If you’re not short on cash, then the Chip Tester Pro may be more to your liking, however it’s hard to beat the simplicity and thriftiness of building your own simple tester from spare parts.

You can build your own modern tube tester, of course. Or pick up a vintage one. Our favorite one uses punched cards.

Two simple USB inventions provide an easy way to test USB cables and chargers, ensuring they are functioning properly. The first invention uses a small plastic ball and a USB female connector to ...