DIY Curve Tracer for Mosfet Matching

[Oneminde]

This thread has been quiet for some time so allow me to add some info.

First of all, I too am looking for a powerful curve tracer. Gona build me some amps in the future and a curve tracer is a must. I am glad erikovsky made me look for the Locky_z 2019 Curve tracer / Intelligent Curve Tracer. A good friend of mine is using this one for all of his builds, and prior to me locating this tracer on ebay, I would be dependent on him to match my MOSFETs.

While going over this thread I noticed the lack of two curve tracer projects that I find of interest, so figured I would share them and get some inputs. Do note that both of this projects needs to have the PCB's produced since they are not available.

Both of these projects are presented via Elektor.

Tracer #1:
This practical instrument can be used to measure and record the characteristic curves of NPN and PNP bipolar transistors, N- and P-channel JFETs, and N- and P-channel MOSFETs. The circuit is based on an R8C/13 microcontroller, which transfers the measurement data to a Windows application program via USB.

This link include gerber and BOM files:
Transistor Curve Tracer | Elektor Magazine

This link include a description:
Transistor Curve Tracer (080068) | Elektor Magazine

I have attached the Elector article published 02/2009.

Tracer #2:
By Rainer Schuster - This tracer is newer and more powerful. Can do both tubes and semiconductor, BJT, NPN/PNP and FET.
This versatile equipment can either be used as a power supply for tube experiments, or as a curve tracer. Originally, it was planned as a tube curve tracer, but during development, the idea came up to extend the functionality to a semiconductor curve tracer especially for high voltage transistors/ Mosfets and Zenerdiodes. It is controlled by a Raspberry Pi (model 2 or 3) together with a 7” touch screen. Voltage and current can be controlled via virtual potentiometers on the touch screen.
Actual voltages and currents are displayed via “7 segment displays” also located on the touch screen. The graphical user interface was designed wit Qt designer (see also Software).

MOSFET; Uds max 400V and Id to 300mA.

Here is a Youtube link showing the operation: HV Power Supply - Rohren - und Halbleiter Kennlinienschreiber mit Raspberry Pi - YouTube

Here is the main project; HV Power supply with tube and semiconductor curve tracer | Elektor Magazine

 

[Mikekiller]

Hi guys.

Has anyone tried programmable PSU's RD6006, RD6012 & RD6018? Are they compatible with the mbrennwa/PyPSUcurvetrace?

 

[mbrennwa]

Hi guys.

Has anyone tried programmable PSU's RD6006, RD6012 & RD6018? Are they compatible with the mbrennwa/PyPSUcurvetrace?

I have looked at these, too. They are on my to-do list. If someone has or Bugs one of these, I would be interested to borrow and write the code for them.

 

[Zbunjen]

Hi guys.

Has anyone tried programmable PSU's RD6006, RD6012 & RD6018? Are they compatible with the mbrennwa/PyPSUcurvetrace?

I have looked at these, too. They are on my to-do list. If someone has or Bugs one of these, I would be interested to borrow and write the code for them.

Also courious about this, its a decent cheapo bench supply and if you can curve trace with it, Bob's your uncle as they say.
You should be looking at P versions, upgraded with higher resolution readout and order of magnitude lower output ripple, but only like 20$ more, can find them easily on Ali. Since we would need two PSU's for the script, think its worth looking at "bargains" like this.

Somebody also made this curve tracer project with them, but its paywalled. Even after register you need elektor green or gold membership. https://www.elektormagazine.com/magazine/elektor-155/58962
@Oneminde do you think you could get us the article?

 

[mbrennwa]

Also courious about this, its a decent cheapo bench supply and if you can curve trace with it, Bob's your uncle as they say.
You should be looking at P versions, upgraded with higher resolution readout and order of magnitude lower output ripple, but only like 20$ more, can find them easily on Ali. Since we would need two PSU's for the script, think its worth looking at "bargains" like this.
View attachment 1053771

Somebody also made this curve tracer project with them, but its paywalled. Even after register you need elektor green or gold membership. https://www.elektormagazine.com/magazine/elektor-155/58962
@Oneminde do you think you could get us the article?

If someone would want to borrow one of these PSUs to me I could add support for them in PyPSUcuvetrace.

 

[Zbunjen]

If someone would want to borrow one of these PSUs to me I could add support for them in PyPSUcuvetrace.

You would need two of them right? Or, maybe you can develop with only one, but two would be needed for curve tracing, right?
Considering maybe building one and shipping it out to you.. (afaik, from back when flags were visible on forum, you're Swiss?)

 

[mbrennwa]

You would need two of them right? Or, maybe you can develop with only one, but two would be needed for curve tracing, right?
Considering maybe building one and shipping it out to you.. (afaik, from back when flags were visible on forum, you're Swiss?)

To get it working with the software, one unit is enough.

For curve tracing, two PSUs are needed. You may use two different PSUs.

Yes, I am in Switzerland.

 

[jensenhoffman]

@mbrennwa

It would be great if the PyPSU Curve Tracer can support Ruiden RD series.

I used to wanna trying PyPSU, and I though SCPI is a must. KORAD is fine but they are 220V mostly which is not my mains volt (110V).
Also, I know other 110V PSUs with SCPI, but without your test, I was afraid they are not PyPSU-Compatible, thus wasting 300~400USD.

Since RuiDen RD series is popular and compatible with 110V mains, If PyPSU is OK with them, I will greatly appreciate that, and I think that will make PyPSU
much more convinient for everyone.
PyPSU is really a good idea and is very potential, for either Tube or Semiconductor, PyPSU is for sure a very good solution of curve tracing.

 

[mbrennwa]

PyPSUcurvetrace already has SCPI support, but the use of SCPI is different between PSU models. Therefore the code must be adapted to each PSU model (no matter if the PSU uses SCPI or not).