Simple DIY curve tracer, Zener diode thermal drift

How to build a super simple DIY curve tracer for your analog or digital oscilloscope. Curve tracing Zener diodes, LEDs, a capacitor, a resistor, TL431 and a diac using an oscilloscope in XY mode. Measuring the thermal drift of various Zeners.
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[@edgeeffect]

I love the diode trick to put a bright spot at zero.... I'm going to try that on my dodgy curve tracer this weekend.

[@Alchemetica]

Not ever owning an oscilloscope, I appreciated this video showing curve tracing from the simple display to the digital display. Particularly, because I could follow the demonstration as the number of components were limited and you also drew and explained what we were seeing. Thank you.

[@projectartichoke]

I can't get over the fact that I finally understand how a curve tracer works! This channel is the best ever for explaining electronics in such a clear and straightforward way.

[@_wave64_]

Love the smart zero-crossing marker, neat idea!

[@liam3284]

This is what we did in university, plot voltage vs current in X-Y mode. although we used a function generator rather than a transformer.

[@DiodeGoneWild]

A function generator can also be used, but a transformer is way simpler :). And of course, to curve trace some components, a function generator might have a too low output voltage.

[@piconano]

I built an Octopus tracer many years ago. Works well if you know what you're looking at. You can even find which IC pin has a bad driver section.

[@airmann90]

Great video! Enjoyable as always. I've made a few curve tracers and tested what seemed like every 2 terminal component I have lol. They really give you a feel for what you are working with especially when testing with different temps and brand and quality.

[@tajtrlik1111]

Vďaka za toto pekné videjko, ktoré ukazuje, s akými jenoduchými prostriedkami sa dajú dosiahnuť zaujímavé výsledky.

[@albyboy4278]

That old scope is gem 💎😌

[@mouseminer2978]

You make complicated subjects so easy for people like me. Keep them coming. Thanks

[@d.k.9406]

Danke! Thank You! A lot of clever ideas in one video to show us how to work smart with simple methods. Good explainations, good understandable for me.

[@Alexelectricalengineering]

Super easy curve tracer, I love it 👍👍👍👍

[@rilosvideos877]

Clever use of the XY-Mode to show the characteristik of a Zener!

[@atmel9077]

7:50 the I-V curve of the TL431 has a perfect 90° angle, absolutely amazing!

[@kasel1979krettnach]

I so regret trying to repair my mid-90s Dia-projector. Never managed to put it together again. A gem full of AC voltage levers, CPU with RS232 interface, dimmers, sensors, motor drivers and Thyristors, Triacs and Optocouplers. 7 PCBS and tons of ribbon cables ~ 5 fuses. Would have been a perfect fit for this channel. I contacted the manufacturer, they dont produce them of course anymore nor they have any documentation.. :(

[@sebastian19745]

I used to do this with my homemade oscilloscope (a modified 14" B&W TV set). I also used to pair/sort trasistors and zenner diodes with it. I now have to look how to set XY mode on my digital scope.

[@itsevilbert]

A "Gunn diode" with negative resistance would be interesting to plot. They are usually used to build oscillators from 10 gigahertz to 3 terahertz.

[@Yardee-lv7ho]

You can press the knobs on the digital oscilloscope to zero things, love your videos.

[@T2D.SteveArcs]

Octopus component tester, some old scopes had this built in

[@jonathanlister5644]

Bloody good mate! You know what you're talking about.

[@pauldery7875]

I love your videos, and your clear explanations.

[@DoctorCalabria]

Here comes your nineteenth zener breakdown 🎶

[@andymouse]

Lol!

[@Speeder84XL]

Very nice! I didn't even know about the XY mode on oscilloscopes

[@edgeeffect]

Lissajous figures... Jerobeam Fenderson. :)

[@melplishka5978]

I love your channel , you have the best and most interesting teaching ability. Ty for your knowledge and time.

