TOOLS: wise TWEEZERS
We’re huge fans of surface install parts. SMD elements are cheaper, take less board space, as well as don’t need drilling; all the coolest new parts are only offered in SMD packages.
Smart Tweezers are an advanced multimeter tool particularly designed to test as well as troubleshoot SMD circuits. It immediately determines resistors, capacitors, as well as inductors, as well as screens the appropriate measurements. advanced gadgets sent us a pair of wise Tweezers to review. We utilized them while building our last few SMD projects, checked out about our experience with this tool after the break.
Tool overview
Smart Tweezers are a multimeter that measures resistance, capacitance, inductance, as well as voltage with tweezer-like probes. The probes are shaped to hold loose SMD components, or test elements already soldered to a PCB. measurements are displayed on a little graphic LCD that reverses for left or right hand use. If you’ve ever tried to determine SMD elements with a typical multimeter, the value of the tweezer profile is instantly apparent.
Starting at $300, this tool is meant for experts who routinely debug, test, or repair work SMD electronics. It’s a bit out of reach for a hobbyist who just wishes to salvage SMD parts.
Usando isso
We checked the wise Tweezers while establishing three recent SMD projects: the diy digital photo frame, the Bus Pirate version 1, as well as an upcoming ethernet device. It’s a genuine headache to debug an SMD circuit with typical multimeter probes: balance the probes on the correct pins, ensure that the probes don’t produce temporary contacts that aren’t because of soldering, as well as then hold this setting long sufficient to get a great measurement. This only gets worse if you have to repeat a number of times. The wise Tweezers test SMD elements with a quick single-handed squeeze.
The wise Tweezers’ graphic menu is navigated with a simple jog wheel. The tool turns on with a press of the jog wheel, as well as turns off immediately after an adjustable timeout. The default auto-measurement mode attempts to spot the type of element as well as selects the very best properties to display, however auto-mode is a bit slower than setting a specific measurement mode.
Resistência
Every multimeter measures resistance, a typical multimeter has a number of test varieties that are toggled manually. The wise Tweezers determine resistor values between 0.1Ohm as well as 5MOhms, without handbook variety adjustments. In the picture we’re measuring a 390ohm, 1% resistor.
Capacitance
Capacitance measurement is a function that’s discovered on some high-end multimeters. The wise Tweezers determine capacitance between 10pF as well as 499µF. In the picture we’re measuring a 27pF, 5% capacitor commonly utilized in a crystal oscillator.
A measurement taken from a single capacitor shows its value. A measurement taken from a circuit card shows the overall capacitance of all linked elements as well as of the PCB itself.
Indutância
Inductance measurement is seldom discovered on a multimeter. The wise Tweezers determine inductance between 1µH as well as 1H. We didn’t have an SMD inductor to measure, however we tried a through-hole inductor coil from a switch mode power supply.
Voltagem
The wise Tweezers likewise determine as much as 8volts AC or DC. After navigating to the voltage mode, the wise Tweezers beep up until you flip a small, recessed switch in the side of the case. The switch is as well recessed to flip with a fingernail, so we utilized a through-hole resistor lead.
In the picture we’re doing a quick inspect to make sure that a small SOT-23 LTC2631a digital to analog converter is properly soldered to an adapter board as well as getting power.
Continuity/Open Test
The wise Tweezers have a continuity inspecting mode that beeps to confirm connections between parts. This is an simple method to make sure every leg of a big SMD chip is properly soldered, or to search for broken/damaged components.
Atual
The wise Tweezers don’t directly determine present consumption, however it’s simple to determine utilizing voltage as well as resistance measurements with the equation Ir=Vr/R.
A look inside
As with any type of tool, we can’t assist however take it apart as well as see what’s inside.
The batteries are replaced by eliminating three screws as well as the front cover of the device. This view exposes the batteries, the LCD screen, a little piezoelectric speaker, as well as the back of the circuit board.
A single screw in the back of the situation holds the circuit card in place. We eliminated the screw to subject the front of the circuit board. The wise Tweezers are powered by a Texas Instruments MSP430F135 microcontroller as well as a half-dozen analog chips. The MSP430 line is widely known for low power consumption, as well as it’s a rational option for a pdispositivo ortável. A maioria dos elementos de suporte passivo são tamanho 0402 ou menores.
Conclusão
As pinças sábias nos salvam muito prédio de tempo, bem como depurar três projetos eletrônicos de instalação de superfície. Uma simples captura, bem como o teste é muito mais rápido, bem como mais fácil do que desperdiçar peças pequenas com nosso multímetro barato. É muito mais fácil, na verdade, podemos manter a pinça sábia com uma mão, bem como tomar todas as fotos neste artigo com o outro; tente isso com um multímetro típico.
Acreditamos que duas pequenas modificações podem tornar a ferramenta ainda mais fácil de usar. Primeiro, um botão maior tornaria mais fácil mudar para o modo de voltímetro sem um cabo ou chave de fenda. Em segundo lugar, seria verdadeiramente bom se pudesse ser lançado apertando as pinças juntas, em vez de pressionar a roda de jog.
Nós realmente gostei da detecção automática do elemento, bem como auto-variação, bem como a velocidade de medição é excelente. Agradecemos que as pontas da pinça são substituídas, já que somos realmente difíceis em nossas ferramentas.
Se você é um especialista ou estagiário que faz uma grande quantidade de trabalho com eletrônica SMD, um par de sábios pode economizar tempo minimizando medições de multímetro desconfortáveis a um simples aperto. Essa ferramenta relativamente cara é mais provável que o mais provável exagero para todos os hobbyistas mais duros, no entanto, se você obtiver ganhos de eletrônicos, como fazemos, pinças sábias podem ser realmente úteis.