strange o-scope probe. what is he referring to here?

[loosecannon]

gentlemen,

here is a link to an older webpage that some of you may recognize from a few years ago.
the company name is Electronic Energy Source, and im not sure if they are still in business or not.

http://www.electronicenergysource.com/OscopeProbe.htm

on this page, he is talking about a custom scope probe that he built that allowed him to test components by how they show up on the scope.

i found this kind of cool and was wondering if anyone knew what circuit he used to do this, and where i might find a schematic so i can build my own.

thanks in advance for any info!
LC

 

[Tallman]

That is a good probe to have. If you look in my albums you will see those same patterns in photographs. That probe turns any oscilloscope into a component tracer.

 

[loosecannon]

thanks tallman!

im off to look at your junk.
wait, that sounds so wrong LOL.

oh well, you can't unsay things on the radio either.
LC

 

[Tallman]

 

[loosecannon]

thanks for the terminology also Tallman, that led me right to a W2AEW video (he's one of my favorites as im sure he is yours.


LC

 

[dave457]

gentlemen,

here is a link to an older webpage that some of you may recognize from a few years ago.
the company name is Electronic Energy Source, and im not sure if they are still in business or not.

http://www.electronicenergysource.com/OscopeProbe.htm

on this page, he is talking about a custom scope probe that he built that allowed him to test components by how they show up on the scope.

i found this kind of cool and was wondering if anyone knew what circuit he used to do this, and where i might find a schematic so i can build my own.

thanks in advance for any info!
LC

He used to post on mauldroppers, he may still be around

 

[Handy Andy]

Here's a little more on the subject...

But they seem to call it an Octopus.

Uses low voltage AC thru a divider "bridge" setup - with the unknown part as one of the elements of that bridge to develop a Current and Voltage - curve trace of that part. Gives you those similar designs as "templates" whatever doesn't fit any of those templates is what is considered a "fail" and try another - type of result.

 

[Tallman]

I posted some text to go with the picture but it has disappeared.

Here's a little more on the subject...

But they seem to call it an Octopus.

Uses low voltage AC thru a divider "bridge" setup - with the unknown part as one of the elements of that bridge to develop a Current and Voltage - curve trace of that part. Gives you those similar designs as "templates" whatever doesn't fit any of those templates is what is considered a "fail" and try another - type of result.

I use my component tracer to check high power transistors before checking with my little transistor checker and installing in the circuit boards. The quality of some of those transistors is questionable at best.

 

[Handy Andy]

In case they can't get to QSL.net...

And...

If you don't see these colors and shapes the next time you TX...

 

[Radio Tech]

The octopus tester or as we like to call it "curve / signature tracer" is a great tool to have on any techs bench. Handy piece of gear for testing components and circuits if you have no schematic. I recently built one in an old low band width scope ( 500 KHz). This made a useless piece of vintage test gear into a modern piece to have on the bench. I am a member of Mr Carlsons Lab on Patreon I went with his schematic. It is private so please do not ask me for it. There are plenty of designs on the internet.

A friend brought over a small tantalum capacitor that checks as a diode on his component tester. Did the same on mine. He thought it may have been a fake capacitor since it was brand new out of the bag. . As seen in the below image it is clearly a shorted capacitor.

Signature tracers are nice to have, not enough folks utilize this function.

 

[Shadetree Mechanic]

There is a test set that you can buy that does this. It costs a ton of money and it's good to know that it doesn't take much to build one your self. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Tallman]

There is a test set that you can buy that does this. It costs a ton of money and it's good to know that it doesn't take much to build one your self. Thanks for sharing!

My El cheapo scope has one built in from the factory.

When I started using the curve tracer on the power transistors It saved me a lot of time. I was working on a brand new RM Italy ham radio amplifier with automatic band switching had only keyed it once and the transistors went up in smoke. I got replacements from Italy and tested the transistors with the tracer and recorded the traces. Those traces you see in my photo album are from brand new, never installed MS1051 transistors. That's when I bought the little transistor tester from eBay.
Two out of six new transistors were marginal with one being shorted emitter to base. New never installed parts like that are damaged by ESD in manufacturing or handling. I still have those part just in case I need to prove it to any body. I always test before installing expensive transistors.

 

[LeapFrog]

I believe 6.3 V was a common filament voltage, time to hit the parts bin!

 

[OldTech03]

I built this circuit into my 20meg scope about 25 years ago and used it quite a bit and still have the scope and plan on making part of my next bench setup. It really is in my mind a tool you want at your disposal.

 

[Tallman]

I built this circuit into my 20meg scope about 25 years ago and used it quite a bit and still have the scope and plan on making part of my next bench setup. It really is in my mind a tool you want at your disposal.

I would have to ask, if you don't have one are you really a technician?
Just using a Digital VOM won't tell you spit. You need Dynamic testing.