Best Integrated Circuit Testers (Testing ICs, 2024)

There are tools that can help you with testing ICs much more efficiently and faster. They are called ICs testers – and in this short post, we will look at some best integrated circuit testers out there on the market.

Integrated circuits, shortly ICs, are mostly used chips that can easily be seen in almost every electronic circuit board.

You can identify them as small black boxes. They look nice, but working with them needs special attention and care. Because a little mistake can lead to a dead IC.

Now, if you are in repair or a guy who works constantly demands working with the ICs. Then it is a very time-consuming task to manually check each IC before putting it on the board.

Look I am not perfect nor this article is going to be. This is just my little help based on my limited knowledge.

I hope you will enjoy it.

Best Integrated Circuit Tester

The testers we will look at are recommended for through hole ICs, i.e, ICs with long thick terminals. You can try them for SMDs, but it will take effort and correct experimentation.

The best integrated circuit tester that field professionals recommend is either the TSH-06F or the TS200. Both are well-designed and very easy to use. They will significantly reduce your testing time and will increase the efficiency of your work, thus saving you a lot of lab resources and time.

Let’s talk in detail about the mentioned devices.

TSH-06F Integrated Circuit IC Tester

TSH-06F is an amazing little tool that you can have in your lab. It will help you identify the IC if its label is removed. It will tell whether the IC is good or bad in a matter of seconds.

This little device has built-in more than 1300 kinds of various types of chip data models and more than 420 kinds of transistor data models.

Furthermore, it is useful for covering a majority of 24 terminals or fewer common universal devices, which can significantly reduce the workload and improve work efficiency.

This tester can be used for the following operations:

Operational amplifiers
Logic Integrated Circuits

Other than the above, it can also test the following as well

Diodes
Zenor diode
Transistors
SCR
Capacitors
Optocouplers
Resistors
and much more ..

Using TSH-06F IC tester

Now that we know, we can use TSH-06F for IC testing. Let’s see how we can use it properly to do so.

You can manually choose the ICs from the menu, but we will use the auto mode of this tester.

Auto mode is easy and straight forward.

Follow the following steps:

Insert batteries in the tester – don’t expect this tool to be self powered.
Insert the IC you want to identify or want to test
After you put the IC is the socket
Close the socket by the side switch
Press Enter on the tester – long press it for 2 seconds
Get the results on the display. It is that simple to use.

You can use the menu as you want to, but I wouldn’t recommend it as it is not that friendly. Use it when you exactly know what you are testing with it. If you don’t then let the magic of auto mode automatically do all the work for you.

Keep in mind, you can only use it for ICs having up to 24 legs or terminals. And it can provide voltage up to 5V. So if you’re testing other devices (not ICs) then they should be powered up under 5VDC.

Now, if this best integrated circuit tester has got your attention. And you want to know more about yourself, then follow this link, TSH-06F IC tester (Amazon link), for your own research and investigation.

TES200 Digital Universal IC Tester

The IC tester TES200 is from the Taidacent brand. It is simple, but it is not that pricey comparing with the above.

It is very small and can test almost any IC, but it is mainly focused towards the 74 and 40 series.

The specialty of this tool which lack in the above one is, that it tells you on the screen whether is the IC under test is good or bad.

As you can see, this device is not that covered in nice plastic body. It is like you are directly using the hardware. So, be careful while using it.

Now we know that TES200 is a better alternative to the above one. Let’s see how we can use it to test different ICs.

Using TES200 IC Tester

TES200 comes in two parts. The board part and the display. First put the display as shown in the above picture.

Once you properly placed the display – then follow the following steps:

Power up the device using adapter between 7-12VDC.
Press the mode button and select which IC you want to test.
Properly select the IC number (using the up and down keys).
Once you properly select the right IC.
Put the IC under test in the socket and close the socket’s switch.
Press the test button on the tester.
The tester will tell you whether the IC you placed is Good or Bad.

It is that simple to use it.

Remember, the above tester has auto mode, but this tester doesn’t have such mode. So you have to properly select the IC number before testing it.

This means if your IC has it number removed from its body, then this IC tester will not help you.

Now, if you like this little IC tester. Then you can know more about by following this link, TES200 IC Tester (Amazon link).

Final Words on Integrated Circuit Testers

You know, integrated circuits (ICs) are the core components of any modern day electronics circuit and systems. It is like you cannot find any electronics circuit without having an IC of any size.

If you are working with electronics, you will know that testing ICs are very important before soldering it on the circuit board.

Sometime you will have a lot of ICs in your lab, but it is hard to tell which IC is good and which is bad.

To help you with such time-consuming problems, there are specific tools for such task called the integrated circuit tester.

In this article, I try to give you some best integrated circuit testers. I also try my limited knowledge best to share how to properly use them for testing your own ICs.

I hope you enjoyed the article.

Thank you and have a grateful life.