design for a GOOD TRANSISTOR CURVE TRACER ?

[peter dingemans]

G'day everyone,

I'm planning on building a transistor curve tracer, but so far haven't
found a 'suitable' design. The only things I've found are general
curve tracers (for diodes, C's, R's, etc.), not the genuine ones meant
for transistors (apart from the odd very simple design).

So, does anyone have any 'real' projects/designs for a good (i.e.,
general usable, for transistors, fets, etc.) transistor curve tracer?
Difficulty won't be much of an issue, I'm not an electronics beginner.
I'd like it to work and look at least as good as a
professional/commercial design (or as near to it as possible).

I'd greatly appreciate any help. I've been looking a couple of days
now on the web, but so far haven't found anything.

Grtz,

Peter.

 

[Charles Schuler]

A curve tracer is not a difficult project ... for casual use. A binary
counter driving a D/A converter will provide the gate voltage/base current
steps (more circuits needed for constant current base drive but not too
tough with an op-amp or two). A sawtooth generator (synched to the counter)
provides the drain/collector signal. A current sampler (drain or collector
circuit) drives the vertical input to a scope and the sawtooth provides
x-axis modulation.

High power/high voltage capability adds complexity as does accuracy and
temperature stability.

It's a fun project, as I have built a few.

 

[Tweetldee]

G'day everyone,

I'm planning on building a transistor curve tracer, but so far haven't
found a 'suitable' design. The only things I've found are general
curve tracers (for diodes, C's, R's, etc.), not the genuine ones meant
for transistors (apart from the odd very simple design).

So, does anyone have any 'real' projects/designs for a good (i.e.,
general usable, for transistors, fets, etc.) transistor curve tracer?
Difficulty won't be much of an issue, I'm not an electronics beginner.
I'd like it to work and look at least as good as a
professional/commercial design (or as near to it as possible).

I'd greatly appreciate any help. I've been looking a couple of days
now on the web, but so far haven't found anything.

Grtz,

Peter

You can download lots of Heathkit equipment schematics from:
http://web.archive.org/web/20020201194744/http://www.circuitarchive.co.uk/heath.htm

There, you'll find schematics for the Heathkit model IT-1121, a very nice
full-featured curve tracer. I have just acquired one of these units and
it's nothing short of fantastic, given its age and cost. It will give you
curves for NPN/PNP bipolars, N-channel and p-channel JFets, as well as
diodes (even tunnel diodes). The collector supply will go up to 200 VDC,
and allows you to choose base/gate current/voltage steps, and the
collector/drain load.

http://web.archive.org/web/20020201...nental.freeserve.co.uk/heath/it-1121part2.gif
http://web.archive.org/web/20020201...nental.freeserve.co.uk/heath/it-1121part1.gif

Cheers!!! And best of luck on your project.
--
Dave M
MasonDG44 at comcast dot net (Just subsitute the appropriate characters in
the address)

Never take a laxative and a sleeping pill at the same time!!


..

 

[Jim Thompson]

G'day everyone,

I'm planning on building a transistor curve tracer, but so far haven't
found a 'suitable' design. The only things I've found are general
curve tracers (for diodes, C's, R's, etc.), not the genuine ones meant
for transistors (apart from the odd very simple design).

So, does anyone have any 'real' projects/designs for a good (i.e.,
general usable, for transistors, fets, etc.) transistor curve tracer?
Difficulty won't be much of an issue, I'm not an electronics beginner.
I'd like it to work and look at least as good as a
professional/commercial design (or as near to it as possible).

I'd greatly appreciate any help. I've been looking a couple of days
now on the web, but so far haven't found anything.

Grtz,

Peter.

Amongst _many_ found by Googling....

http://www.fullnet.com/u/tomg/gooteect.htm

...Jim Thompson

 

[TekMan]

G'day everyone,

I'm planning on building a transistor curve tracer, but so far haven't
found a 'suitable' design. The only things I've found are general
curve tracers (for diodes, C's, R's, etc.), not the genuine ones meant
for transistors (apart from the odd very simple design).

So, does anyone have any 'real' projects/designs for a good (i.e.,
general usable, for transistors, fets, etc.) transistor curve tracer?
Difficulty won't be much of an issue, I'm not an electronics beginner.
I'd like it to work and look at least as good as a
professional/commercial design (or as near to it as possible).

I'd greatly appreciate any help. I've been looking a couple of days
now on the web, but so far haven't found anything.

Grtz,

Peter.

Well, download the schematics and manuals for the tektronix 557 and 7CT1 from here:

bama.sbc.edu (or bama,edebris.com) for the older 557.
www.teknetelectronics.com for the 7CT1 /7CT1N.

this gives you a good start and detailed idea how to the project right

hth,
Andreas