Peak Atlas
DCA
Semiconductor Component Analyser
Model DCA55
User Guide
©
Peak Electronic Design Limited 2000/2007
In the interests of development, information in this guide is subject to change without notice - E&OE
electronic design ltd
Atlas
DCA
User Guide
October 2007 – Rev 7
Want to use it now?
We understand that you want to use your
Atlas DCA
right now. The
unit is ready to go and you should have little need to refer to this user
guide, but please make sure that you do at least take a look at the
notices on page 4!
Contents
Page
Introduction....................................................................................3
Important Considerations ...............................................................4
Analysing semiconductors .............................................................5
Diodes......................................................................................7
Diode Networks .......................................................................8
LEDs........................................................................................9
Bicolour LEDs .......................................................................10
Bipolar Junction Transistors (BJTs) ......................................11
Enhancement Mode MOSFETs .............................................18
Depletion Mode MOSFETs ...................................................19
Junction FETs (JFETs) ..........................................................20
Thyristors (SCRs) and Triacs.................................................21
Taking care of your
Atlas DCA....................................................22
Battery replacement ...............................................................22
Self Tests ...............................................................................23
Appendix A - Technical Specifications........................................24
Appendix B - Warranty Information ............................................25
Appendix C - Disposal information .............................................26
Page 2
Atlas
DCA
User Guide
October 2007 – Rev 7
Introduction
The
Peak Atlas DCA
is an intelligent semiconductor analyser that offers great
features together with refreshing simplicity. The
Atlas DCA
brings a world of
component data to your fingertips.
Summary Features:
•
Automatic component type identification
Bipolar transistors
Darlington transistors
Enhancement Mode MOSFETs
Depletion Mode MOSFETs
Junction FETs
Low power sensitive Triacs
Low power sensitive Thyristors
Light Emitting Diodes
Bicolour LEDs
Diodes
Diode networks
Automatic pinout identification, just connect any way round.
Special feature identification such as diode protection and resistor
shunts.
Gain measurement for bipolar transistors.
Leakage current measurement for bipolar transistors.
Silicon and Germanium detection for bipolar transistors.
Gate threshold measurement for Enhancement Mode MOSFETs.
Semiconductor forward voltage measurement for diodes, LEDs and
transistor Base-Emitter junctions.
Automatic and manual power-off.
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Page 3
Atlas
DCA
User Guide
October 2007 – Rev 7
Important Considerations
Please observe the following guidelines:
•
•
•
•
•
This instrument must NEVER be connected to powered
equipment/components or equipment/components with any
stored energy (e.g. charged capacitors). Failure to comply
with this warning may result in personal injury, damage to
the equipment under test, damage to the
Atlas DCA
and
invalidation of the manufacturer’s warranty.
The
Atlas DCA
is designed to analyse semiconductors that
are not in-circuit, otherwise complex circuit effects will
result in erroneous measurements.
Avoid rough treatment or hard knocks.
This unit is not waterproof.
Only use a good quality Alkaline battery.
Page 4
Atlas
DCA
User Guide
October 2007 – Rev 7
Analysing Components
The
Atlas DCA
is designed to analyse discrete,
unconnected, unpowered components. This
ensures that external connections don’t influence
the measured parameters. The three test probes can be
connected to the component any way round. If the component has
only two terminals, then any pair of the three test probes can be used.
Peak Atlas DCA
is analysing....
The
Atlas DCA
will start component
analysis when the
on-test
button is
pressed.
Depending on the component type, analysis may take a few seconds to
complete, after which, the results of the analysis are displayed. Information is
displayed a “page” at a time, each page can be displayed by briefly pressing the
scroll-off
button.
The arrow symbol on the display indicates that more pages are available
to be viewed.
Although the
Atlas DCA
will switch itself off if left unattended, you
can manually switch the unit off by holding down the
scroll-off
button for a couple of seconds.
Page 5