Make up a laboratory from scratch.

[pinkmouse]

I'm with EC. The only thing I would add are a couple more cheap, (5$) DMMs, not so much for precision measurement but for watching things like PSU rails, things you don't need total accuracy for, but need to see if any gross changes occur under fault conditions or initial testing.

[Gigapod]

Originally posted by pinkmouse
I'm with EC. The only thing I would add are a couple more cheap, (5$) DMMs, not so much for precision measurement but for watching things like PSU rails, things you don't need total accuracy for, but need to see if any gross changes occur under fault conditions or initial testing.

I am with EC too, and I agree with pinkmouse about the DMMs, with a small twist: a couple of those analog multimeters you can buy at the supermarket for $5 can come in handy, instead of the DMMs.

Somebody mentionned lots of cables, crocodile clips, etc. I agree with that too.

6 1/2 digit DMMs and Rhode-Schwarz distortion analyzer? Yeah, sure, I think they have these at Harman-Kardon and NAD, Carver must have a few too, plus a few more R&D facilities, but I never even came near one...

I guess it will be a long time before I need 6 1/2 digits resolution for my PS voltage measurements.

A good used scope is around 100 pounds, as EC wrote. Start with that and a good workbench (I assume you already have the multimeter).

[rephil]

Hi Stefanoo,

I am with EC too as I did misunderstand your question. I use many plastic boxes containing smaller one, and I label all what I put inside, else I would never find again what I need when needed. I group the boxes in a desk as categories of items : transistors, capacitors, resistors, metallic stuff ...

Look at the workbench of pinkmouse : you want that kind of workbench. Mine is not so beautiful, but it is partly metallic, a diy one. As I did it, I find it very very OK.

Best regards

rephil

[jleaman]

Originally posted by pinkmouse
I'm with EC. The only thing I would add are a couple more cheap, (5$) DMMs, not so much for precision measurement but for watching things like PSU rails, things you don't need total accuracy for, but need to see if any gross changes occur under fault conditions or initial testing.

Thats like 5 dmm's LOL..

[unclejed613]

i use Audio Test Bench for a lot of different things, including EQ'ing rooms.
http://www.higherfi.com/softwar5.htm

i also find this spectrum analyzer software to be quite useful:
http://www.qsl.net/dl4yhf/
it's intended use is for ham radio DSP, but if you browse the various setup menus, you will find that it can do a whole lot more (it seems like it's an audio engineering lab in a sound card). it has a flow-chart based setup as well, that is simple to use, but very flexible.

also, for design work, i found that the limitations of various SPICE demo programs were too restrictive(even the TI "Tina" SPICE software has low node number limitations, but i use it for small subcircuit design). the SPICE program from Linear Technology, however, has no restrictions, but it does not have a THD calculation (a little math with the spectrum graph is close enough, however). you also might want to use low pass filtering with their simulated sine wave source, since it's odd harmonic content is about -50db. their software is available here:
http://www.linear.com/company/software.jsp


all of these programs are freeware, and very useful to me.

i'm also designing a "front end" to use my sound card as an o-scope and function generator with Audio Test Bench. it will have voltage dividers, so i can use it with signals up to about 300V p-p, and will have an output buffer for the function generator. i will post schematics, layouts, and test results when it's finished.

[EC8010]

Originally posted by jleaman
Thats like 5 dmm's LOL..

You really can't have too many meters. You need one (or perhaps two) good ones, and some cheap ones. Moving coil meters react faster than digital and can be useful for warning of impending smoke release.

I've added a picture of my bench. The inverted black guttering (lined with kitchen foil) shields the direct light from the 1.5m fluorescent and gives plenty of diffuse light on the bench surface.

[steenoe]

I've added a picture of my bench.

EC, thats a nice lab, indeed

Thats like 5 dmm's LOL..

Yeah, 5 would be nice.
Being in the proces of adjusting an A-X right now, I could easily use 2 more than the 2 I have. Some cheapo's will surely do.
What do you guy's think of the PC based "all in one" systems offered these days? (scope, distortion analyser, sound generator...) Sure would save a lot of space.

Steen

[pinkmouse]

Very nice bench EC. Is that an Alpha 10 I see up there? I have one too, but mine is off the road at the moment with a damaged DAVE module.

Jason, I have two more out of shot.

[jleaman]

Originally posted by pinkmouse
Very nice bench EC. Is that an Alpha 10 I see up there? I have one too, but mine is off the road at the moment with a damaged DAVE module.

Jason, I have two more out of shot.

Yup always good to have. I bought my Fluke 87 for 35$ fixed it and then sent it off to calibration and its perfect. 35$ for a mint meter works for me :d

the next thing on my bench i want is a dual mode psu with pos neg & gnd so i can work on small low current projects instead of building the psu for it.

[steenoe]

Are these any good for the lab? Seems they do most things and being pretty small they should fit in everywhere.http://www.tiepie.nl/uk/products/Ext...illoscope.html

Steen