JTX CT-1 Inductor Coil Tester

Inductors on a phone board rarely look damaged even when they've failed, and a meter on continuity can be fooled by the parts around them. The JTX CT-1 is a dedicated tester that checks inductors and coils on the board itself.

The CT-1 is an inductor and coil tester from JTX. The listing says it detects internal breaks, shorts and instability with one-button operation, and works on smartphones, tablets, game consoles, laptops and other PCBs. It describes the feedback as visual or audio, varying by model.

When the CT-1 is worth reaching for

• No power, no charging or boot loops traced to a power rail.

• Overheating around a power-line inductor.

• Checking PMIC, CPU, display or RF circuits after damage.

• Teaching students how power-line components fail.

Practical approach

Work rail by rail: measure the rail voltage first, then test the inductors that feed it. Comparing each reading with the same part on a working board is the quickest way to trust a result.

The listing doesn't describe the display or give a range, so check the photos. If you already own the Relife XA5 V2.0, the two do the same job; choose the one whose probes and feedback suit your bench.