Those little testers are so handy. I have one like that without the case but it's works really well. Can really save time on the bench. Thanks for sharing Rick.
Thanks for the video. Very nice. I just got one off these, and I love it. The capacitance and resistor measurements are dead on (compared them to other meters as well). But beware the gain values on the transistors. They can be unrealistically high, especially for power types. For example, with that first transistor you tested (the one in the TO-220 case), the gain showed 87. But in practice, that transistor isn't going to give you gains anywhere near that. I put an ammeter in line with the base lead of the transistors I tested and found that it tests with 3 pulses, the highest of which is only 2.5mA. With that small a base current, power transistors can show phenomenal gains, but then you use a power type in its typical application, that base current is going to be in the hundreds of milliamps, perhaps even 1/2 to 1 amp. It will have a gain more like 20 in that situation. Other than that, thought, I really like this device. Great for a quick check and pin-out identification.
I have a similar one. I use it to test components before I solder them into my projects so I know I have known good parts as I go. Very handy for general testing. Not lab grade but more than good enough.
I love mine!!! I have the exact same meter, I call it a component tester. I've had it for several months now and it is quite handy. I've been using it to check and sort components at a local radio museum. The drawbacks are that is may not be as accurate as necessary for some RF coils.That's where a more expensive L meter may come into play if you do a lot of that kind of work. Sometimes you have to reposition the leads (comes with it, I'd like for them to be a little more sturdy and soldered onto the clips instead of wrapped) and re-check the part to get a reading. The drawbacks are really small potatoes considering all that it can do at this price point and besides you know about soldering the leads right off the bat. Do hit the off button instead of letting it time out as it does like batteries.Just be SURE that you discharge any capacitor or you will not have a handy little meter anymore. (No, I didn't do that. 8^) Well worth the price.
Hey AllAmericanFive! Loved this video along with your others. What would be the best way to determine DS on resistance of a MOSFET? I didn’t see such a measurement on the tester.
Is that tester also good to read/detect faulty components? For example, a shorted diode or a transistor or even way out of specs.... I'm a little bit confused, sorry...
Yes, if there is a bad component it says it can not identifies it or it's bad. Or it might miss identify a component, like a shorted diode maybe identified as a resistor.
I just got this today. Have you ever tested a t03 transistor? I have a 2sc898 hitatchi transistor but I'm not sure how it'll fit. I've tried other things like caps and resistors but not the hitachi.
Has there ever been a time when this meter did not put in a decimal when testing a Capacitor? I have a small 10uF 50v Capacitor and I'm getting a 9750 uF reading.
Just bought one for my training center and though almost 4 years after your video, has the same firmware version. Only thing I don't like is the adapter for the components does not feel secure.
Mine arrived today. Works ok, but they could have done a better job in selecting a socket to connect the zif socket to. It's kind of loose and sometimes makes a bad contact causing a test error
Thanks. I have some small L inductors i would like to measure for to make homemade eddy current inductive proximity switch (english not my native language!)
I’m a total novice, but I’d like to own this tester. My question is, can this device show if a component is dead? Would it be a case of the device simply not reading the components? I’ve had success replacing capacitors on my subwoofer, I was able to test it via a multimeter, but this little device seems to be a must have!
If a component is bad it may just say it can not recognize it. A transistor if it is bad it might say it is a diode. It depends on the component and what the problem is.
@@AllAmericanFiveRadio I just ordered an ESR tester, I’ve a friends Blu-ray player that’s totally dead, I’m going to remove some diodes and transistors to see if I can figure it out, thanks for the answer!
www.amazon.com/Transistor-DROK-Capacitor-Capacitance-Automatic/dp/B01MS1FOYM/ref=sr_1_11_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1535421653&sr=8-11-spons&keywords=lcd+meter+Drok&psc=1 You can find them on Amazon and eBay for a little less.
Thanks for the video. I just purchased the Drok Transistor Tester from Amazon, because of you RUclips video. I watched several videos for the Drok Tester, but none of the videos demonstrates what happens if the component is bad. I tried testing a SanKen C3835 switching transistor which tested Uf1= 555mV and Uf2= 555mv. Is this good, bad, or indifferent?
