Excellence on a shoestring budget? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: miceuz
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2014, 01:45:35 pm
content: I'm looking for projects/products that achieve outstanding results while being cheap/not astronomically expensive. You know, the right sweet spot between all the compromises you have to take and functionality/quality you achieve.I understand that any product, that goes to market, has this property to some degree, but I'm looking for really shining examples. Please share if you know them!

author: SArepairman
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2014, 02:27:01 pm
content: the 60-90$ hot air tools that everyone hasrigol 1052eevery equipment dave jones recommends that does not have a major brand name association

author: 6E5
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2014, 12:40:25 am
content: One piece of kit that no one seems to recommenced is a soldering gun. An old used Weller 8200 soldering gun, which is about $20 on eBay.Trust me, when you need to solder to a big chassis or heatsink ground, nothing will beat 140 watts flowing through a thin copper bus.

author: Fsck
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2014, 12:49:11 am
content: Quote from: 6E5 on April 16, 2014, 12:40:25 amor, you could just preheat the area with a heat gun.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2014, 01:02:28 am
content: A RTL SDR costs only $15 or so yet makes a spectrum analyzer good enough for many hobby uses. Add a modified 2.4GHz video receiver (just tap off the IF which is a few hundred MHz) and it will be very useful in the 2.4GHz band.Radioshack sells a $60 AC/DC clamp meter that has proven itself to be more or less essential for working on automotive, computer, and alternative energy equipment. I did a teardown (https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/radio-shack-22-172-dc-clamp-meter-reviewteardown/) and found a jumper wire inside that might compromise its CAT rating, so I wouldn't recommend it for checking voltage in hybrid/EV or other high voltage battery banks. (Though you probably want a CAT IV rated meter for that and the Radio shack is only CAT III.)Most Harbor Freight hand tools are very good value. Their multimeters are no good for serious uses (but can still be handy for less critical uses), but their IR thermometers and digital calipers are built very well. Someone did a teardown of one of their power inverters and found it to be basically the same build quality as other consumer market inverters. (In other words, only use less than half the listed capacity and they'll likely last a long time.)

author: 6E5
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2014, 01:55:29 am
content: Quote from: Fsck on April 16, 2014, 12:49:11 amSure, but this method is more direct and quicker, especially when you're talking about 10 pounds of a 18 gauge steel chassis. Also, a soldering gun is much cheaper than a good heat gun.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2014, 02:04:53 am
content: Well, I think the OP means projects & products but not just test gear.My favorite (even if it wasn't excellence because the manufacturer's started to cut cost way too early):C64 - DTV by Jeri Ellsworthhttp://www.richardlagendijk.nl/cip/article/item/c64dtv/enAnd I wish her luck on her castAR project.http://technicalillusions.com/And if you lurk the forum, would love to see another video on your channel specially if it has not much to do with the castAR, but you are probably just too busy with your new endeavor.

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2014, 02:05:39 am
content: T-pinsNeed to connect through the backside of a connector, poke through a wire?http://www.ebay.ca/itm/331132256777?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649Often used for automotive and heavy equipment troubleshooting. Easy to clip to.

author: N2IXK
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2014, 02:40:49 am
content: My best suggestion for excellent performance on a shoestring budget? Vintage Test Gear!If you are willing to deal with equipment that is larger, heavier and uses a bit more power than the newest stuff, you can get the very same stuff from Tektronix, HP, General Radio, etc. that only the corporate labs or government agencies could afford 20 or more years ago. Stuff that the average hobbyist could only dream of a generation ago is available at hamfests, flea markets and eBay for little more than scrap metal value. In addition to excellent performance, most older test gear is well-documented, and uses a lot of off-the-shelf parts, so it it can actually be repaired, because---it was designed that way!

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2014, 04:54:09 am
content: The Rigol Ds1074Z.

author: 6E5
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2014, 05:40:24 am
content: Quote from: N2IXK on April 16, 2014, 02:40:49 amExactly, for example, just last week I picked up a general radio 1652A resistance bridge for $25, while it cost over $500 in the mid 1960's.Good hp sine and square wave generators such as the 204 are about $30 on eBay if you shop around.Tek 465 is about $100, which was a great scope back in it's day.All of the hp equipment, except for their early digital scopes, are worth having on the bench.

author: lowimpedance
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2014, 05:50:03 am
content: Quote from: Fsck on April 16, 2014, 12:49:11 amOR just use the right tool for the job.And a decent power soldering iron should be included in your lab toolkit.Not for your average PCB job.

author: Dago
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 16, 2014, 07:38:53 am
content: Quote from: 6E5 on April 16, 2014, 12:40:25 amOr just get a proper soldering iron like JBC or Metcal which can slam 150W out if needed

author: zapta
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 17, 2014, 11:43:30 pm
content: Here is one, a computer for $3, including shipping to your home.http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/271251071444?lpid=82

author: pickle9000
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 18, 2014, 12:09:30 am
content: Quote from: zapta on April 17, 2014, 11:43:30 pmThose are so handy.