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Analog Discovery 3 or budget bench setup

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hao004:
I am a sophomore EE student and I am interested in experimenting with electronics circuits, particularly amplifier circuits and applications. Should I get the Analog Discovery 3 with student discount ($250) or a budget bench setup consisting of Hantek DSO2D10 ($150, being aware of the potential freezing issues) and Korad KA3005D ($50 from taobao)? I would like to start small first with a budget of $250 and see what I am really interested in down the road.

ataradov:
You would need a power supply regardless. AD3 power supply is very limited, I would not rely on it as a main supply.

Otherwise, AD3 is a good value. But if you can get AD2 cheaper, I would consider that too, there are not a whole lot of changes in AD3.

tggzzz:
The Analog Discovery devices are very good for simple lab experiments, but I wouldn't use them for anything with a high voltage/current/power.

You may decide you also need a simple power supply, e.g. dual voltages and/or higher voltages.

Make sure you also understand the maths behind what you are building. When interviewing candidates I wanted to see (1) theoretical knowledge (2) practical demonstration of theory (3) going beyond the course's requirements. The last requires you to set difficult-but-achievable objectives, do them, be able to state what surprised you and what you would do differently next time.

Antonio90:

--- Quote from: tggzzz on June 18, 2024, 02:45:11 pm ---[...]

Make sure you also understand the maths behind what you are building. When interviewing candidates I wanted to see (1) theoretical knowledge (2) practical demonstration of theory (3) going beyond the course's requirements. The last requires you to set difficult-but-achievable objectives, do them, be able to state what surprised you and what you would do differently next time.

--- End quote ---
I see a lot of emphasis on intuitive knowledge for beginners. I wasted a lot of time learning "intuitively" looking at videos, non-rigurous books or posts, etc. In my experience math modelling is the way of building theoretical intuition. Of course, you then need to apply it.
The Analog Discovery is a great device, and if you are into programming it can be expanded a lot. "The Stuff Made" youtube channel has a really good impedance analyzer design.
I really like my AD2, but you have to know its limitations. You can get quite far using it as an oscilloscope and signal generator (with the BNC breakout board), it has good XY mode, bode plots, good FFT, basic logic analyzer and digital pattern generator, and VERY limited bipolar PSU.
As much as I like it, there is no way around getting one or two DMMs and a standalone PSU.
EDITs: a few typos.

tggzzz:

--- Quote from: Antonio90 on June 18, 2024, 03:02:10 pm ---
--- Quote from: tggzzz on June 18, 2024, 02:45:11 pm ---[...]

Make sure you also understand the maths behind what you are building. When interviewing candidates I wanted to see (1) theoretical knowledge (2) practical demonstration of theory (3) going beyond the course's requirements. The last requires you to set difficult-but-achievable objectives, do them, be able to state what surprised you and what you would do differently next time.

--- End quote ---
I see a lot of emphasis on intuitive knowledge for beginners. I wasted a lot of time learning "intuitively" looking at videos, non-rigurous books or posts, etc. In my experience math modelling is the way of building theoretical intuition. Of course, you then need to apply it.

--- End quote ---

Just so. Theory and practice are complementary, and both are required for useful intuition.

Theory without practice is mental masturbation.
Practice without theory is blind fumbling.
Both are necessary, neither is sufficient.

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