WANTED: electronics lab equipment for a student. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Joshuamcd22
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2014, 08:16:43 am
content: Hi,I am a 16 year old student that it getting into EE... If you want to know a little more about my background, you can read the first post on this thread:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/student-getting-into-ee-any-advice/Anyways, I have a great soldering iron (Weller Soldering Station - WESD51), and thats about it.... I also have a $20 multimeter that works, but its not great.To continue my education in electrical engineering, I want to get as much experience building some more advanced EE projects, to do that I need some more advanced equipment, but my funds are limited... I am hoping someone has some used equipment that they could send my way (to Canada) at a decent price.I am looking for an:OscilloscopeFunction GeneratorVariable Power SupplyAnd a better multimeterThats what I know I need, ie: there are many projects I am interested in doing that would require the above equipment; but there could be more that I don't know I'll need yet, so if anyone has some advice on what equipment to look for, or even has it to sell, I would also appreciate that!Thanks!Josh

author: TheBorg
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2014, 08:56:31 pm
content: ***Off Topic***How do you like your weller? I'm in the market between that and a Hakko 936/937/926/888/888D (any hakko, really :rolleyes:), and I've seen a few newer wellers go for pretty cheap on fleabay...

author: Joshuamcd22
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 26, 2014, 09:25:27 pm
content: Hi,I really like my weller iron, I've used many different high end irons at work (not a hakko though); and the weller, has been just as good, or better, in every case.Josh

author: echen1024
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 27, 2014, 02:10:32 am
content: For 350GBP this one is a PSU and a Function gen. Shipping might kill it though.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/buysellwanted/fs-(uk)-hameg-hmp2020-2-channel-psu-with-arbitrary-waveform-function-as-new/

author: PaulAm
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2014, 03:59:23 pm
content: Build a power supply. It's an easy project, you can scrounge most of the parts from junked materials and you'll build your skill base. There were a couple of schematics for decent power supplies posted on this board. You can make them as fancy or not as your budget allows.

author: eengineer
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2014, 10:47:18 pm
content: I have all of those items that I could probably sell for cheap if you're local. They're older so kinda big and would cost too much for shipping, I'm from MA (USA)

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 28, 2014, 11:26:30 pm
content: When I was around that age I build my own triple PSU with 3 LM317s, a transformer, rectifier, capacitor, etc. I think I still have it somewhere...

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2014, 06:48:37 pm
content: I have the one I built as an apprentice around as well. Must see if I can find it as well.

author: PA4TIM
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 29, 2014, 07:22:13 pm
content: When I started I bought a cheap scope from the dutcg equivalent of craigslist. With some patience you find a scope under 50 dollar and if you have room you often can score a Tek 535 or 545 for free (they were my 2nd and 3rd scope and both on the nomination of being scrapped)That multimeter you have is usable but a second is handy. I had an old fluke 77 I found on a mudtrack covered with mud. That was > 15 years ago and it is still perfect. After that I bought a heathkit VTM for 10 euro. And later some older meters like simpson 260, Philips 25XX models, Unigor, AVO8 , etc you buy those often for less the 10 dollar and they probably are more accurate as that 20 dollar multidigit thing. To be honest, I love those analog meters, have around 30 of them, but only use 2 of them regular for some special tasks. I always have one of them in the living and rotate them. I use them to play a bit and check a battery or so.A powersupply is the best first project and can often be build from junkbox parts. 0-15V or 1,3-15V, maybe a fixed 5V.A simple function generator is also easy. A square upto 200 kHz or so can be made with a comparator , a wiebrug oscillator upto a few 100 kHz too, based on the first HPO one with a lightbulp is very good and educational to build. You use that to trigger a comparator to get a squarwave. If you want more, the datasheet from the very cheap CA3140 opamp describes a compleet and very decent function generator.If you also want to do digital then use an arduino and make a LCR meter with that.There are also lots of nice kits for sale at ebay. DDS generators, LCR meters, counters, transistor testers etcThat way you can start and learn a lot at the same time.. And if you want to upgrade you allready know what is important for you.

author: cellularmitosis
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: January 30, 2014, 12:51:47 am
content: I'd second the advice of finding some simple schematics of the things you want and try building themEven if it doesn't work, you'll learn a ton! And the friendly guys on this forum will very likely stick with you until you get it working.I was in the middle of building an LM317-based supply when I came across a $50 bench supply (the CSI1802X) on ebay which included a schematic. It turns out it was the bog-standard op-amp / pass-transistor architecture, which I was planning on attempting to build after I had finished my LM317 supply. On top of that, because it was so cheap, the schematic was very minimalist, which made it easier to follow, and they used only jellybean parts which I already have on hand! I think I might put my LM317 on hold and see if I can whip together a DIY supply built around their schematic this weekend. Should be fun!Here it is:http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bench-Power-Supply-0-2Amp-0-18VDC-Adjustable-DC-Regulated-CSI1802X-/380685731723The re-seller's page:http://www.circuitspecialists.com/bench-power-supply-csi1802x.htmlThe schematic:http://www.circuitspecialists.com/pdf/1802X_schematic.pdfA forum thread about it:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/insides-of-a-0-18v-2a-power-supply-the-csi1802x/After that I think I'll try building my own function-gen around an XR2206 chip (a $3 chip). I think I'll try this schematic:http://electronics-diy.com/Function_Generator_XR2206.phpActually, I might end up buying one of those CSI1802X just to start hacking on it (e.g., remove the pots, throw in an Atmel and a DAC and a keypad and see if I can make a programmable supply! Interface it to my laptop over I2C and run sweeps of voltage and current to characterize some parts! super fun hacks!).Hmm, maybe I'll combine the two and insert a function-gen into the feedback loop of that CSI1802X. It would be neat to stack a square wave on top of 12V DC running at over an amp...