Smart Tweezers ST5-S Professional LCR Meter / ESR Meter

Thinking about, or already making drivers? Check these out! Pretty darn sweet if you ask me!

http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Tweezer...ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1419690953&sr=1-1

EDIT: Lazerman121 found these on Amazon, they seem to be the same thing, just WAY cheaper! CLICK HERE

The Smart Tweezers (ST) are indeed smart. The automatic mode correctly identifies resistors, capacitors and inductors and displays their values. STs can measure leaded components and surface mounted components and also work well with in-circuit measurements. Traditionally, in-circuit measurements are "iffy" but STs offer manual modes and control of the test frequency, the test voltage, and the resistance of the internal signal generator. For example, the user can reduce the amplitude of the test frequency which can improve in-circuit measurement accuracy (the amplitude can be reduced to as low as 250 mV to avoid turning on solid-state junctions). Of course, in-circuit measurements can still be tricky due to parallel components.

ESR is an issue with electrolytic and tantalum capacitors. STs perform wonderfully for ESR measurements.

The diode mode is way cool as the schematic symbol for a diode is shown on the LCD display and lo and behold the symbol changes to correctly identify the cathode and anode leads. Using this mode usually works well to verify both in-circuit diodes and out-of-circuit diodes.



Precision LCR meter, ideal for SMD, calibrated with certificate included
Automated component identification and test range selection
0.2% Base accuracy, Autoimatic and manual C, R, L, Z and ESR modes
Swiss-Made 24K Gold-plated Test Leads. OLED Display, Built-in Li-Ion battery
Directly from Advance Devices, Inc. with 2 year warranty.

Pretty neat. Nice that it works on both through hole and SMT!

so Kewl i'm gonna order them....

I've got one that must be way over 5 years old. Maybe even 10. Still works great. This is a great tool for anyone that works with electronics. Especially useful for SMT.

I like the look of the new model. My display is the old LCD, dark gray characters on a light gray background.

Good find Ricker, do you think you are going to purchase one?

Down with Umbrella said:

Good find Ricker, do you think you are going to purchase one?

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Thanks, Jefferson! I might, just not right off soon, I am learning more and more everyday, I have my first customer builds coming up which is very exciting. I am even dreaming of perhaps opening a store in Bangor, since Radioshack is gone, that would have radioshack type items, with a touch of lasers. (legally of course, diodeless, unfortunately.) Bangor has nothing even close to this, a gadget store would be pretty neat I think. BUT this is a long ways-aways unfortunately lol. So, hopefully soon I'll have all the knowledge I need to buy one of these and use it on a regular basis!

Nate

OVNI, in your opinion is it worth the price if you were going to use it often or worth the price even once in a while?

Electronic store in BGR? that would be a great idea. Very often online electronic retailers let me down. Sometimes it's good to physically see the part so you know what you're getting. Example some MUR 15S60 diodes had a fully encapsulated body with no thermal tab. Something the data sheet emitted. A sil-pad was conducive, ugh. The 50 resistors fiasco-- paid to have them shipped from the UK!! Rip RadioShack:/
Brewer had an electronic store in the industrial park. I went in there asking for some simple tesla coil parts like terminal lugs and 8g wiring. When I started to ask about capacitors they looked at me like I had lobsters crawling out of my ears.
Next time you are in Portland check out H R distributors. awesome, awesome place. They have many specialty items.
Congrats you your customer build! What are you making?! What host?

Feel free to PM me if you have questions, if I can't help you I can direct you to people who can.

Thanks Jefferson I appreciate that! I will definitely check that out next month. It's sad when the customer knows way more than the worker, it makes an awkward embarrassing time, but humorous after (for the customer anyways).

I am making him 1- m140 in a 501b. and 2- nubm44's in Survival Lasers S4X. I am also buying him an eagle pair and making him sign a disclaimer, he's a stand-up guy who owns his own oil delivery business, so he knows safety, BUT one can't be careful enough. I am kind of nervous about somehow killing the diode, I got it with the preset SXD driver from DTR, but still am a bit nervous putting together that much money lol. I will just take my time, and hope all comes out well! I appreciate the offer on if I have questions, which I do! I will definitely be messaging you soon, and my gratitude is never just paid in words, so I'll set something up for you when I get a list of questions haha.

Down with Umbrella said:

OVNI, in your opinion is it worth the price if you were going to use it often or worth the price even once in a while?

Click to expand...

I didn't pay anywhere near $300. I was a bit shocked when I clicked on the Amazon link so I looked for it on eBay and saw a bunch from $20 and up. Maybe clones or knock-offs, can't really tell. I'm remembering paying somewhere around $80 for mine and for that price it has definitely been worth it. I don't use them often anymore but when I needed them, they were invaluable.

