[sdiy] transistor/diode tester

[Steve Ridley]

> RS is selling this little tester. It's not cheap (81 euro) but, could 
> it be good for someone with no skills like me?
> (so I don't have to make transistor matching circuits, avoiding 
> errors and mistakes)

It's a useful device, but not for matching transistors.

For identifying a part and checking that it works roughly
as intended, it's quick and useful.  It will identify most 
transistor types, LEDs, diodes etc, tell you the pinout
(worth the money for that alone IMHO), Hfe, leakage if 
worse than 10uA, and junction voltage to the nearest 10mV.

But that's not enough resolution for matching accurately
matching transistors, and you can't set the test current.

BTW, the passive component version is well worth a look. 
Accurately measures very small caps.

Steve