Impedance Analyzer Build and Experiments

[peteb2]

...OK i placed comments on issues with the AD2 not working with this great S/W on the YouTube page relating to this current problem on this really neat project. It seems however my comments may have been flagged by their algorithm as SPAM or abusive.

TheStuffMade has been replying as much as possible but just in case i'll repeat my YT comments explaining my findings:

The Impedance Analyzer software boots up 100% OK and without an AD2 connected via USB i can interact with it as example: changing options in "settings" or playing with pre-assignment of plot lines colors for variables.

The instant i plug in my AD2 (using a Diligent supplied USB cable) the standard audible sounds, a green LED begins flashing on its PCB & less than a second later the software splashes a change for an instant in the lower right from "device not available" to the text for USB parameters all reading zero and instantly back to "device not available". The lower LH "Status: Analog Discovery not available" message never changes.
 
It would indicate an attempted connection is being rejected. If i unplug/replug, nothing occurs not even the momentary flash of the USB parameters as before. It's as if the software now rejects the AD2 & has gone deaf.
 
In comparison the Audio Analyser software will not boot up unless the AD2 is plugged in and then it works perfectly as well as does Digilent's Waveforms2015

I've played around with FTDI's FT EEPROM Programming S/W just to have a look at the architecture of the FT232HQ device used in the AD2 for USB. The driver option is set for D2XX Direct as opposed the option Virtual Com Port and Driver Version is listed as 2.12.28.0 (i mention this as a FWIW).
 
I must say thanks for replying to my question. I truly appreciate all the work you have put into this project. This subject of measuring impedance with at least some accuracy has always been a challenge for me in my role as a technician and as a electronics hobbyist. I really hope we're able to have the AD2 work with your software...

​ TheStuffMade  Thanks! I've also reached out on Dave Jone's forum (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/profile/?area=showposts;u=116817) . I have only the newer version AD2 to hand, (i'd need to buy a AD (1st model version) but they appear to becoming a rare item now not to mention prices are 'interesting' but will keep my eyes pealed for a bargain). I've tried a restart of my PC & even another completely different machine both running the most up to date release Win 7 & always left your designed active plugin board out of the AD2. I've even used a Freeware "Simple USB Logger" to see if there's a pattern. I can see multiple bulk URB data transfers have originated from the PC side (the Impedance S/W running on the PC & AD2 connected) but the AD2 pretty much acts dumb i.e. nothing much being returned by it other than the odd byte). I hope there's a solution. This is such an interesting project i'd hate for it to fall by the wayside. Thanks again. 

[modmix]

Just to nekro my old thread and add an ending.
The whole project with all details can be downloaded

What a nice surprise, jaxbird!
A short while after I got my AD1 to do some impedance measurements with your fine software this software was gone.
Glad to have it back - THANKS.

The AD1 in your material has a cable going into it - what is it for? where is it connected internally?
TIA
Ulli

[bitseeker]

The AD1 in your material has a cable going into it - what is it for? where is it connected internally?

See:

[modmix]

I built a plugin board v2.2 (thanks for the Gerber files !).
Works quite fine 
One question:

A 500R shunt gives quite more "noise" at low frquencies - see lower green curve
The upper green curve let's me wonder why 500R is selected...
Is there a way to change that to select the lower value shunt a bit earlier?
Thanks
Ulli

[xaled]

Hi modmix,

do you have a BOM for the plugin board or parts supplier project to share?

Thanks.

[modmix]

Most of the R and C I already had (size 0805).
Parts I got from DigiKey

• AD8039ARZ-ND
• BAV99-E3-08CT-ND

I got from Reichelt

• 74HC 4053D NXP (SO-16, not 16SOIC)
• TAJ 3516 10/16 SMD-Tantal Kondensator, 10 μF, 16V
• BL 2X17G 2,54 2x17pol. Buchsenleiste, gerade - didn't find a 2x15

hth
Ulli

[xaled]

Thanks Ulli!

[aandrew]

Thank you for this, Jaxbird, it's very much appreciated.

On the software side: is there anything interesting/unusual/tricky you're doing to drive the AD2? Is it just basic setup sine sweep and measure or do you have more magic in there, particularly around cal?

I ask because I'd like to get this working under Linux and/or OSX without running a virtual machine or WINE. I think I can drive the AD2 reasonably well by monitoring the USB interaction on Windows and replicating things with libusb.

[Elmar]

Hi modmix,

do you have a BOM for the plugin board or parts supplier project to share?

Thanks.

this is what I got so far:

qty   MPN                           designator
4   ?                           ?
2   ?                           H1,2
1   PPPC152LFBN-RC   ?
2   RMCF0603FT68R0   R15,16
10 RMCF0603FT1K00   R2,R3,R4,R5,R8,R9,R10,R11,R19,R20
4   RMCF0603FT3K00   R1,R6,R7,R12
2   RMCF0603FT10K0   R17,R18
2   ?                           C15,C16
4   CL10B103KB8NNNC   C1,C3,C9,C11
9   CL10B104KA8NNNC   C2,C5,C6,C10,C12,C19,C20,C21,C22
2   TAJA106K016RNJ      C4,C7
8   BAV99-E3-08            D1,D2,D3,D4,D5,D9,D10,D11
3   74HC4053D,653       IC3,IC5,IC6
2   AD8039ARZ              IC1,IC2

-I can't figure out the value of C15, C16
-not sure what coaxes to take
-also not sure about the function of the screws

I was wondering if the coaxes would make any sense because of the added inductance

[croma641]

Elmar,

go to this Youtube Video/page:




(and watch the old  related videos/pages)

best regards

Andrea

[justanothername]

I want to order a PCB for the impedance analyzer but the board outline seems to be missing in the gerber files.
Where did you all order your PCBs?

Edit: I've generated an outline from the silk layer. Attached.

[justanothername]

So, the Parts and the PCBs came. But I can't find a placement plan.
This is a puzzle for very dedicated people I guess....

Edit: I made an assembly plan. Parts on bottom are just bav99s and one 10µF

[justanothername]

OK i built this but I'm inconclusive.

You can see my build in the picture with accessories:
A: Adapter for small parts
B: short for calibrating
C: DUT (Wuerth 885012106018)
D: Kelvin clips adapter (not used yet)

I calibrated the software with open/short calibration before measurements.
Maybe it is the socket header I used, but the response has a weird spike at 1MHz. On the other side the point of lowest impedance matches better to wuerths data than the measurments with WaveForms.
Anyway, the measurements from the Digilent adapter board have no spike at 1MHz, they look more or less like the data as given from the manufacturer, resonance point is off though.

Could as well be that I did something wrong by trying to figure out the assembly plan...

[faraday]

does it work with latest waveforms?

[croma641]

 It works perfectly !