Having been on here for a little while as a member and more years as a stalker, gaining bits of knowledge here and there, I'm starting to get a little more serious in this hobby and spending more on projects. I'd like to protect my time and monetary investments.
I've built a few successful audio projects and know how to solder well. I have a strong mechanical background and can follow directions very well. I have been building up my kit of tools again after a burglary a few years ago, but I'm wanting to now put an order of importance on what is needed as I learn more about electronics.
I do have a DMM and a basic weller soldering station. I know I should have a "dim bulb" current limiter, that is on the short list.
An o-scope/tone generator and bench power supply are on the want list, but I don't know enough yet to know how soon I should get them.
If y'all could help me figure out what tools a beginner could utilize, and any extra parts I should stock (like resistor multi-packs, capacitor packs, diodes, etm) to help continue this hobby further, that would be great!
I've built a few successful audio projects and know how to solder well. I have a strong mechanical background and can follow directions very well. I have been building up my kit of tools again after a burglary a few years ago, but I'm wanting to now put an order of importance on what is needed as I learn more about electronics.
I do have a DMM and a basic weller soldering station. I know I should have a "dim bulb" current limiter, that is on the short list.
An o-scope/tone generator and bench power supply are on the want list, but I don't know enough yet to know how soon I should get them.
If y'all could help me figure out what tools a beginner could utilize, and any extra parts I should stock (like resistor multi-packs, capacitor packs, diodes, etm) to help continue this hobby further, that would be great!
Resistor book: get a 3 ring binder, better if it has a zipper. Get some sheets for baseball cards. Print sheets of paper with E24 values spaced out so you can cut the paper into squares that go in each pocket, then get one of those 1,000 resistor packs off eBay and put the resistors in the pockets while watching Uncle Doug videos. I've got one for 1 watt, 1/2w MF, 1/2w CF, and one with 2 and 3 watt resistors. Never hunt for that value you need again.
Also
DSO 138 oscilloscope
Signal generator
Magnifying headset
Make a dim bulb tester/current limiter with a base and outlet box, with the live (white) wire running thru the light bulb base before it reaches the outlet. You'll want 15w, 40w, and 150-200w bulbs, already illegal to buy, so getting em sooner is gonna be easier than later.
Get a Variac.
Cap discharger - 10w 100 ohm resistor with leads and (insulated) alligator clips on each end. Ond end goes to the ground, then the other end goes on the cap.
Bleeder resistors. Prevent Surviving Spouse Syndrome. Don't die.
Prob need a chopstick, too.
w
Also
DSO 138 oscilloscope
Signal generator
Magnifying headset
Make a dim bulb tester/current limiter with a base and outlet box, with the live (white) wire running thru the light bulb base before it reaches the outlet. You'll want 15w, 40w, and 150-200w bulbs, already illegal to buy, so getting em sooner is gonna be easier than later.
Get a Variac.
Cap discharger - 10w 100 ohm resistor with leads and (insulated) alligator clips on each end. Ond end goes to the ground, then the other end goes on the cap.
Bleeder resistors. Prevent Surviving Spouse Syndrome. Don't die.
Prob need a chopstick, too.
w
I already have a couple kits for resistors and caps, I tend to prefer plano boxes for that stuff rather than binders, but its good to know all values of resistors i should keep.
I have an optivisor and set of helping hands, too. So those are checked off the list.
How often is a bread board used? Should I have one (again)? I don't recall using it much before, but I didn't know half of the very little I know now.
I have an optivisor and set of helping hands, too. So those are checked off the list.
How often is a bread board used? Should I have one (again)? I don't recall using it much before, but I didn't know half of the very little I know now.
Don't forget an RCA cable you can chop up to plug the sig gen in to the device under test. And the 8-ohm 25-watt dummy load resistors
I am similarly green, @Fast14riot, and assembling others' designs, not yet designing my own.
Nevertheless, I have already found the extra DMM useful. They are:
I don't have an o-scope, a signal generator, nor a desktop power supply.
I believe my next purchase will be the dummy load resistors.
Kind regards,
Drew
Nevertheless, I have already found the extra DMM useful. They are:
- Neoteck DM4000 Pro: includes a thermocouple for measuring temps, and a PNP/NPN transistor tester. I have used both of these.
- Performance Tool W2971: this is The Other One, with V/A/Ohm, and battery tester modes
I don't have an o-scope, a signal generator, nor a desktop power supply.
I believe my next purchase will be the dummy load resistors.
Kind regards,
Drew
also, I have a BernzOmatic butane-powered soldering iron, which I mostly use without the soldering tip in order to heat up shrink-wrap tubing. But for soldering, it did noble duty replacing the headlight socket on my minivan. 😛
Kind regards,
Drew
Kind regards,
Drew
I've got old rca cables and new components for making my own. Will get a dummy load, too.
@dliscomb a second DMM is a good idea. I do have a mega 328 tester already though. I do have plenty of fire in my shop for heat shrink.
