Gift Idea for $120

[echen1024]

Well, someone in the family is looking to buy me a birthday gift, which is in a few days, and they have went ahead and asked me what I wanted. I have a $120 budget. Any suggestions? In case you didn't know, my lab has an oscilloscope, multimeter (decent), 2 power supplies, and a function generator.

[BravoV]

Hakko FX 888 + varieties of it's soldering tips ?

[echen1024]

Hakko FX 888 + varieties of it's soldering tips ?

I forgot to add that. Since the budget is now up to around 200, I would think a hot air station?

[BravoV]

Get a "decent" soldering iron 1st if you don't have one, hot air comes later since it will not be used as often as the iron.

[echen1024]

Get a "decent" soldering iron 1st if you don't have one, hot air comes later since it will not be used as often as the iron.

No I said I DO have a FX-888D sorry.

[mariush]

Get 2 soldering stations or a desoldering iron. Sell them. Use the money to buy whatever you want.

[echen1024]

Get 2 soldering stations or a desoldering iron. Sell them. Use the money to buy whatever you want.

Well I am already basically doing the same thing, with a roughly 250 budget. I might get a fancy new DMM and pay the delta myself.

[TheBorg]

Get 2 soldering stations or a desoldering iron. Sell them. Use the money to buy whatever you want.

Well I am already basically doing the same thing, with a roughly 250 budget. I might get a fancy new DMM and pay the delta myself.

I managed to snag a Hakko FR802 on fleabay for $200, so I'd sell whatever they buy you and go for something like that. And one can never have too many power supplies.

Edit: How about an LCR meter? Peak Atlas, DE-5000, something of the like?

[echen1024]

It's basically I pick what I want (specify model, where to buy, etc) and then I order and they pay.

[echen1024]

It's basically I pick what I want (specify model, where to buy, etc) and then I order and they pay.

Thats the worst to be honest, my family pretty much just gives me cash now :DD

Still. LCR meter, ESR meter, better DMM, flux pens, desk lighting, ultrasonic cleaner... Thats a lot of what is on my list.

Yep. A better DMM would definitely be on the list. I'm waiting for a NOS Agilent U1252...

[TheBorg]

Yep. A better DMM would definitely be on the list. I'm waiting for a NOS Agilent U1252...

You must have a good paying job for all that equipment!
Note to self: work more hours; get more toys.

[nanofrog]

It's basically I pick what I want (specify model, where to buy, etc) and then I order and they pay.

Thats the worst to be honest, my family pretty much just gives me cash now :DD

Still. LCR meter, ESR meter, better DMM, flux pens, desk lighting, ultrasonic cleaner... Thats a lot of what is on my list.

Yep. A better DMM would definitely be on the list. I'm waiting for a NOS Agilent U1252...

What is it you're after at this point, what is the budget (per item if more than one), and what's your priority?
For example, are you really just after a new DMM only at this point or what?

As per a U1252B on the cheap, not sure this is going to happen at this point. All the A models (super good deals) are long gone, and they don't seem to be offering any promotions on the  B variants anymore. Zero deals on eBay, and the only prices I'm seeing listed are all at $419 (=MSRP).

A few phone calls to dealers could turn up a lower price though, so worth a shot IMHO.

[Psi]

Isolation transformer?

Or maybe this LCR DCA kit, its around US$200
http://www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/jz_special_offers.html

It makes checking inductor/cap values and figuring out transistor/fet pinouts really easy.

They make an ESR meter which is quite useful too
http://www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/jz_esr70.html

[BravoV]

Differential probes for your new Rigol scope. 

[echen1024]

Isolation transformer?

Or maybe this LCR DCA kit, its around US$200
http://www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/jz_special_offers.html

It makes checking inductor/cap values and figuring out transistor/fet pinouts really easy.

They make an ESR meter which is quite useful too
http://www.peakelec.co.uk/acatalog/jz_esr70.html

I have an ESR meter coming soon.The LCR kit looks fun though.

[VK5RC]

What area in electronics are you interested? Micoprocessors, Audio, RF ?

[peter.mitchell]

Got an electronic load? IMHO they're a must have. Think of all those times you've soldered up a string of 20 5w 1ohm resistors as a load, and how much easier it would have been with an electronic load?

[echen1024]

Got an electronic load? IMHO they're a must have. Think of all those times you've soldered up a string of 20 5w 1ohm resistors as a load, and how much easier it would have been with an electronic load?

Oh god. Thank you for that suggestion. I will look into one. I see that Maynuo are the most widely reccomendwd?

[dr.diesel]

Hack on a few of these:

https://www.tindie.com/products/arachnidlabs/reload-the-simple-robust-affordable-dummy-load/

[Dongulus]

What area in electronics are you interested? Micoprocessors, Audio, RF ?

Yeah, this is kind of important. Judging from some of your past posts, echen, you seem to already own enough general purpose equipment to have a well stocked lab.

Why not order some fun kits?

[BillyD]

Perhaps a chainsaw or oxy-acethylene torch for your next teardown?
 

[echen1024]

What area in electronics are you interested? Micoprocessors, Audio, RF ?

Yeah, this is kind of important. Judging from some of your past posts, echen, you seem to already own enough general purpose equipment to have a well stocked lab.

Why not order some fun kits?

That seems to be a good idea. Do you have any reccomendations for some of the better ones? Preferably SMD.

[GreyWoolfe]

Perhaps a chainsaw or oxy-acethylene torch for your next teardown?
 

  .  The torch is especially useful for loosening small setscrews put in place with high temp Lok-Tite!!!  I actually do use a bernzomatic propane torch just for that reason.     SWMBO doesn't know I use the propane torch in the office/workspace, the oxy-acetylene would truly freak her out.  I complained to the engineer of the manufacturer who is basically our POC and who trained us on repairing the equipment.  He is the one who uses the oxy-acetylene torch!!!

[echen1024]

Perhaps a chainsaw or oxy-acethylene torch for your next teardown?
 

  .  The torch is especially useful for loosening small setscrews put in place with high temp Lok-Tite!!!  I actually do use a bernzomatic propane torch just for that reason.     SWMBO doesn't know I use the propane torch in the office/workspace, the oxy-acetylene would truly freak her out.  I complained to the engineer of the manufacturer who is basically our POC and who trained us on repairing the equipment.  He is the one who uses the oxy-acetylene torch!!!

Huh. This screw isn't coming out so I oxy-acetylened it, so now, the screw is gone but so is the whole damn oscilloscope.

[c4757p]

Don't turn it on, blow it apart!