11 Best Transistor Testers [Component Testers, 2024]

Electronic components including the transistors are the very basic building blocks of any electronic circuit.

You cannot build any circuit without having proper knowledge of how to use and test electronic components.

In this post, I am going to share a list of the best component tester that you can use to test and verify each and every electronic component in a matter of seconds.

At the end of this article you should be able to:

• Know the technical parameters of the best transistor tester
• List of proven transistor testers from established brands

Sounds interesting? Then, let’s get started.

Choosing a best transistor/component tester

Any transistor or electronic component tester is a very simple device that requires no high level of understanding.

But in my opinion, the following are the key things that will help you eliminate the cheap ones from the best transistor testers out there on the market.

Side note: The electronics component tester is sometimes called a transistor tester as well. Don’t get confused with names both represent the same device.

1. What type of components do you want to test?

Start with a very basic question i.e., what type of components do you want to test? Do you want to test through-hole components or do you want to test SMDs components?

Any best component tester will do the job for you. But it is good to choose a dedicated transistor for your task.

2. Overvoltage and overload (current) protection

This means that your transistor tester must not accidentally allow voltages that exceed the rating of the component under test.

Also, there must be overcurrent protection. Both these features will make sure that your components don’t burn out during testing.

3. Clear display

The display of any best component tester should be very clear. It should be seen from any angle clearly.

Also, the digits and the drawing (components symbols) should be visible and should not look bad.

4. Easy testing process

The testing process should be very friendly and easy. The state of the art test process is like you plug the component, and pressing the test button.

And you get the required results on the display. When you select the best transistor tester make sure the test process is as easy as I explained.

5. Auto turn off mode

This option is for saving your battery power. Most of the time people forget to turn a device OFF.

So it is good to have an auto turn feature in your transistor tester. It will not save battery power but will also increase the life span of your battery.

6. Solid component holding socket

This is the part of any transistor tester where you plug your testing components. It should be solid and easy to use.

Keeping the above information in my mind I have created the following list of some amazing best transistor testers for beginners to professionals. I hope it will help you.

List of amazing best transistor testers

I think I have shared all the information that I have about the topic. Now let’s have a look at some component testers. A transistor or component tester can save you a lot of time if you are the guy working all day long with electronic circuits.

But if you are an electronics hobbyist like me then who cares what it can do, all I need is a new electronic device that I can play and experiment with.

The best transistor tester that I and other field professionals recommend is either the M328 transistor tester, or the TC1 component tester, or the BSIDE ESR02 pro.

These are the best because they come from reputed brands, are high quality, tested by a lot of people and these people are happy with them, reliable, and yet come with decent price tags. 

In the rest of the article, I talk in detail about these mentioned models.

1. TC1 Component Tester

Starting our list with this guy, the TC1 component tester. It is portable and comes with rechargeable batteries.

Important features:

• Color display.
• Automatically identify and detect NPN and PNP transistors, MOSFET, IGBT, and JFET.
• Besides transistors, it can also test these components Triac, resistor, diode, triode capacitor, and other components.
• One key operation, connect the component, press the test button, and get the results.
• Auto Power Off, to save battery power when not in use for a while.
• Extra plugs to test components more easily and simply.

In summary, the TC1 component tester (Amazon Link) is very easy to use and can be a good testing tool for your lab and projects.

2. The M328 Transistor Tester

Moving to our next best transistor tester, the M328 transistor meter. It is awesome and has a nice color display. You can use it for a wide range of applications.

The main selling point of this tester is to save you the tedious component testing work. Where you use a multimeter and write down various values and then compare them with the datasheet.

With this tester, just plug in the component and get the results (see if it is bad or good) – it is that simple.

Important Features:

We can identify and test the following components with the device with high accuracy:

• Transistors (All types including BJT, MOSFETS, FETs), the M328 will automatically identify the transistor type, the right pin configurations, DC beta, and much more.
• Diodes (including PIN, Schottky, and Zenor).
• MOS
• SCR
• Resistors including variable resistors i.e., potentiometers.
• Capacitors, this little guy is capable of actually measuring the capacitor ESR value with much accuracy.
• Inductors

In summary, the m328 transistor tester (Amazon link) is the best transistor and component tester that you can have in your lab for electronics projects. It will make your testing very easy.

3. Elenco Transistor Tester DIY Kit

Are you an electronics DIY lover? Then this transistor tester DIY kit has everything for you.

It is specifically designed for diode and transistor testing. You cannot test other components with it, but it is a very great learning kit.

Here is the link for your own research and further investigations, Elenco transistor tester DIY kit (Amazon link).

4. Mega 328 Transistor Tester Kit

The above kit is limited to transistor and diode testing only. If you love DIY and want to solder a kit that you can use for all other electronics components then you should try out the Mega 328 transistor tester kit.

Want to know more about this tester? Here is the link mega 328 (Amazon link) for your own research.

5. Oscilloscope transistor tester

This one is different from the above all. It is an oscilloscope and a MOSFET tester combined. With this, you get more accurate results.

Important features:

• The real-time sampling rate of up to 2.5MS/s and 200MHz analog bandwidth
• USB Type-C charging port
• MOSFET testing feature
• High definition LCD screen

In a short summary, the Oscilloscope MOSFET tester (product link) ingeniously integrates a digital oscilloscope, electronic component tester, PWM signal generator, and other functions into one.

