Essential list of (home) lab equipment? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: Bonker
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 20, 2011, 08:49:43 pm
content: I'm looking for a prioritized list of inexpensive lab equipment so I can effectively work on guitar amps and effects and also play with various TI MSP430 projects. Does anyone have a link or suggestions? I'd be most grateful!

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 20, 2011, 08:55:15 pm
content: Did you check out Dave's video about starting a home lab?

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2011, 08:55:35 pm
content: Dave made a whole video about it. Unfortunately there are now 200+ videoshttp://www.eevblog.com/so you should reserve a few minutes of your time searching for it.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 20, 2011, 09:56:01 pm
content: The most essential piece of equipment is a coffee mug.After that you could find what suits you by viewing Video #168 and by looking throughhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=3257.0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_PbjbRaO2E&feature=player_embedded#!

author: Bonker
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 20, 2011, 10:04:58 pm
content: That's exactly what I was looking for! Thanks for the help!

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 20, 2011, 10:15:06 pm
content: Tip #1 - SMF has a pretty good search function.Tip #2 - The SMF seach option at top right is there to waste your time. Use Search from the menu bar.

author: ToBeFrank
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2011, 01:40:34 am
content: Quote from: Uncle Vernon on September 20, 2011, 10:15:06 pmI've never encountered a forum search that doesn't suck. I always use Google (provided the person who set up the forum was smart enough to turn on search engine indexing). For example, guess what the first result is when doing the following search?"home lab site:eevblog.com/forum"

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2011, 02:15:32 am
content: Quote from: Uncle Vernon on September 20, 2011, 10:15:06 pmit worked for me from forum home. but search option from a thread is sh*t

author: DrGeoff
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 21, 2011, 03:41:58 am
content: Depends on exactly what you plan to do with the amps and effects. Build them? Repair them?There's no such thing as an 'ideal' lab. You get what you need to do the job. As a minimum for audio work you'll need sig gens, meters (DMM and audio millivoltmeter), scope and power sources. Then you can usually make up other test jigs and equipment you need.

author: Ronnie
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2011, 04:44:18 am
content: Quote from: DrGeoff on September 21, 2011, 03:41:58 amSince I don't have a budget yet for a sig gen I use a CD player and test CD like LaserTrack CD2000http://testdisc.innuity.com/store/item/8680/Audio_Test_CDs_Software/Lasertrak_CD2000_Audio_System_Test_CD.htmlas a makeshift signal generator though you don't have the capability to adjust amplitude and frequency of the sine wave.

author: DrGeoff
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2011, 04:55:37 am
content: It may do in a pinch, but for most audio work you also need to test outside the audio 20-20k bandwidth. It is unlikely that your CD can produce a 100kHz since wave. Also likely to not be very sine-wave like even at 20kHz.You can build your own Wein-bridge sine wave oscillator for vey little. You don't need to go and buy one.

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 23, 2011, 12:05:56 pm
content: Quote from: Bonker on September 20, 2011, 08:49:43 pmA variac can be handy for fixing audio power amplifiers (linear, not switching)You can bring the mains up slowly and watch for excess current draw before it blows stuff up.

author: Snapcase
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 29, 2011, 11:32:41 am
content: A Variac is a great thing. It's been always in my wish list.... I use the light bulb trick which is nice, so I haven't bought a variac yet... Some day.Try the light bulb "current limiting" thing. It's a very useful dirty cheap gadget.I work in audio gear also, as a hobbyist. Guitar tube amps and any kind of outboard studio gear. If dealing with amps, follow Dave's recommendations. Almost all the gear and tools he mentions is worthy in any audio gear related lab. But also, make some dummy loads from good reliable power resistors (or a single switchable/rewireable one), grab a good old analog scope for cheap and save a few bucks. You won't need latest sophisticated "Nasa level" scope for this.About the signal generator you won't need a sophisticated one. Driving sine waves is more than enough for this task. You can also check the Hoffman amps site for that kind of DIY "sthetoscope amp" for specific testing driving the circuit with actual guitar signal instead of sine waves to actually hear what's going on in any part of the amp. Sine waves are great for initial tests, diagnosis and repairs, but they tell only a little about sound or complex signals like guitars signals are, as well as how good or bad a particular overdrive/distortion/non-linearity sound to our ears. So for setup and tweaks this is a great tool that can be made of a cheapo second hand amp. Those weird amps that nobody seems to want and sell for peanuts.This is a non sense tool for most audio gear, but guitar amps should play "beautifully crap". That's why we love 'em.

author: AlsInd
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 03, 2011, 05:10:00 am
content: just guitar amps & power audio work does not require much from your equipment. i use my old Hitachi analog scope for audio work almost exclusively. i do restore old turntables and tape decks and for that you need a wow & flutter meter too. most good multimeters will be just fine. For non-power work i have a keithley microvolt DVM that comes handy sometimes but not required. For signal generator, i use my PC because i gave my SG to a friend! i also have a frequency meter which is a must if you work on TTs and tape decks. If you are going to work on tubes, you will have high voltage to deal with. Generally speaking, people who work with HV get zapped once and learn to avoid it in the future. My learning episode was years ago when i was 8 years old and was experimenting with mains wiring! Yea... i got shot across a room about 8 meters and never made that mistake again :-) i got almost all of my gear used but to do this you have to be patient. It took me years to build my lab and by the time i started EE at the U. i had a pretty good setup... by the time i started teaching at the U. i had replaced almost all of my childhood gear with better stuff. i am constantly trolling for good deals on test equipment. I sometimes buy dead gear and fix them to keep, sell or give away.cheers :-)al...

author: Bonker
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 13, 2011, 07:19:46 pm
content: Just checking back in. I finally finished all my coursework and I'm officially degree'd!Anyway, as soon as I get a few paychecks from a job I don't have yet, I'll start buffing out my home lab and get this amp and pedal biz going. Again, I really appreciate all the input!