Uni-Byte 0174 - Three Awesome MODS for the T7 component TESTER! (transistor tester) 

Thanks

I did some mods too ... banaplugs like you did and an actual switch to cut the connection to the battery. Because T7 seems to "eat" batteries even powered off.

Here's two more for you. (#1) Add a slider power switch, so you can reset the unit when it freezes up. This happens when the unit can't identify a more complex component. (#2) Add a 2P connector in parallel with the activation switch, so you can use a foot pedal to start the test when you don't have a free hand to push the button. I put a huge cell in there which would not fit without removing the on-board 2P header I was adding the switch anyway so I just soldered my wires directly to the PCB. A highly versatile unit with modest accuracy. Always worth using but not 100% dependable.

Nice upgrades, I think the banana plugs are an ideal upgrade. Thanks.

Well done! BTW, for some time YT tries to show me garbage like: "New free ELectric Energy 10000W Generator Using 2 Speaker & Colling DC Motor. new free energy video". Well done Google/YT A.I.

Excellent mods! The one thing I'm going to do different is try and find banana plug jacks that match the colours of the 1-2-3 boxes on the screen display, and position them in the same order.

Add an off switch, and you won't need to upgrade the battery. Mine has quite a high "off" current.

Cheap cables and connectors will turn the measurements of even expensive test gear into garbage.

Excellent modification 😊

Some nice mods but I don't have a need to use mine all that much. Although I do have a 1000mah battery laying around that should fit quite nicely so I may do that one.

Fantastic video! How were you able to put holes for the banana plug terminals without crumbling the entire plastic casing?

Great mod, could you tell me on which pins on the board you connect your 3 wires please, I would'nt like to make any mistake. Thank you.

People have been asking where I attached the wires for the banana jacks. It's not critical as long as you get all 3 - 1, 2 and 3. In my case I attached my wires to pins 11, 12 and 14 of the ZIF socket.

How about adding a calibration capacitor mode switch? Or do they still need one?

Started the modifications, placed the banana sockets in place, added an on/off switch on the side. I see the wires you soldered are on the bottom row. Cannot see exactly if you soldered on 1-2-3, or 1-3-5. Please let me know so I can wrap up. Thank you.

Would you please tell me what the number 783448 stands for? Found similar but with different 6 figure numbers, Amazon has that particular battery but would not ship to my location in NY.

Thanks for the video. I just hoped you'd show how you actually modded the banana sockets? I mean which points you connected the 3 wires to?

I had the same idea but thought about a headphone jack plug to save space.

You will certainly get measurement errors with those very long internal cables and the additional long banana leads. Unlikely you will be able tp calibrate at all, and if you do then calibration for the ZIF socket will be WAY off.

The wire and pins will come out of the battery connector with a neddle

In my humble opinion, it would be much more practical to make an external adapter to convert banana plugs to 3-pin plugs. Without having to make any external changes to the equipment. In fact, it would be a converter from one type of fitting to another. This type of converter (banana2pin) It would work for this equipment and for any other equipment that uses this type of docking pin

Great idea and great execution ! not a mechanical kind of guy but I might do this one !.....cheers.

Excellent mods and video = Big Thanks! I would very much like a follow up video which discusses all of the great additional mod suggestions provided by your excellent viewers. Some of them were made in abbreviated speak, or covered topics outside of my knowledge base... So, I did not understand those. Thanks! Here's my contribution... To make separations between components (such as the legs of the banana plugs, beyond the collars of the new banana connectors, when inserted,) to prevent short circuits, etc... Shields made be fashioned out of common, white, frosted, milk carton plastic. This plastic is durable, easily fashioned and readily available. HTH.

1. Well I think you could also integrate buck converter, with a switch to use internal battery or external power supply. Adjust it to convert from 5V USB to whatever is needed 3.7 or whatever, then you can use powerbank, or laptop, or pc, or phone charger to power this device permanently. 2. You used banana plugs only for contacts 1 2 3. Not for K and A. Maybe you can use that too. 3. What I did is just soldered those 0:49 to the pcb and drilled a hole in plastic. Solid connection, no problems, wires go where device goes, cant lose them. 4. You could use capacitive button, so it actually start on button touch, not on button press, or photo diode/resistor whatever when its dark to trigger testing... Etc etc... imagination is limitation. PS. Regarding freezing, try to hold button to shut down. And also, schematics are available, so once you take a look at them, you get more ideas for sure.

Useful set of mods. Nicely done. I was wondering about added capacitance and inductance from the long leads. Glad you addressed that.

You can use a pin/needle to pop the leas out of those battery plugs, then re-insert in any plug in either polarity. Quick and easy, used to do it with cordless phone batteries regularly.

nicely done. will look at modifying mine more professionally like yours. Thanks

Nice video I modified my T7 tester in the same way because the battery that was installed is really not enough for some hours use, and the banana plugs are a nice extension for adding more possibility to make connections.

I have the same model and did the battery upgrade and added two banana sockets long time ago. Good idea with the rubber feet, have to do this also.

Putting banana plugs in is a fantastic idea! I may steal this one :D. 👍👍👍👍👍 EDIT: Just say Kapton Tape LOL 😂

Excellent! I was thinking about 3d printing a spacer so I can fit an 18650. I definitely want to add banana plugs now.

Excellent ideas....thanks for the video.

My best upgrade for my component tester was to throw away the battery altogether and wire it into the old PC power supply that I use to run various things on my test bench. Love the banana plugs... gotta do something to replace the worn-out ZIF socket on mine.

Some great upgrades suggestions. I'm a bit lazy but I'm definitely going to add some rubber feet to my tester.

On your description page, you listed a 120mah battery instead of 1200mah which is not listed on the Amazon page you gave. Which is it please?

Nice upgrades. Good idea. If you overdue a screw in plastic the you simpel heat it up and put it in the hole and it works again!

Very nicely done, planning to do the same when I have time.

Good explained

I've got an older version of this tester, which doesn't have the same amount of clearance in it for 4mm Banana plugs, but I've got a good selection of 2mm Banana plugs, which works fine. Made a complete hash of the first round of holes drilled, but second time lucky it works perfectly. The scary bit was getting the old battery out. It's so thin it's like trying to remove a few layers of tinfoil. 350mAh replaced with a 2000mAh battery. Much more betterer! Thanks for the idea 🙂

Fantastic

Very cool! Thanks for sharing 👍

Hi, How do I get into calibration mode and how does it work? In the video it was too fast.

Great idea! Sometimes people have the same ideas; I added banana sockets to my T7 a couple of months ago.... I also like the rubber feet, I think I must have them somewhere...

Cool improvements 👍

Nice upgrade

one thing maybe crowbar circuit for protecting 5V line. Accidentally put charged cap for testing. esd prot sot23-6 component and cpu died (vcc to gnd short in cpu and 2 diodes short on esd prot). tvs diode was fine. if it would have been just esd prot then it would have been easy fix. or just do dedicated cap test leads with 2x 1N4007

Very good upgrades!

I'm inspired. Think mine needs same upgrades. Lol.

Ali is scummy as heck! I paid with PayPal, but then they billed more than the PayPal confirmation screen showed.

what do i solder the bannana plugs to. do you have a diagram or an image i can reference?

Great idea. I just did a battery swap so I have 2500mAh instead of 350mAh. Should last a lot longer

Nice, I love it.

Rather than carpet tape, you might use silicone caulk or hot glue.

You make it sound like you changed the accuracy of the meter when it worked exactly the same way before and after the mods which were not necessary at all. Okay, got it.

awesome idea! Thank you!

Grate video