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Cheap Component Tester

It apparently only reads remotes that follow the Hitachi protocol. But with any IR remote, it will at least show on the TFT display that it's receiving something, even if it can't decode it.
 
This thread just got more relevant to my interests...

I have a Fluke meter with really limited capacitance testing capabilities

I also have a "YFE YF-150 Capacitance Meter" which does a good job checking for values but doesn't check ESR. I discovered today that it also apparently doesn't identify polarity. I finally got my Hayseed can caps for my Scott 340B and the one that is supposed to be can positive reads exactly the same either way I hook up this meter.

I also have a need for testing hFE of transistors apparently as I'm getting into a point with one of my little projects where I've been told that I need to use fairly well matched pairs of transistors in a position where I'm considering the original ones suspect.

Will any of the meters mentioned in this thread accomplish all the tasks that I want here? I would like to verify the polarity of my can caps before installing, not that I really doubt them, but I would just like to know... additionally if I dig into the Marantz and find that I need to replace the transistors on the BTL phase inverter board I apparently need to match them up

thanks!
 
OK, so is there a cheap/easy way with stuff I might have laying around to non-destructively check polarity of a multi-section can cap before going to the trouble of soldering it into a really pretty old receiver and potentially vaporizing the fuse again if I get it wrong?

No, I really don't know what I'm doing, I'm figuring it out as I go :)
 
I have in the past been able to do it with a multimeter set for resistance, it will usually have leakage if connected backwards, and none connected correctly.
 
I bought one of these and it is great. I mainly use it for testing resistors instead of reading tiny print or figuring out color codes. I also use it for cap values and polarity. This is a fun device.
 
More and more are having cases now...I have to get one of the new ones. I have been buying the ones without a case in the past. I lost my first one to a charged cap, then I bought two others as hedge against another similar "genius" move and against the lengthy shipping time. Now I may just have to buy one with the case.
I am contemplating of hooking up a transformer, but I am not sure if it will bring in any unwanted noise or affect the accuracy in any other way.
 
Nice to see that you can now get them in a case. I bought two of them without cases, only to have the display fall out of one of them and tear off the unrepairable flex cable. I built the other one into a plastic case to prevent a repeat performance. For those that have the ones without cases, I strongly suggest a dab of clue in the 4 corners of the display to prevent this from occurring. They seem to work good and are a cheap instrument well worth the price.
 
I mounted mine to a small board using short spacers cut from a 5/16" dowel with a 1/8" hole drilled in it. It keeps the PCB stabilized, protects the display, and makes the tester much easier to find on my bench.
 
it does not only have a case, but a usb charger GREAT! I am gonna get me one just for the convenience of not having to swap batteries.
 
I believe this tester was made as a science project by some student in Germany. Quite the clever lad, and way render an entire test equipment industry obsolete. ;) These testers really are considerably better than similar, but expensive old fashioned (nowadays) junk.
 
EchoWars said:
In this post a while back, I situmbled on a cheap tester that I thought I'd check out. Here's the link to the device: http://m.banggood.com/3_5inch-Color...FT-Backlight-Transistor-Tester-p-1083042.html

I've also seen these on eBay, with and without the plastic case and battery. I could not resist, and I ordered one for $35. Took all month for it to show up, but it arrived today. Yay! New toys!

Anyway, it works like a charm. I've been comparing transistor measurements to the ones I get with my DCA55 (which was much more expensive) and they agree with each other to within 1%. Comes with a remote three-lead minigrabber ribbon cable, a (short 6") USB-A male to a male USB micro-A cable for charging the internal lithium battery, and a couple of seemingly random parts (in my case, a weird turquoise LED and an amazingly cheap 1uf cap that measures worse than some I've pulled from 40 year-old gear). I was also paranoid about plugging this into my computer for charging the battery, so I ordered a Aukey Quick Charge 2.0 wall charger that has some protections built-in and comes with a nice 1m cable. Link: https://www.amazon.com/AUKEY-Micro-...067289&sr=8-5&keywords=Quick+Charge+2.0+AUKEY

BTW, the price from Banggood (you know there's a good joke there somewhere) has dropped nearly $10 since I bought this one. Damn slow shipping, but it did eventually make it. Longevity is, of course, unknown, and someday that flat internal lithium battery is going to need replacing, but hell, $25! (plus a wall charger if you, like me, worry about plugging Chinese whatchamacallits into your computer USB port)

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I just snagged one of those. The price just dropped again. Thanks for posting It. :thumbsup:
 
Just got mine
It outed a bad transistor almost immediately. Lead clips a little cheesy. I would have paid another buck or 3 if it gave you a few more inches and better clips. That said , it's sickly cool. I thought it odd it read one transistor (in circuit as 2 diodes). I'll get some use out of this guy. Thanks:thumbsup:
 
I got mine in February 2013 and I suspect they have improved a bit. Has anyone learned what Atmega chip and S/W rev are in the current model(s)?
 
ZOOM said:
I believe this tester was made as a science project by some student in Germany. Quite the clever lad, and way render an entire test equipment industry obsolete. ;) These testers really are considerably better than similar, but expensive old fashioned (nowadays) junk.
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OH YAH! it will also render obsolete the similar ones without the case, or they would have to sale for much less. I paid same or more for the three case-less units I have. The built in rechargeable option of the cased verion really makes a difference too. I got tired of changing batteries.

One thing to watch for...discharge those caps before testing! It is written on most of these units. If ya forget it'll bite you. I lost my first one that way.
 
I rebuilt a Marantz 2216b and was sure that the outputs were blown. Once removed I hooked them up to my old cheap tester that's just PCB and a display and bada bing bada boom tested good. It's so easy to test a transistor with these cheap testers . Put the xistors back in and everything is good. I'll like the finished product as opposed to what I have now with the battery flopping around.
 
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