Home lab setup : what I have in mind - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: uski
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2020, 09:09:51 am
content: Hi,So, I stopped doing electronics at work (new career)... now I have to build a lab at home, because I can no longer access any equipmentI wanted to share with you the setup I have in mind, for discussion and also if it can inspire others with a similar need.I tried to balance price, features, quality, and "upgradability".Here is what I have in mind for the equipment. Not a lot of space. I want the good stuff.Rigol MSO5074as the scope (with a bandwidth/options "upgrade")Keithley DMM6500as the multimeter (pricey but these things seem to last decade, so better invest now and enjoy it for a long time)I have aNanoVNA V2 (S-A-A-2)as a VNA, but if I end up doing a lot of RF stuff : Siglent SSA3021-X Plus (with a VNA "upgradeA/B")I also have a Philips PM6665 frequency counterAnd I will rebuild myself a GPSDOlike I described in this postPlanning to keep the DMM6500 calibrated as a voltage reference, and the GPSDO with its OCXO will be the timing reference. I might get a DMMCheck Plus but it's overkill, maybe a cheap eBay AD584 reference will do the trick.I will also get a Hakko FX-951. I considered the AliExpress clones but between safety and reliability issues... no thanks.Planning to use theSaelig discount(too bad they don't have Keithley/Tek equipment).PS: manufacturers, if you are reading, don't close the upgradability path. It is the reason I am buying this setup. Otherwise I would get older used equipment.Any idea/suggestion/remark ? I think this provides the best "bang for the buck" for new equipment.

author: MarkF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 17, 2020, 09:28:53 am
content: tEquipmenthas Tek equipment with the same EEVblog discount.

author: uski
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2020, 02:28:37 am
content: Quote from: MarkF on October 17, 2020, 09:28:53 amHey awesome ! ThanksI found the codehere Hmmm they don't seem to carry the Keithley (Tek) multimeters ! Bummer

author: J-R
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2020, 03:31:35 am
content: I think the DMMCheck Plus with the capacitance board is a good deal all around. Definitely not overkill. Given the equipment listed, it would be great for sanity checks.

author: JimKnopf
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2020, 01:16:35 pm
content: I can recommend the Atten ST-862D Hotair Station and for microsoldering the JBC CD 2SQE.The DMM6500 is a very nice and precise device . The limitation in measuring capacitance only up to 120µF is anoying.If the much expensive DMM7510 is not an option, you need an additional tool. I bought the DER EE DE-5000 for that.The benefit is the ESR and Henry measurement.

author: Elasia
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 18, 2020, 04:16:34 pm
content: I thought about a Keithly DMM but ended up with a siglent unit with scanner card for 1100 total vs 1800 for keithly with scan card, the siglent works pretty good, been happy with it

author: uski
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2020, 04:52:57 am
content: Thanks all.The reason I like the DMM6500 is that it goes up to 1MS/s which is pretty awesome.This video :...removed the Siglent units as an option for me : they are slow, unpolished, and behave strangely in auto range, in my opinion. DMM6500 looks so much better in all aspects.DMM7510 is definitely not an option, cannot justify it for home use. If it was for work, I would probably consider one. Regarding the scan card, for now I don't feel the need for more channels.In general, seeing the high resale value of 30+ years old units, I don't feel like purchasing a new multimeter is crazy.Thanks for the info about the limit for capacitance measurement, I did not notice it. I used to have the DER EE DE-5000 at work before, cool unit, you are right, I might get one.But I do have aGM328Aon order, I plan to flash it with thefirmwaredescribed hereand I hope its performance will make it a useful tool, if not the most precise one.Quick note for the MSO5074 MSO capabilities : a fellow inmate isselling cheap probeswhich I may get.JBC CD 2SQE looks awesome, but probably above my price point. The Atten ST-862D however is okay pricewise, but it is difficult to compete with the price of a AT-858D and its clones :Considering I will have a very occasional use. I also like that they are smaller (space is an issue). I am however concerned about thesafety of these(uncontrolled supply, many clones everywhere) :I also have a Flir E30bx thatsomehowbecame a E60. It is incredibly sensitive and a very useful tool (I used it to diagnose a power loss of around 1mA @ 12V, I could see the 0603 resistor dissipating it glow).PS: Putting some efforts to put some links, to helps the newbies that might come around here

author: JimKnopf
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 19, 2020, 06:40:44 am
content: Yes indeed, the price for a 858 clone is very low. But also the quality is very low. I recommend increasing fire insurance when using an 858 clone.I used a cheap ZD-912 combo soldering station for more than 10 years until i despaired of a board that absorbs more heat than this soldering station could do.I gave a 858D clone a try. I only heated them up once and quickly repacked and sold them.My risk appetite and the quality of this hotair station did not match. I then bought the ST-862D and i'm very happy with it. That is a very different quality level.My thermal camera is a CAT S60 phone which has a FLIR sensor. Not the best one but good enough for my needs and cheap (200 Euro by second hand). The benefit is, it needs very few space.