peak DCA55?

[tacobender]

I'm looking for a gizmo to start testing my components. I saw this one is pretty common. I don't know if it will work for my purposes. I need to test caps, and tranies. I can use a DMM for the resistors. But I've heard these aren't accurate with germanium tranies. Does anyone have any sugestions for such a divice? It doesn't have to be 100% accurate, as long as it gets me in the ballpark.  Thanks, Mike.

[mcknib]

The DCA 55 measures BJT transistors, FET's, MOSFET's, diodes and LED's

http://www.peakelec.co.uk/resources/dca55_userguide_en.pdf

Great for accurate hFE's, matching transistors, identifying the pins, for leakage on Germanium transistors, diode / LED fwd voltages etc but doesn't do caps.

You'd need their ESR 70

http://www.peakelec.co.uk/resources/esr70_userguide_en.pdf

You can get some cheaper beasts on e bay

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1311.R5.TR11.TRC1.A0.H1.Xcapacitor.TRS0&_nkw=capacitance+meter&_sacat=0

[digi2t]

The DCA55, and a capacitor/inductor tester from eBay, have proven invaluable in my workshop. Of course, a good quality DMM should be first on the list.

[hymenoptera]

I bought the DCA55 about a year ago, and I think it's great, but I really needed to measure JFETs too, so I just got the DCA75 Pro a few weeks ago and I'm loving it! Thinking of building a little jig to attach it to with transistor sockets because the minigrabbers on it are kinda tedious.

Also have the ESR70 and ZEN50, they're nice too, and I now want the LCR45 next! Man, these things are overpriced, but they're legit! Go for it!