Anyone have experience with these cheap chinese component testers,
resistor, transistor, esr, etc. Prices under $50. Caveats, what to look for
?

Greg

On Sat, 4 Apr 2015 08:47:21 +0000 (UTC), gregz
wrote:

Anyone have experience with these cheap chinese component testers,
resistor, transistor, esr, etc. Prices under $50. Caveats, what to look for
?

Greg

I forget what ESR is and probably nothing I refer to below tests it.
erythrocyte sedimentation rate -- definitely not.
Electron spin resonance, -- no.
Electro-slag remelting, -- no.
Equivalent series resistance --- This is just resistance, isn't it,
with capacitive and inductive impedance ignored? I take back what I
said at the top, Doesnt' the cheapest ohmmeter test for ESR just like
it tests for resistance?

I have a cheap chinese resistor tester, that I paid 3 (three) dollars
for at Harbor Freight when it was on sale, which is at least half the
time, and it works fine. It's a digital mulimeter with 20 possible
settings, but nothing for testing batteries. Some have a lighted
screen when the button is pushed but others don't.

I see it does have a place for testing PNP and NPN transistors, out of
the circuit. Basic testing of a transistor is not that compllicated
and I suppose it's wired correctly.

They sell fancier meters up to 30, maybe 40 dollars. I bought one for
25 or 30 which includes a temp probe, capacitance meaurement, a button
to hold the reading if I can't see it when I'm measuring, autmatic turn
off, etc.

Even Home Depot and Lowes have the 3 dollar meter, probably better than
that, for 20 dollars, though I didn't look close enough to see if tests
transistors.

I hate to steer business away from American manufacturers, but I
actually don't know where Fluke and other good brands are made (in the
US?) But in my case, I already have American made meters, and I have
so litle use** for something to measure capacitance or temperature, that
I would never buy a name brand model. **Reed that, I've had the meter
for 5 years and never measured either.

On 5/04/2015 5:33 AM, micky wrote:
On Sat, 4 Apr 2015 08:47:21 +0000 (UTC), gregz
wrote:

Anyone have experience with these cheap chinese component testers,
resistor, transistor, esr, etc. Prices under $50. Caveats, what to look for
?

Greg

I forget what ESR is and probably nothing I refer to below tests it.
erythrocyte sedimentation rate -- definitely not.
Electron spin resonance, -- no.
Electro-slag remelting, -- no.
Equivalent series resistance --- This is just resistance, isn't it,
with capacitive and inductive impedance ignored? I take back what I
said at the top, Doesnt' the cheapest ohmmeter test for ESR just like
it tests for resistance?

**No. The test must be performed with an AC signal (obviously). A
dedicated ESR meter is required. I use this one:

http://www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/jz_esr70.html

It is an excellent instrument. Dunno about the Chinese stuff.


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au

---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
http://www.avast.com

On Sun, 05 Apr 2015 05:56:52 +1000, Trevor Wilson
wrote:

On 5/04/2015 5:33 AM, micky wrote:
On Sat, 4 Apr 2015 08:47:21 +0000 (UTC), gregz
wrote:

Anyone have experience with these cheap chinese component testers,
resistor, transistor, esr, etc. Prices under $50. Caveats, what to look for
?

Greg

I forget what ESR is and probably nothing I refer to below tests it.
erythrocyte sedimentation rate -- definitely not.
Electron spin resonance, -- no.
Electro-slag remelting, -- no.
Equivalent series resistance --- This is just resistance, isn't it,
with capacitive and inductive impedance ignored? I take back what I
said at the top, Doesnt' the cheapest ohmmeter test for ESR just like
it tests for resistance?

**No. The test must be performed with an AC signal (obviously). A

Okay, I get it, but it's not "obvious" or I would have gotten it right
away. Thanks.

dedicated ESR meter is required. I use this one:

http://www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/jz_esr70.html

It is an excellent instrument. Dunno about the Chinese stuff.

On Sun, 05 Apr 2015 05:56:52 +1000, Trevor Wilson wrote:

On 5/04/2015 5:33 AM, micky wrote:
On Sat, 4 Apr 2015 08:47:21 +0000 (UTC), gregz
wrote:

Anyone have experience with these cheap chinese component testers,
resistor, transistor, esr, etc. Prices under $50. Caveats, what to
look for ?

