Star Tech Journal
Issue: 1987-June - Vol 9 Issue 4 - Page 9
STAR*TECH J9urnel
The "OCTOPUS" Analyzer (Part 1)
By William F.aton
Nickels & Dimes Inc.
Laguna Hills, California
June 1987
analyzer are all cOIIIIIOn items. Since all
the parts are noncritical, they may be
substituted. Most items can be scrounged
from the junk box.
For those of you who have considered a
$100.00+ "corrp:ment analyzer" for your
oscilloscope, this simple project may make
your day. For soire of you ex-military
techs, this piece of equipnent is probably
already on your bench. This project can be
completed in about one hour with about two
to three dollars in parts!
The comp:ment analyzer or "octopus" is an
electronic device used to troubleshoot
deenergized circuit board asse:rrblies. It
is designed for easy construction and to
locate defective cornp:>nents on circuit
boards quickly and safely without the
necessity of removing components from the
circuit. Used along with any standard dual
~ race oscilloscope, the comp:>nent analyzer
provides a visual display of component
condition.
A DELICATE TEST
The component analyzer is designed to
quickly test delicate COIIlfX)nents. It does
not deliver more than 1.0 milliamps of
a-c. It energizes COIIlfX)nents during test,
without removal of cornp:>nents. By using
a.c., the analyzer will simulate more
accurately the operating conditions.
VERSATILE
While the COIIlfX)nent analyzer tests all
cornp:>nents for shorts and opens, it can
also be used to display junctions on
transistors and diodes. Moreover,
utilizing Lissajous and combination
patterns on the oscilloscope, the
cornp:>nent analyzer easily analyzes
integrated circuits and reactive
cornp:>nents (capacitors and inductors) that
defy ohrmneter analysis. It is useful also
in checking continuity (switches, fuses,
. amps, printed wiring, etc.).
(9)
Y
OUTPUT
C:, iJC.
TO
x 'scoPE
l?Eo
PbhE
·~I..L. ~E.S1.$TOllS Y-, ..l/U'T
f";t
I
Low voltage and low current are necessary
for protection of delicate comp:>nents; the
1,000 ohm resistor placed across 1 volt
assures the safe current of 1.0 milliamp.
A center tapped 6.3 volt filanent
transformer is COI11I10nly used. It delivers
about 3.0 volts a.c. (from center tap),
which is dropped by resistors to 1.0 volt.
If you can't
transformer,
273-1385 and
to reduce it
find a 6 volt center tapped
you can use a Radio Shack
use a voltage divider network
down to 3 volts.
'!he leads should be color coded (black for
the ground and red for the hot lead) and
should be needle tipped or filed to a
sharp p:>int to penetrate the coating on
soire printed circuit boards. (Dull leads
usually fail to make proper contact.)
To prevent lead hunting, the leads should
be permanently attached to the comp:>nent
analyzer. BNC connector jacks are used for
the Y and X outputs or the cables may be
permanently fastened.
CONSTRUCTION
As shown in figure 1, the few parts that
go into the construction of the component
ACCESSORIES
A fuse, on/off switch, and pilot light may
The "OCTOPUS" Analyzer (Part 1)
By William F.aton
Nickels & Dimes Inc.
Laguna Hills, California
June 1987
analyzer are all cOIIIIIOn items. Since all
the parts are noncritical, they may be
substituted. Most items can be scrounged
from the junk box.
For those of you who have considered a
$100.00+ "corrp:ment analyzer" for your
oscilloscope, this simple project may make
your day. For soire of you ex-military
techs, this piece of equipnent is probably
already on your bench. This project can be
completed in about one hour with about two
to three dollars in parts!
The comp:ment analyzer or "octopus" is an
electronic device used to troubleshoot
deenergized circuit board asse:rrblies. It
is designed for easy construction and to
locate defective cornp:>nents on circuit
boards quickly and safely without the
necessity of removing components from the
circuit. Used along with any standard dual
~ race oscilloscope, the comp:>nent analyzer
provides a visual display of component
condition.
A DELICATE TEST
The component analyzer is designed to
quickly test delicate COIIlfX)nents. It does
not deliver more than 1.0 milliamps of
a-c. It energizes COIIlfX)nents during test,
without removal of cornp:>nents. By using
a.c., the analyzer will simulate more
accurately the operating conditions.
VERSATILE
While the COIIlfX)nent analyzer tests all
cornp:>nents for shorts and opens, it can
also be used to display junctions on
transistors and diodes. Moreover,
utilizing Lissajous and combination
patterns on the oscilloscope, the
cornp:>nent analyzer easily analyzes
integrated circuits and reactive
cornp:>nents (capacitors and inductors) that
defy ohrmneter analysis. It is useful also
in checking continuity (switches, fuses,
. amps, printed wiring, etc.).
(9)
Y
OUTPUT
C:, iJC.
TO
x 'scoPE
l?Eo
PbhE
·~I..L. ~E.S1.$TOllS Y-, ..l/U'T
f";t
I
Low voltage and low current are necessary
for protection of delicate comp:>nents; the
1,000 ohm resistor placed across 1 volt
assures the safe current of 1.0 milliamp.
A center tapped 6.3 volt filanent
transformer is COI11I10nly used. It delivers
about 3.0 volts a.c. (from center tap),
which is dropped by resistors to 1.0 volt.
If you can't
transformer,
273-1385 and
to reduce it
find a 6 volt center tapped
you can use a Radio Shack
use a voltage divider network
down to 3 volts.
'!he leads should be color coded (black for
the ground and red for the hot lead) and
should be needle tipped or filed to a
sharp p:>int to penetrate the coating on
soire printed circuit boards. (Dull leads
usually fail to make proper contact.)
To prevent lead hunting, the leads should
be permanently attached to the comp:>nent
analyzer. BNC connector jacks are used for
the Y and X outputs or the cables may be
permanently fastened.
CONSTRUCTION
As shown in figure 1, the few parts that
go into the construction of the component
ACCESSORIES
A fuse, on/off switch, and pilot light may
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).