Hack a T3 Clone Display So I've been playing around with a bunch of different stuff... Basically, I had a little T3 tester for awhile (along with the two kit clones). Of the 3 clones the T3 has the best SMD component test pad configuration by far. I have found myself using it the most because of that test pad. However the LCD got damaged. I'm not even sure how. I just noticed a tiny chip in the glass near the flat flex and the display quit working. Okay, no problem, a new one is cheap....A month and a half later I get the replacement... The display doesn't work
I tested the programming by updating it. Checked connections and while trying to take it apart to resolder the flat flex, I discovered it was already pre-broken for me.
...anyways... I took the display off of my Little t tester clone. That's the smaller version of the ST7565 LCD. I mapped the connections and tried the T3 firmware just to see what would happen. Nothing of course. After switching the firmware over the KH`s "mega328_st7565_kit" it worked great. I didn't make changes to the tester option settings. I always have to recompile everything to use the USBasp, but that's all I changed. I chose this display because it is cheaply available if I want to just get a spare for each tester.
You'll see a few mods here both past and present.
1.) I try to swap out the ZIF socket for headers on all clones, because I've learned the ZIF sockets get worn out quickly when all the slots are not used or you test a lot of stuff with thicker pins.
2.) I have added a 2p3t switch that I have configured for quick manual calibration. This can be in an open configuration, can short out all 3 test pins, or connect a film cap to 1 and 3.
3.) I added a stereo audio jack and made my own test clip leads that plug into it,
4.) I added 4x 10mm standoffs to the OEM locations, but also added a 5th standoff near the SMD test pad. This is probably the most significant mod worth doing on this tester. That makes the SMD pad much nicer to use.
The last bit of rambling I'll do here is just to add the reminder, the LCD backlight for the T3 tester is the required LED for the power management control circuit. If you take things apart for doing mods be sure you add an LED in place of the backlight to test anything. Here are a few pics of mods