@@AllAmericanFiveRadio I appreciate your reply. The Drok Transistor Tester reports the SanKen c3835 as 2 Diodes with Uf1=555mV and Uf2=555mV. The diagram shows 2 diodes with pin 1 cathode connected to pin 3 and pin 2 cathode connected to pin 3. On the SK c3835, pin 1 is the base; pin 2 is the cathode, and pin 3 is the emitter. I have a Triplett multimeter, 630-APLK, which appears to show the switching transistor is bad. I ordered a new SK sc-c3835. I am a 72 year old, electronics hobbyist who may be over his head trying to fix an ultrasonic power supply. I was hoping the Drok would make up for my lack of knowledge and experience. Thanks for you time. Best wishes :-)
The 2SC3835 an NPN power transistor should display as a NPN transistor on your tester. I have tested other power transistors and they display as a transistor. If this is your first time using the DROK and you only have one transistor to test and it's bad, that would be confusing. So in other words if you know it's a NPN transistor and it does not show as a NPN transistor it's bad.
@@AllAmericanFiveRadio thanks for assistance :-) The new 2SC3835s tested as you said, NPN. I now have 2 working humidifiers. You just can't beat experience and expert knowledge.
There is actually a great number of manuals for these testers as they really all work from the same ATMega328 base chip. Here is a link to a very concise but useful version: www.kookye.com/download/manual/mega328_transistor_tester_user_guide-2019.pdf and here is a link to the amazing original German designer/inventor's huge manual: www.avrtester.tode.cz/upload/ttester_en.pdf . There are many other variations out there if you just search, but they are all similar. Just remember to ALWAYS DRAIN ANY CAPACITOR FIRST before testing them! PS You can even test rotary encoders with this!
@@englishrupe01 Thank you for posting the instruction manual link. I have one of these devices, but it didn't arrive with any paperwork in the form of instructions / parameters of operation. Cheers.
I test a irfp260n MOSFET it shows c= 2.87nf and a vt= 2.3v no instructions with the unit what do these numbers mean Google is no help and no where on the 260 data sheet does it show c= or a vt=
Those little testers are so handy. I have one like that without the case but it's works really well. Can really save time on the bench. Thanks for sharing Rick.
Thanks
Thank you for making this. Your friends were right, you needed to show the operation of this interesting tester. I got one already. Cheers.
Thanks, and your welcome.
That’s a pretty neat little tester. The prices of these have become so cheap it’s unreal. No reason we all shouldn’t have at least one.
Thank you, and your welcome.
Just got mine today after 2 months of waiting...Thank you
Your welcome.
Thanks for the video. Very nice.
I just got one off these, and I love it. The capacitance and resistor measurements are dead on (compared them to other meters as well). But beware the gain values on the transistors. They can be unrealistically high, especially for power types. For example, with that first transistor you tested (the one in the TO-220 case), the gain showed 87. But in practice, that transistor isn't going to give you gains anywhere near that. I put an ammeter in line with the base lead of the transistors I tested and found that it tests with 3 pulses, the highest of which is only 2.5mA. With that small a base current, power transistors can show phenomenal gains, but then you use a power type in its typical application, that base current is going to be in the hundreds of milliamps, perhaps even 1/2 to 1 amp. It will have a gain more like 20 in that situation. Other than that, thought, I really like this device. Great for a quick check and pin-out identification.
Thank you. I'll do a test and see if I get the same results. Thanks for the information.
I have a similar one. I use it to test components before I solder them into my projects so I know I have known good parts as I go. Very handy for general testing. Not lab grade but more than good enough.
Thanks
Great video....thanks! I have two different versions of this but they both work great!
Thanks!
I love mine!!! I have the exact same meter, I call it a component tester. I've had it for several months now and it is quite handy. I've been using it to check and sort components at a local radio museum. The drawbacks are that is may not be as accurate as necessary for some RF coils.That's where a more expensive L meter may come into play if you do a lot of that kind of work.
Sometimes you have to reposition the leads (comes with it, I'd like for them to be a little more sturdy and soldered onto the clips instead of wrapped) and re-check the part to get a reading. The drawbacks are really small potatoes considering all that it can do at this price point and besides you know about soldering the leads right off the bat. Do hit the off button instead of letting it time out as it does like batteries.Just be SURE that you discharge any capacitor or you will not have a handy little meter anymore. (No, I didn't do that. 8^) Well worth the price.
