Curve Tracer Setup Instructions:

1) Connect power to both your oscilloscope and Curve Tracer.

2) Set your oscilloscope to "external horizontal input" or X-Y
2v, 5v, or 10 volts per division AC.
(You should obtain a dot or a horizontal line) Center this trace on your scope screen.
3) Connect the “X” BNC Connector to "Horizontal In" or "X" input
of your scope.
4) Using the knob, adjust a horizontal line to almost full width of screen.
5) Connect the “Y” BNC Connector to "Vertical Input" or "Y"
oscilloscope input.
6) Attach the pair of test leads to the tracer test terminals.
7) Shorting the test leads will display a vertical trace, or a dot in the center.
8) With these leads shorted, adjust your scope to attain an almost full vertical line (Vertical or "Y" set Volts/Div to 5v, or 10 Volts per
division AC)
These are the first two basic patterns, "open" and "short”. Adjust them both so
they are equal and centered.

Tracker power off Tracker with open test leads Test leads shorted together

Summary:
With the test clips separated, adjust scope X (volts/div) control and tester width control to make a horizontal line that fits (left and
right) across the middle of the screen.
With test clips shorted together, adjust the scope Y (volts/div) control to make a vertical line that fits up and down the center of the
screen.
The line should not be larger than the screen in ether way, but just small enough to fit.
It's sometimes good to change the settings when looking at special case components, but I generally reset the X and Y lines for the
above open “open” or “shorted” display.

The pattern is actually a 60Hz AC sine sweep. The Oscilloscope is sweeping back and forth, displaying Voltage in the "OPEN" state, and sweeping Up
and Down, displaying current in the "Closed" state of your test leads. This is why a diode will display a
"Right Angle Pattern" (shorted forward and open reverse bias). A 5V Zener diode will display a second (curved) right angle as it reaches its 5V reverse
break down voltage. Another neat observation is to place a common transistor Emitter and Collector to the test leads. Now pass a trickle of signal with
the fingers (Or use a 10K potentiometer) from either lead to the Base. You can observe the transistor in action, as you vary the C - E current flow with
input to the Base. A 10uf capacitor illustrates Charge and Discharge, with every reverse of the sine wave, resulting in an Oval pattern on your scope.

Testing IR Remote Controls:

An infrared photo transistor is included in your parts bag. It's black in color, and shaped like a 5mm LED. Connect this device to the test probes. You
will see a CE junction on your scope. Now hold an IR remote directly to the sensor and press a button. An oscillating pattern will appear if the remote is
functional.

Troubleshooting boards with the AF5FV OCTOPUS Tracker Component Curve Tracer:
Component traces can be observed on unpowered circuit boards. On board component traces may show interactions with more
than one component. In circuit component testing is helpful for comparing components between a known good board and a
defective board. First locate a discrepancy in the defective board, and ether remove the suspected device, or temporarily unsolder
some of the suspect device's leads and re-check the patterns. Use only a high resistance (more than 50K ohms) ESD ground, and
not a direct ground connection, so that the oscilloscope's ground will not display error test patterns.

In-Circuit Rectifier and Power Semiconductor testing:

On board power rectifiers or bridge rectifiers usually have a transformer winding and electrolytic
capacitor involved. However they generally check good in-circuit as a vertical pattern with a slight zag
in the middle. The same applies with collector emitter checks of power transistors and regulators in
circuit. More likely than not, a power semiconductor device failure results in a short. However “opens”
or high series resistance can also be result of semiconductor junction failures. Low ohm power
resistors involved can be expected to illustrate tall combination traces, making it easy to spot a
defective component with more of a horizontal slant. Out of circuit checks are made by desoldering
one or more of the component leads using braid. Use a small pick or a stainless steel tool to free the
desoldered lead from the copper foil, then proceed with re testing the component.
Good PN Junction or Diode Bad PN Junction or Diode

Here is an example of a diode that failed from an excessive voltage surge.

Also the test probes are reversed.

Good 20uF Capacitor Bad 20uF Capacitor

This electrolytic capacitor has failed over time, having excessive series resistance.

7805 Regulator IC 2N1022 and 2N2148 Power Transistor C/E Junctions

Here are some less common patterns. These are good semiconductor devices.
Curve Tracer additional notes:

The horizontal Width control expands for measuring high (100+uF capacitors). Also, your scope vertical control will help expand the low (below 0.1uF)
capacitance readings.
You can compare breakdown voltages using a zenor diode as a reference. (make sure your oscilloscope is in DC mode or the trace will continuously
center itself).

The oscilloscope Vertical DC mode functions the same as in AC mode. However, the patterns will hold true to the X/Y grid if both ch1 and ch2 vertical
deflection controls are set to Volts DC. In AC mode, a pattern will appear to float towards the center. In DC, the pattern will not move from its original
position on the alignment grid of the screen. A typical Silicon Diode shows a right angle at the center of the scope grid. A 5V Zener Diode will show a
reverse breakdown curve at one division right or left of center, providing that the scope is set to 5VDC/Div, or this “tail curve” (up or down depending on
test lead polarity) will reside 2.5 divisions for 2VDC/Div, etc..

