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.

Using it

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.

Resistance

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.

Inductance

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.

Jännite

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.

Current

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 pOrTable laite. Suurin osa passiivisista tukielementeistä on koko 0402 tai pienempi.

Johtopäätös

Viisaat pinsetit pelastivat meidät paljon aikaa rakennusta sekä virheenkorjauksen kolme pinta-asentamista sähköisiä malleja. Yksinkertainen kaappaus sekä testi on paljon nopeampaa ja helpompaa kuin hankalasti testata pieniä osia edullinen yleismittari. Se on todella helpompaa, itse asiassa voimme pitää viisaat pinsetit yhdellä kädellä sekä ottaa kaikki tämän artikkelin kuvat toisella; Kokeile, että tyypillinen yleismittari.

Uskomme, että kaksi pientä muutosta voi tehdä työkalusta entistä helpompaa käyttää. Ensinnäkin suurempi painike helpottaisi volttimittaritilaa ilman kaapeli- tai ruuvimeisseliä. Toiseksi olisi todella mukavaa, jos se voi olla kytkettynä puristamalla pinsetit yhdessä, eikä puristamalla hölkkää.

Olemme todella halunneet automaattista elementin havaitsemista sekä automaattista vaihtelevaa ja mittausnopeutta on erinomainen. Arvostamme, että Tweezerin vinkkejä on vaihdettava, koska olemme todella vaikeita työkaluissamme.

Jos olet asiantuntija tai harjoittelija, joka tekee paljon työtä SMD-elektroniikan kanssa, viisaita pinsetejä voi säästää aikaa minimoimalla epämiellyttäviä yleismittareita yksinkertaiseen puristukseen. Tämä suhteellisen kalliita työkalu on todennäköisimmin ylikuormitettu kaikille kovaa harrastuksista, mutta jos saat tuloja elektroniikasta, kuten teemme, viisaat pinsetit voivat olla todella käteviä.