CavemanNSpace Any good habit easy ways to discharge a capacitor?
Thank you, and your welcome.
You sold me on it. I’m excited
Peak Electronic Design Testers
are good, you might want to look at them.
Thanks.
Thank you Rick.
Thanks
Awesome video 😎
Thank you, and your welcome.
Ottimo funziona bene e abbastanza preciso👍👍
Thank you, and your welcome.
Hey AllAmericanFive! Loved this video along with your others. What would be the best way to determine DS on resistance of a MOSFET? I didn’t see such a measurement on the tester.
This unit does test MOSFETs
Hope to see some radio videos from ya soon! Take care my friend.
Thank you, and your welcome.
Is that tester also good to read/detect faulty components? For example, a shorted diode or a transistor or even way out of specs.... I'm a little bit confused, sorry...
Yes, if there is a bad component it says it can not identifies it or it's bad. Or it might miss identify a component, like a shorted diode maybe identified as a resistor.
I just got this today. Have you ever tested a t03 transistor? I have a 2sc898 hitatchi transistor but I'm not sure how it'll fit. I've tried other things like caps and resistors but not the hitachi.
Stick shorts wires in the tester and then alligator clip it.
Could I use this to test the resistance of the run capacitor for a heat pump compressor? It's a 30uf/5uf dual cap. Would I just connect with leads?
If you can figure out how to connect it. As you saw in the video it is made for small parts.
Right, that's the problem. I guess I should look for one with leads. Thanks.
Has there ever been a time when this meter did not put in a decimal when testing a Capacitor? I have a small 10uF 50v Capacitor and I'm getting a 9750 uF reading.
So far I have not seen the decimal point.
Just bought one for my training center and though almost 4 years after your video, has the same firmware version. Only thing I don't like is the adapter for the components does not feel secure.
I took a dermal tool and file down the plastic bump.
Information good 👍
Thanks and your welcome.
Mine was saying Damaged or Unknown Error. If you get this its the battery is to low.. Run it off a Power adaptor and it was flawless.
I use lithium batteries. Thanks.
Does anyone know at which Frequency is Inductance tested with this unit? thank you so much
I'll try and find out.
Mine arrived today. Works ok, but they could have done a better job in selecting a socket to connect the zif socket to. It's kind of loose and sometimes makes a bad contact causing a test error
I used a Dremel tool to knock off the nub so it would lay flat.
is this also an ESR tester for caps on PCB ?
It is not an ESR.
What I'm curious about. I wonder if it can also measure 18650 battery internal resistance (esr)?
It will not read esr.
@@AllAmericanFiveRadio thank you very much
Thanks. I have some small L inductors i would like to measure for to make homemade eddy current inductive proximity switch (english not my native language!)
Thanks and your welcome.
I’m a total novice, but I’d like to own this tester. My question is, can this device show if a component is dead? Would it be a case of the device simply not reading the components?
I’ve had success replacing capacitors on my subwoofer, I was able to test it via a multimeter, but this little device seems to be a must have!
If a component is bad it may just say it can not recognize it. A transistor if it is bad it might say it is a diode. It depends on the component and what the problem is.
@@AllAmericanFiveRadio I just ordered an ESR tester, I’ve a friends Blu-ray player that’s totally dead, I’m going to remove some diodes and transistors to see if I can figure it out, thanks for the answer!
Hi, do you know how to calibrate this thing ?
No calibrating this model.
cool !!!
THANKS.
Thank you for demonstrating this device. However, I would not say 13% tolerance for a capacitor would be within tolerance. 3:27 mark.
Thank you. I'm not use if I should have tried to measure a electrolytic capacitor. The display does not show polarity.
