How do you manage your digital test instruments on your workbench?

[cdev]

How do you keep your small digital devices (like a Bus Pirate, or cheap logic analyzer, for example) handy but out of the way when you are not using it?

[ChrisLX200]

I had a problem with that little DPS1505 after making it small by using a compact box, apart from it getting lost under junk.. trying to push the buttons one-handed results in playing shove-ha'penny across my bench. I glued four magnets to it and stuck it under one of my multi-drawer cabinates. Now it's out of the way, convenient to get at, and it doesn't move when I press the buttons

[cdev]

Magnets are a really great idea for small devices.. So they can be moved around.

[rdl]

If it's something that doesn't need to be moved and not too heavy I use hot glue. I installed some under-cabinet LED lights in the kitchen a few months ago using hot glue and it has held up fine. The glue I use is pretty rubbery when cool and not too hard to peel off if necessary.

[Alex Eisenhut]

Remove printer. Put scope.

[packetbob]

I have various cheap testing devices that are just a PCB (like the Bus Pirate) and have found they often get damaged when a cable is pulled the wrong way. While mounting them in case would help it cost more $$ than I want to spend...

What I have done is mount them on small pieces of plywood or MDF. This gives more weight and make them less likely to get pulled off the desk. I give the board a coat or two of clear varathane, add some stick on rubber feet and try to label with any critical information.

[Messtechniker]

I use magnetic standoffs like those in the pic.

[cdev]

Wow, that is really nice!

Where did you get them, especially the cylindrical magnets with holes?

I use magnetic standoffs like those in the pic.

[cdev]

Those small boards are very nicely done. I have some of my current projects in cardboard boxes and it works all right. Ive got a lot of old DIP hardware and so Ive "mounted" the sockets in small square holes in the boxes. used that to make them easier to interconnect, and move together with one another, plus I can write their particulars inside or on the boxes. Will take and upload some photos later since its soon going to be time to take some out of their boxes because I've found a nice case for them.

[Messtechniker]

Wow, that is really nice!

Where did you get them, especially the cylindrical magnets with holes?

Simply search ebay or alike for "magnet 14mm 3mm hole". Separating force of these is around
3 kg when pulled vertically off steel. Mine are 14 mm in dia., 5 mm thick with a 3.5 mm hole.
If you can wait for the slow boat from china they are really cheap. Then get some M3 bolts and M3
nuts as well as some round plastic spacers with a 3 mm hole. If required: for scratch protection glue
a thin piece of felt under each magnet. This reduces the magnetic force to a somewhat
more manageable degree.