Electronics Lab

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Hi Everyone,
i am starting an electronics lab for myself. I have come up with the
most basic things that I would need and I will be grateful if you guys
can suggest adding or deleting the list from your experience. thanks

List:
Breadboard (Is is advisable to buy self powered or buying a separate
power supply?)
Multimeter
Wire kit/jumpers
Oscilloscope (What are the cheapest options available?)
About the components i am going to buy them as I make circuits.

Your suggestions are most welcome. Thanks

 

[redbelly]

Add a soldering kit to the list.

 

[Matt J. McCullar]

I'd recommend a solderless breadboard that comes with an internal power
supply that's variable. Often it will have two separate adjustable
supplies, so you can use them for circuits that require positive and
negative voltages, such as op-amps. Such a breadboard will likely also come
with an internal function generator, which produces several different
waveforms (sine, square, triangle) whose frequency you can also adjust.
This greatly simplifies things. Heathkit made some very good ones, and
perhaps you can find one on eBay. But of course plenty of other
manufacturers made such items.

 

[David L. Jones]

Hi Everyone,
i am starting an electronics lab for myself. I have come up with the
most basic things that I would need and I will be grateful if you guys
can suggest adding or deleting the list from your experience. thanks

List:
Breadboard (Is is advisable to buy self powered or buying a separate
power supply?)

Make that plural - power supplies.
You can never have too many power supplies. External ones are better.
Make sure you get one at least one with adjustable current limiting,
makes it harder to blow stuff up! :->
+/-0 to 15V @ 1A adjustable, and several fixed voltages (+5V 2A, +12V
2A) are the minimum you'll need.

Multimeter

Get one that measures capacitors. Inductance can be handy too.

Wire kit/jumpers
Oscilloscope (What are the cheapest options available?)

Second hand on eBay is the best option.
A 20MHz dual channel analog is a basic requirement, although 50-100MHz
ones can be had cheaply too, some people even throw them out. If you
ask nicely on the groups telling them what a keen beginner you are you
might get one for nothing! ;-)

Remember that you won't be able to view a 20MHz square wave on a 20MHz
scope!

About the components i am going to buy them as I make circuits.

Your suggestions are most welcome. Thanks

Add a function generator (sine/square/triange to say 2MHz).
A logic probe if you work a lot with digital stuff.

You basically need the ability to generate signals, view signals,
measure stuff, and power stuff. That is covered with those 4 basic
instruments mentioned.

On the component side, get lots of "kits" and "grab bags" that have 10
or 100 of every value.

Dave