LCR-P1 Tester: Upgrade From TC-1?

[Ginsly]

EDIT: Garbage! See post #7

My TC-1 has been invaluable for resistors, caps, and pinouts especially, and I saw this LCR-P1 pop up that just seems like a sleeker version, more or less. I don't really care about importing info to a computer (seems like it may be Windows-only anyways...), but it'd be nice to have better battery life and firmware updates at least. I doubt it's any better with JFETs than the TC-1. Any real reason to "upgrade" to this over the TC-1? I doubt I'd use the SMD adapter, but who knows... https://www.amazon.com/FNIRSI-LCR-P1-Transistor-Electronic-Resistance/dp/B0DDBPWYP8

 

[jwin615]

This looks like the same firmware in a nicer case
Edit, looks like T7 firmware with the IR decoding...

 

[Ginsly]

This looks like the same firmware in a nicer case

That's kinda what I figured. Then again, the TC-1 doesn't support firmware updates but this one does - that's what lead me to question whether or not this had the same guts...

 

[jwin615]

That's kinda what I figured. Then again, the TC-1 doesn't support firmware updates but this one does - that's what lead me to question whether or not this had the same guts...

TC1 and the like fw is actually a open source project called Markus transistortester IIRC.
Of course, there's dozens of spin offs. Runs native on esp232 I believe.

GitHub - kholia/transistortester: Tweaked Markus' firmware for the 'Blue Button' LCR-T4 model from techtonics.in. NO SUPPORT!

Tweaked Markus' firmware for the 'Blue Button' LCR-T4 model from techtonics.in. NO SUPPORT! - kholia/transistortester

github.com

 

[darwin999]

For comparison, here's TC-1 parameters.
LCR-P1 does provide a SMD measurement "plate" ... plus a price jump.

 

[Ginsly]

TC1 and the like fw is actually a open source project called Markus transistortester IIRC.
Of course, there's dozens of spin offs. Runs native on esp232 I believe.

Yep I noticed that. Makes sense that there are several *almost* identical versions. This is one I hadn't seen before.

For comparison, here's TC-1 parameters.
LCR-P1 does provide a SMD measurement "plate" ... plus a price jump.

Hmm... yep I'm not seeing any real differences, unless I missed something. Unsurprisingly, no jfet support still...

I just ordered this board from OSH Park since I'm jumping into jfets soon. Seems like it'll help match jfets, but obviously won't give me all the info a DCA75 would. For my simple hobbyist purposes, should this Rullywow tester be enough?

 

[Ginsly]

Just a little update! For anybody who considers this over a TC-1 (beginners gearing up, those who dropped their TC-1 in the toilet) - don't bother!

A friend has one and I checked it out - amongst other issues, the transistor pinouts are incorrect for cryin out loud; they show the same orientation no matter which way you insert the transistor.

They may or may not come out with a firmware update to fix that, but again - don't bother! The updating process is comically weird, including sketchy downloads and PC-only compatibility.

It also takes forever to test and seems to round up measurements. Doesn't seem as accurate as the TC-1.

And it beeps every time you turn it on AND every time you test something! Nailed it!

 

[fontoponto]

Which transistors did he check? JFET for example have interchangable drain and source.
If you want something really good for transistors get a Peak DCA75. It's expensive but "worth" it.

Edit: a nice comparison

 

[Ginsly]

Which transistors did he check? JFET for example have interchangable drain and source.
If you want something really good for transistors get a Peak DCA75. It's expensive but "worth" it.

We tried several BJTs. The thing is bunk. Just looked at the recent amzn reviews and others are having the same issue. Yep those Peaks are excellent for BJTs, but it's nice to have something that can test resistors, caps, etc too. Guess nothing beats the TC-1 currently! Just wish the standby battery life was better...

 

[jwin615]

Just wish the standby battery life was better...

There's a secret menu on them, I forget how, where you can change a few things. One of which is the "on" time after a measurement. Shorten that up and it will help.

Or put a bigger lipo in it.

 

[Ginsly]

There's a secret menu on them, I forget how, where you can change a few things. One of which is the "on" time after a measurement. Shorten that up and it will help.

