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Cheap Component Tester

I just have 2 multimeters (nothing fancy)
Both have c testing (no leakage or esr)
Ones a Tenma , i forgot what the other is (not home now.)
Both test within a few digits of each other and more or less on spec with new caps. Testing back to back with mini test (unit of thread) i probably exaggerated (not 30%) but far off what the other 2,say .
I didn't do an extensive test, say, various high to low values. It may in fact be more accurate at other value ranges.
If anybody has made any extensive test in that vein, I'd be interested to see.
Perhaps mine is just wonky. I'm not unhappy with it and in fact think its a great little tool and value. I was just pointing out an observation i made a few evenings ago.
(Maybe the battery is low? I haven't charged it in a bit)
 
This thread alerted me to a cost effective LCR tester. My home digital meter does not test high value caps and do not do inductance at all. This is something I need for AC motors. There is starting, running caps, and stator inductances to check.
The TC-1 is about $29.
The "LCD Transistor Capacitance LCR ESR meter diode inductor MOS NPN US" is $22.29. The thing I look for is it should be all together in a box, uses common 9v battery. It should be another handy tool just like a stud finder in the tool box. These component testers are all the same under the skirt: similar if not the same micro and software. I end up going for cheap with the $22.29. I got it this week and use it to get a motor running in no time. On second look, I wish I ordered the "B1 Color 1.8" TFT ESR Transistor Resistor Diode Capacitor Mosfet Tester w/ hook". Same thing, same price, but with test leads.
 
Test leads are a plus. I have 2 without leads and i always regret of that. But for the price of the leads I' ve got a 2nd tester, the cheaper one is $9, and I use it every day.

BE CAREFUL, ALWAYS DISCHARGE CAPS, EVEN SMALL ONES. I damaged one tester with a small cap. Now I always short them with some tool at hand before measuring.
 
Meanwhile, I should mark on the box to discharge the caps first. A person can forget in a later date. A simple add on will solve the problem with a couple diodes. Making probes and adding diodes, more acquisition, more work, ...crap!
 
Hi All-

Working on restoring an HK 430, just getting into this and learning a lot but planning to replace caps and transistors that are notoriously noisy. What I can't figure out from this thread is which unit will work well enough for matching transistors? I'm not going for perfect but as good as I can reasonably get. I bought a $15 unit on amazon, which seemed fine but I don't know if it reads the right voltage for matching.

I am thinking I may just bit the bullet and buy the Atlas Peak DCA55 at $75, the first post in this thread said the TC-1 was about as accurate as the Atlas. Or will my $15 kuman Mega 328 unit get me close enough?
 
The basics of transistor testing can be met with the cheap component testers:

1. Does the transistor function or is it dead?

2. What type (NPN vs PNP) is it?

3. What is the pin out order?

4. What level of voltage gain does this transistor show (to compare with other transistors you have on hand to test)?

The Atlas devices can provide a little more:

5. Additional specs

6. Curve tracing on PC screen (e.g. showing a graph of operational characteristics over a range of input values) to compare with other devices or the needs of a given circuit.

Most hobbyists repairing or restoring a piece of audio gear will not need the extra features of the Atlas units.

The cheap component testers go beyond the Peak Atlas DC55 and DC75 units with the ability to:

Measure resistance
Measure capacitance
(Some) measure ESR
 
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dlucy said:
The basics of transistor testing can be met with the cheap component testers:

1. Does the transistor function or is it dead?

2. What type (NPN vs PNP) is it?

3. What is the pin out order?

4. What level of voltage gain does this transistor show (to compare with other transistors you have on hand to test)?

The Atlas devices can provide a little more:

5. Additional specs

6. Curve tracing on PC screen (e.g. showing a graph of operational characteristics over a range of input values) to compare with other devices or the needs of a given circuit.

Most hobbyists repairing or restoring a piece of audio gear will not need the extra features of the Atlas units.

The cheap component testers go beyond the Peak Atlas DC55 and DC75 units with the ability to:

Measure resistance
Measure capacitance
(Some) measure ESR
Click to expand...
As a "new school" tech-wannabe, if mine broke I'd buy another one immediately. Saves time looking up datasheets and I dont have to write myself notes constantly. Haven't installed a transistor wrong yet, that alone is worth $15.
 
elnaldo said:
Test leads are a plus. I have 2 without leads and i always regret of that. But for the price of the leads I' ve got a 2nd tester, the cheaper one is $9, and I use it every day.
I just did this with my unit. What actually gets fried anyways?? Maybe easy fix?

BE CAREFUL, ALWAYS DISCHARGE CAPS, EVEN SMALL ONES. I damaged one tester with a small cap. Now I always short them with some tool at hand before measuring.
Click to expand...
I just did this with my unit. What actually gets fried anyways?? Maybe easy fix?
 
Fiddle sticks. I think maybe my beloved TC1 multi-function tester is broken.

Today it started going into "Self Test Mode" (which I've never seen it do before), when I tested a bad output transistor (instead of reading "bad or unknown component"). I tried taking the back cover off and desoldering and resoldering the battery connection on the notion it would reset. No such luck. Sigh.

This is shaking my confidence in the tester's reliability. I've had it for maybe three years and loved it. Not sure the life expectancy of these.

Do you agree it is broken. What do you like as a replacement.
 
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Hey guys. Thanks so much.

Thanks, Scott. Got a little Yamaha Chernobyl here. Outputs shorted. Several other components toasty one channel power amp (so far). So the massively shorted outputs I think that explains it. Seems to be working now. My confidence is returing. We of course know some of the test parameters of these units are only to be trusted to give notions within reason results vary.

Oh my gosh, Doug, this is wild. Good grief you've been busy still! LOL. Great stuff.

I'm going to get another of these TC1's I think for backup. Cheap insurance. Don't want to get stuck without a working one. Cannot believe I haven't fried mine yet. I try and be dilligent. Still. LOL. Note to self. Order backup TC1.

Thanks again!
 
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