Do you have a link for that particular tester?
www.amazon.com/Transistor-DROK-Capacitor-Capacitance-Automatic/dp/B01MS1FOYM/ref=sr_1_11_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1535421653&sr=8-11-spons&keywords=lcd+meter+Drok&psc=1
You can find them on Amazon and eBay for a little less.
www.amazon.com/Transistor-DROK-Capacitor-Capacitance-Automatic/dp/B01MS1FOYM/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1535421862&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=drok+transistor+tester&psc=1
Great! Thank you kindly 😀
Thanks for the video. I just purchased the Drok Transistor Tester from Amazon, because of you RUclips video. I watched several videos for the Drok Tester, but none of the videos demonstrates what happens if the component is bad. I tried testing a SanKen C3835 switching transistor which tested Uf1= 555mV and Uf2= 555mv. Is this good, bad, or indifferent?
You did not say what DROK said it was. If a transistor or diode is shorted it might think it is a resistor, If there open it says it's defective.
@@AllAmericanFiveRadio I appreciate your reply. The Drok Transistor Tester reports the SanKen c3835 as 2 Diodes with Uf1=555mV and Uf2=555mV. The diagram shows 2 diodes with pin 1 cathode connected to pin 3 and pin 2 cathode connected to pin 3. On the SK c3835, pin 1 is the base; pin 2 is the cathode, and pin 3 is the emitter. I have a Triplett multimeter, 630-APLK, which appears to show the switching transistor is bad. I ordered a new SK sc-c3835. I am a 72 year old, electronics hobbyist who may be over his head trying to fix an ultrasonic power supply. I was hoping the Drok would make up for my lack of knowledge and experience. Thanks for you time. Best wishes :-)
The 2SC3835 an NPN power transistor should display as a NPN transistor on your tester. I have tested other power transistors and they display as a transistor. If this is your first time using the DROK and you only have one transistor to test and it's bad, that would be confusing. So in other words if you know it's a NPN transistor and it does not show as a NPN transistor it's bad.
@@AllAmericanFiveRadio Thanks for the help.
@@AllAmericanFiveRadio thanks for assistance :-) The new 2SC3835s tested as you said, NPN. I now have 2 working humidifiers. You just can't beat experience and expert knowledge.
That item IS a keeper. I will purchase. 1 question... does this device denote a component defect?
Yes, it says “No, Unknown or damaged” Of course if something is shorted it might look at it as a resistor.
Thanks
Will this tell you if a transistor is shorted or open?
If the transistor is open, it will say (No, Unknow or damaged). If it is shorted it will say that it is a resistor or it is a diode.
@@AllAmericanFiveRadio thank you that is very helpful. I own one of these but I wasn't 100% sure how to analyze the results.
Do you have a link to the manual of this?
There is no manual
There is actually a great number of manuals for these testers as they really all work from the same ATMega328 base chip. Here is a link to a very concise but useful version: www.kookye.com/download/manual/mega328_transistor_tester_user_guide-2019.pdf and here is a link to the amazing original German designer/inventor's huge manual: www.avrtester.tode.cz/upload/ttester_en.pdf . There are many other variations out there if you just search, but they are all similar. Just remember to ALWAYS DRAIN ANY CAPACITOR FIRST before testing them! PS You can even test rotary encoders with this!
@@englishrupe01 Thank you for posting the instruction manual link. I have one of these devices, but it didn't arrive with any paperwork in the form of instructions / parameters of operation. Cheers.
@@duncanmckenzie2815 You are very welcome.
@@AllAmericanFiveRadio You might like to add the manual link at the top of the comments:
manuals.plus/drok/transistor-tester-manual
I test a irfp260n MOSFET it shows c= 2.87nf and a vt= 2.3v no instructions with the unit what do these numbers mean Google is no help and no where on the 260 data sheet does it show c= or a vt=
The capacitance of the gate, voltage on the gate.
I’m looking to get a Tester, not sure what to get yet 👍
Take a look at PEAK
@@AllAmericanFiveRadio Aah Ok, any model number suggestion please?
@@rectify2003 www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/peak-test-instruments.html
sir can this unit check zener diode , regulator ic , ic ,
No it can not. Just transistors, MOSFETs, soils, resistors, capacitors.
Vedio is perfect 👍What's brand name Sir. ..thank u....
DROK link in the SHOW MORE
Thank you very much indeed Sri I give you a sluaut ✋
can you check parts in circuit
NO
can it test gemanium diodes and transistors ......thanks
Yes
thank you
Looked very good but the automatic shut down counter stressed me out.
Thanks.