Ya I have 2 Klein DMMs, the MM400 is good, versatile, not too expensive. The CL390 is a TRMS meter and clamp ammeter, more expensive and less versatile but it can take measurements the MM400 can't, like the DC voltage across a directly heated cathode.
Get a hot air gun for your heat shrink. Fire only goes one direction, sometimes you wanna shrink something in the box and can't get a lighter under it. Also, don't put live flame near electrical components.
Wagner Spraytech 0503038 HT400 Heat Gun, Dual Temperature Hot Air Tool 680 and 450 Degrees, Shrink Tubing, Embossing, Craft Projects, Sticker Removal Heat Gun https://a.co/d/5WNx5kG
Get a hot air gun for your heat shrink. Fire only goes one direction, sometimes you wanna shrink something in the box and can't get a lighter under it. Also, don't put live flame near electrical components.
Wagner Spraytech 0503038 HT400 Heat Gun, Dual Temperature Hot Air Tool 680 and 450 Degrees, Shrink Tubing, Embossing, Craft Projects, Sticker Removal Heat Gun https://a.co/d/5WNx5kG
So my current electronics specific tool list is as follows;
DMM
Soldering iron
Helping hands with magnifier
DSO 138 oscilloscope
Tone generator
Mega 328 tester
Junk, but functional 8ohm bookshelf speakers (for output load)
In addition to basic shop tools like dikes, stripper, JST crimper, etm.
I'm still wondering about a bench power supply? Current limiter is in the works.
DMM
Soldering iron
Helping hands with magnifier
DSO 138 oscilloscope
Tone generator
Mega 328 tester
Junk, but functional 8ohm bookshelf speakers (for output load)
In addition to basic shop tools like dikes, stripper, JST crimper, etm.
I'm still wondering about a bench power supply? Current limiter is in the works.
On the DMM go for one with true RMS. Tricky to cover the entire audio range but what some do is make sure it's ok for say 500Hz and set up at that frequency. Brand is difficult in some ways. There was a post on here stating can't measure low value R's down to levels that I don't think should be a problem. This is down to a mix of the meter and the leads. At work no problem. There was always an expensive high accuracy Fluke on my bench. Also more expensive bench types around if needed. I have tried several brands at home in recent years and haven't been happy with them. In the end I bought a Keysight. HP changed their name to that so as expected no problems. Prices have rocketed since I bought mine. Not as accurate as some Fluke's but adequate.
Given current prices I would be inclined to see what RSWW offer in their RS Pro range. That can be a cheaper route to decent kit. Same with soldering stations, electronics hand tools and even scope and dmm leads. RSWW appear to sell in several countries now. Soldering stations though tend to be aimed at surface mount but also ok on through hole. The bits are generally too small and don't have enough thermal capacity for heavier stuff. It can be handy to have something cheaper with a decent sized tip on it around hoping solder flux doesn't corrode it.
Bench power supply. Depends what power amps you want to work on and your likely to need to be able to provide a split supply. These are generally switch mode these days which makes them cheaper than analogue. Analogue variable power supplies are not hard to design. The main problem is heat dissipation. Say 60 - 0 - 60 was wanted at 5amps. Problem is that say you wanted 10v at 5amps, ~50v at 5amps would be dissipated in the power transistors. That can be avoided in part by restricting the output voltage range. Multi tapped mains transformers have also been used in the past. The main design factor is use of an op amp. Current gain is needed not voltage. Too much voltage gain can result in the op amp going unstable. This tends to look after itself with a bit of thought. And the op amp needs it's supply as well. I don't think there are any 60-0-60 ones around. There may be fixed regs about that can reduce the 60 to something more suitable.
Given current prices I would be inclined to see what RSWW offer in their RS Pro range. That can be a cheaper route to decent kit. Same with soldering stations, electronics hand tools and even scope and dmm leads. RSWW appear to sell in several countries now. Soldering stations though tend to be aimed at surface mount but also ok on through hole. The bits are generally too small and don't have enough thermal capacity for heavier stuff. It can be handy to have something cheaper with a decent sized tip on it around hoping solder flux doesn't corrode it.
Bench power supply. Depends what power amps you want to work on and your likely to need to be able to provide a split supply. These are generally switch mode these days which makes them cheaper than analogue. Analogue variable power supplies are not hard to design. The main problem is heat dissipation. Say 60 - 0 - 60 was wanted at 5amps. Problem is that say you wanted 10v at 5amps, ~50v at 5amps would be dissipated in the power transistors. That can be avoided in part by restricting the output voltage range. Multi tapped mains transformers have also been used in the past. The main design factor is use of an op amp. Current gain is needed not voltage. Too much voltage gain can result in the op amp going unstable. This tends to look after itself with a bit of thought. And the op amp needs it's supply as well. I don't think there are any 60-0-60 ones around. There may be fixed regs about that can reduce the 60 to something more suitable.