Peak component tester add-on

[fig]

Nothing amazing, but John reminded me to put this together, especially with the number of transistors soon to be tested.

ZIF socket, pin header, test loops, some brass standoffs, and a protoboard wafer. You can breadboard ICs using this thing via the pin headers. I looked into ZIFs for the FXCore I'll be putzing with soon, but the decent ones are pricey.

ZIF socket over mini-grabbers saves a TON of time and greatly reduces wear on the test leads.

 

[Paradox916]

Brilliant!

 

[SillyOctpuss]

Thanks Fig that's a great idea. I got a dca55 last week and thought it was a bit of a faff to have to clip the test leads on and off everytime.

 

[Harry Klippton]

I use the mini grabbers to pick up the transistors to avoid touching them and warming them up. I guess you could insert them into the zif socket with needle nose pliers

 

[mdc]

And here I thought *I* was clever for clipping the leads to a pin header...!

 

[fig]

I use the mini grabbers to pick up the transistors to avoid touching them and warming them up. I guess you could insert them into the zif socket with needle nose pliers

Yes sir. I use tweezers. I'll get all the leads arranged then allow them to normalize. Then when I grab one it slips right in.

 

[Paradox916]

I had no idea transistors were that temp sensitive..

 

[Harry Klippton]

I had no idea transistors were that temp sensitive..

Germanium are

 

[peccary]

Germanium are

I do the same thing as you. I also have sat them on my hand and measured, squeezed them and measured, grab by one leg, breathe on them... they are pretty sensitive and jump around at the slightest temperature change.

 

[fig]

Indeed.

This is just an illustration of the thermal effects on a germanium transistor (two legs on the LCR...so it shows as a capacitor)

https://imgur.com/pVQzqM6

 

[Paradox916]

Look at that, you learn something new everyday.... I knew temp played a factor but I didn’t think a degree or two would make a difference. Wow and that was just 10sec or so what temp was the room?

 

[fig]

about 70ºF. That's my understanding as to why why the Sunflower (FF derivative) has an external bias control. You can make slight adjustments to compensate for thermal effects.

 

[Paradox916]

You miss out on a lot when fuzz has never been on your radar

 

[finebyfine]

no color coordinating header pins or compatibility with an atmega tester though??

 

[benny_profane]

Where did you get those colored headers?

 

[fig]

Some long link,,,LOL

Alex may have a better source.

 

[fig]

no color coordinating header pins or compatibility with an atmega tester though??

Very cool!

 

[finebyfine]

Some long link,,,LOL

Alex may have a better source.

That's about what I paid for them I think.

Very cool!

Thanks! Done pretending I didn't make this after seeing yours hahaha!! I hate the peak's clips. Feeling like I might break part of a $125 or whatever device is the worst feeling. Where did you get the test loops?

 

[caiofilipini]

Nice!

I put together something similar on a small breadboard. I hook up the test leads to pin headers.

I usually line up all the transistors I want to test on a separate breadboard and leave them alone for a while, then I use breadboard jumpers to connect the tester breadboard to the transistor being tested.

I'll take pictures and post them here in a bit.

 

[fig]

That's about what I paid for them I think.



Thanks! Done pretending I didn't make this after seeing yours hahaha!! I hate the peak's clips. Feeling like I might break part of a $125 or whatever device is the worst feeling. Where did you get the test loops?

I'll look it up and post, but I do have a bag full so I will send you some.