Greg

I forget what ESR is and probably nothing I refer to below tests it.
erythrocyte sedimentation rate -- definitely not.
Electron spin resonance, -- no.
Electro-slag remelting, -- no.
Equivalent series resistance --- This is just resistance, isn't
it,
with capacitive and inductive impedance ignored? I take back what I
said at the top, Doesnt' the cheapest ohmmeter test for ESR just like
it tests for resistance?

**No. The test must be performed with an AC signal (obviously). A
dedicated ESR meter is required. I use this one:

http://www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/jz_esr70.html

It is an excellent instrument. Dunno about the Chinese stuff.

That one tests at 100Khz IIRC and without removing from the circuit. The
industry standard, I believe.

"Trevor Wilson" wrote in message
...
On 5/04/2015 5:33 AM, micky wrote:
On Sat, 4 Apr 2015 08:47:21 +0000 (UTC), gregz
wrote:

Anyone have experience with these cheap chinese component testers,
resistor, transistor, esr, etc. Prices under $50. Caveats, what to look
for
?

Greg


http://www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/jz_esr70.html

It is an excellent instrument. Dunno about the Chinese stuff.



I hate to break it to you, but the peak tester is the same as the $ 15 to $
25 Chinese tester but put in a box. Peak also rips you off as the ones from
china combine the resistor/capacitor/inductors with the
transistor/simiconductor test. The ones I see advertised form Peak have
seperate units.

I have one that was just the circuit board without the case. Put it in a
box myself. It usualy works very well. It will sometimes get confused on
some parts. Some transistors will read funny, but if you change the leads
around they will read correctly.
That is all in some documments I found on the internet about them.

On 5/04/2015 8:10 AM, Ralph Mowery wrote:
"Trevor Wilson" wrote in message
...
On 5/04/2015 5:33 AM, micky wrote:
On Sat, 4 Apr 2015 08:47:21 +0000 (UTC), gregz
wrote:

Anyone have experience with these cheap chinese component testers,
resistor, transistor, esr, etc. Prices under $50. Caveats, what to look
for
?

Greg


http://www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/jz_esr70.html

It is an excellent instrument. Dunno about the Chinese stuff.



I hate to break it to you, but the peak tester is the same as the $ 15 to $
25 Chinese tester but put in a box. Peak also rips you off as the ones from
china combine the resistor/capacitor/inductors with the
transistor/simiconductor test. The ones I see advertised form Peak have
seperate units.

**Oh, I'm sure I paid more than the Peak is worth. As a professional, I
can write it off. All the Peak instruments I've owned have worked
precisely as advertised, with decent accuracy. I'm happy with that.


I have one that was just the circuit board without the case. Put it in a
box myself. It usualy works very well. It will sometimes get confused on
some parts. Some transistors will read funny, but if you change the leads
around they will read correctly.
That is all in some documments I found on the internet about them.

**A mate brought one of the Chinese ones for me to examine. It was
inaccuate and flakey.


--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au

---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
http://www.avast.com

On Sun, 05 Apr 2015 10:50:04 +1000, Trevor Wilson wrote:

**A mate brought one of the Chinese ones for me to examine. It was
inaccuate and flakey.

The main problem with the Chinese ones is you simply don't know what
you're getting. The best of them are comparable to the ones made by Peak/
Atlas etc., - at least in design if nothing else - the rest are pretty
much hopeless. But because there's no reliable branding and no reliable IP
law in China to protect more reputable manufacturers, you can't tell what
you're getting; if it's any good at all and how long it's going to last.

"Cursitor Doom" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 05 Apr 2015 10:50:04 +1000, Trevor Wilson wrote:

**A mate brought one of the Chinese ones for me to examine. It was
inaccuate and flakey.

The main problem with the Chinese ones is you simply don't know what
you're getting. The best of them are comparable to the ones made by Peak/
Atlas etc., - at least in design if nothing else - the rest are pretty
much hopeless. But because there's no reliable branding and no reliable IP
law in China to protect more reputable manufacturers, you can't tell what
you're getting; if it's any good at all and how long it's going to last.

The one I bought from China over a year ago works fine. It was just the
circuit board and I had to put it in a case. I have compaired the
components it tested against some known value of components to verify them.

I bet if you open the Peak one it will have a lot of Tiwan or other such
parts in it. There is some junk comming out of China,but some very good
stuff also. Isn't lots of the Apple stuff from China ?

