I recently got one of those cheap testers on ebay a few weeks ago and I'm still getting to know it. But so far I've been very pleased with it.
When I did a teardown I discovered that the printing on the board says it is an "ABI ChipMaster" but it doesn't quite match any of their current models.
I've never found a full device list for this device and I still haven't gotten around to throwing my extensive IC collection at it. But I've been using it off and on to test all of my opto isolator/interrupter devices along with several hundred (prolly over 1000
![Tweak :-/O](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/smiliey_cal.gif.pagespeed.ce.yYMcAvxBJk.gif)
) SMD ICs from a couple of 2 pound Jameco IC grab bags using SOIC adapter sockets.
In that collection of prolly about 1000 SMD ICs it was able to test about half of the analog types and nearly all of the digital types. Of the half it couldn't test those were nearly all voltage regulators and SMPS chips which it doesn't test. I wish it did test them with as many of them that I have now. Testing those with what I have manually would take way too much time.
![Banging Head |O](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/bangheadonwall.gif.pagespeed.ce.8iLbFYV4Bc.gif)
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![DMM :-DMM](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/smiliey_dmm.gif.pagespeed.ce.CvRqtDiING.gif)
It seems to handle most common glue logic families. 54/74XX, CMOS 4XXX, HEF 40XX, 45XX/145XX.
I've tested quite a few TTL chips but I've already found that there are a few weird holes in the devices it can test. There are a few common older Flip-Flops that it doesn't support, but other newer and less common ones, it can test. =o.O=;;
I also found that there seems to be a bug in the TTL test/ID routines. Several LS and HCT types will both ID and test as the opposite family. If you try testing them in the proper family it will fail, but test it on the other family and it will pass. My experience has been that it seems that the best way to use this device is to first use the auto-search function to have it ID the chip and then test with the type it gave you.
There were a few Op Amps that were like this too. Where they would ID and test as a slightly different number than what the actually are. And several analog types that aren't in the short list of chips for analog testing will actually test under other numbers. So, with the analog chips too, for best results you'll want to ID the DUT first and then test with what it thinks it is.
For analog chips it mostly tests a few common types of Op Amps & comparators. It will also test a few common types of display driver and interface chips as well. But, this is mostly a digital logic tester.
The Zener test seems to work fairly well up to 50V but I haven't tested it extensively yet.
I have fully tested the opto device function. It works very well and will tell you the voltage it gets from the photodiode side of the optoisolator/interrupter when you test.
It has a transistor test function, but I'll likely never use it. I have several dedicated transistor testers already.
I sort of started putting together a manual for it, but lost interest after a while as it was very easy to use aside from a few oddities.
For example, for all IC tests you put the DUT in the top half of the socket with pin 1 at the top left. Which is really nice as a lot of testers expect you to put the DUT in differently depending on the number of pins from the bottom.
![WTF? :wtf:](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/wtf2.gif.pagespeed.ce.pxLiY5pjs4.gif)
For all the other tests (opto, Zener, Transistor) you put the DUT in the bottom part of the socket.
Zener & Transistors go in the socket in the bottom of the right column. For opto devices the LED goes in the bottom left holes & the photo diode/transistor goes in the bottom right holes.
Once you get used to it this setup is very simple and consistent. I like it.
![ThumbsUp :-+](https://www.eevblog.com/forum/Smileys/default/icon_smile_thumbsup.gif.pagespeed.ce._JElyJQqdB.gif)
=^.^=
If any one would like me to post teardown photos and/or finish the manual let me know and I'll put them up here.
If anyone has any questions about this device I'll try to answer them if I can.
BobKat