However, I have a nice 100MHz dual channel Tektronix 2235 scope that cost me $200 so $300 for smart tweezers is a bit steep for me. But I'd definitely take a chance on a $20-$50 eBay version.

Ricker said:

Thanks, Jefferson! I might, just not right off soon, I am learning more and more everyday, I have my first customer builds coming up which is very exciting. I am even dreaming of perhaps opening a store in Bangor, since Radioshack is gone, that would have radioshack type items, with a touch of lasers. (legally of course, diodeless, unfortunately.) Bangor has nothing even close to this, a gadget store would be pretty neat I think. BUT this is a long ways-aways unfortunately lol. So, hopefully soon I'll have all the knowledge I need to buy one of these and use it on a regular basis!

Nate

Click to expand...

The first dollar will be from me. Go for it:beer:

GSS said:

The first dollar will be from me. Go for it:beer:

Click to expand...

Thanks man!!

The SX4 and the nubm44. IIrc there is a tutorial. You'll want to order the pill with a platform option or heatsink the driver to the Copper cone. I built one with the 07Es and had to solder the diode directly to the driver to conserve space(you might not have to). Usually from DTR on those diodes they come like this: diode==(leads)==driver===(leads)==X the assumption is that the driver will be heatsinked further way from the host.
Here is this. Maybe you have already seen it but just in case: http://laserpointerforums.com/f51/7...t-w-nubm44-diode-4-5a-sxd-tutorial-95513.html

Regarding those tweezers they sound perfect for specific applications. However at the price you could almost buy a great oscilloscope or fluke DMM.
With that said for some applications like small drivers and such this would definitely be useful because it can fit in your own pocket!

Here are some WAY cheaper wonder if there any good http://www.amazon.com/Mastech-Ms891..._UL160_SR160,160_&refRID=1M3YKGTJYC33AK0TEKDQ

Edit: also these apear to be same as in OP but cheaper http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JKU9ZSO?psc=1

I have seen that Jefferson, and I did order the driver with the spot for heatsinking the driver. Just as long as nothing gets shorted out, I'll be great. I have a driver dummy load i got from SL, but I'm still not positive on using it, I.E. how to know how many diodes to select per driver/diode. I know there's a chart, but the Y-axis has Amps, but isn't the values in the chart amps as well? I know I probably won't need to use it as I ordered driver and diode together.

lazerman121, great find! I'm going to add that to my OP in case someone wants to buy one!

What test load did you buy? My is rated for 3 A but I see they are selling 10 A test loads. Typical for blue diodes I select 3 diodes. Each diode has a voltage drop of .7V iirc.
Connect your DMM across the 1ohm resistors and that will read 1mV = 1 mA.
Get your reading, power down and adj the pot. ( some drivers you will need to bridge 2 resistors to enter "range 2". )
Power up the driver and adjust once more until the desired amperage. If you use a battery keep in mind the battery will need to be able to discharge the required current. Red cowboy pointed this out to me. This is why I bought a large DC PS.
Vets: if this info is off please chime in. I have had good luck with setting drivers. Especially pushing 1.4W ndb7675 to 2.9A for a WL of 471nm but there are those here that know more than me.
Allll that said your order from DTR will have this done already but it's good to know.
If I was in BGR I'd show you myself! Last year this would be possible.
Anyways keep us posted on your builds.
I appreciate your dedication to the hobby.

Down with Umbrella said:

What test load did you buy? My is rated for 3 A but I see they are selling 10 A test loads. Typical for blue diodes I select 3 diodes. Each diode has a voltage drop of .7V iirc.
Connect your DMM across the 1ohm resistors and that will read 1mV = 1 mA.
Get your reading, power down and adj the pot. ( some drivers you will need to bridge 2 resistors to enter "range 2". )
Power up the driver and adjust once more until the desired amperage. If you use a battery keep in mind the battery will need to be able to discharge the required current. Red cowboy pointed this out to me. This is why I bought a large DC PS.
Vets: if this info is off please chime in. I have had good luck with setting drivers. Especially pushing 1.4W ndb7675 to 2.9A for a WL of 471nm but there are those here that know more than me.
Allll that said your order from DTR will have this done already but it's good to know.
If I was in BGR I'd show you myself! Last year this would be possible.
Anyways keep us posted on your builds.
I appreciate your dedication to the hobby.

Click to expand...

Thank you very much, Jefferson! I bought a 3A as well. I have a power supply coming in the mail that I am very excited for! That should help me take better measurements I would assume.

So you always pick "3 diodes" when testing a driver that's going on a blue wavelength? That's the one part that confuses me, how to read this chart SL gives:


Maybe I just need to learn more about voltage drop and why it's necessary. Maybe that'll tell me, or let me have an understanding i should say, as to which # of diodes to pick with with diode I am using.

I appreciate your kind words! I definitely feel as though this hobby will stick with me for many-a-years as it has with most of you vets!

Nate