ESR meter upgrades

[stj]

Re: ESR meter upgrades

if anybody makes more, use a 44pin mcu - then you can have 128k flash and not be restricted to 32k.

[Per Hansson]

Re: ESR meter upgrades

Maybe you can try this firmware, it might work with your unit:
https://yadi.sk/d/yW8xa5NJgUo5z/M328Kit%2BTFT

There are allot of other pre-compiled firmware for other models there as well...

[lz4pa]

Re: ESR meter upgrades

yes. it really works, but I liked the STJ software. Thanks. I will do it with the software you recommended!

[Per Hansson]

Re: ESR meter upgrades

The software is not written by STJ, there are basically nowdays two open source versions:
M-firmware by Markus (username Madires on the eevblog forum)
K-firmware by Karl-Heinz Kübbeler (username kubi48 on the Mikrocontroller forum)

Both I and STJ seem to prefer the K-firmware but it is all down to preference.
You can try both now that you have a place with precompiled firmware that works for your unit.
Or you can get your hands dirty and compile yourself if you like, there are allot of options to customize

[stj]

Re: ESR meter upgrades

what makes mine good is i took the time to get all the settings right.
stuff like display centering, battery level etc is very poor on the default settings from the author.

[bcstedt]

Re: ESR meter upgrades

STJ, does this unit look like it would work with your firmware?

They don't show the bottom of the board but I'm assuming it's an 8MHz setup.

2021 New GM328A Transistor Tester ... W/ Battery Case
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002426224712.html

[stj]

Re: ESR meter upgrades

i have no idea - first time i'v seen that.
it looks similar to the one we call "AY-AT"

if your thinking of buying it - dont.
it has a 32pin cpu - so limited to 32k flash.
you want one with a 44pin cpu so you can use upto 128k for maximum features.

[bcstedt]

Re: ESR meter upgrades

you want one with a 44pin cpu so you can use upto 128k for maximum features.

Thanks for the tip! I will hunt for 44pin units.

Wait, so what processor is it? Model #?

[eccerr0r]

Re: ESR meter upgrades

How widespread are the "44 pin" units? Which specific microcontrollers qualify for these? Seen any specific models with them?

Since it seems that there are so many mega328 units out there, wouldn't it make sense to keep trying to use these?

Dang. I would rip out the PWM generator code, rather have a dedicated device to generate PWM and not sacrifice this unit to control something. Frequency counter... maybe keep. Signal generator... rip out, same issue/opinion as PWM code. *shrug* again just IMHO...

[clearchris]

Re: ESR meter upgrades

i have no idea - first time i'v seen that.
it looks similar to the one we call "AY-AT"

if your thinking of buying it - dont.
it has a 32pin cpu - so limited to 32k flash.
you want one with a 44pin cpu so you can use upto 128k for maximum features.

Do you have a suggested unit you like? It's time for me to get one of these...

[eccerr0r]

Re: ESR meter upgrades

oh well pulled trigger on one, unfortunately it's a 32K flash limit, but nevertheless it still should work to test parts even if it cant take latest flash...

just hope it knows how to detect germanium transistors/diodes and I couldn't care less if it could PWM or be a frequency generator, I have other tools for those functionalities...

[stj]

Re: ESR meter upgrades

well the tc-1 uses a 44pin atmega324,
and there is a highland one with an atmega644

probably others too

[eccerr0r]

Re: ESR meter upgrades

speaking of which... can it tell the difference between a Schottky diode vs Germanium?

[stj]

Re: ESR meter upgrades

if i had a germanium diode i could tell you

[eccerr0r]

Re: ESR meter upgrades

hmm... I guess we'll find out regardless, provided it ships...

If you're curious now, do you have any germanium transistors and just stick in two terminals?

[stj]

Re: ESR meter upgrades

no, not seen one since i was small and had a radio-shack crystal radio kit!!!

[redwire]

Re: ESR meter upgrades

I have a bunch of germanium diodes tried out, and not so impressed. Readings seem to be different every run. AY-AT and stj's F/W I think 20MHz:

1N34A 371mV (DMM measures 317mV)
1.6pF--1.2pF @0-5V
Ir=74nA

1N34A 376mV (DMM measures 317mV)
1.8pF--1.2pF @0-5V
Ir=61nA

1N54 848mV (DMM measures 470mV)
27pF--17pF @0-5V
Ir=5.1uA

1N54 846mV (DMM measures 482mV)
11pF--10pF @0-5V
Ir=2.4uA

1N34A 380mV (DMM measures 313mV)
1.7pF--0.72pF @0-5V
Ir=46nA

[eccerr0r]

Re: ESR meter upgrades

Hmm so it looks like it might sort of distinguish a germanium compared to a schottky actually... but it can't do it directly at least as of yet...

[redwire]

Re: ESR meter upgrades

I think Schottky leakage current is much higher.
I tried a 1N459A silicon low leakage diode and Vf=761mV but no Ir measurement shows up on the display.

[sauna]

Re: ESR meter upgrades

https://disk.yandex.ru/d/EWk4K3zB3bKl9w

Hello.I have such Mega328 V 2,68 ESR-T4.

https://de.aliexpress.com/item/10050...3bce0dd330da5b

after the modified firmware I can not go self test at the last stage.as if stuck.for 1 and 3 times I tried a new 223j capacitor. This is the last stage of verification.I have already stitched 30 different firmwares with many firmwares. But alas, I can not pass the test. At the last stage, I did not save my own. It's a pity.