Smart Tweezers Digital MultiMeter

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What models of Smart Tweezers are available?
   The first model of Smart Tweezers ST-1 was released in 2004, Smart Tweezers ST-2 in 2007, Rechargeable model of ST-2, STIC in 2008 and model ST-2.3 with another LCD in 2010. The latest model ST-5 was released in November 2011. More informarion on Older models of Smart Tweezers may be found at History of Smart Tweezers
2. What is Smart Tweezers mostly used for?
   ST is an unrivalled tool for identification and measurement of surface mount device (SMD) components. Just imagine a bunch of devices with and without labels sitting on your desk. ST does this job in one touch speeding the identification process hundreds of times.
3. How accurate is Smart Tweezers?
   Typical accuracy is about 1% for resistance 5% for capacitance and 10% for inductance measurements. This accuracy allows to select an SMD component from a strip because the variation on the strip is often higher than the measurement accuracy.
4. Can Smart Tweezers be used on a PCB circuit?
   Yes, if you know the circuit and understand how it works. It can also be used for voltage measurements in a working circuit to debug it. By measuring a voltage drop on a resistor (that can be also measured using ST) the current through the resistor is easily calculated.
5. Batteries discharge very quickly, what was done wrong?
   There are two typical mistakes leading to a quick discharge of batteries:
   1. the Toggle switch at the bottom left corner of the Smart Tweezers is returned to the default position after voltage measurement is done; and
   2. the Test Frequency is set to 10KHz. In the latter case Smart Tweezers do not turn off automatically due to parasitic capacitance of the tweezers tips leading to a current flowing through it. Change Test Frequency to Auto after measuring something at high frequency.
6. Can Smart Tweezers measure current?
   By measuring a voltage drop across a resistor Vr (resistor value R can be also measured using ST) the current through the resistor is easily calculated Ir=Vr/R.
7. What happens if the measured voltage exceeds 8V limit?
   The Smart Tweezers design provides protection if voltage exceeds 8V limit. The maximum allowable voltage is 24 V.
8. Smart Tweezers automatically turns off too quickly. Some times it hinders me from my work.
   The turn-off time can be user selected in SYSTEM -> DISPLAY -> TIME-OUT
9. I prefer to keep tweezers in my left hand. Is Smart Tweezers only for right hand?
   You can adjust Smart Tweezers for left hand. Switch mode SYSTEM and choose LEFT
10. What does it mean that Smart Tweezers is factory pre-calibrated?
    Smart Tweezers does not require any calibration. Every single Smart Tweezers is calibrated upon assembly at the factory using a special calibration stand. This stand is annually certified by JOLA Instruments Inc. and calibration certificate is NIST and NRC traceable.
11. Is Smart Tweezers design patented?
    The patent is in force in Europe, USA, Canada, Japan, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and India.
12. How to extract parasitic probe capacitance of Smart Tweezers?
    The parasitic probe capacitance depends on the distance between the tips, that is it will be different for different measured component sizes. To obtain the value of capacitance of the Smart Tweezers probes of you have to do following:
    1. Select mode for capacitance measurements by setting MEASURE -> MODE -> CAP. Letter C will indicate that you selected capacitance measurement mode.
    2. Select measurement frequency 10 kHz by setting MEASURE -> FREQ -> 10 kHz.
    3. When you squeeze the probes until the size of the gap is equal to the size of component which you are going to measure the parasitic capacitance value will be displayed on the screen. This is the value that you have to subtract from any measured capacitance of the same size. Typical parasitic probe capacitance is about 1.5 pF.
13. How to calibrate Smart Tweezers for Voltage measurements?
    You have to calibrate Smart Tweezers if measured values for two different polarities differ more than 1%. For instance, you measured values 1.39 V for one polarity and -1.51 V when you change polarity to the opposite. After calibration Smart Tweezers have to show equal values for both measurements. For calibration you have to do following:
    1. Select MEASURE -> VOLTAGE
    2. Connect the probes to each other and select MEASURE -> VOLTAGE -> CALIBR
    3. As soon as you see DONE on the screen you have to select AUTOSET -> EXIT and disconnect the probes.
14. How to measure DC voltage?
    Smart Tweezers can measure Voltage DC in range from 0 to 8 Volts. To switch Smart Tweezers in this mode you have to do following:
    1. Select MEASURE -> VOLTAGE -> AUTO -> EXIT.
    2. TOGGLE SWITCH will be displayed on the screen and the beeper will sound. Change the Toggle Switch position at the bottom left portion of the Smart Tweezers to the rightmost position.
    3. Please note that you must return to the AUTO mode after you finished measuring voltages. Therefore press the Jog Dial button, change the Toggle Switch position to the default (leftmost, toward the probes), and select Mode -> AUTO -> EXIT. The letter A displayed on the screen indicates that Smart Tweezers is in the AUTO mode.
15. Why would I need an extra pair of Smart Tweezers' Tips?
    The tips are made of gold plated stainless steel and the gold tends to wear out with time. Apparently the wear out mostly depends on the number of touches and the quality of surfaces that are touched. A rough estimate with a moderate intensity of Smart Tweezers’ use would be 2-3 years. Typical contact resistance of the Smart Tweezers Tips is about 20 mOhms. It can be as high as 1 Ohm for a heavily used Smart Tweezers.

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