What is your favorite small tester?
 

I am curious as to the favorite little testers that techs use today.
I know that the Dick Smith ESR meter (Bob Parker design) is very
popular and the Peak component testers are handy also.

Are there any other small, well designed testers that service techs
use and like?

TIA

John Bachman
The Electronic Repair Center at www.anatekcorp.com
Professional electronic service discussion at
www.anatekcorp.com/elrepair/elrepair.htm

I like to use the ESR meter, and a portable scope. The portable scope can
also measure voltages. The Tektronix TDS-220 is a very good one to have for
general repairs.

--

Jerry G.
=====

"John Bachman" wrote in message
...
I am curious as to the favorite little testers that techs use today.
I know that the Dick Smith ESR meter (Bob Parker design) is very
popular and the Peak component testers are handy also.

Are there any other small, well designed testers that service techs
use and like?

TIA

John Bachman
The Electronic Repair Center at www.anatekcorp.com
Professional electronic service discussion at
www.anatekcorp.com/elrepair/elrepair.htm

Actually "Home Brew" IR Snooper, Basically an op amp with a visible led
connected to the output and a IR Photo Pickup connected to the inputs.
Basically used to check IR remotes for any activity. Easy Yes/No check for a
questionable remote or, of course, dead batteries.
"John Bachman" wrote in message
...
I am curious as to the favorite little testers that techs use today.
I know that the Dick Smith ESR meter (Bob Parker design) is very
popular and the Peak component testers are handy also.

Are there any other small, well designed testers that service techs
use and like?

TIA

John Bachman
The Electronic Repair Center at www.anatekcorp.com
Professional electronic service discussion at
www.anatekcorp.com/elrepair/elrepair.htm

huntron tracker
small enough

I still use my trusty Fluke 77 digital multimeter every day. I'd be naked
without it.

On the bench, my homemade X/Y component tester (a voltage vs. current tester
hooked up to my oscilloscope, and sometimes known as "the octopus") REALLY
speeds up troubleshooting time. Very inexpensive but lets you find shorted
and leaky components in a heartbeat.

"Matt J. McCullar" writes:

I still use my trusty Fluke 77 digital multimeter every day. I'd be naked
without it.

On the bench, my homemade X/Y component tester (a voltage vs. current tester
hooked up to my oscilloscope, and sometimes known as "the octopus") REALLY
speeds up troubleshooting time. Very inexpensive but lets you find shorted
and leaky components in a heartbeat.

My 35+ year old Lafayette analog multimeter. Yes, it has some scars,
no duct tape though. :)

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On Sat, 29 Jan 2005 07:49:12 -0500, John Bachman
wrote:

I am curious as to the favorite little testers that techs use today.
I know that the Dick Smith ESR meter (Bob Parker design) is very
popular and the Peak component testers are handy also.

Are there any other small, well designed testers that service techs
use and like?

TIA

John Bachman
The Electronic Repair Center at www.anatekcorp.com
Professional electronic service discussion at
www.anatekcorp.com/elrepair/elrepair.htm



For what I do (mostly reverse enginneering), I have one of those
continuity testers that are a couple AA batterie, a light bulb
(changed to LED), a probeand a wire with an alligator clip.

"Gary J. Tait" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 29 Jan 2005 07:49:12 -0500, John Bachman
wrote:

I am curious as to the favorite little testers that techs use today.
I know that the Dick Smith ESR meter (Bob Parker design) is very
popular and the Peak component testers are handy also.

Are there any other small, well designed testers that service techs
use and like?

TIA

John Bachman
The Electronic Repair Center at www.anatekcorp.com
Professional electronic service discussion at
www.anatekcorp.com/elrepair/elrepair.htm



For what I do (mostly reverse enginneering), I have one of those
continuity testers that are a couple AA batterie, a light bulb
(changed to LED), a probeand a wire with an alligator clip.

I don't know what its called , pseudo-stethoscope ?
A crystal earpiece with the plug cut off and replaced by croc-clip for
ground connection and a probe for the other wire and splitting the wires
apart.


electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on
http://homepages.tcp.co.uk/~diverse

I use a transistor tester that is first class. Does an amazing number of
tests.
It is only about $60 in kit form and runs rings around my Peak unit that I
bought for almost $200 from UK.

Check it out at

http://www.al7fs.us/AL7FS6M3Analyzer.html

Note:
I have no interest in M-cubed Electronix.
Just a satisfied customer.

You do NOT NEED to accurately read an analog meter to perform basic
troubleshooting. When checking diodes, transistors and general
voltages all you are looking for is approximate meter swing. No need
to actually read a digitally presented number and figure out if it is
in an acceptable range. Of course the digital is best for accurate
settings and voltage measurements but for most troubleshooting an old
analog is quick and fast.
electricitym

"N Cook" wrote in message
...

For what I do (mostly reverse enginneering), I have one of those
continuity testers that are a couple AA batterie, a light bulb
(changed to LED), a probeand a wire with an alligator clip.

I don't know what its called , pseudo-stethoscope ?
A crystal earpiece with the plug cut off and replaced by croc-clip for
ground connection and a probe for the other wire and splitting the wires
apart.

