Great little tester. Would be simpler if the 1,2,3 numbers on the screen are the same colour as the test leads. Or change the leads to the same colours.
The short answer is I have had some luck with it in circuit. One thing to consider of course is that the voltage output to test component could be greater than in circuit testers like the curve tracer unit. The curve tracer is still the best in circuit tester to me even though the analog signature is more of a comparison than identification of device under test.
Have you ever checked the value hFE as returned for NPN and PNP transistors ? I did a measurement using the TC-1 and one with two DVMs measuring the collector DC-current and the basis DC-current, and dividing those two values, which should return hFE. The value returned by the TC-1 was way off unfortunately... (for a BC547B it showed 280 and 277 on another TC-1 I have). The calculated value based on the current division was 140 (increasing to slightly 150 if the transistor was warming up by holding it between my fingers). I purchased a new TC-1 after the battery on my first TC-1 went dead. But even with the battery dead, I can still run it while being connected to the USB power adapter.
I have not actually tested the gain numbers as comparison to any other method. I mainly tested its ability to Pass/Fail and sometimes identify components for my needs, but a very valid point if the gain is important to you and what you are doing. Just out of curiosity, have you tested with another cheap device such as the GM328 etc. to see how they compare? Just a thought. And yes I notice now that I have had mine for a while I have to charge it before using it if it sits in a drawer for a while. I was wondering if it's worth looking into adding a true on/off switch if it's a drain issue or needs a new battery. I would most likely just make it run from AA's . I have not taken the time to even see why it's draining so low just sitting there yet.
Ive tested a lot of poly caps like you tested. The brown radial caps. Theyre all showing 9 or 10 ohms of esr .ive read that a capacitors esr should be below 1 ohm. Am i doing something wrong? And why does it not show an esr reading on some caps ?
Hi, For me most of the larger caps will read correctly with these cheaper testers and the smaller caps not as much sometimes. I honestly rarely need to check ESR on smaller caps as most power supplies etc. have larger caps with high frequency switching supplies. Also some of the small value caps will not show ESR. They are simply too small to test. We have to look at the manufacturers data sheet for the actual cap to know what the true ESR should be.
@ThriftyToolShed thanks for the reply. I've done some reading , the caps that I have that had 8 and 9 ohm esr were 0.68uf. I'm seeing some data sheets that are showing that value so they're probably fine. I had previously read that esr should always be below 1 ohm. I think that was wrong. These are certainly a handy little device
I have had 2 of the TC1 testers.They both broke and fixed a couple of times before the last one broke again.Try to test a 6 volt zender diode the rith way in the zif socket.That work fine.try to put it in the wrong way in the socket and see what happen.My bet is components in it brake.Modifiy it with a power switch.That has some benefits.Think the quality is garbage made straigth from manufactors.
Your video was the first to pop up when I googled the TC1!
Thank you for making this , I just ordered one (same unit, different name) and having this video is priceless, it will help newbies like me immensely,
Thanks for the video. I love that little tester!
Great little tester. Would be simpler if the 1,2,3 numbers on the screen are the same colour as the test leads. Or change the leads to the same colours.
Excelente video. Estaba en la duda de comprar este testeador. Después del video lo termino comprando. Saludos.
Yo lo uso desde hace años. Salvo que la batería cada vez dura menos (que no es problema realmente) funciona de maravilla y ahorra mucho tiempo
Very informative video thanks for info I will have one on next Amazon order
Can it test 4 pin bridge diode rectifier?
You can do 2 diodes at a time. So yes.
Thanks for this! Very helpful.
Nice video. Can you do in circuit testing with this device?
The short answer is I have had some luck with it in circuit. One thing to consider of course is that the voltage output to test component could be greater than in circuit testers like the curve tracer unit. The curve tracer is still the best in circuit tester to me even though the analog signature is more of a comparison than identification of device under test.
@@ThriftyToolShed got it. Thanks.
can anyone share a link to the manual? very helpful video but the offered look at the manual at the end was lacking.
facebook.com/groups/352614655247940/permalink/1524041498105244/?mibextid=Nif5oz
Shared a link on my Facebook group page if anyone needs it. I don't have a pdf of mine, but this seems like the generic manual for it...
THANKS!
Have you ever checked the value hFE as returned for NPN and PNP transistors ? I did a measurement using the TC-1 and one with two DVMs measuring the collector DC-current and the basis DC-current, and dividing those two values, which should return hFE. The value returned by the TC-1 was way off unfortunately... (for a BC547B it showed 280 and 277 on another TC-1 I have). The calculated value based on the current division was 140 (increasing to slightly 150 if the transistor was warming up by holding it between my fingers).
I purchased a new TC-1 after the battery on my first TC-1 went dead. But even with the battery dead, I can still run it while being connected to the USB power adapter.
I have not actually tested the gain numbers as comparison to any other method. I mainly tested its ability to Pass/Fail and sometimes identify components for my needs, but a very valid point if the gain is important to you and what you are doing. Just out of curiosity, have you tested with another cheap device such as the GM328 etc. to see how they compare? Just a thought. And yes I notice now that I have had mine for a while I have to charge it before using it if it sits in a drawer for a while. I was wondering if it's worth looking into adding a true on/off switch if it's a drain issue or needs a new battery. I would most likely just make it run from AA's . I have not taken the time to even see why it's draining so low just sitting there yet.
Ive tested a lot of poly caps like you tested. The brown radial caps. Theyre all showing 9 or 10 ohms of esr .ive read that a capacitors esr should be below 1 ohm.
Am i doing something wrong? And why does it not show an esr reading on some caps ?
Hi,
For me most of the larger caps will read correctly with these cheaper testers and the smaller caps not as much sometimes. I honestly rarely need to check ESR on smaller caps as most power supplies etc. have larger caps with high frequency switching supplies. Also some of the small value caps will not show ESR. They are simply too small to test. We have to look at the manufacturers data sheet for the actual cap to know what the true ESR should be.
@ThriftyToolShed thanks for the reply. I've done some reading , the caps that I have that had 8 and 9 ohm esr were 0.68uf. I'm seeing some data sheets that are showing that value so they're probably fine. I had previously read that esr should always be below 1 ohm. I think that was wrong.
These are certainly a handy little device
My TC1 test screen is broken, I need a backup screen.
Good tiching karte hai 👌👍👌👌👌👍👌👌👌👍👌👌👌👍👌
I have had 2 of the TC1 testers.They both broke and fixed a couple of times before the last one broke again.Try to test a 6 volt zender diode the rith way in the zif socket.That work fine.try to put it in the wrong way in the socket and see what happen.My bet is components in it brake.Modifiy it with a power switch.That has some benefits.Think the quality is garbage made straigth from manufactors.
Sorry to hear that, mine had been great so far. Hope it holds up.
I stuck a strip of metal on the face of mine to discharge capacitors on.
Nice!
Mine just started reading cell 5.08. I will fully charge then see. Same on many different components
Mine started doing this after I failed to discharge a capacitor before testing.