Difference between revisions of "Hardware tool"

From OpenCircuits
Jump to navigation Jump to search
(New page: Getting started with electronics design takes buying some equiptment, but it can be confusing what to buy. I'm going to list here some of the items that I throught were helpful getting st...)
 
Line 1: Line 1:
 
Getting started with electronics design takes buying some equiptment, but it can be confusing what to buy.  I'm going to list here some of the items that I throught were helpful getting started.
 
Getting started with electronics design takes buying some equiptment, but it can be confusing what to buy.  I'm going to list here some of the items that I throught were helpful getting started.
  
1.  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.
+
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.
  
2.  Spools of wire
 
  
    Wire is available as stranded or solid.  Solid works best with boardboards and perfboards.  Stranded works best when creating cables for interboard connections.
+
== Spools of wire ==
  
3A Multimeter
+
Wire is available as stranded or solidSolid works best with boardboards and perfboards.  Stranded works best when creating cables for interboard connections.
  
    Radio Shack is a good source of cheap multimeters. 
 
  
4.  An oscilloscope
+
== Multimeter ==
  
    An oscilloscope is critical for debugging analog circuits or communication protocols.  I prefer PC based oscilloscopes since they are cheaper then dedicated equiptment and are more automated then a traditional phosphor oscilloscopeParallax makes a very cheap low end PC based oscilloscope that is great for getting started.
+
Radio Shack is a good source of cheap multimeters.   
  
    [http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=28014]
+
== Oscilloscope ==
  
5Storeage compartments
+
An oscilloscope is critical for debugging analog circuits or communication protocolsI prefer PC based oscilloscopes since they are cheaper then dedicated equiptment and are more automated then a traditional phosphor oscilloscope.  Parallax makes a very cheap low end PC based oscilloscope that is great for getting started.
  
    As more components are bought, it becomes necessary to store all the components in an organized way and storage compartments are very helpfull. These can be bought at the local home improvement or hardware store.
+
[http://www.parallax.com/detail.asp?product_id=28014]
  
6.  A resistor kit
+
== Storeage compartments ==
  
    It's important to have alot of different resistor values around as it's almost impossible to buy the correct values in advanceDigikey sells resistors in kits that have a small number of all the standard resistor values.
+
As more components are bought, it becomes necessary to store all the components in an organized way and storage compartments are very helpfullThese can be bought at the local home improvement or hardware store.
  
7.  A capacitor kit
+
== Resistor kit ==
  
    Capacitors are like resistors.  You need a large number of values.  Digikey also sells capacitor kits in addition to the resistor kits.
+
It's important to have alot 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.
  
8. Microcontroller Programer/ICD
+
== Capacitor kit ==
  
    Microcontrollers are a great way to get started in digital electronicsThey are essentially a little computer on a single chip.  Unlike large computers these processors usually don't run a full blown operating system so dedicated hardware is used for programming an debuggingIn Circuit Debugging are the prefered way to go for development since it's a huge time saver to be able to program and debug software without needing to pull the chip from the circuit.  Beleve me, spend the extra money it is worth it.
+
Capacitors are like resistorsYou need a large number of valuesDigikey also sells capacitor kits in addition to the resistor kits.
  
9. Development Boards
 
  
  If you are willing to spend some money development boards are a quick way to get started.  They typically have a microcontroller, voltage regulator, some LEDs, and some sensors all on one board.  The downside is that if you break anything on the board you have to buy a whole new board.  With descrete components only the broken part needs to be replaced.  On the other hand, more and more components are only available in surface mount packages which almost require a custom PCB to use at all.  ARM processors are relatively powerfull microcontroller but at present are not available in through hole versions.
+
== Microcontroller Programer/ICD ==
 +
 
 +
Microcontrollers are a great way to get started in digital electronics.  They are essentially a little computer on a single chip.  Unlike large computers these processors usually don't run a full blown operating system so dedicated hardware is used for programming an debugging.  In Circuit Debugging are the prefered way to go for development since it's a huge time saver to be able to program and debug software without needing to pull the chip from the circuit.  Beleve me, spend the extra money it is worth it.
 +
 
 +
== Development Boards ==
 +
 
 +
If you are willing to spend some money development boards are a quick way to get started.  They typically have a microcontroller, voltage regulator, some LEDs, and some sensors all on one board.  The downside is that if you break anything on the board you have to buy a whole new board.  With descrete components only the broken part needs to be replaced.  On the other hand, more and more components are only available in surface mount packages which almost require a custom PCB to use at all.  ARM processors are relatively powerfull microcontroller but at present are not available in through hole versions.

Revision as of 20:53, 18 October 2007

Getting started with electronics design takes buying some equiptment, but it can be confusing what to buy. I'm going to list here some of the items that I throught were helpful getting started.

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.


Spools of wire

Wire is available as stranded or solid. Solid works best with boardboards and perfboards. Stranded works best when creating cables for interboard connections.


Multimeter

Radio Shack is a good source of cheap multimeters.

Oscilloscope

An oscilloscope is critical for debugging analog circuits or communication protocols. I prefer PC based oscilloscopes since they are cheaper then dedicated equiptment and are more automated then a traditional phosphor oscilloscope. Parallax makes a very cheap low end PC based oscilloscope that is great for getting started.

[1]

Storeage compartments

As more components are bought, it becomes necessary to store all the components in an organized way and storage compartments are very helpfull. These can be bought at the local home improvement or hardware store.

Resistor kit

It's important to have alot 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

Capacitors are like resistors. You need a large number of values. Digikey also sells capacitor kits in addition to the resistor kits.


Microcontroller Programer/ICD

Microcontrollers are a great way to get started in digital electronics. They are essentially a little computer on a single chip. Unlike large computers these processors usually don't run a full blown operating system so dedicated hardware is used for programming an debugging. In Circuit Debugging are the prefered way to go for development since it's a huge time saver to be able to program and debug software without needing to pull the chip from the circuit. Beleve me, spend the extra money it is worth it.

Development Boards

If you are willing to spend some money development boards are a quick way to get started. They typically have a microcontroller, voltage regulator, some LEDs, and some sensors all on one board. The downside is that if you break anything on the board you have to buy a whole new board. With descrete components only the broken part needs to be replaced. On the other hand, more and more components are only available in surface mount packages which almost require a custom PCB to use at all. ARM processors are relatively powerfull microcontroller but at present are not available in through hole versions.