Lab equipment for microcontroller and FPGA experimentation - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: lse
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: May 25, 2020, 08:15:31 am
content: Looking for recommendations on equipment to buy to start a home lab for microcontroller (and to a lesser extent FPGA) experimentation. Most of my interests are in home automation (Z-Wave, ESP8266), IoT and LoRaWAN. While I have put together many circuits on breadboards, I'd like to learn more so I can try more creative projects, get PBCs fabricated and troubleshoot issues.In terms of equipment I only have an old portable digital multimeter and a new soldering station at present. While I can use those fine, I have zero experience with more specialised equipment. Reading other posts it seems the recommended equipment prioritisation is portable digital multimeter, oscilloscope, signal generator, variable power supply, but it gets unclear after that.I'd rather buy gear in Australia that has a local warranty, as I don't have enough expertise to troubleshoot issues.I see Emona have a $1999 Rigol "work from home"bundleconsisting of a DS-1202Z-E, DG-1022Z and DP-832. I'm unclear which probes the DS-1202Z-E come with or what extras should be added. While I watched an EEV video and DP-832 with 1mV resolution upgrade was preferred (over DP-832A), the latter comes with LAN access (like all the other units in the bundle) and I assume that would make firmware upgrades and wider integration easier. I also assume I need a higher precision bench multimeter, so perhaps the DM-3058? I'm OK to spend enough to get a solution that is fit for purpose, but as I'm just a hobbyist I don't want to go overboard.Any suggestions most appreciated.

author: Dave
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2020, 08:42:24 am
content: Buy the equipment you need now and not something you might need 5 years down the line.A nice power supply and a decent handheld multimeter will take you very far with embedded development. Then you can buy a scope and/or logic analyzer, but only when you actually have a need for them.You don't need a precision bench multimeter for digital stuff.

author: Ice-Tea
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2020, 08:46:22 am
content: Quote from: lse on May 25, 2020, 08:15:31 amNot really sure a FG should be top of your list? For the kind of work you're looking into, a logic analyzer would make more sense. I'd look at a Saleae or; *ahem*, some of the eBay designs 'inspired' by them.QuoteIt comes with decent 'standard' probes, which is fine. You may want think about 2 vs 4 channels, though... Not gonna advise you either way, you can fill pages with a discussion like that, but ask yourself the question at least.QuoteWhy? What do you think you need to measure that you can't right now? I'm not saying it's a bad idea, but ask yourself the *why* question first.

author: MarkF
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2020, 11:58:30 am
content: I would save my money and just get a 4-ch scope and a power supply.You WILL want a 4 channel scope with SPI and I2C decoding for MCU work.From the interests you mentioned, it is unlikely you will need a signal generator for a long time.Look at just the DS1054Z, DP832(or A) and a 2nd DMM.Or a cheaper start:Analog Discovery 2 Pro BundleUltimate Analog Discovery 2 Bundle

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2020, 02:22:25 pm
content: I am going to echo the Analog Discovery 2 device since it has just about everything you will need for low voltage, low frequency work. However, there's nothing wrong with your shopping list except I would substitute either the Rigol DS1054Z or Siglent SDS1104X-E for the scope to get 4 channels. I have the Rigol, today I would probably buy the Siglent and unlock 200 MHz capability, details elsewhere...I wouldn't spend any time deciding between the DP832 and DP832A. You can always unlock the DP832 features to match the DP832A if you deem the features 'necessary'. I don't and I haven't. It's a power supply, not a signal generator. Close enough had better be good enough or there is something seriously wrong with the design.I have been playing with this stuff for more than 60 years and I managed to avoid buying a bench supply for about 58 of them. Wall warts work well, simple fixed voltage power supplies work fine, batteries will also work. The idea that I need a continuously variable supply of 0-30V (with mV resolution) at 3A is ludicrous. It seems to be a stake in the ground that everybody wants to buy to but they have no idea why. Fixed 1A supplies at +-15V (op amps), +12V (just because), +5V and +3V are entirely adequate - for what I do.These are pretty nice +5 and +3.3V power supplies for breadboards, all you need is a 9V wall wart to feed themhttps://www.ebay.com/i/353073453249Put off buying stuff until you absolutely need it. Unless, of course, money is no issue. Then buy what you want as soon as you want it and forget about 'need'.

author: rstofer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 25, 2020, 02:42:58 pm
content: I didn't talk much about the AD2 because 'somebody' has anointed me "AD2 Team Coach" (in jest, of course!) and I thought I should dial it back a notch. The thing is, the AD2 is a complete bench in a very small package. Just add in a PC with 27" monitor and you have a pretty full lab. Or just a laptop or even a Raspberry Pi 4 with <whatever> monitor. Or, and this is cool, run the Waveforms software on the Pi, debugging a project connected to the Pi and control it from a laptop using VNC which is a complete 'grab' of the Pi desktop. It's as close to magic as you can get! You can interact with your 'lab' project while sipping margaritas on the patio. Truth told, I prefer Miller Genuine Draft... And it is Memorial Day!I'm not going to spend a lot of pixels reposting what I have already written in the very recent past but it is worth noting that the gadget has a 2 channel scope, a 2 channel arbitrary waveform generator, a 2 channel adjustable power supply and 16 bits of digital IO that can function as a logic analyzer and decode common protocols.This webinar might be fun:https://mautic.digilentinc.com/analog-discovery-2-remote-webinarRead the specs carefully, there's some interesting capabiltiyhttps://store.digilentinc.com/analog-discovery-2-100msps-usb-oscilloscope-logic-analyzer-and-variable-power-supply/Or, search on my username with the string AD2 and you'll run across quite a bit of stuff I have written on the subject in the last month. Or search for the string '50' (no quotes) with my user name and follow the links to 4 simple examples I posted. Pay attention to the part where these examples are very difficult to replicate on conventional tools. Yet, somehow, they seem important - at least to me!Or, search YouTube for videos. In fact, Dave did a video on the device.

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2020, 04:16:30 am
content: What sort of budget do you have in mind?Building your own adjustable power supply is a popular beginners project.It can be as simple as a LM317 with a few passive components, but I would at least add a decent adjustable current limit.for microcontroller stuff, I make more use of my Logic Analyser then my Rigol oscilloscope.Saleaeae have priced themself out of the market, and they also stopped selling the "simple" version years ago, which is all you need.Instead, use Sigrok with any of the small LA boxes from China with a Cypress CY7C68013A.These boxes are simply a no brainer. Buy 2 or 3 so you have a spare if you accidentally demolish them. Such a Logic Analyser is easier to use than an oscilloscope.

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 28, 2020, 06:49:40 am
content: Quote from: lse on May 25, 2020, 08:15:31 amIf the home automation involves controlling mains equipment, make very sure you understand how you can do things dangerously. (And avoid those, naturally!)Key points: don't float the scope, and don't use a *10/*1 "high" impedance probe on the mains. FFI, see the refs athttps://entertaininghacks.wordpress.com/library-2/scope-probe-reference-material/