TransistorTester Firmware Flash With Arduino

Hi yallll !!! :D

I'm LGhost and this is my first instructable. I decided to post this instructable because I brought one TransistorTester on ebay and wanted to flash it so i could have not only the most recent firmware and because it came with some "custom" firmware... I was having some problems flashing it and didn't found any help easily on the internet... So i decided to simplify here what i learned.

Step 1: Preparing the Tools

Since this is a tutorial on how to flash with Arduino , i presume that you already have installed Arduino IDE and that you are familiar with that.

All you need to do with your Arduino IDE is to load the ArduinoISP sketch, select your board and upload the sketch. That's everything you'll need to do on Arduino IDE !

To demonstrate i'll be using an Arduino Pro to flash the firmware, and this TransistorTester from Ebay.

Now... Moving on... You'll need some things to flash the firmware:

- A version of AVRDUDE_PROG modified by me (This version of AVRDUDE_PROG has an option to Arduino).

- Updated Firmware

After downloaded extract AVRDUDE_PROG and for the firmware just extract the folder containing the firmware needed for your TransistorTester... Mine is "mega328_GM328" (check the image if you don't know what i'm talking about).

Step 2: Preparing the Board to Be Flashed

Now that you have all the tools to flash the board you'll need probably to solder the ISP pins on the TransistorTester board (see the image).

After that make the connections to the Arduino pins as shown in the second image. (example: pin 12 of Arduino to MISO (1) on the TransistorTester).

Step 3: Flashing the Board

Now that you have all prepared and connected just connect the Arduino to the PC and launch AVRDUDE_PROG.

From here on it's very simple , use the images to guide you:

1 - Select the option "ARDUINO" and select the COM port of the Arduino.

2 - Check the chip of your TransistorTester and insert it there... In my case it's the ATMega328P.

3 - Select the .hex file in the firmware folder you extracted.

4 - Select the .eep file in the firmware folder you extracted.

Now go inside the firmware folder and you'll have a file (readme.txt) containing the info about the fuses. Use that info to insert in the AVRDUDE_PROG... Check the images again for info.

5 - Select all 3 options.

6 - HIT THE BUTTON !!!! :D

That's it guys , hope you liked it and hope it helps you if you a TransistorTester laying around (:

Comments

[icu_]

Hi, nice howto, thank you.
Just correct the configuration for Arduino2560. The reset signal must be connected to PIN 10 (you can check it here: https://arduino.stackexchange.com/questions/65952/help-understanding-how-avrdude-works-with-arduinoisp-and-why-its-not-working-for)

[andyfras]

A few years ago I accidentally blew the 328P in my transistor tester when I first got it, by not discharging a capacitor before testing. At the time, the quickest solution was to buy another tester, which I did. Today I replaced the 328P chip in the original, and was searching for a way to load the correct files to it, when I came across your Instructable, which was just what I needed, as I couldn't get my head around makefile etc.. I hoped that the settings you used would also work on mine, which they did. Thanks for this.

[msigales]

hello, I see in your tutorial the arduino IDE in portuguese, if your native language are portuguese please awnser in this language.

My doubt is how much different are your atualization for the firmware native os this tester. And how i know the version run in mine.

Congratulations for this instructables, and thanx for share with us

[LGhost]

Yeah sorry everybody for the portuguese part, forgot to change the language...
Yeah I'm portuguese but I'll answer in English (:
And thanks (:

Well to be honest I didn't even tried much the one that came with the tester... But the one I present is better cause is always being worked on... You can check the download page, they still work on it...
One thing I did noticed is that this one will give you much more info about the components... You can generate signals and some other stuff... Don't know if you can do that with the other one tho...
But the truth is : since it isn't that hard to just flash it why not? I'm pretty sure you'll get more with that firmware than the one it came (:

[Swansong]

Welcome to Instructables! You did a great job on your first tutorial :)

[LGhost]

Thank you :D It's good to hear that !