FADOS 7F1 Circuit Board Tester

The FADOS 7F1 is a portable circuit board diagnostic system from CBT Electronic, designed for efficient fault detection in electronic assemblies. Built on advanced VI (Voltage-Current) curve tracing technology, it enables engineers and technicians to analyze and diagnose PCB faults without the need for powered testing or circuit schematics.

The system works by applying a controlled test signal to components on a powered-off board and capturing their electrical response as a VI curve. This signature is then compared with a known-good reference, allowing quick identification of common faults such as open circuits, short circuits, incorrect component values, and degraded semiconductor behaviour.

Compact and lightweight in design, the FADOS 7F1 is well-suited for field service, repair centres, and laboratories, where portability and ease of use are essential. Despite its compact form, it delivers precise and reliable diagnostics, making it a practical tool for troubleshooting complex PCBs.

With its intuitive workflow and analysis capabilities, the FADOS 7F1 enables faster fault isolation, reduces repair time, and enhances overall maintenance efficiency in electronic systems.

FADOS Product Comparison

V-I Tester Features	FADOS 7F1	FADOS 9F1	FADOS MUX
Step of Voltages	±1V, ±2V, ±6V, ±12V, ±18V	±1V, ±3V, ±6V, ±12V, ±24V	±1V, ±3V, ±6V, ±12V, ±24V
Step of Resistances	Low: 47 kΩ, Medium: 2.6 kΩ, High: 385 Ω	Low: 47 kΩ, Med1: 3.5 kΩ, Med2: 700 Ω, High: 250 Ω	Same as FADOS 9F1
Step of Frequencies for ±6V	Very Low: 2.71 Hz, Low2: 5.71 Hz, Low1: 45.68 Hz, Test: 781.2 Hz	Very Low: 2.16 Hz, Low2: 6.85 Hz, Low1: 20.56 Hz, Test: 54.82 Hz, High at ±1V (low inductor): 7.81 kHz, High at ±3V (low capacitor): 2.23 kHz	Same as FADOS 9F1
Number of Channels	2 (Channel 1, Channel 2)	2 (Channel 1, Channel 2)	2 (Channel 1, Channel 2)
Scan Modes	Manual / automatic selection of voltage, current and frequency steps	Manual / automatic selection of voltage, current and frequency steps	Manual / automatic selection of voltage, current and frequency steps
Memory Function	Yes	Yes	Yes
Equivalent Circuit Diagram	Yes	Yes	Yes
Component Measurement (resistors, capacitors, diodes)	Yes	Yes	Yes
3 Simultaneous Graphs	Yes	Yes	Yes
Test Sound Feedback	Yes	Yes	Yes
Report Saving / Analytics	No	Yes	Yes
Power / IR Features
Variable DC Power Supply	No	100 mV to 16 V at 10 mA to 1500 mA	100 mV to 16 V at 10 mA to 1500 mA
Non-contact IR Temperature	No	Up to approximately 120°C above ambient	Up to approximately 120°C above ambient
Multiplexer
Multiplexer Channels	No	No	100 channels as standard, cascadable to 200
Signal Output
Square Wave Generator	0.2 to 25 kHz	0.2 to 25 kHz	0.2 to 25 kHz
Analog Output Signal	5 V to +5 V	-12 V to +12 V	-12 V to +12 V
Dimensions	105mm L × 55mm W × 25mm H	125mm L × 113mm W × 40mm H	125mm L × 113mm W × 78mm H
Gross Weight	700g approx	1400g approx	1700g approx

Specifications are from the August 2026 FADOS booklet (PDF) published by CBT Electronic and GSAS Micro Systems.

Built-in PC Oscilloscope

Every FADOS model, including the FADOS 7F1, carries the same two-channel PC oscilloscope block, so a single unit covers signature analysis and basic waveform work on the bench:

• Sampling rate: 400 K/S
• Channel / ADC: 2 channel, 12 bit
• Sensitivity: 2.5 mV
• Image rate: 0.02 mS/div to 100 mS/div
• Instant memory: 64 Kbyte
• Input voltage: probe 1X ±5 V, probe 10X ±50 V
• Channel 2 doubles as a square wave signal generator from 0.2 to 25 kHz, or as an adjustable analog output

Capacitor Quality Test and Component Identification

Beyond good-board against faulty-board comparison, the FADOS 7F1 software adds two checks that help when no reference board is available:

• Capacitor quality test: switching on Capacitor Test draws an extra line across the V-I graph. A horizontal line indicates a high quality capacitor, and the more that line tilts, the lower the quality of the capacitor under test.
• Component identification: the software identifies transistors, triacs, thyristors, FETs and IGBTs from their V-I signature. Probe placement follows the booklet, red probe on the base or gate, blue probe on the collector or drain, and ground on the emitter.

The same screen also generates the equivalent circuit diagram (R, C or diode) for the contacted point and reports measured resistor, capacitor and diode values, so a technician can characterise a node without lifting the component.

Ideal Applications

The FADOS 7F1 is well suited for:

• Field service engineers: carry a complete board diagnostic system to customer sites for on-location troubleshooting without needing schematics
• Depot and warranty repair centres: efficient board-level fault isolation for high-volume repair operations
• Electronics training institutions: teach VI curve tracing and board diagnostic techniques with a professional-grade instrument
• Small and mid-size repair labs: full FADOS diagnostic capability at a budget-friendly entry point
• Multi-site deployments: standardize on FADOS across locations, with 7F1 units at satellite sites and 9F1 at the main lab

Why Buy from GSAS

GSAS Micro Systems is an authorized India partner for CBT Electronic, providing the FADOS 7F1 with local inventory, installation, training, and ongoing technical support. The FADOS 7F1 records golden board V-I data with board images and detects faults by comparison against those stored signatures, so a field team can carry its own reference library instead of a reference board. Note that the 7F1 and the 9F1 apply different voltage, resistance and frequency steps, so records should be taken and compared on the same model. GSAS provides application consulting to help teams choose between the 7F1 and 9F1 based on their specific diagnostic requirements and budget, with offices in Bangalore, Delhi NCR, and Mumbai for responsive nationwide support.