Can you design an educational engeering lab for $2000, $1000, $500, $200 ?

[ez24]

Basic needs:

- oscilloscope
- power supply
- signal generator

Cornell University lab has this

Tek TDS1002 oscilloscope   $1000
B&K 4040a signal generator  $481
Agilent E3630A DC Power Supply  $495
STK500 AVR Starter Kit    $86
Custom PCB breakout board   $priceless

~ $2000 for their setup



What if a school could afford only $1000 for

- oscilloscope
- power supply
- signal generator

Can you recommend anything?

What if $500 for the same thing?  Could you put together something?

Now how about $200  - Is this even possible?  I think it is possible but I am unable to do so.

thank you for your time and consideration

[alexanderbrevig]

I've seen you post this video in about four threads now. I'm curious to know why you're so interested?

Are you building a lab for a school?

[nowlan]

I posted in your other thread.
This thread might be of interested if you are looking to build a class lab.
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/lots-of-rigol!/

[alexanderbrevig]

I think you must enclose in url tags for the link to work (including the /, the forum does not like ! in urls) https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/lots-of-rigol!/

EDIT: I'm curious to know how these things work Global Specialties PB-507 for learning.

[hamster_nz]

If you wanted to work through a text book for basic electronics (you know, the 500 page text book that goes from zero to opamps, simple rf, simple power supplies, didital logic, passing through MOSFETs and BJTs on the way) the I suggest you consider a. Digilent Electronics Explorer board.
http://www.digilentinc.com/Products/Detail.cfm?NavPath=2,842,883&Prod=EEBOARD esp if you can get it with educational pricing ($330) .

I use mine with a Cubieboard (much like a Raspberry Pi), a 22" monitor and a wireless keyboard+mouse,  but it works just fine with a low end laptop too.

Low-spec 4ch scope, 2ch signal generator, multi-channel logic analyser, logic source, adjustable +/-9V PSUs + another PSU for digital VCC, meters, graphs, low freq spectrum analyser, Network analyser, Bode plots, and a  breadboard all in about the same space as a text book.

It is a very nice all-in-one package for experimenting with on a small desk.

[rs20]

Replacing the Tek TDS1002 with a Rigol DS1054Z (or two) would be a good start.

[hamster_nz]

Based on another thread, you are looking for the least expensive kit you can put together that you can experiment with and learn very basic electronics. Here's a $100 bundle of random things that would allow quite a bit of experimenting and learning, with the aid of a good book. Now all of this is 'junk' but professional standards, but you could have some fun with it. You would want to buy one and evaluate them for yourself....

A US$14.94 multimeter - (yeah don't measure the mains with it!):

http://www.dx.com/p/nt-dt-9205a-3-lcd-digital-multimeter-black-orange-1-x-9v-g6f22s-259521

Randomly selected  component kit: ($22.99):
http://www.dx.com/p/workshop-component-basic-element-pack-set-kit-case-for-starter-beginner-multicolored-193414

Breadboard plus 5V /3.3V power supply ($2.24):
http://www.dx.com/p/3-3v-5v-power-supply-module-for-mb102-breadboard-black-154872

Very low-end (toy) Oscilloscope: ($55.59):
http://www.dx.com/p/dso112-color-2-4-lcd-touch-screen-portable-2mhz-oscilloscope-without-battery-389066

(Or even cheaper if you have a PC available: ($41.11) http://www.dx.com/p/usb-oscilloscope-and-logic-analyzer-93518 )

Side cutters: ($4.24)
http://www.dx.com/p/wire-side-cutter-diagonal-cutting-pliers-121992

And use a locally found DC wall-wart power supply

OT: Humm, this looks like an interesting way to waste a Saturday - http://www.dx.com/p/diy-dso138-digital-oscilloscope-kit-electronic-learning-kit-black-red-383995

[Mechanical Menace]

Probably no good for a degree level course (well not the full 3/4 years) but an Embedded Artists Labtool could be a good starting point for lower levels. Especially at 99 euros (about £75 or $115 US)

•     11 channel logic analyzer (up to 100Msamples per second)
•     2 channel oscilloscope (up to 80 Msamples per second, 6MHz BW)
•     11 channel digital signal generator (up to 80 Msamples per second)
•     2 channel analog signal generator (40kHz BW)

And with it being an add on for the included LPC-Link 2 it's also a decent little devboard and debugger.

