Summary of TOOLS FOR THE ELECTRONICS HOBBYIST PART 1- GRAPHICAL COMPONENTS TESTER
This article introduces the first installment of a weekly series exploring affordable electronics tools, specifically highlighting a graphical component tester sourced from the Chinese Taobao store "91make." The device identifies discrete components like transistors, diodes, and capacitors, determining their type, pinout, and electrical characteristics. While acknowledging trusted distributors, the author suggests this tool offers similar quality at a significantly lower price point (approximately $6).
Parts used in the Graphical Component Tester:
- Graphical component tester
- 9v battery
When I started to deal with Chinese electronics suppliers from websites like Alibaba, Aliexpress and Taobao, I discovered that there are huge amount of undiscovered tools from the Chinese market. They are not easily discovered, maybe due to the Chinese language barrier, especially when we deal with a Chinese website like Taobao or maybe because most of us are used to deal with known electronics distributors like Sparkfun.
I also discovered that I can get my stuff from there in a lower price and in most cases of the same quality.
We can’t deny that dealing with known and trusted electronics stores such as Sparkfun and Adafruit is more comfortable and safe, but our proposal is an alternative one.
That doesn’t mean that our series will focus only on tools from Chinese suppliers. We will also explore special tools from Ebay, Tindieand other resources.
This series is weekly, so stay tuned! Please note that when we talk about a tool from a certain store or a supplier, we don’t claim that we guarantee the quality and if the store is trustworthy.
You can reach the posts published in this series using the following link.
Welcome to the first post of our series “Tools for the Electronics Hobbyist”. We are going to talk about graphical components tester, which I found on “91make” store on Taobao and it seems that they’re specialists in graphical components testers.
This tool is used to discover the type and main features (like value and some other electrical characteristics) of the majority of discrete components like transistors, diodes, resistors, capacitors and other components.
This is useful when you have an unknown part. As you know a part with TO-220 package can be a BJT, a MOSFET or maybe something else. It is also useful when you know the basic function of the part in your hand and you need to know some of its characteristics.
Features:
- Can used with npn and pnp transistors, n-channel and p-channel mosfet, diodes (including double diodes), thyristors, transistors, resistors, capacitors and other components.
- Measuring the gate threshold voltage and gate capacitance of MOSFET.
- Amplification factor (gain) of the BJT and the base of the forward bias voltage.
- Getting the pinout of the component.
- Use 9v battery for power supply.
I found a video on Youtube for the same tool tested with a lot of components
- Where can I buy this graphical component tester?
You can find it on the 91make store located on Taobao. - What is the price of the graphical component tester?
The tool costs 40 RMB, which is approximately 6 dollars. - Does the tester work with MOSFETs?
Yes, it supports n-channel and p-channel mosfet testing. - Can this tool identify unknown components?
It is useful for discovering the type and main features of unknown parts. - What power supply does the tester require?
The device uses a 9v battery for its power supply. - Does the tester measure capacitance?
Yes, it can measure gate capacitance of MOSFETs and test capacitors. - Can the tool determine the pinout of a component?
Yes, one of its features is getting the pinout of the component. - Is this tool cheaper than buying from Tindie?
Yes, it is available for less than suppliers found on Ebay or Tindie.
