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== Good equipment to buy when getting started == | == Good equipment to buy when getting started == | ||
| − | Getting started with electronics design takes buying some equipment, but it can be confusing what to buy. I'm going to list here some of the items that I thought were helpful getting started. For all equipment and especially components salvage can be a nice cheap way to acquire stuff see: [[Salvage Topics]]. | + | Getting started with electronics design takes buying some equipment, but it can be confusing what to buy. I'm going to list here some of the items that I thought were helpful getting started. For all equipment and especially components salvage can be a nice cheap way to acquire stuff see: [[Salvage Topics]]. |
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== Breadboard with Power Supply == | == Breadboard with Power Supply == | ||
| − | Most people start with electronics by connecting up circuits on a breadboard. A breadboard is great for trying out circuits before moving to more permanent construction techniques such as perfboard or custom PCBs. A battery can be a simple | + | Most people start with electronics by connecting up circuits on a breadboard. A breadboard is great for trying out circuits before moving to more permanent construction techniques such as perfboard or custom PCBs. A battery can be a simple power supply, but to avoid replacing then you can probably find a wall transformer of a reasonable voltage and current capacity. The specs are almost always on the unit. They are pretty safe, unless something really goes wrong you are kept from the mains voltage, and most are ul labeled. |
== Soldering Iron == | == Soldering Iron == | ||
The pencil type are probably the way to go. For most electronics a tip about as fine as a blunt pencil is useful. They can be very cheap, but the more expensive ones are better, particularity if they have a thermostat and/or power control. Guns types can be used, but waiting for them to warm up quickly becomes a pain ( 30 seconds over and over ) and many are too big for electronics work. You can start cheap and work up later. An important tip is keep the tip clean. | The pencil type are probably the way to go. For most electronics a tip about as fine as a blunt pencil is useful. They can be very cheap, but the more expensive ones are better, particularity if they have a thermostat and/or power control. Guns types can be used, but waiting for them to warm up quickly becomes a pain ( 30 seconds over and over ) and many are too big for electronics work. You can start cheap and work up later. An important tip is keep the tip clean. | ||
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== Spools of wire == | == Spools of wire == | ||
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== Multimeter == | == Multimeter == | ||
| − | Radio Shack is a good source of cheap multimeters. | + | Radio Shack is a good source of cheap multimeters. |
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== Oscilloscope == | == Oscilloscope == | ||
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== Storage compartments == | == Storage compartments == | ||
| − | As more components are bought, it becomes necessary to store all the components in an organized way and storage compartments are very helpful. These can be bought at the local home improvement or hardware store. | + | As more components are bought, it becomes necessary to store all the components in an organized way and storage compartments are very helpful. These can be bought at the local home improvement or hardware store. |
== Resistor kit == | == Resistor kit == | ||
| − | It's important to have a lot of different resistor values around as it's almost impossible to buy the correct values in advance. Digikey sells resistors in kits that have a small number of all the standard resistor values | + | It's important to have a lot of different resistor values around as it's almost impossible to buy the correct values in advance. Digikey sells resistors in kits that have a small number of all the standard resistor values. |
== Capacitor kit == | == Capacitor kit == | ||
| − | Capacitors are like resistors. You need a large number of values. Digikey also sells capacitor kits in addition to the resistor kits | + | Capacitors are like resistors. You need a large number of values. Digikey also sells capacitor kits in addition to the resistor kits. |
== Microcontroller Programmer/ICD == | == Microcontroller Programmer/ICD == | ||
