Regarding the function generator, I was looking at this http://www.hantek.com.cn/english/news_list.asp?unid=13 arbitrary waveform generator....Has anyone used one of these? Is it worthwhile or something akin to a usb oscilloscope in functionality?
What type of tweezers do people recommend for handling/positioning surface mount components. Just had a look on Farnells site and there are a confusing selection. I need a basic set that can handle 1206 chip caps/resistors and small SOIC IC's. Also does anyone sell stainless toothpicks for positioning parts under a microscope?
Thanks.
David.
how can you miss such a party?... Review: Hantek DDS 3X25. Anyone own one? (Read 4922 times). you should be around more frequently. and its not 75MHz sine generator as advertised, its 100MHz.
Whats the final verdict? I skimmed through the thread and as a summary it went -> cheap -> bit crap -> Mechatrommer is a god -> offtopic. Is it worth a buy?
you do the math, dont ask others to do a simple favor as that. and i dont see "Mechatrommer is a god" anywhere, its only in your illusional mind.
Its certainly full of high praise, i did say a summary
"Is it worth a buy?" skimmed through again, and this time with details and deep thought, put your illusion aside. you've been foolish to read what you dont want to read. btw, who's been off topic?
What type of tweezers do people recommend for handling/positioning surface mount components. Just had a look on Farnells site and there are a confusing selection. I need a basic set that can handle 1206 chip caps/resistors and small SOIC IC's. Also does anyone sell stainless toothpicks for positioning parts under a microscope?
Thanks.
David.
One more observation. If you are planning to do critical audio work, the function generator may not be the first choice. You would want a generator with very low distortion. Usually what is typically called an audio generator is desired. Sine only, sometimes with square as well, but you can get them with 0.001% harmonic distortion. Older HPs and some Tek TM500's are available on eBay for a reasonable price.
paul
"Is it worth a buy?" skimmed through again, and this time with details and deep thought, put your illusion aside. you've been foolish to read what you dont want to read. btw, who's been off topic?You seem set on taking my lighthearted comments the wrong way!
A good nudie calender on the wall never goes astray.
Do not mix the standard tools of Electricians,
with the those for Electronics Lab
They have an nudie calender with the Arduino on it.
Which soldering wire out of these three should I pick? In the video Dave told to choose 60/40 one but then he agreed with someone on youteube, that 63/37 is better choice, but I cannot find such one.
One more question - why is the last one in the list so expensive?
Well I will add too an suggestion about a tool
I got it for heatshrink tubes, but now I use it for many more tasks.
Well I will add too an suggestion about a tool
I got it for heatshrink tubes, but now I use it for many more tasks.
The secret to that immaculate Kiriakos blow wave is finally out.
Which soldering wire out of these three should I pick? In the video Dave told to choose 60/40 one but then he agreed with someone on youteube, that 63/37 is better choice, but I cannot find such one.
One more question - why is the last one in the list so expensive?
You should try to get 63/37. It is known as eutectic solder. This means that it is an allow that has only solid and liquid states (other than vapor at high temps). All other alloys have a third "shush" state. If you do a lot of soldering with 50/50 or 60/40 you will remember the slush state. This means that 63/37 is a bit easier to work with, and has the same basic properties of 60/40.
paul
I thought I read that reason we should use 63/37 solder is because the melting points of the compounds are close to/identical, as opposed to 60/40 whereas one would melt sooner than the other and make a mess of the soldering work.
Here's a very complete description of a pretty advanced electronics lab.
http://www.timefracture.org/labdocs/lab_notes.html
And photos:
http://www.timefracture.org/lab.html
He's got all the right stuff. This should be featured in WOTW on Theamphour.
Yes, a simple good brand soldering iron is good to have, in my case it's an Ersa Multitip 25. I use it for quick fixes around the house or the car, it lives in my electricians toolbox.
But for the lab you really want a proper soldering station. After all, with the money spent on a good iron, a stand and maybe a dimmer switch & socket you could have bought a reasonable quality chinese soldering station aswell.
how can you miss such a party?... Review: Hantek DDS 3X25. Anyone own one? (Read 4922 times). you should be around more frequently. and its not 75MHz sine generator as advertised, its 100MHz.
And photos:
http://www.timefracture.org/lab.html
He's got all the right stuff. This should be featured in WOTW on Theamphour.
Excuse me if this has allready been mentioned, (looked through the posts and not noticed!)
Another essential item is a large 'heat capacity' soldering iron such as the Scope (see link) or similar.