X/Y setup for your oscilloscope:

2 Channel Oscilloscope: Usually the left volts/div vertical knob controls the Y mode that your scope is currently set for the tester.
The right volts/div should control the X (now horizontal) mode. When the oscilloscope is set for X/Y mode, the Horizontal Sweep
(Sec/div) oscillator is disabled, displaying only a stationary dot.

1 Channel Oscilloscope: Most single channel oscilloscopes have only a Horizontal input with an External Horizontal switch that
disconnects the Sweep circuit. The tester's Horizontal Width control compensates the X input in ether application.

Sencore PS163 Oscilloscope:

The X BNC cable from my tester should be connected to the External Horizontal banana jack just below the rotary sweep knob,
And the sweep knob set to EXT at the bottom position.
You will need to cut one of your BNC cables and connect the center conductor to the binding post, & cable shield to scope ground.
Then check to see a horizontal line and adjust it to almost fit the screen.
Then connect the Y output from the tester to CHA of the scope (short the test leads),
and adjust the vertical line to almost fill the screen.

Tenma 72-6805 Oscilloscope:

First set the large TIME/DIV knob all the way left to the [X-Y] in blue.2)Connect a BNC cable from my tester-X to your scope-CH1.
3)Connect another BNC cable from my tester-Y to your scope-CH2.
4)Set both AC,DC,GND swithes to DC.
5)Set both VOLTS/DIV selectors to 2V or 5V, make sure both center knobs are NOT pulled out. It should work at 2VOLTs/DIV.
With the tester OFF and the scope ON, You should find a green DOT trace on the scope screen by centering the position knobs. the
CH1 POSITION should now move the trace side to side (you might check if the Horizontal Position knob does this), and CH2 position knob
should move the trace up or down. Center the green (or blue) dot on the center cross grid, set focus and brightness for a nice clear dot.
Note: In X-Y mode, the CH1 VOLTS/DIV controls the horizontal width, and CH2 VOLTS/DIV controls the vertical height of the trace.
6)Turn ON the tester. Adjust the tester knob for a horizontal line that almost fills the width of the scope screen. You can also adjust the small knob on
the CH1 VOLTS/DIV for the same result. Try to leave the tester WIDTH control somewhere to the left side of mid position.
7)Connect the tester's test clips together (directly shorted). Adjust the CH2 VOLTS/DIV center knob for a vertical line that almost reaches from top to
bottom.

VINTAGE Heath IO12 oscilloscope:

Connect X BNC to HOR. INPUT, and Y BNC to VERT. INPUT
Select HOR./FREQ SELECTOR knob to EXT. INPUT,
Turn both HOR.GAIN and VERT.GAIN knobs to minimum.
With tracker off, adjust Horizontal and Vertical Position knobs (Focus & Brightness also) for a nice dot in the center of scope screen.
Turn tracker ON, Adjust both HOR. GAIN (scope) and WIDTH (tracker) knobs for a nice horizontal trace, almost the full width of screen.
Short the tracker test probes together, and adjust VERT.GAIN (VERT.INPUT at X1 or X10) for a nice vertical line almost the full height of screen.

HITACHI VC-6025:
X is selected by "TRIGGER SOURCE or X" , (lower right hand knob switch) , Set this knob to CH2 , Connect X-BNC octopus to scope CH2 INPUT.
Set Volts / DIV to 5V. VERTICAL MODE= "CH1" button in, "BW LIMIT 10MHz" button out. Connect Y-BNC octopus to scope CH1 INPUT. set Volts/Div
to 5. HORIZONTAL MODE= press "ALT" and "B" buttons in together. Be sure that "X10 MAG" button (at the upper left) is out. Test your horizontal
WIDTH control, octopus PWR on, adjust horizontal line using WIDTH control. Short octopus probes together, test and adjust vertical line with CH1
Volts/Div "VAR" (small knob) . Note: Both DC AC buttons for CH1 and CH2 should be in, both GND buttons must be out.

Power supply requirements (for single range trackers outside the U.S.):
The power transformer supplied for the US and some countries will operate from 110-125VAC 50 or 60Hz), and will become damaged if plugged into
220Volts. I also offer a new 230V 50Hz wall transformer, with the EU plug. It can operate from 200-240VAC, 50 or 60Hz.
The tester can alternatively be supplied with a 50-60Hz power transformer with an output of around 12VAC (+/ – 3V). You can use a small power
transformer that supplies from 9VAC up to 15VAC without problems. Just be sure to use AC only, and NOT a DC supply.
 Base / Emitter Collector / Emitter IR Photo Transistor

10uF Electrolytic 30uF Electrolytic 10Volt Zenor Diode

33 ohm resistor 220 ohm resistor 1K ohm resistor

Semiconductor junction failures often simulate the above resistors.

You can e-mail me at: electronics3000@cox.net

Thank you!

Michael Hagood AF5FV

2208 S.W. 38TH ST
Oklahoma City, OK 73119
Made in the U.S.A.