That's one area where they probably can't do anything without having access to more than one voltage. It's a really good point, though, and something that I should add to the guide here.
dlucy’s guide to transistor testers and curve tracers
- Thread starter dlucy
- Start date
That's one area where they probably can't do anything without having access to more than one voltage. It's a really good point, though, and something that I should add to the guide here.
This page might have some answers for you. I'll re-read and post some of those links. https://hackaday.com/2015/04/24/review-transistor-tester/
No experience with this one but if it works as stated it could be an inexpensive addition to the test bench.
eBay Curve Tracer
eBay Curve Tracer
I've had a Leader LTC-905 curve tracer for about 35 years. The only down side is the collector voltage only goes to 100VDC. I've found lots of transistors that test OK with VOM's and other testers that avalanche etc at low voltages. I made up a block of wood with a TO3 socket and cables for testing TO3 output transistors. here is one on ETSY. Prices seem outrageous. I think I paid like $25
https://www.etsy.com/listing/837115...ZnpZgyuyVpsmGiwi5F_xLYBI6U3b0_isaAm2QEALw_wcB
https://www.etsy.com/listing/837115...ZnpZgyuyVpsmGiwi5F_xLYBI6U3b0_isaAm2QEALw_wcB
It is exactly what it says. The instructions would be helpful though. And you can use it to blow up those Chinese counterfeits without destroying an amplifier.
Nati Dread
New Member
I am a retired engineer and working on trying to revive some of my accumulated basement treasures (currently Sansui AU-999 and Onkyo M-5060r). I have heard that the new cheap digital transistor testers are not good for vintage silicon transistors and don't have much power. I am seeing units like Heathkit IT-121 or1320B and Sencore TF17A or TF151 on eBay - is this what I need for vintage transistors if I want to match and test gain/leakage? I have been buying vintage pull transistors because everything out there has started looking counterfeit to me. Im not an electronics guy ut so far have been enjoying recapping and wading through circuit diagrams.
johnfalc
Well-Known Member
I agree that the switch between sockets feature is a great one. I still (infrequently) use my IT-1121 and built a small box with TO-3 socket for checking such devices.
Doug G.
Lunatic Member
I meant to write, a couple of years ago, that your setup there looks pretty much like what we had at Telex because we had those same two types of 'scopes (among many others) to use for the same purpose. We never tested tubes, however.
Oh, and the transistors we tested for hearing aids were like mini TO-92's and were only about 1/16" X 1/16".
Doug
The newer transistors testers _do_ test for gain, but they do it at a low voltage. This should be fine for comparisons and good/bad tests. IMHO
Testing _at rated voltage or current_, we’ll that’s different. Maybe someone with more experience than I can jump in here and comment. I imagine you’d need something like the Tektronix unit to do that. The Heathkits don’t do that and I imagine few others do.
As for finding non-counterfeit stuff… there are a few vendors who have good stocks and great reputation (thinking B&D Ent here) and otherwise advice on how to find modern replacement devices would be my next recommendation. https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/dlucy%E2%80%99s-guide-how-to-find-replacement-transistors.979374
Get the manual and find out it's capabilities...
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1528838/Heathkit-It-3120.html
MattiaM
Active Member
Another transistor analyser worth adding to the list: Philips PM-6505. It is big, heavy, it runs from mains and has a lot of measuring capabilities. The circuitry is all transistors apart from an interesting EF98 vacuum tube made to run on car batteries (anode voltage of +9V in this circuit).
Bill Ferris
Lunatic Member
I thought to add, since I didn`t see any mention of these older analog based bench type B&K Precision transistor tester models that I`ve been successfully using since the early eighties in this thread.
First model was the 520B (though now replaced by the Peak DCA55 for basic initial testing), and more importantly for more complete testing, especially leakage up to 100 v applied to the transistor, the 530 which has been perfect for reliably rebuilding high power pro audio amplifiers to help weed out any voltage sensitive leaking higher voltage operating pre-driver, driver/output transistors.
Plus device gain confirming and matching.
To facilitate quicker testing of the commonly used TO-3 case type power transistors, I mounted a T0-3 socket to an small L bracket secured to a screwed to the edge of the bench a short cut piece of 2X4 that the tester lived on next to it and clipped the tester`s mini hooks to the base and emitter socket connections and then clipped the third mini hook to the collector`s body.
Helped to make quick work of reliably testing/qualifying the 10~16 count TO-3 output/driver transistors found in a lot of pro type rack mount power amps that were flowing in and out of my shop in the nineties from the area`s local music shops, plus local band walk ins.
First model was the 520B (though now replaced by the Peak DCA55 for basic initial testing), and more importantly for more complete testing, especially leakage up to 100 v applied to the transistor, the 530 which has been perfect for reliably rebuilding high power pro audio amplifiers to help weed out any voltage sensitive leaking higher voltage operating pre-driver, driver/output transistors.
Plus device gain confirming and matching.
To facilitate quicker testing of the commonly used TO-3 case type power transistors, I mounted a T0-3 socket to an small L bracket secured to a screwed to the edge of the bench a short cut piece of 2X4 that the tester lived on next to it and clipped the tester`s mini hooks to the base and emitter socket connections and then clipped the third mini hook to the collector`s body.
Helped to make quick work of reliably testing/qualifying the 10~16 count TO-3 output/driver transistors found in a lot of pro type rack mount power amps that were flowing in and out of my shop in the nineties from the area`s local music shops, plus local band walk ins.
Bradbrews
Super Member
I have the TC1 cheap component tester and have found it well worth its price.
Has anyone tried to update the firmware on this unit?
Did it work EASILY or was it a tricky process?
Did you notice any functional benefits?
I would hate to attempt this process only to regret it.
Has anyone tried to update the firmware on this unit?
Did it work EASILY or was it a tricky process?
Did you notice any functional benefits?
I would hate to attempt this process only to regret it.
I picked up one of these a couple days ago via amazon:
Certainly didn't break the bank to purchase. So far I've used it for transistor identification, cap testing and some basic signal tracing/chasing. The rest of the functions I haven't had a need to use.
While I wouldn't call it a precision instrument, it seems to at least do the basics fairly well. The O-scope I'm not sure I'd trust a lot more than tracing out a signal through a circuit, but it's a quick and easy little thing that you can set up next to your workspace rather than moving your workspace to where the the O-scope is.
Suits my needs well enough.
Certainly didn't break the bank to purchase. So far I've used it for transistor identification, cap testing and some basic signal tracing/chasing. The rest of the functions I haven't had a need to use.
While I wouldn't call it a precision instrument, it seems to at least do the basics fairly well. The O-scope I'm not sure I'd trust a lot more than tracing out a signal through a circuit, but it's a quick and easy little thing that you can set up next to your workspace rather than moving your workspace to where the the O-scope is.
Suits my needs well enough.