In a video a couple years ago, I discussed equipping your bench with a budget of $2500. While you can set up a pretty nice bench with that budget, let's see what can be done with less than $1000.
A hobbyist electronics workbench is typically an evolutionary process. Few start out with everything all at once. Most just have a battery and some junk at the outset. Then they get a cheap soldering iron and use it until past when it is garbage, etc. Then after decades they may have a bench where the total cost of the gear they're using is worth a grand. Although to get to that point they've spent quite a bit more.
Man!!!!!! I love that Uni-T 120E. I got mine just for the purpose of testing quiescent current in my car to see if there is too much drain on the battery. I use the heck out of it for many other projects though. Great price and accuracy for the price. Great for ball park current testing so you don't have to put a amp meter in circuit. If I want more resolution I wind the wire around the clamp to increase the turns ratio.
John You should mod the power supply with one of those LED volt/amp panel display meters that are so affordable on evilbay these days. I have some myself waiting to mod my home made power supplies. Great vid.
Hi John, great vid , very informative. One issue I would raise regarding oscilloscopes is how to use them. You can't just buy a scope bring it home, plug it in and off you go ! It can be a dangerous instrument and could be written off if used in correctly. Maybe you could do a video on how to st up and use a scope safely.
you prolly dont care but if you're bored like me during the covid times you can watch all the latest movies and series on instaflixxer. I've been watching with my gf for the last months :)
Hi John, really like the channel. Could you show how a clipping indicator circuit can be built and incorporated into some of these D-class amps you test. I have seen two slightly different circuits online, one at Silicon Chip magazine, and one on the Instructables web site. Sorty if this is bit off topic.
The cheapest setup for hobby style audio measurements : laptop + (a free scope software/real time analyzer/signal generator) + amplifier. Maybe an external sound card or a preamp with overvoltage protection.
Good video, all sage advice although I would add one more item to the list especially if you want to do any kind of trouble shooting and that would a decent LCR meter. I know that your multi component tester can do most of the same functions but I find that they are not the best for testing ESR of capacitors nor can they test a cap in circuit, I would recommend the DE-5000 handheld LCR meter available on amazon for $124.00 of course there are others and there is even a ESR kit (Anatek Blue ESR meter, Bob Parker design) that you can build for about $80.00. Again, great video and thanks for sharing.
helpful tips!. my analog scope been helping me design an amplifier. but quite sad there's no FFT function that i really need to compare the harmonic profile. really wish a good DSO isn't as high as 400 bucks :(
i have the Siglent sds1202x-e they're $375 in the US and it's a great beginner scope : 200Mhz, serial decode, intensity graded display, basicly everything most other co.'s charge a lot more for. oh it's a 2 channel one but they have a 4 channel for not much more money
That is the scope I'd get if I was in the market for a new one. I also like the clean control panel layout. Two channels are plenty for me. I normally use just one. 200MHz for under $400. Now that's what I'm talkin' about!
JohnAudioTech i know but the symbols don't make sense to me. I know the basic symbols, but on the data sheet are symbols that look like resistors but different.
If I only use the Oszilloskope for audio purposes, would one of these 20$ Ebay Oszilloskopes be sufficient? I am not looking for high-end or high-accuracy devices, only something that works
They are not great, but you can find great old crt oscilloscopes that focus on audio for fairly cheap on ebay. The ebay oscilloscope kits are really awful.
Can anyone recommend a good text book for beginners. When I say beginner I mean I don't know the difference between volts and ohms. I know nothing. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Then its better you start with some of basic physics about electricity. Im in the process in making a course for udemy for newbie like you. If your interested let me know, ill give you a discount coupon.
Hi John, If I were you I would setup an Amazon Associate Account and put some Amazon Affiliate links to the products you show in your videos. Every video should have things like your Rigol down to your screwdrivers etc. It's a good way to get some passive income to help keep your channel afloat. Sometime people might click the link just to look at the products and dont buy the item but because you were the last person to send them to Amazon and they buy something else you still get the kick back from Amazon as a thank you. It's only a small percentage of the item price but it all helps. It also doesnt cost the buyer anymore. Also only valid for 24hrs after the last AA sent them to Amazon. I've had people buy Parachute rope and my channel has nothing to do with Jumping out of planes haha. It was cheap rope, hope they are ok. 😀 Keep up the good work! Best regards, Hatless
One of the disadvantages of living here in NZ is that you simply can't pickup scopes new or used for under $700... same goes for anything techs need on the bench... we are just too far away from the rest of the world lol.
Love the price goal of $1000 or less. Now, ideally it would be good to see a bench made from recycled tools and equipment for a very severe set of constraints.