Or put a bigger lipo in it.

I remember seeing that! Heh, I just hold down the button to manually turn it off after each test… it works!

I never found a better battery that would comfortably fit… Besides, it seems like the self-discharge problem still exists when people upgrade the battery.

I’ve seen people install a kill switch from the 9v+ wire, but that also “undoes” any Self Calibration you’ve done on the unit. Btw, does that actually do anything??

 

[jwin615]

I dont know that the cap does much other than measure the internal resistances. Same as zeroing your leaks in something like a leakage meter. But, if that figure is off, and you're trying to calculate uAs, I could see it being an issue.

 

[Ginsly]

I dont know that the cap does much other than measure the internal resistances. Same as zeroing your leaks in something like a leakage meter. But, if that figure is off, and you're trying to calculate uAs, I could see it being an issue.

Gotcha. I likely won't bother with the kill switch, but I haven't found the right "upgrade" battery that'll still fit in the TC-1 enclosure... That I'd probably do - couldn't hurt! Wonder if anyone here has done that..? I wind up keeping the tester plugged in half the time, but it'd be nice to be untethered.

 

[jwin615]

Gotcha. I likely won't bother with the kill switch, but I haven't found the right "upgrade" battery that'll still fit in the TC-1 enclosure... That I'd probably do - couldn't hurt! Wonder if anyone here has done that..? I wind up keeping the tester plugged in half the time, but it'd be nice to be untethered.

IIRC, I found the part number listed on mine for $4-5 on AliExpress.
The T7 has a different battery, I think, but this guy put a larger capacity pack in it

 

[Ginsly]

IIRC, I found the part number listed on mine for $4-5 on AliExpress.
The T7 has a different battery, I think, but this guy put a larger capacity pack in it

Thanks, I'll certainly look into it! Kinda missed that there was a T7, ha... is that an upgrade to the TC-1..?

 

[jwin615]

Thanks, I'll certainly look into it! Kinda missed that there was a T7, ha... is that an upgrade to the TC-1..?

More of a cross grade
I think it reads a few things like thyristors better
I have both after the aforementioned battery swap. Bought the T7 and the battery in the same Ali order. Also where the secret menu amcame into play so I could get it out of mandarin readout.
It measures transistors at a different voltage and current. I listed the difference here on the forum some while back but I can't recall. I think it's a higher v and a, giving slightly higher hFE than the TC-1. I think it maaaay handle lower pf readings too but don't quote me. I do recall the Iceo being closer to my dca75 leakage readings.

I'll maybe try and compare them tonight if you're really interested but it's a pretty lateral move. If they both crapped out, I'd probably get the T7 before the TC-1.
Oh. The screen timeout is a jumper, not in the menu

Mine is set to 10s and I don't feel like I really need to charge it much.
That being said, I use mine more for transistors and diodes than caps. I imagine caps eat up more juice.

 

[jwin615]

It's the tc2 that I have, not the T7
I think Jessenator may have the T7¿
Apparently there are counterfeit units out there as well. I wonder if you have a counterfeit one resulting in battery drain. I can't believe the MCU on mine never turns off. I've left it unused for months, picked it up and it went right to work.

 

[Ginsly]

It measures transistors at a different voltage and current. I listed the difference here on the forum some while back but I can't recall. I think it's a higher v and a, giving slightly higher hFE than the TC-1.

Huh... that's interesting, as I've found the TC-1 to have higher readings than the DCA55 (which I kind of defer to when determining hfe). If the T7 is even higher I'm not sure that'd be a good thing...

Pretty sure my TC-1 must be legit, but I have no idea how to tell! Got it a year ago from the Amzn seller with the most sales/feedback... hmm

 

[spi]

Guess nothing beats the TC-1 currently!

That makes me sad. I may have got a bad one, but when I tried a TC-1 it was absolute junk.

 

[Ginsly]

That makes me sad. I may have got a bad one, but when I tried a TC-1 it was absolute junk.

What was wrong with yours? I've found there are better testers for measuring transistors and diodes (Peak testers), but it's been great for quickly ballparking resistors and caps especially. Also helpful for pinout and determining if an LED is kaput!