Electronics > Beginners
gear 0.1?
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uc:
Yes!!
 dear”tpowell130” It is a really good idea.  8)
I will do it as Step 4.
//uc
uc:
Dear Doctorandus_P
“Not mess with mains voltages directly for a few years”  Understand: OK!
“An isolation transformer is no guarantee for not letting some smoke escape from your
oscilloscope or fingers Understand”: Pleace explain?//uc
If you don't work with mains related voltages, you have no need for an isolation transformer. Please explain?
//uc
james_s:
Watch Dave's video on how not to blow up your oscilloscope, that will explain the need for an isolation transformer. It is needed for using a scope on non-isolated mains powered equipment, like the line side of switchmode power supplies where signal ground may be well above actual ground (earth) potential. With any low voltage DC powered equipment the power supply provides the needed isolation, or batteries are inherently isolated.

Don't worry about getting more equipment for now, you already have a lab that would be the envy of most beginners and quite a few established hobbyists. I was into electronics for years before I had any kind of oscilloscope and then I was overjoyed to be given an old 5MHz analog scope with a bad capacitor, hey I finally had a scope! Nice ones were very expensive back then. It was later still that I had a digital multimeter, they were expensive and I was poor, so I had an analog multimeter. Much can be done with only a multimeter and a power source.

For now what you need to do is start building stuff, start simple, blink some LEDs, build a basic bench power supply, something like that. Spent some time every day either making something or studying theory. As you think of things you'd like to build, make a list and then you can tackle the projects as you gain the necessary skills and parts.
Brumby:

--- Quote from: uc on May 25, 2018, 04:26:35 pm ---If you don't work with mains related voltages, you have no need for an isolation transformer. Please explain?
//uc

--- End quote ---

For your project, once you have the water control solenoids chosen, this will define the highest voltage you will need to work with.  If they have a 12V coil, then all you will need is a power supply that can deliver 12V.  All the other circuitry you describe can be run on voltages that can be derived from that.  Just make sure your power supply can deliver the required current.

The simplest answer is to buy a complete power supply - maybe something like a computer power pack.  There are a few alternatives.  Alternatively, you could build your own around a suitable mains transformer.  With this approach, you only need to take extreme care in the layout and connection of the mains wiring.  Once that is done, your circuitry will be operating on the lower voltage.  For this type of use, you do not require an isolation transformer.
uc:
Dear “James’s” thanks for your first “re”. Post 9 refer to gear 0.1
I am not planning to do some CC+ programming at this stage as I want to know more basic stuff.
As you mention I is better to build basic things and understand the involved parameters then go for the hard technical option.
I think I need a mentor! 8)
Take care
//uc
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