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Tester or Measurement (Instrument) Circuits

Test Equipment:  #'s - A        B - D        E - G
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Last Updated: November 22, 2021 03:00 PM
Circuits Designed by Dave Johnson, P.E. :
Voltage Boost to Series Regulator provided by Capacitor -  This circuit adds some capacitors and diodes to a traditional transformer type series regulator circuit to extend the normal operating range.  it can insure regulation during low line voltage conditions or it can squeeze a few more watts out of a plug-in-the-wall power adapter power supply . . . Hobby Circuit designed by Dave Johnson P.E.-January, 1998

Voltage_Monitor-Single_Lead-Acid_Cell   -  The circuit below uses a a low voltage reference and a voltage comparator from National Semiconductor to monitor the battery voltage.  The green LED is controlled by a tiny charge pump type voltage converter IC from Texas Instruments.  This device efficiently converts the 1.8v from the battery into 3.3 volts.  A dual Schmitt trigger inverter IC, also from Texas Instruments, was used to latch the normal and low battery states and a Honeywell Hall switch was used as reset switch. . . . Dave Johnson, Lubbock TX-DC Magazine - 3rd Q 2012

Capacitance Proximity Switch
Draws very low power - Ideal for battery-powered applications
6 Models Available - Call 806-778-8407




Links to electronic circuits, electronic schematics and designs for engineers, hobbyists, students & inventors:

V/I Curve Tracer -  The V/I Curve Tracer is an indispensable tool for troubleshooting circuits and testing components.  The circuit traces the current versus voltage curve for the component under test on an ordinary oscilloscope.  The peak-to-peak test voltage __  Contact:  Charles Wenzel of Wenzel Associates, Inc.

Vacuum Tube Grid Leak Detector: Needs an Amplifier -  The first urban legend I ever heard has it that some pieces of world war two electronics equipment contain little trays which were listed on the parts manifest as "Drip pans for grid leaks".  Personally, I doubt it.  The most likely explanation is that there were some interference shields that someone with a sense of humor started calling "Drip pans for grid leaks".  Once the story got started it couldn't be stopped.  if tubes were still in wide use the story would likely be around today.  This may even have been the very first urban legend.  Grid leak refers to the charge on the grid of a tube leaking off through a resistor. __ Designed by Max Robinson

Vacuum Tube Plate Detector: Needs an Amplifier -  Two vertical dashed lines indicate magnetically coupled coils or a ferrite rod antenna.  There are three coils shown on the rod but only two of them are used.  On the left a small coil is labeled small winding.  The bottom, black leed, of this winding is connected to circuit common and earth ground.  The top, white, is connected to an antenna.  On the right a larger winding has it's yellow leed connected to common.  The upper, green, leed connects to a variable cap.  The other end of the cap goes to common.  The green leed also goes to pin 1, grid, of the 6AU6 tube. __ Designed by Max Robinson

Variable notch filter with both high & Low pass filters -  A variable notch filter with both high and low pass filters. __ Designed by Andy Collison

VCR head Amplifier tester -  Schematic only__ 

VCR Tuner Based RF Spectrum Analyzer Schematic -  Schematic Only __ Designed by www.gbppr.org

Versatile CMOS /TTL Logic & Clock Probe -  For fault diagnosis of any logic circuit, you need a probe that can test the logic level or existence of clock activity.  The circuit shown here can be used to test...__ Electronics Projects for You

Versatile digital speedometer uses few components -  05/12/05 EDN Design Ideas:  Microcontroller, display, and sensor form digital speed readout Design by Abhishek Jain, Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology, Dwarka, New Delhi, India

Versatile noise generator tests signal recovery gear -  05/19/14  EDN Design Ideas:  Accurate noise generator allows mixing-in of a clean test signal.  I sometimes need a noise generator for testing equipment, and useful signals must often be mixed with the noise, such as when testing equipment designed to extract a clean signal from a contaminated one.  This Design idea implements such a piece of test equipment. Design by Vladimir Rentyuk

Versatile Probe -  You can use this versatile probe for continuity testing and identification of transistor type and transformer windings.  The n-side or p-side of a transistor can be identified quickly in one go....__ Electronics Projects for You

Versatile Proximity Detector with Auto Reset -  Electrochemical processes taking place in our body generate complex sig-nals (hum) that are continuously being passed along the nerve fibres throughout the body.  Any physical activity such as muscle movement increases...__ Electronics Projects for You

Versatile Water Level Controller -  This simple, economical and versatile circuit switches on the motor pump when water in the overhead tank falls below the lowest level and turns it ‘off’ when the tank is full....__ Electronics Projects for You

Versatile Zener Diode Tester -  This circuit will test zener diodes up to 56v.  See Talking Electronics website, left index, 200 Transistor Circuits (circuits 1-100) and go to Zener Diode (making) to see how to make a zener diode and how to create a zener voltage from a combination of zeners.  __ 555-Timer

Very Low cost, 2-250 MHz scalar network analyzer with PC control (Synthetic instrument)  -  This demonstration project built on the 2-250 MHz VHF source and added a reflection coupler and three RF Log Amp detectors to make a full scalar - Reflection / Through network analyzer that can be built by nearly anyone at a fraction of the cost of a commercial unit.  This was a very popular project that showed just how much could be done by a determined homebrewer!  Built with the same - wide range, high resolution hetrodyned RF source concept __ Designed by Steve Hageman

Very Low Noise Amplifier -  The phase noise of low noise oscillators and signal sources is usually determined by measuring the audio noise voltage at the output of the phase comparator in a phase-locked loop.  The phase comparator is typically a low noise doubly-balanced mixer with a phase slope from a few tenths of a volt per radian to a few volts per radian.  The low __  Contact:  Charles Wenzel of Wenzel Associates, Inc.

