Learning the Art of Electronics: Choosing Test Equipment - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: tunkatunk
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 26, 2018, 09:12:11 pm
content: Hi y'all,I'm planning to work my way through LTAoE, however, I need advice regarding what test equipment I should acquire. From my initial research, it appears that I need an oscilloscope, a power supply, and a signal generator. Have I forgotten any other essentials?Reading through previous posts, I found that the following device was recommended:Analog Discovery 2https://store.digilentinc.com/analog-discovery-2-100msps-usb-oscilloscope-logic-analyzer-and-variable-power-supply/However, the post was from 2016 and I was curious whether there are better options available now.Thanks for your time!

author: NegativeONE
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2018, 09:18:14 pm
content: Hi there, welcome to the forum.You forget the most important tool: The multimeterIn this episode Dave explained how to set up basic electronics lab:

author: TK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2018, 09:56:06 pm
content: I think it is better to buy old test equipment from eBay. You can still use them after learning and have lab quality instruments. If you buy the analog discovery 2 (which is not cheap), you will get stuck with so so quality equipment and it is not easy to sell it used.

author: tunkatunk
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 26, 2018, 10:10:55 pm
content: Yeah, after watching the video and additional reading, buying used / cheaper equipment appears to be the right move. I was thinking about picking up the oscilloscope (Rigol DS1052E) suggested in the video. However, in regard to the power supply and signal generator, I'm lost trying to determine whether cheaper units will do the trick. For instance, will the following signal generator get the job done?:https://www.amazon.com/kuman-FY2202SP-Channel-Function-Generator/dp/B01A0TSHR8/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1522102131&sr=8-6&keywords=signal+generator

author: NegativeONE
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2018, 10:21:54 pm
content: IMHO you should star with buying 2 DMMs, instead of DS1052E buy DS1054Z, power supply and a good soldering iron. At this point instead of signal generator buy a few 555 timers, op-amps like LM324 and few other components - play with them and build your own signal generator.

author: TK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2018, 10:24:50 pm
content: Don't buy the Rigol DS1052E. You can get the DS1054Z for $279 from the rigolna clearance center (https://www.rigolna.com/clearance/).I have the HP 6236B triple output power supply, you can get it for around $60-$80. Just be patient with eBay. It is better to start with a cheap Wall DC Power supply (9V or 12V) and build your own power supply using the old 7805, 7809 and some capacitors. You can even make a variable power supply with LM317T. It is part of the learning experience.Get some breadboards, jumper wires or pre-formed jumper wires, a box of common electronics components (resistors, capacitors, transistors, some basic ICs)

author: tunkatunk
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 26, 2018, 10:46:28 pm
content: Got it - I'll go for clearance DS1054Z instead.Great idea regarding building my own signal generator and power supply - I'll start looking into that.Yeah, I've been taking a controls class for my chemical engineering curriculum, so I've acquired a decent amount of electronic components (resistors, capacitors, transistors, diodes, motors, ICs), jumper wires, and breadboards. I've enjoyed it so far and want to go further.