My buddy liked a gadget he built from an article. Two transistor circuit in
a small probe (pocket flashlight case) with a Xtal earpiece you could use as
a signal tracer. When you pulled out the earpiece it became a signal
injector.

N

"NSM" ) writes:
"N Cook" wrote in message
...

For what I do (mostly reverse enginneering), I have one of those
continuity testers that are a couple AA batterie, a light bulb
(changed to LED), a probeand a wire with an alligator clip.

I don't know what its called , pseudo-stethoscope ?
A crystal earpiece with the plug cut off and replaced by croc-clip for
ground connection and a probe for the other wire and splitting the wires
apart.

My buddy liked a gadget he built from an article. Two transistor circuit in
a small probe (pocket flashlight case) with a Xtal earpiece you could use as
a signal tracer. When you pulled out the earpiece it became a signal
injector.

"Elementary Electronics" for Jan-Feb 1971, page 60. "Sig-Prob" by
Rudolph Graf and George Whalen.

Of course, I've seen the circuit reprinted elsewhere, and for all
I know the concept originated earlier, but that's the first time I
saw it, and it was the third electronic magazine I bought, and the
first issue of that magazine.

Michael

On 2-Feb-2005, (Michael Black) wrote:

For what I do (mostly reverse enginneering), I have one of those
continuity testers that are a couple AA batterie, a light bulb
(changed to LED), a probeand a wire with an alligator clip.

On the subject of reverse engineering. I can photocopy the copper
side of a board and photograph the component side. What I wan't is
a program that lets me superimpose, suitably scaled, one on top
of the other. So the plated through holes are roughly superimposed.
This might facilitate producing a wiring list/table. Being able to
vary the percent show through would be needed. Any known s/w
for this.

On Wed, 2 Feb 2005 07:40:01 GMT, wrote:


On 2-Feb-2005, (Michael Black) wrote:

For what I do (mostly reverse enginneering), I have one of those
continuity testers that are a couple AA batterie, a light bulb
(changed to LED), a probeand a wire with an alligator clip.

On the subject of reverse engineering. I can photocopy the copper
side of a board and photograph the component side. What I wan't is
a program that lets me superimpose, suitably scaled, one on top
of the other. So the plated through holes are roughly superimposed.
This might facilitate producing a wiring list/table. Being able to
vary the percent show through would be needed. Any known s/w
for this.

You can do that with any graphics program that has "layers" capability
such as Paint Shop Pro. They tend to be a bit pricey though.

John
AnaTek Corporation
The Electronic Repair Center at www.anatekcorp.com
Professional electronic service discussions at
www.anatekcorp.com/elrepair/elrepair.htm

"Bob Parker" bravely wrote to "All" (03 Feb 05 01:31:49)
--- on the heady topic of " What is your favorite small tester?"

BP From: Bob Parker
BP Xref: aeinews sci.electronics.repair:9164

BP wrote:

You do NOT NEED to accurately read an analog meter to perform basic
troubleshooting. When checking diodes, transistors and general
voltages all you are looking for is approximate meter swing. No need
to actually read a digitally presented number and figure out if it is
in an acceptable range. Of course the digital is best for accurate
settings and voltage measurements but for most troubleshooting an old
analog is quick and fast.
electricitym


BP I entirely agree. I still go for my Jemco 20K ohm/volt analog meter
BP I bought in 1973, over my Fluke DMM unless I'm doing some critical
BP adjusting. :)


One can't really trust a dmm because all the specs say +/- 1 digit!
OTOH an analog meter always shows measurements with no uncertainty. It
may be wrong but it won't be different every time one takes a new
reading.

A*s*i*m*o*v

.... That was a fascinating period of time for electronics

Asimov wrote:
"Bob Parker" bravely wrote to "All" (03 Feb 05 01:31:49)
--- on the heady topic of " What is your favorite small tester?"

BP From: Bob Parker
BP Xref: aeinews sci.electronics.repair:9164

BP wrote:

You do NOT NEED to accurately read an analog meter to perform basic
troubleshooting. When checking diodes, transistors and general
voltages all you are looking for is approximate meter swing. No need
to actually read a digitally presented number and figure out if it is
in an acceptable range. Of course the digital is best for accurate
settings and voltage measurements but for most troubleshooting an old
analog is quick and fast.
electricitym


Agreed-- I don't really go for an analog meter personally, tho the
concept remains-- the concept of 0 (or 0.7) ohms versus infinite ohms,
or 10 volts versus 120, is enough, wether presented digitally or as a swing.


One can't really trust a dmm because all the specs say +/- 1 digit!
OTOH an analog meter always shows measurements with no uncertainty. It
may be wrong but it won't be different every time one takes a new
reading.


Well, on a typical DMM figure, +/- 1 digit might be one part in 500 or
1000. That's probably well below the variance you can expect from
things like dust where you placed the probe, or your own hands holding
the tester down and creating a path in parallel with the part.

I'd expect an analog meter isn't 1000 percent repeatable either. Isn't
the moving needle mechanism a bit sensitive to magnetic fields? It's
certainly prone to shakes sending the needle off wildly.

For best repeatability, tape over the last digit. :)

My favorite small tester is Shirley.

I have 3 the 3rd is not to small though .

1 - Fluke auto ranging digital meter .

2 - Capacitor Wizard cap tester .

3 - an empty dumpster