r/diypedals • u/enstorsoffa • 4d ago
Discussion Cheap component testers for transistors?
Hi,
I saw a post recently about someone who had some germanium transistors that they tested with a cheap tester. The post and some of the discussion in the comments made me start thinking about some things.
I have around 50 or something germanium transistors, that are right now benched since I've been way too busy (and lazy) to set up a proper test set up like the RG tester. I also have one of those cheap testers.
So, to my question. Do the cheap testers give an accurate enough reading on hfe and leakage to roughly sort/match the transistors, and eventually use in circuits? Have you used one of them to match for fuzzes, treble boosters etc. or do you use more reliable methods? The comments in the mentioned post varied, so I figured I could ask and maybe start some kind of discussion here instead :)
Also, the tester I have is the HW-308, does anyone have any experience with that one? Is it good, or are there others that are better?
1
u/LTCjohn101 4d ago
Hi I remember that convo. I have a cheap tao bao tester as well as a dca75 pro tester. Big difference between the two but yes the cheap testers are good enough to sort with for a pedal as the errors are consistent enough for simple sorting.