectifier bridge connection.Notice: Before measuring capacitance , the capacitor must be discharged , otherwise very likely damage the meter .

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2014, 03:47:57 am
content: Here the direct link to the documentation that I could find (which I also attached):http://www.mikrocontroller.net/attachment/164956/ttester_eng104k.pdfNot sure if there is a newer version or not.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: December 08, 2014, 11:21:39 am
content: Please seehttp://www.mikrocontroller.net/svnbrowser/transistortester/Doku/tags/english/for the latest documentation (click "Download GNU tarball"). For the trunk version (under developement, going to be the next release) check outhttp://www.mikrocontroller.net/svnbrowser/transistortester/Doku/trunk/pdftex/english/(unfortunately you have to download the whole directory to get ttester.pdf).And if you enter the menu you'll have even more features, like in-circuit ESR, sqarewave generator, PWM and a few more based on the firmware. There are also a few hardware options, e.g. Zener diodes up to about 50V, frequency counter, input protection relay and rotary encoder UI.

author: jguardiola1
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 05, 2015, 09:50:28 am
content: Hello,First , apologize because I'm Spanish and I 'm using an online translator.Second, ask if you could update you firmware to lcr - t4 as they reported in the forum you ¿? .Comment I've tried all the firmwares of " mega328 dogm , st7565 , ST7920 , strip_grig , strip_grig_dogm " and I have not gotten him run the tester , stays with blank screen .Tell you have a copy of both the original firmware flash the eeprom that allows me to return the same before.If you managed to update it and make it work, I could spend the hex of the flash and eepromThanks and regards.

author: madires
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2015, 11:54:16 am
content: Quote from: jguardiola1 on February 05, 2015, 09:50:28 amWhen you buy a tester clone with a graphics display with unknown display controller, you're on your own. Sorry!

author: xwarp
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 05, 2015, 11:57:35 am
content: Quote from: madires on December 07, 2014, 10:06:11 pmI've got the same unit as the o.p. and it's been a great little tester.

author: jguardiola1
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 05, 2015, 03:37:18 pm
content: Thanks for everything,I keep looking to see if I see any new firmware for that clone.regards,

author: mourad3d
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 19, 2017, 09:28:00 pm
content: hii need hex file LCR transistor tester by efan & haoqixin v2.68