[TheElectricChicken]

A good Teacher, a collection of screwdrivers, and a tree to sit under. Students can find discarded equipment and bring it in.

Then to spurge,

side-cutters
pliers
soldering irons and solder.

and you're done. They can make the rest with a good teacher.

[tszaboo]

Tek TDS1002 oscilloscope   $1000
B&K 4040a signal generator  $481
Agilent E3630A DC Power Supply  $495
STK500 AVR Starter Kit    $86
Custom PCB breakout board   $priceless

That is a preatty bad setup. I think I've worked with a HP 54000 series scope, Agilent 3320 or so signal generator, several boards, including Spartan 3, 8051, ARM7TDMI and so on, lots of cables, Wayne Kerr 6000 series LRC meter, bunch of RF boards and Agilent spectrum analiser (I think that one alone breaks the budget 10 times) and logic analyzers.
The total price is like 50 times more than what you described. OK this was scattered around 5 labswith different thematics, but all had a scope for example.
I mean one of the purpose of a university is to teach you how to use these tools, and that the tools actually exist, and give you a good example of the possibilities and limitations. Not to mention I would rather not see chinatek instruments at universities, only top brands.

[ez24]

Are you building a lab for a school?

Thinking about it for 3rd world schools if I could get to the $200 level and find a school.  Trying to find a school in Chile or Uruguay.  Just picked two countries that are reasonably friendly to US citizens in case I go there someday. Open to any country if I could find an educator that is interested.

[TheElectricChicken]

I didn't see one straight off, but searching http://www.kiva.org may find one.

[TheElectricChicken]

Oh here is one, a teacher for physics http://www.kiva.org/lend/928705 at the time of writing, this one is 44% funded.


courtesy Kiva.org

Mamikon lives in Sevan city of Gegharkunik region. Started from 1983 till today Mamikon works as teacher of physics at the nearby village Ddmashen. As he mentions, the experience of the past years shows that usually pupils at the beginning are a little bit afraid of the difficulties of the subject, but slowly they become interested in it and many of them manage to have good results at the end of each semester.

Mamikon is married and he lives with his wife and son. Now this loan he needs for the purchase of computer, a desk for it and also professional literature for self-development.
Additional Information
About “Nor Horizon”

“Nor Horizon” UCO LLC is committed to promoting poverty alleviation in Armenia by providing high-quality financial and other business development services to enterprising individuals in under-served rural and urban markets who have a strong will to establish and develop their own small-scale businesses. Originally created as the Armenian micro credit program of Oxfam (Great Britain) in late 1995, “Nor Horizon” LLC has been licensed under supervision of the Central Bank of Armenia since early 2006.

For more information about “Nor Horizon,” please visit the partner page or website.

To stay updated on loans from Armenia, please join the Armenia lending team at http://www.kiva.org/team/armenia.

[nctnico]

Basic needs:

- oscilloscope
- power supply
- signal generator

Cornell University lab has this

Tek TDS1002 oscilloscope   $1000
B&K 4040a signal generator  $481
Agilent E3630A DC Power Supply  $495
STK500 AVR Starter Kit    $86

I bet they got the Tek TDS1002 and STK500 for (almost) free and a hefty discount on the other gear.

[ez24]

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/lots-of-rigol!/

    DSA815-TG    (spectrum-analyzer)  = $1500
    DP832       (power supply)                 = 450
    DG1022      (function generator)     = 400
    DM3058E     (multimeter)    = 470

Looks like a community college has better stuff than Cornell - over the 2k limit
I wondered what CC would have
thanks
================================

I'm curious to know how these things work Global Specialties PB-507 for learning.

-- seems like these are too expensive for what they are.  Also in a classroom, the students would have to tear apart their project if other students need to use it.  Notice in the video only one is in use.

