I recently bought this little gadget mostly out of curiosity because it wasn't very expensive, it was $14 including shipping.
After playing with and testing inductors resistors capacitors transistors field-effect devices I was really impressed with it. A device that could measure inductance resistance capacitance. Years ago this was a pretty expensive bench top device. Here this little device provides not only resistance in capacitance inductors but on transistors it tells you the HFE and the base to emitter voltage
In the picture show I'm showing a field effect transistor notice the nice display in the pinout information given in addition to the gate voltage level required to turn it on.
It uses mega 328P and a couple of transistors and resistors, that's all there is to it to make all these measurements.
On LEDs I can never remember which is anode/cathode based on pin length or index mark, but one push of the button and this cutie binks the led and then displays the configuration along with Vf and C-value.
The graphic display is nice and it shows the pinouts.
Somebody put a lot of thought and work to develop the program and really clean and easy user interface.
Anybody know the develoeer or program used ?
It is really a nice desktop tool for those of us who create a lot of miniprojects using electronic componets.
Hi Paul. They're brill. I bought a similar tester 3 years ago http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ESR-Component-Tester-Transistor-Diode-Capacitance-Meter-NPN-PNP-Inductance-/222514270428?hash=item33cee250dc:g:f4EAAOSwll1WytL8 but it was cheaper then. I haven't taken it apart to see what chips it uses. They seem to use avr now. I bought mine because it has a ESR function and an Atalas ESR meter was 10 times the price.
I have seen plans for making an ESR tester but like most things you can buy ready made cheaper.
Thanks for sharing.
ps I found a youtube link that shows how to re program the 328 because it was originally open source. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W3_k5x4IzY
Maybe one could be made using GCB. I'll search how they work. ESR can be measured with an AC bridge or by applying 1us pulses and calculating internal resistance.
Last edit: stan cartwright 2017-08-07
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Hey Stan,
Your link prompted me to look around for an ammeter with a current transformer for my house wiring. I have several CT that I bought many years ago with the idea of building a whole house montering system, with an indoor display unit, but never got around to it. Now with the price of complete units with snap on CT it just isn't worth building a kludge (most of my projects end up unfinished working kludge).
Anyway thanks.
Paul
Last edit: Paul Haug 2017-08-07
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Paul..I think they're called smart meters :)
I got an Eon clip on the thick incomer to the distr box under the stairs (why there?) and the lead plugs into a box that transmits to another box with a display, from a charity shop. They're pointless now smart meters are being promoted and why hack them.
I got a plugin device that monitors individual items as well,also from same shop. I can work out the cost from the wattage though in my head :) Tumble dryer takes most.
I got a basic scope working with GCB and no extra circuitry but a better kit is only £15 so it was just a learning project. Inpired by youtube vids. GCB made it easy to try though.
I can order 6 testers and send to Anobium for the dev team as thanks if interested.
...or any ebay gadget under a tenner
Last edit: stan cartwright 2017-08-07
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Good thiking Stan, but are you aware that your Smart Meter will become as much use as a pretty stone if and when you change energy suppliers. Like many folks I change my energy supplier as soon as one comes along with a cheaper deal and my contract expires.
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The charity shop ones just measure current and still were donated. It's depressing seeing your money vanish :) Smart meters use your electric after your meter to run not using induction to use the grids suppl which when everyone has one is lots of lecy. Rant over.
The idea of a small wind turbine from India out the back seems interesting.I doubt any programing of hardware would be needed. I don't fancy solar cells right now,everything gets cheaper/better in a year.
I think measuring ESR is simple as a 1us pulse at 1 KHz through a 50 ohm resitor to the cap to measure to ground and use a-d to measure the voltage at the cap resistor junction. Replace the cap withe a 1 ohm resistor to calibrate. Sort of low ohm meter but not really. Dunno about inductance or capacitance yet though. But I got a tester to compare results with. Not a fluke meter I know.Can't expect much for £7.
Last edit: stan cartwright 2017-08-08
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Stan, you are a man after my own heart.
Love the Charity shop info as I've never looked past Fleabay for junk stuff to strip and explore what makes it tick..