Bring more practical functions to you with a small size.

6. Atlas DCA Pro (Professional Transistor Tester)

This is an advanced level transistor tester. It has a curve tracer as well. Like if you want to draw the “Ic Vs Vce” curve then this device can do it for you in a matter of seconds.

The best part of this tester is no matter how you connect the transistor. It will give you its right in configuration. Here is the link Atlas DCA Pro (Amazon link) for your own further investigation.

7. BSIDE ESR02 Pro (SMD Component Tester)

BSIDE is a popular brand out there making quality measurement tools for electronics hobbyists.

The transistor tester they make is so cool, not only do you get a chance to check SMD transistors but also a chance to check for SMD components as well.

Important Features:

• Best fro SMD transistors
• Test different kinds of triodes, thyristors, MOSFET
• It enables you to analyze the device type, the polarity of the pin, the output HFE, the valve voltage, and hay the junction capacitance of the FET as well.
• Automatical Identification of the placed components
• It measures the ESR of the capacitor, which is very cool.
• It has the auto power off to save energy if there is no operation within about 10 seconds.
• Large LCD display with backlight function for easy reading.

In summary, the Bside ESR02 Pro (Amazon link) is the best SMD transistor out there. It is amazing, got tweezers, and has nice packaging. If you love testing SMD components, this guy has got almost everything for you.

8. TSH-06F Integrated Circuit (IC) Tester

If you noticed, so we are talking about electronic components. The above meters are good for testing transistors, diodes, resistors, and capacitors but not good for integrated circuits.

So if you to test IC then TSH-06F is the right device for you.

Important features:

• PNP NPN Detector 3.3V/5.0V
• Can test 74HC series, 74LS series, CD4000 series, HEF400 series, 4500 series
• Multifunctional IC transistor tester with LCD digital display
• Built-in more than 1300 types of chip data models and 420 transistor data models.
• Automatic shutdown if there is no operation after the 60s
• Automatically detect NPN and PNP transistors, automatic identification of the transistor pinout.

This is not just an IC tester. It can also test various other electronic components as well. Are you excited about this device? Here is the link for further research, TSH-06F (Amazon link).

9. MK-168 Component Tester

This component tester is far more sophisticated than the rest of the above. Instead of just a socket or plug, this tester has an option for both.

Here is the link MK-168 (Amazon link) to gather more info about this amazing transistor tester.

10. MK-328 Component Tester

This is our last transistor tester to explore. This belongs to the above MK -168 family but it is a much more advanced model.

You can see it has a bigger screen than the above. To know further about this guy, here is the link for your further investigation, MK-328 Transistor Tester (Amazon link).

11. DY294 transistor parameter tester

The above testers are good for testing a transistor, but they don’t give you values about the various parameters. Like the leakage current and a few others.

So if you want to see all the detail you need the DY294 transistor tester then. It will help you with leakage current, DC gain, AC gain, various currents, and voltages related to your transistor.

What is a transistor tester or component tester?

As the name suggests, it is the tool used to test transistors. By testing, I mean to identify the type of transistor i.e. NPN, PNP, N-channel, P-channel MOSFET, IGBT.

Besides types, their pin configurations, and their parameter measurements.

People call a general component tester a transistor tester.

I really don’t know why it is so but this is what it is. Like if you have a component tester it is capable of testing the transistor and all other various components as well.

Just don’t get confused both terms are referring to the same device.

We use these testers to examine and test electronic components for our projects, sometimes for education purposes, and sometimes just for fun.

These devices are capable of identifying the component, their types, and a lot of their related parameters to make our lives easy.

For example, if you plug a resistor in it, the best transistor tester or the best component tester will tell you right away that it is a resistor, and has this resistance value.

How to use a component tester yourself?

This device is simple to use you don’t need any special training or knowledge. It is friendly working. But it is always good to educate yourself before you start experimenting with the device.

The following are the tips you can use to better use your product.

• Foremost, make sure you have placed the batteries and the power light is ON
• Select the component you want to test.
• See the dock number carefully 123 and 123 are the same i.e., don’t connect between 11, 22, or 33.
• Make connections on 123 pins.
• Let’s say you want to test a transistor, put the legs of it on 123 connections
• Push the start button only if you are using a tester that doesn’t work automatically.
• Once you placed a component, you see the results on the screen right away. It is that simple.

As a side note, please discharge the capacitors before plugging them into your device. The same procedure goes for the SMD components as well. Although placing the components in the right position smart tweezer would be very helpful to use.

Conclusion

When working with electronics, testing out different components and measuring their values and other parameters is a time-consuming task.

You can use a multimeter for the testing task. But we all know working with a multimeter is not that easy.

To test a component with a multimeter. First, we need to take the exact measuring steps. Then we need to verify those values and some time to remember some values.

To avoid the above tedious task, there is an alternative. The alternative is to use the best transistor tester.

A transistor tester also called a component tester is a tool that can give you the pin configuration of components, their circuit symbol, and various related parameters.

And most importantly tell you right away if you have a good or a bad component. Thus saving you a lot of time and lab resources.

So guys, that is it. That I want to share about the best component testers. I hope I was helpful.

Thank you and have a grateful life.

Other useful posts:

• Electronic Components Testing (Step by Step Guide)
• Basic electronics for beginners (Easy to follow guide)
• How to Identify Electronic Components (Easy Solution)