$20 LCR ESR Transistor checker project

[jackryan315]

thanks for responding madires.

 im using usbasp as an isp programmer.

[madires]

thanks for responding madires.

 im using usbasp as an isp programmer.

Actually the crystal frequency and the bootloader shouldn't matter because the programmer will set the ATmega to ISP-mode. Have you connected a pull-up resistor to the reset pin? Please post the fuse bits if you're able to read them.

[jackryan315]

yes a 10k resistor is connected at pin 1 of the atmega328.
here's a screenshot of the gui:

[madires]

yes a 10k resistor is connected at pin 1 of the atmega328.
here's a screenshot of the gui:

I can't see any obvious  issue. You could try changing the bit clock for the 8MHz crystal.

[jackryan315]

how do i go about changing the clock bit?

[madires]

how do i go about changing the clock bit?

The bit clock is the speed the programmer talks to the ATmega. Please see avrdudess in the progammer section, port, baud rate and then bit clock (-B). BTW, -B is the commandline option used for avrdude. You could try to lower the speed. The recommendation is that the ISP clock should not exceed 1/4 of the CPU clock.

[jackryan315]

Hey thanks madires for the guidance. I've managed to build the tester and its awesome.  Its 1.10 version. The different function is cool, again thanks a lot.

[eevbstedt]

I see that 1.10k has been moved (added) to the 'Tags' folder:
http://www.mikrocontroller.net/svnbrowser/transistortester/Software/tags/?sortby=date

I'm assuming that this means 1.10k is 'done' and he's now working on 1.11k?

[madires]

I'm assuming that this means 1.10k is 'done' and he's now working on 1.11k?

That's right!

[eevbstedt]

This is EXCITING!!!  ... or is it!?   Sooo mysterious! 

[neslekkim]

On ebay it seems that there are three other variations that have been developed of this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/171285924831

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181164691633

http://www.ebay.com/itm/201074091766

According to the description, it seems like it have to be the same, and same firmware, but with some modifications, too bad, as it doesnt seem like there are any upgrade options, or no firmware source available, because the hardware starts to look very interresting.

[Hydrawerk]

They look nice, but in fact they do not tell you more.

[Hydrawerk]

I prefer this old design with HD44780 compatible LCD, because they are cheap, easy to buy, and they will be probably always available.

[g***!]

I have the version, in the second picture in post 361....It arrived today. Its all SMD with an M328P and an unpopulated space for a 10 pin programming header.
Along the top edge of the board is another unpopulated space for a 16 pin header....interesting!

[madires]

I have the version, in the second picture in post 361....It arrived today. Its all SMD with an M328P and an unpopulated space for a 10 pin programming header.
Along the top edge of the board is another unpopulated space for a 16 pin header....interesting!

The 16 pin header might be for a HD44780 display. I don't recommend to buy the Transistor Testers with the graphics display because they require a modified firmware, i.e. you can't use the latest release from the official repo. You'll be reliant on someone in China updating the firmware and I doubt that the source is available publicly.

[Shock]

The 16 pin header might be for a HD44780 display. I don't recommend to buy the Transistor Testers with the graphics display because they require a modified firmware, i.e. you can't use the latest release from the official repo. You'll be reliant on someone in China updating the firmware and I doubt that the source is available publicly.

Good point

[dannyf]

Good point

The code is fairly well packaged (all in lcd-routines.c/.h). So if you ever need to port it to a different display, you just need to implement your own lcd-routines.c/.h and recompile.

I did it with a nokia 7110 display - which looks to be similar to the graphics lcds shown earlier.

[at2marty]

I've read quite a bit about this project and am in the early stages of adapting it with a few minor modifications.  For the most part, most of what I plan will remain the same, but I chose to use an ATMega1284p so that I could do a few other things with it.

[jackryan315]

i've changed my firmware to version 1.7k coz i have no use of the other function just yet. but good to know that its there if ever you need them. BTW, anyone have a link to the writeup of these tester, all versions i mean? I only found two of these which are versions 96k and 107k.

[free_electron]

I was looking at these today. Found em on ebay and discovered they were based of the microcontroller.net project and also documented on eevblog.

I want to make a nice board for these, includong the booster for the zeners, the shorting relays to protect the inputs and the other options not commonly found in the wingpangpong versions.

The board must fit a nice handheld box with proper battery holders. I will use either 4 aa cells or go with a rechargeable lithium battery (usb) in which case i awant to add a usb uart.

Now, i do like the graphical display... Anyone has the code for that ? If not i will use the dogm series displays.

I am going to make a connector plate so ican push sot23, sot89 sot 232 and many other smd packages on it to find out what they are.

I will release artwork as public domain and have a bunch of em made by itead so they are cheap.

Anyone interested in the bare boards. For the cost of an envelope and international stamp....

[madires]

I've read quite a bit about this project and am in the early stages of adapting it with a few minor modifications.  For the most part, most of what I plan will remain the same, but I chose to use an ATMega1284p so that I could do a few other things with it.

Perfect timing :-) Karl-Heinz has started to work on an  ATmega324/644/1284 version.

[madires]

i've changed my firmware to version 1.7k coz i have no use of the other function just yet. but good to know that its there if ever you need them. BTW, anyone have a link to the writeup of these tester, all versions i mean? I only found two of these which are versions 96k and 107k.

You'll find the docs for the old firmware versions at http://www.mikrocontroller.net/svnbrowser/transistortester/Doku/tags/old/english/ and the old firmwares at http://www.mikrocontroller.net/svnbrowser/transistortester/Software/tags/. The current version under development is in the trunk directory and the m-firmware at http://www.mikrocontroller.net/svnbrowser/transistortester/Software/Markus/. To download directories please click "Download GNU tarball" at the bottom.

[madires]

I will release artwork as public domain and have a bunch of em made by itead so they are cheap.

If you like we could put it into the official repo (there's a hardware section already).

[SeanB]

I will nibble for a few boards, then build them up for the local HAM club. that should keep them busy ( and me as well) for a week or three building them. Will pull out the odd displays I have to use there as well.

[dannyf]

an interesting twist would be to make an arduino-shield that has all the hardware other than the mcu.