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| Analog Discovery 3 or budget bench setup |
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| egonotto:
Hello, an Analog Discovery with a breadboard is a small laboratory that is very suitable for learning. An Analog Discovery 2 is cheaper and can do almost as much as the Analog Discovery 3. Best regards egonotto |
| Smokey:
I think there is a difference between "... very suitable for learning..." and "bench setup to do actual engineering" that needs to be expanded on. I've had a unit from the Analog Discovery1 days, and I agree it's "very suitable for learning". But it's quite inappropriate for most actual work. If it's something you just need for a class, then go for it (short term). If you don't plan on doing any real design work at the bench and just want to play, then go for it (short term). If you plan on being an engineer that will spend any amount of time at the bench doing actual work (long term), then you can still get an Analog Discovery but expect to outgrow it essentially immediately. Unless you go straight into something specialized like RF, a basic bench setup of DHO800 + DP832 + DG1000Z (or Siglent equivalent), while not a prestigious as a Keysight or Tek is enough to be a real engineer for quite some time. |
| Vertamps:
Buy used: Multi-meter, Oscilloscope, bench power supply. Locally: FB market place or Craigslist, alternatively ebay is fantastic even with higher shipping prices these days. You could get a cheap' new all in one Multi-meter/Oscilloscope, but it not as enjoyable and i don't really like those. Get a 4.5 digit bench meter, 5.5 digit if you want to spend the $100+. An old 1980's 3.5 digit Fluke hand held is fine as well, we use them at work. > Old Keithley 4.5-5.5 digit from $30 - $80. Hunt for a functional scope, $45-$100. Extra cost are: Soldering Iron, Wire strippers/Cutters, tweezers. Pull electronics apart from the garbage if you don't want to order parts. |
| ArdWar:
Analog Discovery are excellent tool for learning indeed. Especially its powerful charting and post processing. Some of them gives you capability only available on thousand bucks equipment[1]. Heck, its decidedly weak supply can be a selling point for learners to limit them to something slightly stupid instead of something monumentally stupid. ;D However depends on your course/career path it can quickly get past its usefulness. One glaring point is its lack of robust protection. Probing around while it is direct connected to your PC/laptop can be unsettling sometimes. Not a problem if you keep doing low frequency small signal designs, but less useful when doing SMPS design for example. [1] Often as an extra upgrade. Yes I'm still salty on why curve tracing didn't come standard on K2461 |
| Antonio90:
--- Quote from: Smokey on June 18, 2024, 11:25:51 pm ---I think there is a difference between "... very suitable for learning..." and "bench setup to do actual engineering" that needs to be expanded on. I've had a unit from the Analog Discovery1 days, and I agree it's "very suitable for learning". But it's quite inappropriate for most actual work. If it's something you just need for a class, then go for it (short term). If you don't plan on doing any real design work at the bench and just want to play, then go for it (short term). If you plan on being an engineer that will spend any amount of time at the bench doing actual work (long term), then you can still get an Analog Discovery but expect to outgrow it essentially immediately. Unless you go straight into something specialized like RF, a basic bench setup of DHO800 + DP832 + DG1000Z (or Siglent equivalent), while not a prestigious as a Keysight or Tek is enough to be a real engineer for quite some time. --- End quote --- As a full bench setup, it really is only suitable for learning. The points, AFAIK, are (1) the OP is actually studying right now, and (2), the Analog Discovery keeps its usefulness even with a full bench. Admittedly, it depends on the type of work you do, but as an example, I know of a design engineer currently working on EV battery charging circuitry (the circuitry that goes inside the car) and the tool he uses the most, by far, is the Analog Discovery. Not necessarily the Waveforms features, but the ones he programs. Of course, they have oscilloscopes, expensive probes, PSUs (huge ones at that) and a lot of other equipment, but the little AD still gets a lot of use in a professional environment. So, yeah, I don't think it's a bad option with the stated budget, as long as the OP is aware of the limitations. If he wants a full lab, he will have to buy it later while keeping an extremely versatile tool. |
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