Basic Electronics set-up???
Basic Electronics set-up???
(OP)
I would like to have a basic electronics kit for teaching and constructing projects with my kids. I took extra physics (4 semester more than required for my degree) when I was in college and had electronics while in high school (20+ years ago, yikes!), but ended up being a civil engineer (please don't hold it against me).
We would be starting with the basics, like building a DC power supply, making a strobe light, strain gauge, electrical magnet, etc.
Equipment-wise I would be starting from scratch.
1) What equipment and parts should I buy to get started? Please be detailed with the numbers, sizes, makes, etc...
2) I am in the U.S.A. and would like the initial investment to be at most $400 total.
3) If this is doable at $400, do you have projects you would recommend?
We would be starting with the basics, like building a DC power supply, making a strobe light, strain gauge, electrical magnet, etc.
Equipment-wise I would be starting from scratch.
1) What equipment and parts should I buy to get started? Please be detailed with the numbers, sizes, makes, etc...
2) I am in the U.S.A. and would like the initial investment to be at most $400 total.
3) If this is doable at $400, do you have projects you would recommend?





RE: Basic Electronics set-up???
There are some good kits out there. One manufacturer who has been around for a few years and who had a decent reputation over here in Europe is Velleman. They appear to have a US presence from a quick look on the net, although I think they are actually Dutch or Belgian in origin. I built a couple of their kits many years ago and they were reasonably good back then.
Find a decent temperature-controlled soldering iron. Ebay is probably the place I would look, my personal choice would be either Pace or Weller but maybe someone in the US will add their thoughts. It will keep its resale value so buy a reasonable one and sell it on in a few years time. A crappy soldering iron will cause frustration and tears / bad language and just isn't worth the pain of ruined circuit boards.
Buy a regulated lab-type power supply (ebay again). 30V / 2A will be adequate unless you get into building audio amplifiers or soemthing similar. Try to find one which has two channels to give a symmetrical ± 0-30V supply for analogue work. Over here Thurlby and Farnell units are common as dirt and only slightly more expensive than it.
Buy a decent multimeter (guess where from?) and maybe consider adding an oscilloscope in future. Bottom-of-the-line analogue scopes with a bandwidth of 20MHz / 30Mhz cost next to nothing but for hobby work these cheap & cheerful scopes are more than adequate unless you're getting in to fairly sophisticated stuff. Plenty to look at: an old Tektronix, Phillips, or similar would be fine. I'd pick an older branded scope in GWO rather than a shiny innominate one, but that's just me. Same applies to a signal generator. Old HP sine / square oscillators are ten a penny.
After that, basic small hand tools. Include an anti-static wristband, solder sucker, etc.
RE: Basic Electronics set-up???
Does anyone have any thoughts on how much and what sizes of electric components to buy resistors, wire, capacitors, breadboard,...? I remember the electrical engineers at college walking around with a toolbox filled with the stuff--any college students out there would like to chime in?
Anything particular to look for in a multimeter (these can be fairly pricey relative to my budget)?
Thanks for the reply ScottyUK, I guess I will leave the post here rather than make a second post, since the mistake has been made, I don't see a way to move this post. I haven't started shopping yet, but if I could get all this, including an oscilloscope, for less than $400 it's a surprise to me.
RE: Basic Electronics set-up???
The oscilloscope is a taller order for that price range... you'll likely have to settle for either a used unit from eBay, or a something simple (like a PicoScope).
Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com
RE: Basic Electronics set-up???
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btb, you can get a tolerable DMM less $10 from same source or eBay:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/AC-DC-Ammeter-Voltm...
Likewise, you can get a tolerable digital oscilloscope as well:
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/O010-Hantek-DSO2090...
I should warn you that unless your kids are atypical, it'll be like dragging a horse to water. Ironically, 10 yrs later, my eldest is graduating EECS; go figure...
TTFN

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RE: Basic Electronics set-up???
£26 Fluke 73 meter
£75 Phillips PM3055 'scope
£21 innominate signal generator
£45 Weller TCP low voltage iron
£80 Farnell LT30/2 power supply
Total about £250 or so. All of the above, other than the signal genny, would sell on after a few years at little or no net cost.
RE: Basic Electronics set-up???
£20 - Farnell Sine and Square oscillator model LFM4 10Hz to 1MHz
It is probably cheaper than building your own using (say) an Intersil 8038 - but not as much fun. I still have one I made at college using the ICL8038. A Wein Bridge oscillator is a nice little project too - plenty of designs available although the glass thermistors used to stabilise the oscillator are getting rarer these days.
RE: Basic Electronics set-up???
-Dart launcher on RC car
-IR sensor that controls night light
inputs:
radio control
IR (motion sensors)
sound
pressure
contact
light
temperature
outputs:
lights
motors
hydraulics
speakers
Some of the kits for kids like the stuff Elenco makes might be a good starting point:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_toys-and-games?i...
RE: Basic Electronics set-up???