Cheap Electronic Component Testers – the good and the bad! LCR TC-1, TC-2, and Counterfeits…
In this video I take a look at various electronic component testers and their uses. I also talk about how-to calibrate them using the self test feature and provide some pointers on things to watch out for when purchasing and using these affordable component testers.
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#electronics #component #tester
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On the video I noticed you have a T7-Plus V1.2 (with crystal). I cannot see the version of the ‘fake’ (no crystal). Mine is T7-Plus V2.0 and no crystal is present. Do I have a fake?
Hi, let me give you an informed opinion, as you talked about fake / counterfeit ("bad"?) LCR-TC2s. All LCR are more or less "counterfeits", as build in China with no rights and control whatsoever using the public work of others. Mine is claimed to be "original" and I can send pictures to the factory to validate that (but who decides which one is "real"? there is really one?). It has the same internals as the one you said it’s fake, but you are just comparing the latest 2.0 board (manufactured from 2022 onwards) with the previous 1.2 (manufactured from 2020 onwards). The crystal oscillator is just there (the microcontroller couldn’t work without it!), only smaller – they switched to a SMD one (labeled 1600T). The ATMEGA644PA, a 15 years old microcontroller, has been replaced, due to current high prices (8$), with a similar one. It is, on top of that, a chinese clone of the ATMEGA328P (no JTAG, so no reprogramming abilities, but half power consumption), one of the other microcontrollers used (for price reduction purpouses), with its label sandpapered to avoid giving others that information. By checking the pins number (32 and not 44) and the pinout (aka to what they are connected to), someone more capable than me said its the (not so bad) LGT8F328P. These testers, "fake" or "not fake" work more or less just the same, as they use similar components and similar technique (AVR). They are all damaged by testing charged capacitors (the microcontroller is fried) and you should be careful testing zener diodes. They all lack, by design, proper protection from high voltages and high currents. The last LCR iteration, the TC2 with 3.1E firmware and 2.0 board, has some problems of the previous ones fixed, but seems not so accurate as the ATMEGA equipped ones, for some reasons. In fact, there is a sticker on the back just saying that ("note: this tester does not provide good measurements…"). These 20 bucks devices do the best they can. But, as more specialized devices, by more known brands, are on the market, I see no point in searching for a "non fake" LCR – they all get the work done, in a similar (very approssimative) way. A loudy minority of enthusiasts praise the ATMEGA ones just because they can update its firmware to a custom one. We, instead, can wait for a LCR-TC3 while using a "clone" (or not). BB.
Theses are nice to test components. It seems some reference data on them would be useful where known R,C, L and diode data on specific parts obtained with better instruments would be the standard approach. Are these results within some percent of the best measured value and is the reading always high or low and so on.
I’ve had a TC-1 for quite a while – what does the TC-2 offer in comparison?
Thank you. Please, can you do a video about the Transistor Tester? Thanks.
esr meter drok vs tc1? Plss
Looks like I’ve received a counterfeit TC2 🙁 Has the blank chip and I was suspicious as measuring about 50% out in various capacitors ?!??!? Trying to resolve with Aliexpress store. Annoying as used my TC1 a lot over past few months and worked well until I fried it by measuring a fully charged massive filter capacitor (there were two and picked up the one I hadn’t discharged by mistake, my own stupidity) so bought as an "upgrade".
I have one that looks exactly like the TC1 and TC2 called the T7-H. It was about $20 more than the TC2 and claimed it was an upgraded version. I can’t tell if it’s any better or worse.
Great didactic video, thanks. In this world literally blooded of fakes or clone devices, would be so much appreciated a link to buy a not counterfeit ver of TC2 like yours, that’s the important question …
Very nice review…
9:50 key reason I want to buy the TC2, so what’s the std procedure for discharging a cap in circuit? Do I simply use a pair of needle nose and short the leads first? Thanks for the video and help.
Yea Boi I was like no 666….great channel bro
00:00 Introduction
01:10 History 01:48 LCR-TC2 Overview
03:19 Calibration / Self Test
04:38 Testing Components
09:06 Counterfeits / Fakes
09:48 In Circuit Measurements
10:40 IC Testers
This was very interesting.
Looking forward to part 2 detailing the other kinds of testers, or, even a series of videos.
Well you deserve credit for actually knowing about the Open Source origins of these testers.
I bought one of these, and wonder how i ever lived without it! Two things i like about it are measuring the newer "blue" resistors, and i can match transistors with the Hfe readings
Most ebay listings of these things do not show the gut shot, which means you’re down to the case design to determine authenticity, which you totally skipped. Sadly.
Your video is very good friend, I have a sickle one, it has the crystal but the ci does not have any information, could you describe what is written on the ci of your lcr tc. two . And if you find the original ci, would it work by swapping it? Thanks . Brazil Rio Janeiro.
Thanks for speaking about those 2 inventors of those testers!
thanks for the great video, Just wondering did you notice any difference between TC1 and TC2? thanks
What is the name of the tool kit at 9:10 ?
Hi sir, I got a counterfeit lcr-tc2 transistor tester, were did you buy yours.
Very nice video. I have a collection of these handy little testers as well. My latest is a Fnirsi DSO-TC3. It has expanded zener diode testing and a basic oscilloscope for $60. When I was in college I could not have imagined such a device at that price.
my TC1 broke and i purchased a TC2. TBH i thought the TC1 was better.
So that’s an awesome video. Unfortunately, I have the one without the crystal 🙁
Can this be used to test germanium transistor?
I’m concerned I might be damaging them
On the "fake" one, isn’t X2 a crystal oscillator? The mcu might be a fake, but did you notice any difference in performance between the two? Just curious.
Do you have a link where you bought the LCR TC2? I bought the TC1 based on this video from Banggood. I opened it up and the board had no oscillator crystal, it did have a Atmel Mega 328P chip but I think maybe it is not a real one, just printed the name on the chip. It has no CE sticker either.
Well-Done