Vest Pocket VHF FM Test Generator -    NOTE: Must register on this site __ Designed by Published in Elecktor July/Aug, 2010

Vibration Activated smart CRO probe -  This is a simple, low-cost, energy-saving and device-saving circuit for an electronics lab, service centre, electronics workshop, or wherever a CRO is in use.  Generally, in a repair station, a CRO is used for a very short time.  But in most cases, the user fails to switch off the CRO immediately after use.  The service engineer mostly concentrates on faults rather than noticing whether the CRO is on or off. A vibration sensor turns the CRO off when the probe is idle for a specified amount of time.__ Electronics Projects for You

Video Design Idea: Build your own laboratory precision voltage reference -  05/24/07 Video Design ideas-EDN    Mark Thoren, mixed-signal application engineering manager with Linear Technology, demonstrates an amplifier-based Circuit design for a relatively inexpensive precision voltage source.    Design by Mark Thoren, mixed-signal application engineering manager with Linear Technology

Video Design Idea: Measure nanoamps to ensure accurate computer clocks -  10-May-07 EDN-Design ideas This EDN Video Design ideaexplains why PC clocks are invariably wrong, and how engineers can surmount the extreme measurement challenge involved in solving the problem Design by Jim Williams, staff scientist with Linear Technology

Video Motion Detection -  This device uses a PIC 16F819 and an LM339 to detect motion on a video signal.  The incoming video is 'clamped' using one section of the LM339, the sync tips are detected with another section, and a 3rd section can detect VBI or other data.   __ Designed by Luhan Monat-Mesa Arizona

Virtual instrument Determines magnetic core's B-H-loop characteristics -  01/05/06 EDN Design Ideas:  inexpensive solution combines a laptop, DAQ card, and LabView Design by Michael Nasab, Circuit Mentor, Boulder Creek, CA

Virtual RF Generator Measures Load Impedance & Power -  6-Mar-08 EDN Design Ideas:  Using a virtual instrument, you can measure the power and impedance of various loads Design by Michael Nasab, Circuit Mentor, Boulder Creek, CA

Visual & Audible Monitor for Electronic Interfaces -  introduction Most of the modern PCs and embedded systems have digital interfaces as RS232, printer ports, LiN, etc.  for exchanging of commands and data with intelligent peripherals.Figure 1 is showing typical case...__ Electronics Projects for You

Vital-signs Monitor consumes less than 50µA -  02/02/98 EDN Design Ideas:  A remote data-acquisition circuit for monitoring a patient's vital signs--pulse rate, respiration, and temperature--uses very little power as well as inexpensive sensors and circuits (Figure 1).  The.   Design by Leonard Schupak, Discovision Associates, Irvine, CA

Voltage Boost to Series Regulator provided by Capacitor -  This circuit adds some capacitors and diodes to a traditional transformer type series regulator circuit to extend the normal operating range.  it can insure regulation during low line voltage conditions or it can squeeze a few more watts out of a plug-in-the-wall power adapter power supply . . . Hobby Circuit designed by Dave Johnson P.E.-January, 1998

Voltage Controlled Current Source -  Adding a current sense amplifier in the feedback loop of an adjustable low dropout voltage regulator creates a simple voltage controlled current source.  The range of output current sourced by the circuit is set only by the current capability of the voltage regulator.  The current sense amplifier senses the output current and __ Linear Technology/Analog Devices App Note, Mar 31, 2010

Voltage Controlled Current Source with Ground Referred Input & Output -  A flying capacitor device such as the LTC1043 can produce a precision voltage differential over a wide common mode range.  Here it converts a ground referred input voltage directly to a differential voltage across a fixed resistor which then forces a precise current sourced at the circuit output.  __ Linear Technology/Analog Devices App Note, Jun 21, 2011

Voltage follower with 1G ohm input resistance -  This is a new implementation of the AVR DDS signal generator v2.0, already published in scienceprog.  com.  it is obvious that full credit for the original schematic and the firmware goes to its original creator.  Presented here is a different PCB that is compact, single sided with only through-hole components for easy construction.   __ Designed by Vassilis Papanikolaou - vpapanik @ gmail.com

Voltage indicator -  The solidstate voltmeter circuit described here indicates the mains voltage with a resolution that is comparable to that of a general-purpose analogue voltmeter.  The status of the mains voltage is available in the form of an LED bar graph__ Electronics Projects for You