Great for getting heat into those larger copper jobs (wiring, copper ground planes etc).
http://www.wiltronics.com.au/catalogue/509/test-equipment_tools/tools/soldering-irons/scope-soldering-irons/
Another essential item is a large 'heat capacity' soldering iron such as the Scope (see link) or similar.
Great for getting heat into those larger copper jobs (wiring, copper ground planes etc).
Excuse me if this has allready been mentioned, (looked through the posts and not noticed!)
Another essential item is a large 'heat capacity' soldering iron such as the Scope (see link) or similar.
Great for getting heat into those larger copper jobs (wiring, copper ground planes etc).
http://www.wiltronics.com.au/catalogue/509/test-equipment_tools/tools/soldering-irons/scope-soldering-irons/
i disagree. it's not very essential . of course it depend on what you doing , some people won't use that iron at all and some very often.
anyway i really don't see the need to get 100w iron for electronics.
nobody had comment about my other item on my list that i've added like:
*esr meter
*capacitor meter
which i think you can't live without.
[snip]
nobody had comment about my other item on my list that i've added like:
*esr meter
*capacitor meter
which i think you can't live without.
The capacitance meter in most DMMs is not worthy of the name!
They mostly have severely limited range---- I have compared the "C" range on a fairly recent HP with a homemade capacitor checker,& the
home made one was superior.
The HP may have been more accurate within its range,but if I have a Capacitance meter,I expect it to be useable throughout the normal range
of values I might find.
Having to drag the home made one out when the HP runs out of range defeats the purpose of having a capacitance range in the first place.
There were some very good LC testers made in the 1980s,which include loss readings for the Cs & "Q" for inductors.
These may be available fairly cheaply from time to time.
The other alternative is an old style LCR bridge.
VK6ZGO
That's interesting to say, vk6zgo, on your home made one vs "HP" how do you know for certain your home made one is the more accurate of the two?
You mean fairly recent Agilent, yes? As HP has not been in T&M since Agilent was born.
Although I too would be skeptical having recently received an Agilent DMM with those 'not worthy' C range but a valid cal certificate only a few months old, which includes a check of its C range to 1%, its reading is fairly consistent with my other C meters.The capacitance meter in most DMMs is not worthy of the name!
They mostly have severely limited range---- I have compared the "C" range on a fairly recent HP with a homemade capacitor checker,& the
home made one was superior.
The HP may have been more accurate within its range,but if I have a Capacitance meter,I expect it to be useable throughout the normal range
of values I might find.
Having to drag the home made one out when the HP runs out of range defeats the purpose of having a capacitance range in the first place.
There were some very good LC testers made in the 1980s,which include loss readings for the Cs & "Q" for inductors.
These may be available fairly cheaply from time to time.
The other alternative is an old style LCR bridge.
VK6ZGO
Here are the best side cutters for component pins you can get.
You will need some additional parts (eg. case, jacks/binding posts, current measurement DPMs / power indicators) to make it into something approaching a bench supply.
Personally I consider it dangerous to just switch the mains off when working on the insides of a device. It's too easy to flick the switch accidentally and "bzzzzt". I consider it much safer to conciously pull the plug and put it somewhere out of the way, often I sit on it or put it in a pocket.
Personally I consider it dangerous to just switch the mains off when working on the insides of a device. It's too easy to flick the switch accidentally and "bzzzzt". I consider it much safer to conciously pull the plug and put it somewhere out of the way, often I sit on it or put it in a pocket.
True, but most of the times impractical...This is the reason for having the "switch in the box" sitting on one side of the bench, far from the equipment under observation. The bipolar switch guarantees that both conductors are cut-off, independently of the wiring of the equipment, the wiring of the plug and the insertion of the plug in the socket (sorry but Italian and German plugs can be plugged in both ways)
From what I read on the Internet,240 volt sockets are becoming a lot more common in the U.S.A. & Canada than they once were.
With a North American 240 volt plug,both sides are "hot"at 120v w.r.t earth,& 240v between them,so a double pole switch would be essential.
"Hams" often run 240v outlets in the USA to drive their 1.5kW PEP linear amplifiers,
Guess I've been reading too much on QRZ.com!
"Hams" often run 240v outlets in the USA to drive their 1.5kW PEP linear amplifiers,so I incorrectly assumed that they were becoming more generally used.
There's no law that that forbids you to do electrical installations yourself.
I see that every day and wonder why not more people die.