==========================================

If you wanted to work through a text book for basic electronics (you know, the 500 page text book that goes from zero to opamps, simple rf, simple power supplies, didital logic, passing through MOSFETs and BJTs on the way) the I suggest you consider a. Digilent Electronics Explorer board.
http://www.digilentinc.com/Products/Detail.cfm?NavPath=2,842,883&Prod=EEBOARD esp if you can get it with educational pricing ($330) .

Interesting I am trying to figure out "whats in the box"  ie how much is software and how much is hardware.  Lots to study here -- thanks

It is a very nice all-in-one package for experimenting with on a small desk.

Is there any chance that you could post a picture of it in use?

thanks

===============================

Replacing the Tek TDS1002 with a Rigol DS1054Z (or two) would be a good start.

I agree about a 600 reduction

thanks
=============================

hamster_nz

You and I think the same.  First question what is dx.com ?  Is it another Aliexpress?
I need to go through all your links one at a time.

Regarding the DSO112, I got one and was lucky to get it from Singapore so I got one with a battery.  I really like it.  I ran it through all the settings and compared them to my Rigol 1054 and all waveforms and measurements are dead on.  I believe it was very accurate to 5 megs.  I need to start taking notes, I am forgetting these things.
This is my choice for my $200 lab.  I do not mention it here because low cost scopes are looked down on by people who do not use them.  I wish people would not use the term "toy".  I believe this has a use in a real lab for schools that cannot afford $2000 lab stations.

There is bad marketing on this because of the battery problems (cannot airmail it)

Nice component kit.

And use a locally found DC wall-wart power supply

I am going to use a laptop power supply but now I think I should have that version and one with a wall wart.  What voltage wall wart were you thinking of?

OT: Humm, this looks like an interesting way to waste a Saturday - http://www.dx.com/p/diy-dso138-digital-oscilloscope-kit-electronic-learning-kit-black-red-383995

I also have one of these kits, but I like the DSO112 so much, this one is on the back burner.

thanks

======================================================

Probably no good for a degree level course (well not the full 3/4 years) but an Embedded Artists Labtool could be a good starting point for lower levels. Especially at 99 euros (about £75 or $115 US)

will take a look at this

thanks
==================================

A good Teacher, a collection of screwdrivers, and a tree to sit under. Students can find discarded equipment and bring it in.

Then to spurge,

side-cutters
pliers
soldering irons and solder.

and you're done. They can make the rest with a good teacher.

Boy - the first time I read this - this is what I thought it said:

Give some kids some tools and let them out at night to find something to work on !

I had to re-read this. And this is not a bad idea.

thanks

----------------------------------------

I didn't see one straight off, but searching http://www.kiva.org may find one.

I need to spend some time here.  I think this could be useful for me.

thanks

===========================

Oh here is one, a teacher for physics http://www.kiva.org/lend/928705 at the time of writing, this one is 44% funded.

Just to see how this works - I paid $25.  Kiva charged $3.75  so the total was $28.75.  The payment goes through Paypal and was charged.  Now I have to see what happens.

I have heard of micro loans before but this is the first time I have seen one.  Are there other micro loan sites?

thanks

--------------------------------

I bet they got the Tek TDS1002 and STK500 for (almost) free and a hefty discount on the other gear.

Actually I think any equipment for a school will get a discount.  I even got a PM from a company offering me an educational discount.  But it was in the $1,000s (after discount)

===================================
Boy I thought I lost this - I better hit POST

[bills]

A good Teacher, a collection of screwdrivers, and a tree to sit under. Students can find discarded equipment and bring it in.

Then to spurge,

side-cutters
pliers
soldering irons and solder.

and you're done. They can make the rest with a good teacher.

I agree with your answer, But I would  add a low cost DMM, some small wrenches,nut drivers.

[nowlan]

You dont need much if your teaching basic electronics.
Passives, transistors, leds on a breadboard.

You dont want junk test equipment, because that stuff will get abused. Needs to have protection from student abuse.

If you are teaching microcontroller, arduino hardware is good since it has programmer built in.

[timb]

Get in contact with Tek, Rigol, Keysight, etc. and lay out your proposal. They might be interested in donating new or refurbished gear. (Tek was very good to me when I was writing a book and gave me $$$$ worth of brand new gear. I didn't have any special contacts or anything, I just got in touch with their PR department.)


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