How To Use Op Amp Tester OTC12

The OTC12 Tester:

Power Supply Requirements:
This kit requiers a 15v DC power supply. Input voltage should not exceed 15.5v DC and the total current spec for this kit is around 300mA with All sections in use, But this depends on type of op amp under test.The input has a reverse protection diode for incorrect power supply connection. As this tester can be used to check gain and offset of op amps best to use a low noise power supply. The input voltage ripple should not exceed 10mV PP.

The power supply for the tester should not be used to power any other equipment when using the tester, I. E for powering a signal generator or monitoring equipment.

Op Amp Testing Section:

This section is to test op amp health, use this section for testing op amp operational health by inserting op amp packages in to their respective package configuration. You can test Single , Dual and Quad packages. The supply voltage on this section is a dual rail and is set to around +6v and -6v. Make sure op amp under test power supply spec do not exceed this voltage or you will damage your op amp.

For testing a single package op amps like TL081 , LF356 , OPA627 and others. insert op amp in to single package tester IC socket

Once inserted the LED should start to Flash, this indicates a working / Healthy op amp. if the LED is in OFF state or is permanantly ON then this indicates a non functional / damaged op amp. Also check to make sure you have inserted the IC correctly in the right direction as this can result in false reading if you have inserted the IC wrong way round.

For Dual package op amps like TL082 , TL072 LM358 LF412 and others use the dual package section,

Once inserted the LEDs should start to Flash, this indicates a working / Healthy op amp. if the LEDs are in OFF state or are permanantly ON then this indicates a non functional / damaged op amp. Also check to make sure you have inserted the IC correctly in the right direction as this can result in false reading if you have inserted the IC wrong way round.

For Quad package op amps like TL084 ,TL074 LM324 and others use the quad package section,

Gain Bandwidth Measurements Section:

Use this section to test op amps GAIN against frequency to determin its GBW product.

Before inserting op amps and start testing, Make sure you have set the correct power supply voltage for the op amp under test.This is very important as this section has a dual rail supply which can exceed +12v and -12v.

Once you have set the correct power supply voltages for your op amp you can insert a Single package op amp like TL081 , TL071 LF411 , LF356 , OPA627 in either unity gain socket or X gain socket. Use the Unity gain section to test if your op amp is stable as unity gain / Buffer and upto what frequencies.

To start the test use the signal in section to feed a sine wave in to your unity gain configured op amp , The input is 50 ohms matched but not terminated and is AC coupled. Once signal is feed to DUT use the signal out to measure the signal against the input signal to see the specs of unity gain configured op amp

To test op amp in X gain mode, insert op amp in the X gain socket and use the gain multiplier headers to set the gain. Use the signal in and out to monitor the signals agains eachother to determine op amp GBW product.

Make sure you have set the levels correctly and that the op amp do not saturat agains its power rails. As this can give false readings. Also make sure you have set the signal in VPP to a reasonable value so to see exactly what gain can your op amp provide, because if signal in is high in voltage then the maximum gain can push the op amp to its saturation on power rails,

Offset Measurements Section:

Use this section to measure op amp Offset voltages.

Before inserting op amps and start test make sure you have set the correct power supply voltage for the op amp under test.This is very important as this section has a dual rail and single rail supply which can exceed +12v and -12v or above 24v in single rail supply.

Once correct supply voltage has bee set choose either testing op amp in single power supply rail mode or dual rail power supply rail mode. The gain has been set with precision resistors to around X101. Use the Offset out ports to monito the voltages to see the specs of your op amps under test.

Op Amp Configuration Section:

Use this section to test op amps in different configuration. This section is desgined only for a single package op amp. Note that this section signal in and out are not AC coupled. If you are feeding an AC signal make sure you AC couple it in or it will produces a false reading on output.

The configurations are all labled on each section. but you can refer to this picture for better underestanding.

General Info:

This kit has been fully assembled and will be tested twice before sending out. once when assembled and once before sending out.

Please note that the soldering of the kits is not 100% professional.