I have bought some volt meter boards from China and they are right on with
my Fluke meter. These are not multimeters, but such things a a 3 digit
circuit board that you have to put in a case. Even the one I use to
monitor the 120 volt AC in my house is right on and has been working over a
year.

"Ralph Mowery" wrote in message
...


"Trevor Wilson" wrote in message
...
On 5/04/2015 5:33 AM, micky wrote:
On Sat, 4 Apr 2015 08:47:21 +0000 (UTC), gregz
wrote:

Anyone have experience with these cheap chinese component testers,
resistor, transistor, esr, etc. Prices under $50. Caveats, what to look
for
?

Greg


http://www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/jz_esr70.html

It is an excellent instrument. Dunno about the Chinese stuff.



I hate to break it to you, but the peak tester is the same as the $ 15 to $
25 Chinese tester but put in a box. Peak also rips you off as the ones from
china combine the resistor/capacitor/inductors with the
transistor/simiconductor test. The ones I see advertised form Peak have
seperate units.




Er, let's get this straight then, so the Peak is NOT actually the same as
the Chinese one which apparently does other things as well?




I have one that was just the circuit board without the case. Put it in a
box myself. It usualy works very well. It will sometimes get confused on
some parts. Some transistors will read funny, but if you change the leads
around they will read correctly.
That is all in some documments I found on the internet about them.



Er, let's get this straight again then, so the Chinese one you put in a box
and you think is the same as the Peak, but obviously isn't because it does
different things, apparently doesn't even work properly?



You're having a laugh, surely.


Gareth.

"Gareth Magennis" wrote in message
...

Er, let's get this straight again then, so the Chinese one you put in a
box
and you think is the same as the Peak, but obviously isn't because it does
different things, apparently doesn't even work properly?



You're having a laugh, surely.


The Peak will probably do the same thing. The way the software is written
there are sometimes false indications. On some transistors that have lots
of leakage it may depend on which lead is connected . If a transistor reads
bad or the results are very much differant than what they should be, try
changing the leads around.

What I say Peak is a ripoff is that the software that is written for the
testers can have it all, but Peak makes two versiong so they can double the
money.

Over the years I have seen many devices where the main circuit bord is the
same and differant names put on them. My wife worked in a cotton mill at
one time. They had some nice boxes they packaged towels in and sold for a
high price. Put the same towels in a large stack without the box and they
are less than half the price.
My dad worked at a place that made brake shoes. They had several brand
names put on them. Sometimes that if a big order came in they would sand
off the name on some of them and put the name of the rush order comapny on
them.

The whole deal is that you never know what you are getting when buying
something.

Ralph Mowery wrote:


I have bought some volt meter boards from China and they are right on with
my Fluke meter. These are not multimeters, but such things a a 3 digit
circuit board that you have to put in a case. Even the one I use to
monitor the 120 volt AC in my house is right on and has been working over a
year.


** About a year ago, I bought a couple of Chinese 3 digit, 30V blue LED panel meters with 3 wires.

Made a 6VDC supply from the 240V AC using a 470nF class X dropping cap and a couple of diodes etc to power the meter.

Using a string of resistors totalling 600kohms and a pair of Schottky diodes, I made a similar half wave rectified supply that produced 1V DC for each 10 volts of applied AC when feeding the panel meter input.

Squeezed the lot into my 30 year old Variac to replace the useless moving coil meter that came fitted. Oh, and I blacked out the decimal point.

Works like a charm and is within 1% or 1 volt of the reading on my Fluke.


..... Phil

"Ralph Mowery" wrote:
"Gareth Magennis" wrote in message
...

Er, let's get this straight again then, so the Chinese one you put in a
box
and you think is the same as the Peak, but obviously isn't because it does
different things, apparently doesn't even work properly?



You're having a laugh, surely.


The Peak will probably do the same thing. The way the software is written
there are sometimes false indications. On some transistors that have lots
of leakage it may depend on which lead is connected . If a transistor reads
bad or the results are very much differant than what they should be, try
changing the leads around.

What I say Peak is a ripoff is that the software that is written for the
testers can have it all, but Peak makes two versiong so they can double the
money.


I used to use a peak, was handy, but one day it bit the dust. For $15
lowest model, I don't think I'll go wrong. Be waiting for shipment.

Greg