capacitor tester trouble

[sgmezei]

Hey folks, I purchased the capacitor testor kit from spark fun seen here:
http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9485

The build went fine but is not working. No screen no nothing. I am supposed to check  pin 7 and 20 on the chip to get 5v but I am getting 9.5v!
I checked all joints and components, and checking the voltage makes me believe I have a bad regulator (78L05).

Does this sound correct?

Josh (gtr2) has this same one so hopefully he can chime in.

[slimtriggers]

The trouble I had with mine was that I was using a negative ground power supply.  I switched the diode around, thinking I had installed it wrong and ended up blowing up the electro cap right after it. 

I replaced the cap and diode, then used a positive ground supply and it worked perfectly.

Sounds like you may have a different problem, though

[nzCdog]

If it was working but now isn't it'll be part failure, it would appear the regulator has gone, but that may have caused other parts to fail as well.
Sounds like you need to contact the seller...

[sgmezei]

I was using the wrong power supply 

I just assumed it used a guitar style. I used a one spot. I dont think I have a "normal" adaptor even hahaha. Rat shack I guess. Will I have hurt anything or am I protected by the diode?
It hasn't worked yet. Didnt fire up first time

Thanks for the quick replies team.

[sgmezei]

Alright it is working fine. I tried a new adapter with positive ground and it works fine.

Thanks guys!

[nzCdog]

woot!

[gtr2]

Excellent!  Glad you got it working.

It's a handy little tester

Josh

[sgmezei]

Yeah it should be great. Did you end up housing yours?

here's some pics for those who are not familiar

[djaaz]

I was thinking on a cheap & effective way to box this thing.
Even find a better socket system to plug any capacitor in there.

Anyone had a brilliant idea?

[nzCdog]

Something like this? 



Called a 'keyboard' enclosure, perhaps you could find one locally

[CRBMoA]

[sgmezei]

Cool, that looks sturdy. I just dont like having a raw circuit sitting on my bench next to transformers and such.