author: Jwillis
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 26, 2018, 10:56:14 pm
content: That Kuman sig gen is the same as the Feeltech. I don't know if they have ever resolved the leaky SMP inside or not .Anyone know?Anyway a few people here are working on alternate linear supplies for those makes, if your interested.Maybe someone could give you advice on that subject.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 12:25:39 am
content: If you go for the Analog Discovery 2, you will probably have to modify the experiments or provide an external power supply for the project. There is also a wall wart adapter for the AD2 if you need more current but it is still only good up to 5V. There are lots of 3-output supplies if they become necessary.There is no other $279 piece of equipment that will even come close to what you get with the AD2. Most, who haven't used it, consider it a toy. I have used it and the more I use it the better I like it. Sure, I have scopes (DS1054Z and Tek 485) and a great signal generator (Siglent SDG 2082X) along with a couple of bench DMMs and a half dozen other DMMs. NONE of these compare to the utility of the AD2 within its range.For "how is this for cool?", look at the new breadboard adapter. The breadboard isn't shown on the page but it comes with the kit. Now you can build your experiments on a breadboard that plugs right into the AD2. I picked up a couple of these last week. They're great!https://store.digilentinc.com/breadboard-adapter-for-analog-discovery/With the AD2, you get 2 waveform generators, 2 differential input scope channels, 16 digital signals that can be used as a logic analyzer, dual adjustable +-5V power supply and a list of features that will replace a barn full of discrete instruments.https://store.digilentinc.com/analog-discovery-2-100msps-usb-oscilloscope-logic-analyzer-and-variable-power-supply/As a start to a lab, this is quite a nice piece of equipment. Sure, you probably don't want to use it on high voltage circuits and you need to pay attention to what you are doing but, within its limitations, there is nothing else like it!See how far you get with a Bode' plot on a scope. Yes, you can sort of hack the amplitude display but I have yet to see a phase shift track. Nor is the scope calibrated as to frequency, you have to pencil-whip it. Want a great FFT? Some scopes, maybe, can do something along those lines. Not many of them do it as well as the AD2.Still in school? The AD2 fits in a backpack, right next to the laptop or Surface Book/Pro. It's pretty nice for 'show and tell'.When somebody says "no" to the AD2, ask them how long they have been USING theirs. HAVING isn't the same as USING!When it comes time to bashing together some kind of circuit, I doubt there is anything faster. It may not seem important at the moment but those scope channels are fully differential - they are not ground referenced unless you use the BNC adapter. I recommend the adapter under some circumstances but it adds a ground reference to the negative side of each scope channel. That makes the channels work the same as any other scope. There are advantages to differential channels.Especially for students, I highly recommend the AD2. A full featured lab can wait...

author: tunkatunk
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 01:20:10 am
content: Well, I won't be a student anymore starting in May. So I'll be looking for a new hobby and building a lab may be more practical in that case.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 02:31:27 am
content: If you have no ability to measure inductance, capacitance or ESR (among the functions sometimes missing from multimeters) an LCR meter is handy.I'd suggest on a very strict budget go for a cheapChinese component testerand if you have a hundred or so spare get a DER EE DE5000 LCR Meter which gives you accuracy and multi frequency ability. The reason you may want both is the Chinese component testers can do transistors as well which is handy.

author: Old Printer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 03:26:07 am
content: Love my AD2. Within the limitations of it's bandwidths it seems like it can do most anything. The AWG section is very flexible. As a pure bench power supply there are many affordable alternatives. After a couple months of combing ebay I have picked up two nice old HP6216A's. They are built like tanks and will give me + & - 25V supplies @ half an amp. If you have the room the GW Instek 3020's are plentiful and in good shape. The TEK CPS250 also badged as BK 1651 are popping up. A nice mid sized bench supply with two 24V half amp plus a fixed 5V @ 4 amp. These units are going for $50-$75 shipped if you shop carefully. At these prices it is difficult to recommending someone build their own PS.

author: tunkatunk
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 08:35:50 pm
content: So I've managed to pick up a clearance Rigol DS1054Z, a HP 6236B double outlet power supply, and I already have a 2 DMMs (one quality, one cheap). I'm left to decide on a signal generator. Would doing my own build be a appropriate route, or should I just buy one?

author: TK
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2018, 10:50:32 pm
content: Quote from: tunkatunk on March 27, 2018, 08:35:50 pmIt is a triple output power supply. 0-6V 2.5A, 0 +/- 20V 0.5A

author: Old Printer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 01:33:44 am
content: That is a nice solid PS. The nice thing about HP supplies is the quality of the manuals. I was easily able to find what boarders on a service manual for the 6216's I picked up. Also for the BK 1651 because TEK sold the same unit as their CPS250. They put together a very detailed service manual with schematics for a unit they did not even manufacture themselves.

author: tunkatunk
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 28, 2018, 04:53:42 am
content: Yeah whoops, I misspoke regarding the power supply. Any thoughts on the signal generator?

author: Old Printer
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: March 29, 2018, 01:38:57 am
content: Older analog signal gens are going really cheap, depending of course on your needs. Arbitrary wave gens are a bit more complicated. A unit like the one I attached can be had for $30 or so.