Voltage Inverter -  This circuit inverts the polarity of the input.  output is limited to less that 200mA.   __ Designed by Andy Wilson

Voltage Inverter II -  This simple and inexpensive circuit can produce a dual (positive and negative) voltage from a single supply input.  it is therefore extremely useful for powering OpAmp and other circuits that require a dual voltage from a single battery.  The circuit will operate at an input voltage from around 5V to 20V and produce a output from +-2.5V to +-10V. __ Contact IQ Technologies

Voltage Monitor -  This voltage monitor circuit is based on an Elektor design with a 555 timer IC in the book 302 Circuits, which uses two LEDs (red and green) to indicate whether the voltage is within range.  must register on this site __ Designed by Published in Elecktor July/Aug, 2016

Voltage Monitor -  When the input voltage is 0 the LED glows.  The LED stops glowing when the voltage rises to the level determined by R2.  Reverse + and, pins to reverse operating mode.  To set voltage at which LED goes  __ Contact IQ Technologies

Voltage Monitor -  When the input voltage is 0 the LED glows.  The LED stops glowing when the voltage rises to the level determined by R2.  Reverse + and, pins to reverse operating mode.  To set voltage at which LED goes  __ Contact IQ Technologies

Voltage Monitor -  When the input voltage is 0 the LED glows.  The LED stops glowing when the voltage rises to the level determined by R2.  Reverse + and, pins to reverse operating mode.  To set voltage at which LED goes  __ Contact IQ Technologies

Voltage_Monitor-Single_Lead-Acid_Cell   -  The circuit below uses a a low voltage reference and a voltage comparator from National Semiconductor to monitor the battery voltage.  The green LED is controlled by a tiny charge pump type voltage converter IC from Texas Instruments.  This device efficiently converts the 1.8v from the battery into 3.3 volts.  A dual Schmitt trigger inverter IC, also from Texas Instruments, was used to latch the normal and low battery states and a Honeywell Hall switch was used as reset switch. . . . Dave Johnson, Lubbock TX-DC Magazine - 3rd Q 2012

Voltage Monitor Prevents Deep Discharge of Battery -  09/26/96 EDN Design Ideas:  To avoid the deep discharge that can destroy or shorten the life of a rechargeable battery, you must disconnect its load before the discharge is complete Design by Ron Clark and Larry Suppan, Maxim Integrated Products

Voltage Monitor with LED indicator -  This project is an accelerometer data acquisition system for automotive suspension analysis.  in other words it’s a low frequency spectrum analyzer based on Lanchpad TiVA Series from Texas Semiconductors.__ 

Voltage Probe -  This circuit is not a novelty, but it proved so useful, simple and cheap that it is worth building.  When the positive (Red) probe is connected to a DC positive voltage and the Black probe to the negative, the Red LED will illuminate.  Reversing polarities the Green LED will illuminate.  Connecting the probes to an AC source both LEDs will go on. __ Contact Flavio Dellepiane, fladello @ tin.it

Voltage Recorder with Playback (ATMEGA48V) -  The recorder includes the functionality of a data logger but also plays back recorded voltages and can perform a curve trace function.  A simple file system provides for up to 128 different sequential files totaling up to 130, 000 samples.  At 1 sample per minute, that's 90 days of continuous recording __ Designed by Dick Cappels

Voltage reference improves JFET -  26-Oct-00 EDN Design Ideas:  The common JFET current-source in Figure 1a has average output impedance and depends heavily on the JFET's VP and iDSS variations.  These manufacturing variations limit the initial accuracy of the current setpoint that the circuit can obtain with a fixed R1.  Most users of JFET current-sources sample VPPDF has several circuits, scroll to find this one Design by Clayton Grantham, National Semiconductor, Tucson, AZ

Voltage Reference Stabilizes Current Sink -  18-Feb-10 EDN Design Ideas:  Produce a stable current for long-term component testing - Analog circuits for long-term testing of passive components, such as 0.1%-tolerant resistors or high-intensity white LEDs, often require a constant current.  Using two op amps and a voltage reference, you can develop a circuit that provide as a constant-current sink with a variable setting of 0 mA to 0.99A.  The circuit in Figure 1 sinks a stable current through the load.  The load current is insensitive to power-supply-voltage variations.    Design by Suded Emmanuel, Emmanuel’s Controls, Auckland, New Zealand

Voltage Regulator goes Digital -  11/24/99 EDN Design Ideas:  Power consumption and failing batteries are key issues in battery-operated applications.  Features in the new generation of series voltage regulators address these concerns.  For example, National Semiconductor's LP2951 micropower voltage regulator provide as a logic-level output signal indicating a low regulated Design by Chuck Wojslaw, Xicor Inc, Milpitas, CA

Voltage timer Monitors line connected AC loads -  08/16/07  EDN Design Ideas:  A one-wire counter and an optoisolator keep track of the on-time of an ac load Design by Michael Petersen, Maxim Integrated Products, Sunnyvale, CA

Got Designs?
Please eMail
if you want me to link to and/or post your original design Thanks.

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Test Equipment:  #'s - A        B - D        E - G
H - L        M - O        P - S        T - Z


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