Junior EE Student Looking for bench equipment

[MikeJuszkie]

I am a junior Electrical Engineering Student at Umass Lowell and I am currently am looking to build up my own electronics lab. Right now I am using a function generator that i made from a kit off of Jameco electronics,and a regular hand held multimeter. I have a good amount of components that I have collected over the years. I am looking for suggestions of what kind and tips to acquire these items

-Oscilloscope
-Function Generator
-DC Power supply


I have asked around the school but no one seems to be willing to part with any equipment any time soon, and this is makeing it hard for me to find deals a college student can afford.


Thank you for any assistance you may give

[Bored@Work]

I am looking for suggestions of what kind and tips to acquire these items

-Oscilloscope
-Function Generator
-DC Power supply

For each of these items we had multiple extensive discussions in the past. Please read them.

Oscilloscope: Cheap used analog oscilloscope, hackable Rigol, hackable Hantek, or, if you can afford it, Agilent 2000X or 3000X.

Function generator: Rigol DS1022 (although I hate it), or DDS-3x25 (cheap, only usable with other software), or something used from the old HP

DC power supply: cheap Chinese duals 30V 3A. There are hundreds of "brands", and it is a bit of a gamble what quality you get. Or DIY, which is usually not cheaper, but ...

[Ronnie]

If you are located in Massachusetts then you can check Test Equipment Depot http://www.testequipmentdepot.com/ which sells new and used equipment.
It is located at 99 Washington Street, Melrose, MA 02176-6024
Phone: 781.665.1400 / 800.517.8431
Fax: 781.665.0780
email: sales@testequipmentdepot.com

[alm]

Function generator: Rigol DS1022 (although I hate it), or DDS-3x25 (cheap, only usable with other software), or something used from the old HP

I assume you mean DG1022. Would you really recommend a $500 arbitrary function generator with lousy software support to someone just starting a lab? In my opinion even a basic analog function generator with a few MHz bandwidth like the old Wavetek models would probably suffice, although DDS is so much better that I would spring for a DDS generator if it fits within your budget. The GW-Instek SFG-1003 seems to have been received fairly well. The extra money is better spend elsewhere, in my opinion.

I consider the DDS-3x25 more of a specialized device. It's not very convenient to use computer control for a quick measurement in my opinion, and the limited output amplitude can be an issue when playing with old 5V+ circuits.

DC power supply: cheap Chinese duals 30V 3A. There are hundreds of "brands", and it is a bit of a gamble what quality you get. Or DIY, which is usually not cheaper, but ...

Or used. It's not like there has been a lot of development in basic linear power supplies recently, and they're usually easy to fix.

[Bored@Work]

I assume you mean DG1022.

Yes, sorry for the mixup.

Would you really recommend a $500 arbitrary function generator with lousy software support to someone just starting a lab?

Well, it is popular. At least that is what people keep telling me here when I say it is a PoS taking the whole package, i.e. software, support, function into account. And what are the alternatives? Certainly not the Atten AF20B / Siglent SDG1020.

In my opinion even a basic analog function generator with a few MHz bandwidth like the old Wavetek models would probably suffice, although DDS is so much better that I would spring for a DDS generator if it fits within your budget.

Since he is going to become an EE I would recommend DDS with ARB. Because if done right (i.e. not like in the Atten AF20B) there is a lot of flexibility and features to benefit from.

The GW-Instek SFG-1003

For me Instek felt from grace when they let us terribly down with a repair job. Not that I suggest you would get any repairs from Rigol or Atten, but Instek painted themselves as being better than the average Asian supplier. But if someone wants to go with them ...

I consider the DDS-3x25 more of a specialized device. It's not very convenient to use computer control for a quick measurement in my opinion, and the limited output amplitude can be an issue when playing with old 5V+ circuits.

It is the other end of the specrum, cheap. And like with the DG1022 people here keep telling me it is great and would kill me if I write it is a cheap PoS.

[gregariz]

Something to note about the function generators that I found is kind of key. Some of them have a high impedance TTL output (kind of nice for driving logic), some have a 600 ohm output (kind of nice if you are pumping into mic sockets) and most have only 50 ohm outputs. Some have more than one impedance level, and come with banana outputs. Many of the cheap chinese ones only have 50 ohm BNC outputs.

[saturation]

Try this, it was written by a popular, now retired professor of EE in Denver:

http://mysite.du.edu/~etuttle/electron/elecindx.htm

See #2, "your lab."

Often in schools [ unless there's a budget crunch] a lot of gear gets discarded by year end, as older and worn ones are replaced or a grant allows new ones so old working ones have to go, you could pick some up if you know who is incharge; back in the day, the head of the electronics lab would know.  It may not be free, but it can be very cheap.  Some could be broken in some ways but functional or easy to repair.

[Chet T16]

I did try see if there was anything going from my university but no luck

I'm also an EE student and have started to gather bits together, mostly from advice on here.

So far i have:

Atten 938D soldering station
Atten 858D hot air station
Fluke 87V multimeter
Atten TPR-3005T-3C Power Supply

I find the Atten stuff to be well made, cheap and perfect for someone like me (and i assume you) who doesn't really know what exactly i should be buying.

I am having a slight issue with the power supply but keep an eye out for another thread on this

[saturation]

Since you're in the US, you can get generally good service from Instek and Rigol and easily return any of their good should they prove inadequate.  Its best within the grace period offered by the authorized distributor since its a no questions asked return policy.  In the EU, you could get a better bang for buck with Owon or Hantek bench DSOs [ see marmad and tinhead's threads on their scopes.]  Atten's newer large screen DSO may also offer a deal if available to you there.

I think the Rigol 1052e remains a bang for buck for your DSO, flaws and all [ the most recent issue is higher quiescent noise compared to models made several years ago.]  A function generator, the Instek 1003 delivers clean 3 MHz for general FG use.  The Hantek DDS-3x25 provides high raw signal output, but not the stablest or cleanest output the higher you go from 25 MHz.  Note, the Hantek may no longer be available locally in the USA.  DC power supplies are fairly prolific in the US and equally easy to return.  For $50 you can't go too wrong with a Mastech:

http://www.mastechpowersupply.com/dc-power-supply/linear-power-supply/mastech-regulated-variable-dc-power-supply-hy1503d-15v-3a/prod_64.html

Just read the archives for some snags ordering from them.

I am a junior Electrical Engineering Student at Umass Lowell and I am currently am looking to build up my own electronics lab. Right now I am using a function generator that i made from a kit off of Jameco electronics,and a regular hand held multimeter. I have a good amount of components that I have collected over the years. I am looking for suggestions of what kind and tips to acquire these items

-Oscilloscope
-Function Generator
-DC Power supply


I have asked around the school but no one seems to be willing to part with any equipment any time soon, and this is makeing it hard for me to find deals a college student can afford.


Thank you for any assistance you may give

[JonnyBoats]

Since you are in Massachusetts (USA) have you considered checking out the MIT flea market (http://www.mitflea.com/index.html ) ?

They have it the 3rd Sunday of each month and I am told one can find all sorts of electronic equipment there, including some one of a kind exotic test instruments.

If nothing else it should be a fun field trip and a chance to meet other EE students.

[MikeJuszkie]

Since you are in Massachusetts (USA) have you considered checking out the MIT flea market (http://www.mitflea.com/index.html ) ?

They have it the 3rd Sunday of each month and I am told one can find all sorts of electronic equipment there, including some one of a kind exotic test instruments.

If nothing else it should be a fun field trip and a chance to meet other EE students.

WOW thanks thats exactly what I was asking about. I just missed the last one for this year but I will sure be in attendance next time.
Thanks