I got an ocilloscope, Now what?

[xwarp]

I tried Craigslist but it reminded me of E14.

Too many things to click on.....

What exactly do you mean?

Craigslist isn't a site where you just search one time. If something doesn't show up, that doesn't mean that it won't ever.

You have to keep looking.

For example, if happen to want another meter, enter "multimeter", "dvm", or just a brand name.

Don't be specific with the terms as that will limit your search, not to mention, there are times when people will post things with incorrect titles or info because they just don't know what they are selling, they just want to get rid of it.

ETA:

How about swap meets, flea markets, etc, around you?

[jetmorgan]

An easy and fun experiment you can do is to use your scope to look at switch bounce. Hook up one side of a toggle switch to 5 volts, and the other side of the switch to a resistor, the the other side of the resister to ground.  Put your scope probe on the switch side that's connected to the resistor and flip the switch back and forth to see how the switch contacts "bounce"  This exercise will teach you how to use the horizontal time per division knob and the volts per division control.  I've made a really simple video you can watch to get an idea of what you will see. The link is

Have fun with your scope! They are an extremely important tool for electronics work. 

[FrankenPC]

An easy and fun experiment you can do is to use your scope to look at switch bounce. Hook up one side of a toggle switch to 5 volts, and the other side of the switch to a resistor, the the other side of the resister to ground.  Put your scope probe on the switch side that's connected to the resistor and flip the switch back and forth to see how the switch contacts "bounce"  This exercise will teach you how to use the horizontal time per division knob and the volts per division control.  I've made a really simple video you can watch to get an idea of what you will see. The link is

Have fun with your scope! They are an extremely important tool for electronics work.

I believe he has an analog scope. 

[TVman]

An easy and fun experiment you can do is to use your scope to look at switch bounce. Hook up one side of a toggle switch to 5 volts, and the other side of the switch to a resistor, the the other side of the resister to ground.  Put your scope probe on the switch side that's connected to the resistor and flip the switch back and forth to see how the switch contacts "bounce"  This exercise will teach you how to use the horizontal time per division knob and the volts per division control.  I've made a really simple video you can watch to get an idea of what you will see. The link is

Have fun with your scope! They are an extremely important tool for electronics work.

I believe he has an analog scope.

Yes it is an analog scope that I own.

[David Aurora]

The next thing you wish you had while working on a project.

This. A thousand times this.

[TVman]

The next thing you wish you had while working on a project.

This. A thousand times this.

What do you mean?

[Dave]

What do you mean?

You buy stuff when you need it.

[TVman]

What do you mean?

You buy stuff when you need it.

Ok?

[electrophiliate]

Hi TVman. I don't know how much you know already, and I'm not an expert either, but here are some basic suggestions ...

1) Don't attempt to measure the waveform of the mains power (unless you know exactly what you are doing and have the right equipment e.g. high voltage differential probe).

2) Watch this video about scope grounding [EEVblog #279 - How NOT To Blow Up Your Oscilloscope!]:



3) Watch this video too [NJARC Oscilloscope School a.k.a. "Scopes For Dopes"]  (it's long but worth it, especially since you have an older analogue scope).



Others have already made some suggestions about probing simple circuits.

If you have a signal generator or even just a 555 timer in astable mode, you could play around with measuring capacitance and inductance:



Hope that helps, and good luck!

[TVman]

Hmm looks good

Don't know when I can watch it though.

[Stonent]

Hmm looks good

Don't know when I can watch it though.

Any videos by W2AEW are really good to watch.

[TVman]

Hmm looks good

Don't know when I can watch it though.

Any videos by W2AEW are really good to watch.

Oh yes, Alan makes great educational videos.
Good job Alan!

[M0BSW]

This would be a nice simple generator to build.

[madshaman]

I'd say build yourself a triple output bench supply :-)

[TVman]

This would be a nice simple generator to build.

I'm thinking of building a FG and a Psu.

[Rigby]

Both are excellent beginner projects.  Before you build a PSU, you'll need a load to test it with. Also a good project. You'll need a PSU to test the load though... Wonder which came first?

[rs20]

You buy stuff when you need it.

Ok?

Just in case you haven't understood this yet:

Saying "I have an oscilloscope, what tool should I buy next" is, perhaps, the wrong question to ask. You should be thinking about which projects to work on next. As you're working on/preparing for those projects, you'll find yourself thinking:

-- "I need to input a signal into this circuit to test it". OK then, buy a signal gen.
-- "I can't power this circuit!". OK then, buy a PSU.
-- "I can't analyse the timing issues on my PCIe circuit!". OK then, buy a 40 GHz $100,000 oscilloscope, then.

For example, I like working on a lot of digital stuff, so I've never had a signal genenerator. On the other hand, I program Atmel micros a lot, so I splurged on an Atmel Programmer/Debugger. My neighbour might be the opposite, he might well be far better off with a signal gen than a debugger.

The point is, no-one can tell you what tools you should have until you find out what's holding you back from doing the projects that interest and excite you. Wait until you're frustrated by not having something, and then buy it.

[TVman]

Ok,
I was looking on eBay today and found this....
http://www.ebay.com/itm/15V-2A-NEW-Precision-Adjustable-Variable-Power-Supply-PS-1502DD-ship-from-US-/331209348058?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d1d9d93da

Or Does anyone in the US have a PSU to sell for a good price or to give away?


Oh, and xwarp is searching through his junk to to sell to me some stuff....
So far he gathered a HP 6215a 0-30v 400MA supply.

Thanks,
Hunor

[Rigby]

What state to you live in?

[TVman]

Can I Pm you this?
 

[Rigby]

Can I Pm you this?
 

yeah of course

[TVman]

PM sent!

[w2aew]

Ok,
I was looking on eBay today and found this....
http://www.ebay.com/itm/15V-2A-NEW-Precision-Adjustable-Variable-Power-Supply-PS-1502DD-ship-from-US-/331209348058?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d1d9d93da

Or Does anyone in the US have a PSU to sell for a good price or to give away?


Oh, and xwarp is searching through his junk to to sell to me some stuff....
So far he gathered a HP 6215a 0-30v 400MA supply.

Thanks,
Hunor

for what it's worth, I have  a few of those little 6200 series analog supplies.  I love 'em and use them all of the time.  They are my main bench supplies.  I'm a big fan of *measuring* the voltage at the load rather than relying on what the display on the supply says, so I actually prefer the analog metering on my bench supplies.

[TVman]

Ok,
I was looking on eBay today and found this....
http://www.ebay.com/itm/15V-2A-NEW-Precision-Adjustable-Variable-Power-Supply-PS-1502DD-ship-from-US-/331209348058?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d1d9d93da

Or Does anyone in the US have a PSU to sell for a good price or to give away?


Oh, and xwarp is searching through his junk to to sell to me some stuff....
So far he gathered a HP 6215a 0-30v 400MA supply.

Thanks,
Hunor

I have  a few of those little 6200 series analog supplies.  I love 'em and use them all of the time.  They are my main bench supplies.  I'm a big fan of *measuring* the voltage at the load rather than relying on what the display on the supply says, so I actually prefer the analog metering on my bench supplies.

Really? how much?

For what it's worth?

Dunno?

[Dave]

I don't think he was offering to sell them to you. I think he just wanted to let you know that these are good power supplies and you should consider buying one.