Back in the day, in high school there was a training system called "LabVolt" that you might be talking about. It appears that the company is now owned by Festo:
https://labvolt.festo.com/solutions/2_electronics.My impression back then and frankly it hasn't changed in over 40+ years, is that such systems are a waste of time. It really doesn't matter if you are training for an electronics tech position or more towards the end of electronic/electrical controls, you really should train on materials representative of the real world. That means bread boarding discretes or DIN rail mounted components. I honestly see such hardware doing a disservice to the student.
Has anyone knocked up their own basic circuit components with 4mm banana plug terminal posts for connections? I can't find anything like this now but we had stuff like this at school >30 years ago. I found an ammeter:
https://www.lymart.com/wholesale-price-dc-milliammeter-0-6a-3a-analog-dc-current-meter-ammeter-for-student-lianying-product/
Making up instruments, power supplies and such is a different thing. Such items need to be properly enclosed and use common connection methods of which banana plugs are one significant method. So while I wouldn't bother to takes this route with circuit components if you are going to make up a power supply or an ammeter then most certainly go ahead. You will learn something with every instrument you build.
However there is one big and sad reality, almost anything you build will end up costing you more than buying the equivalent China produced item. For basic circuit inspection cheap multimeters can do the job and you would find it hard to buy an analog movement for the same price new.
So the best reasons to DIY, test and measurement instruments, come down to these things:
- The opportunity to learn electronics. DC supplies, for example, are something every person new to electronics should learn about as they are a common failure point in the greater world.
- You can actually develop a significant amount of mechanical skill also. This from learning to layout and construct housing for your DIY projects.
- You MIGHT be able to save money. This especially if you can repurpose other hardware and electronics.
- You will certainly save money if the device is something that isn't in production or is so specialized that there is a big premium on the retail price. However as a beginner this isn't likely something you need.
- Well you can show it off. While this might rub some the wrong way it might be useful in a job interview if you can show documents about how you designed and implemented.
- Recycle an old instrument into something different or better. For example turn a scope into a dedicated curve tracer.
But I'd also like batteries, capacitors, resistors, transistors, inductors. Basically a box with 2-3 terminals, space inside for the component and a top panel where I can put the symbol showing what's inside. Of course there are many ways to make this from scratch, I'm just looking for any shortcuts or advice.
In all honesty I wouldn't!!!!! At least not for discreets components like batteries, capacitors & etc, as you mentioned. The reality is such systems rub me the wrong way, if I was to train somebody new to the world of electronics, I would want them to be manipulating the actual components as much as possible. If you are teaching students beginning DC circuits make them wire up a set of resistors in series an parallel. Further make them use several methods of connecting those components, including soldering, test leads, breadboards and whatever else you might think up. In the end you introduce needed skills while pursuing the greater aim, which is DC circuits.
thanks!
Well that might not be what you want to hear, but it is my honest perspective. I remember those old LabVolt systems that really didn't get suitable use. There where a number of reasons, including the quality of the teaching, but in the end I never liked the systems.
If you are looking at this as a potential business solution, what might be useful for some schools is a big box of electronic instruments that can't be put into a backpack. That box might be mostly air but if it can keep stuff from walking it might be worthwhile. The reality is though something custom made like this is likely to be too expensive for a public school.
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