HELP OUT THE ROOKIE

Hi i'm just getting stared in the electronics field, and i would like to know how to set up my electronics workshop. Any tips and suggestions would be appreciated.

The first thing will need a 5 volt power supply. Lots of integrated circuits and microcontrollers need 5v (getting close like using 4.5 volts is also acceptable). Some projects may take larger voltages, but 5 would be the starting point. This power supply should be able to handle at least 300mA, finding one capable of more is always better. You will also need a breadboard, so you can just poke wires and components in and the connections will be made automatically, no soldering required. Get wire strippers and needle nose pliers if you don't already have them. One thing that is extremely helpful is a multimeter. It should at the minimum be able to do AC/DC voltages and currents, resistance, and continuity tests.

You will also need an assortment of:
wire - 20 AWG or thinner (I generally stick with 22)
resistors - 1/4 watt, values from 100 ohms to 1 megohm
capacitors - various values of electrolytic (microfarads range) and ceramic disc / monolithic (pico- and nanofarad range)
transistors - general purpose bipolar junction NPN and PNP
diodes
LEDs

That'll get your cabinet of components started. You might also want to pick up a 555 timer, an operational amplifier, some logic gates like a NAND gate: 74LS00, Inverter: 74LS04, AND gate: 74LS08, OR gate: 74LS32.

If you've found any simple beginner projects that you'd like to try, they will have a parts list, so be sure to get those too.

And when things just don't work out after hours and hours of effort, perhaps the most important tool is a hammer. :twisted:

bonxer Wrote: The first thing will need a 5 volt power supply.

Click to expand...

I would tend to Disagree, unless he only plans to do Digital.

I would first suggest he gets, Or "Builds" a Suitable Power supply, Both Current and Voltage Regulated. Much More Suitable for the biginner.

There is a good, but Simple one on my website.
**broken link removed**

Build Two, using seperate power transformers and it can be a +/- Supply.

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You do not need a power supply but it is useful to have one.
You would need a multimeter a logic probe and a soldering iron.
There are tools to make the job easier but since you are a newbie I would not recomend them yet.

You need a good size work bench for you electronics and a couple of components but buy in bulk so you can do alot of projects.

Helping hands are nice they hold you board that you are soldering and some come with other useful stuff on them to.

Dont forget you will need a huntron tracker.