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
I recently bought this little gadget mostly out of curiosity because it wasn't very expensive, it was $14 including shipping.
After playing with and testing inductors resistors capacitors transistors field-effect devices I was really impressed with it. A device that could measure inductance resistance capacitance. Years ago this was a pretty expensive bench top device. Here this little device provides not only resistance in capacitance inductors but on transistors it tells you the HFE and the base to emitter voltage
In the picture show I'm showing a field effect transistor notice the nice display in the pinout information given in addition to the gate voltage level required to turn it on.
It uses mega 328P and a couple of transistors and resistors, that's all there is to it to make all these measurements.
On LEDs I can never remember which is anode/cathode based on pin length or index mark, but one push of the button and this cutie binks the led and then displays the configuration along with Vf and C-value.
The graphic display is nice and it shows the pinouts.
Somebody put a lot of thought and work to develop the program and really clean and easy user interface.
Anybody know the develoeer or program used ?
It is really a nice desktop tool for those of us who create a lot of miniprojects using electronic componets.
Last edit: Paul Haug 2017-08-06
Hi Paul. They're brill. I bought a similar tester 3 years ago http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ESR-Component-Tester-Transistor-Diode-Capacitance-Meter-NPN-PNP-Inductance-/222514270428?hash=item33cee250dc:g:f4EAAOSwll1WytL8 but it was cheaper then. I haven't taken it apart to see what chips it uses. They seem to use avr now. I bought mine because it has a ESR function and an Atalas ESR meter was 10 times the price.
I have seen plans for making an ESR tester but like most things you can buy ready made cheaper.
Thanks for sharing.
ps I found a youtube link that shows how to re program the 328 because it was originally open source.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W3_k5x4IzY
Maybe one could be made using GCB. I'll search how they work. ESR can be measured with an AC bridge or by applying 1us pulses and calculating internal resistance.
Last edit: stan cartwright 2017-08-07
Hey Stan,
Your link prompted me to look around for an ammeter with a current transformer for my house wiring. I have several CT that I bought many years ago with the idea of building a whole house montering system, with an indoor display unit, but never got around to it. Now with the price of complete units with snap on CT it just isn't worth building a kludge (most of my projects end up unfinished working kludge).
Anyway thanks.
Paul
Last edit: Paul Haug 2017-08-07
Paul..I think they're called smart meters :)
I got an Eon clip on the thick incomer to the distr box under the stairs (why there?) and the lead plugs into a box that transmits to another box with a display, from a charity shop. They're pointless now smart meters are being promoted and why hack them.
I got a plugin device that monitors individual items as well,also from same shop. I can work out the cost from the wattage though in my head :) Tumble dryer takes most.
I got a basic scope working with GCB and no extra circuitry but a better kit is only £15 so it was just a learning project. Inpired by youtube vids. GCB made it easy to try though.
I can order 6 testers and send to Anobium for the dev team as thanks if interested.
...or any ebay gadget under a tenner
Last edit: stan cartwright 2017-08-07
Good thiking Stan, but are you aware that your Smart Meter will become as much use as a pretty stone if and when you change energy suppliers. Like many folks I change my energy supplier as soon as one comes along with a cheaper deal and my contract expires.
The charity shop ones just measure current and still were donated. It's depressing seeing your money vanish :) Smart meters use your electric after your meter to run not using induction to use the grids suppl which when everyone has one is lots of lecy. Rant over.
The idea of a small wind turbine from India out the back seems interesting.I doubt any programing of hardware would be needed. I don't fancy solar cells right now,everything gets cheaper/better in a year.
I think measuring ESR is simple as a 1us pulse at 1 KHz through a 50 ohm resitor to the cap to measure to ground and use a-d to measure the voltage at the cap resistor junction. Replace the cap withe a 1 ohm resistor to calibrate. Sort of low ohm meter but not really. Dunno about inductance or capacitance yet though. But I got a tester to compare results with. Not a fluke meter I know.Can't expect much for £7.
Last edit: stan cartwright 2017-08-08
Stan, you are a man after my own heart.
Love the Charity shop info as I've never looked past Fleabay for junk stuff to strip and explore what makes it tick..