[@melplishka5978]

Aaaaahhhhh man that Tesla cathode ray oscilloscope is frikin awesome lol. Good memories from high school.

[@jp040759]

Great useful circuit.

[@beatrute2677]

AWESOME MAN, ive been waiting forever for you to do one of these!

[@nicholasboyarko1680]

Great video

[@noakeswalker]

Nice simple curve tracer. I seem to remember from when zener regulation was more common, that 5v6 zeners were often used if possible because they had the minimum temp drift - no-one really uses zener regulation any more of course, so it's becoming forgotten knowledge !

[@Mark1024MAK]

Of course, for best performance, you would have fed the zener from a constant current source. Then used a transistor to ‘buffer’ the zener voltage to an error amplifier / feedback circuit. The difficult bits are getting all the DC levels correct without thermal drift messing them up. Plus stopping the thing from randomly oscillating! Voltage regulator chips and similar make it a lot easier now.

[@erikziak1249]

9:03 "...and this diode is going wild, with a trianlge - suqare - saw-tooth pattern in random order, drifting all over the place." cut to cat with a text "And it starts to smell funny too."

[@DIYTAO]

One way to reduce zener termal drift is to use two zeners in series. One low and one high voltage. With right values drifts should balance and voltage should be quite stable.

[@edgeeffect]

Hmmmm.... that sounds like an interesting idea.

[@jimadams7765]

Excellent video tutorial as usual.

[@davidahmad6090]

Great video sir, ver very clever, thankyou.

[@fumthings]

could you upgrade this to a transistor curve tracer?

[@RockmannMusic]

Thank you : )

[@iamdarkyoshi]

Fantastic, thank you

[@ITLASE]

Nice video! Could you try this trick on different transformer core materials at different currents etc.?

[@ivolol]

I wonder if putting just the right two zeners in series, if you can make a very flat tempco "compound zener"

[@anoimo9013]

very ingenious¡¡

[@tvelektron]

Nice 😉

[@mernok2001]

Can you make a vacuum tube Tesla coil series like you did about 3 years ago with SGTC and SSTC?

[@zoenagy9458]

clever

[@mernokimuvek]

Hi, I saw from your earlier videos that you also have experience with old CRT oscilloscope. I wanted to ask, do most oscilloscope use a negative high voltage at the cathode and a low voltage anode? Why is it not a positive high voltage like in a CRT TV or monitor? I also noticed that some oscilloscopes have an iron core transformer instead of flyback to supply the multiplier.

[@DiodeGoneWild]

A CRT TV or monitor has an electromagnetically deflected CRT with deflection coils, but an analog oscilloscope has an electrostatically deflected CRT with deflection plates. If there was a high positive voltage, the deflection plates would have to be at a similar potential and the circuitry driving them would have to be floated. It's thus much more convenient to use a negative high voltage. It's easier to float the cathode and heater than to float all the deflection plate driving circuitry.

[@dvhx]

Try stabistor next.

[@gonzagaribotti9852]

is also valid set a 50 ohms resistor??

[@janno288]

could this theoretically be made for vacuum tubes?

[@Broken_Yugo]

No, you need a a more complex three terminal curve tracer with two signal sources to trace tubes or transistors. Unless you really need to curve a vacuum diode, then this should work. Sometimes you'll see this sort of device called an "octopus tester" to prevent confusion with the more complex tool "curve tracer" usually refers to.

[@janno288]

@@Broken_Yugo I was actually thinking of using the same thing diodegonewild used. with the tube connected to a rectified transformer with no smoothing. then using another smaller supply and a potentiometer to bias the grid at a different voltage

[@celsoneves2368]

Cool

[@user-rk7td4cj2p]

Сеньор,непонятно,как Вы вывернули осциллограмму по горизонтали? У меня пока не получается. kzbin.info/www/bejne/moTddJ5sjdp0jc0

[@stevenbliss989]

So at a "special" voltage the zener will have ZERO temperature drift.