New electronics lab build - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: rhb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2020, 11:16:23 pm
content: I'm finally getting started on building a new lab in my shop building. The lab will be fully shielded with 26 gauge galvanized steel sheet, soldered along all seams with full EMI treatment of all wires coming in. It will also have it's own dedicated HVAC mini-split zone.I'm putting ESD sheet on the floors and benchtops. The benches will be a custom build with racks for working gear above bench height and storage for parts mules below the bench. Walls will be insulated and covered on the inside with 1/4" gypsum board. This is in addition to the HVAC and insulation for the whole building. The lab will be held as close to constant temperature as possible while the building will be allowed a wider range.I've priced materials and expect the build to cost around $5-6K including the HVAC. Flooring is around $1200-1500 and steel sheet and studs about the same.Dimensions are still a bit ambiguous as I'll need to assemble the long shelve on the RHS to know the actual dimensions. This is the best guess from looking at the disassembled pieces and the available space. Entance is on the bottom between the two shelves outside the lab.As this is a major build, I thought I'd document what does and does not work. Dimensions shown are in inches.Have Fun!Reg

author: wizard69
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 06, 2020, 11:49:08 pm
content: I think a bigger room would better serve your interests. For one you really want access to the back of the benches/shelves even if that is only from the left and right sides. Soldering galvanized will be problematic, you might be better off buying large sheets rolled up to minimize seams, then rivet those seams.As for room size, making such a room is expensive and frankly storage inside the room might not be a good idea. I'd only place critical storage inside such a room, maybe a tool box. These days room for a large screen TV doesn't hurt either.It might be worth considering an L shape arraignment of the benches as they make movement from one bench to the other easily. The worse aspect of an L shaped arrangement is the access to one corner. Also you can extend storage shelving off one bench end and free up wall space on the opposite side.

author: rhb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2020, 02:01:36 am
content: The room size is constrained by the partitioning of my 1530 sq ft shop building. I have a lot of wood and metal working machines and other tools to accommodate. There is no option for changing shape and only inches for changing dimension.I would prefer to have parts and books immediately to hand. The two benches will be on casters to allow easily moving one for access to the back of the bench.There is nothing problematic about soldering galvanized steel. 4' x 8' sheets are cheap. Custom sizes are *very* expensive. The sheets will be riveted to metal studs before soldering.What the hell would I want a TV for?But what can I say, maybe I've got it all wrong. I just thought I'd document my mistakes.Have Fun!Reg

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2020, 04:01:48 am
content: What's the EMI shielding intended for? Successfully sealing the room and especially openings could be bothersome and depending on what you introduce it may not yield the desired result. Add a few wall outlets, led lights and switching supplies in lab gear and you may end where you started.

author: rhb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2020, 11:52:54 am
content: It's primarily to keep out the local AM radio transmitter which is about 2 miles away and the VHF traffic from the airstrip 300 ft away. But also to simplify eliminating EMI from lighting and other sources. From reading the installation manual for the mini-split system, I'm expecting that to be a significant EMI issue.It's a PTSD thing. I lived a mile or two from a 250kW FM tower in Austin, TX. I built a 120 dB gain AF amp for a DC receiver. With a speaker connected I could listen to the FM station by holding my finger close to the unterminated inputs.I got so frustrated by the high RF levels that having a shielded lab has been very high on my bucket list ever since. It's finally about to happen after all these years.I have to build a tight room to keep sawdust out of the test gear anyway. In any case, I'm not expecting getting things quiet will be quick or easy. That's the reason for taking the time to document the project.I've got a 2.5 kVA isolation transformer for the power feed. There won't be *any* wall outlets. All the power feeds to my current bench are in steel conduit to the IEC connector all the way from the wall outlet. That was motivated by the immense amount of SMPS EMI coming from the back and sides of my Instek DSO and the crazy thick mat of power cords I had using a power strip.Have Fun!Reg