The Electronics Hobbyist » electronics hobby

Workbench Challenge Update

Natalia — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 22:22:35 +0000

Back in April I posted about a goal I had for this year: setting up a decent workbench for myself in a corner of my (minuscule) home office. As the year comes to an end, I think it’s time for an update.

Did it happen exactly as planned? No…

Did I make progress? Yes!

So what happened?

We’re in limbo right now. We live in a rented apartment, which the owner has put on the market for sale. That means at any given day we may get a 30-day notice to vacate. I simply didn’t feel it was worth it to go all the way with getting rid of stuff to make room for a bigger table (it will inevitably happen when we have to move) and buying the table/bench (that would have to fit the exact dimensions of the space available here, possibly not being the ideal size for the next place) just yet.

I did make some improvements: I doubled my work area (with an additional table – another dinner tray table! – I use when I’m working on something) and I added a few items to my set of equipment. I got a digital multimeter (my old one is analog, which I still keep as I read it can be useful to show changes in values) a bench-top power supply, hot glue gun, several large breadboards, much needed tools and a myriad of parts.

All in all I don’t have the workbench I had envisioned (yet), but I have a bigger workspace, much needed new equipment and a lot more parts to play with!

On a related note, I came up with ideas for two bigger projects I want to work on which will be ongoing, in addition to the small stuff I build for learning purposes. I’ve placed quite a few orders from DigiKey, Jameco clearance center and CuteDigi lately, that I’m sure my husband now fears I have a shopping addiction… I am excited to start working on these projects and sharing them here. Stay tuned!

My current setup:

The work area:

And storage:

How about you? What is your workbench setup like? Are you planning any improvements and/or additions in 2012?

You might also enjoy:

The 2011 Workbench Challenge

The 2011 Workbench Challenge

Natalia — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 05:00:50 +0000

Since I started playing with hobby electronics I’ve been making do with somewhat of a makeshift workbench, which consists of some space of my desk combined with a tray table that I stole from my husband. The table is small and wobbly. The space on the desk is not permanent, so I have to put things away when I’m done working with them, and take them out again when I’m ready to work. I need easier access to my parts: some are stored in plastic bins that sit on a bookshelf, some are scattered throughout the room.

My goal for 2011 is to create a decent dedicated working area, a workbench of sorts where I can leave my unfinished projects even when I’m not actively working on them. In order to do that I need to buy a long narrow table that will serve as the workbench. The problem is that the space where I envision the table to go is currently occupied by a shelf with tons on books and other junk. The plan is to get rid of the books and the junk, get rid of the shelf, and clear the area around it to accommodate the table.

I’ve started getting rid of the books: I’ve bought a Kindle to be my new library and donated a few bags full to the local library. There are still quite a few books left, and a lot of junk. It is April already and I seem to be a long way to go until I can make room for the bench and storage area.

So I thought maybe if I post pictures here and make my goal public, I’ll feel compelled to take action on it and actually get this accomplished before the end of the year. The pictures on this post are of the wobbly table and desk area currently used as workbench and the book shelf that serves as storage. There are plastic bins with parts all over the room, and the goal is to consolidate everything in one area for easy access to everything I need when I’m working.

I would like to have the table, some shelves (those that attach to the wall) and room for the plastic bins, as well as easy access to my tools and parts.

I will post updates when I make any sort of progress toward my goal. Ha! Maybe when I’m done I’ll submit my all new and improved workbench to The Amp Hour’s Workbench of the Week!

You might also enjoy:

Workbench Challenge Update

Basic Hobby Electronics Vocabulary Part 4 of 4 (S-V)

Natalia — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Schematic: A diagram of an electrical circuit that uses standardized symbols for the components.

Semiconductor: A material of electrical resistance between that of a conductor and an insulator. It is used to construct diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits.

Solder: A tin-lead alloy that becomes liquid when heated to above 360 degrees. It has low resistance, like other metals, and provides a strong mounting.

Switch: A device used to connect or disconnect the wires in an electric circuit, turning it on or off.

Transistor: A three-terminal, solid-state electronic device designed to amplify, oscillate, or switch the flow of current between two terminals.

Voltage: The measure of difference of electric potential across a material or between two points in a circuit.

Volts (V): The unit of measure for voltage.

You might also enjoy:

Basic Hobby Electronics Vocabulary Part 3 of 4 (I-R)

Natalia — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Insulator: A material that has high electrical resistance and is therefore a poor conductor of electricity.

Integrated Circuit (IC): A type of digital circuit in which transistors, diodes, resistors and capacitors are constructed on a semiconductor base.

Light Emitting Diode (LED): A type of diode that generates light when current flows through it.

Ohm’s Law: The relationship between voltage, current and resistance.

Ohm (?): The unit of measure for resistance.

Printed Circuit Board (PCB): A board in which components are connected using a thin coat of conductive material “printed” on the board instead of wires. It is used for mounting electrical components.

Resistance: The electrical friction between an electric current and the material it is flowing through that causes electricity to be dissipated as heat.

Resistor: An electrical component used to introduce resistance into a circuit.

You might also enjoy:

Basic Hobby Electronics Vocabulary Part 2 of 4 (D-G)

Natalia — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

Digital Circuit: A circuit in which inputs and outputs have only two possible states: low (0) or high (1).

Diode: A two-terminal electronic device that allows current to flow in only one direction.

Direct Current (DC): Current that flows across a material in one direction only.

Disc Capacitor: A type of capacitor that has low capacitance and is used mostly in high frequency circuits. Disc capacitors are not polarized.

Electrolytic Capacitor: A type of capacitor that has high capacitance and is used mostly in low frequency circuits. Electrolytic capacitors are polarized.

Electronics: The science and technology concerned with and based on electricity and its applications.

Farad (F): The unit of measure for capacitance.

Ground: A common name for the reference point in an electrical circuit at which the measured voltage is taken to be zero.

You might also enjoy:

Basic Hobby Electronics Vocabulary Part 1 of 4 (A-C)

Natalia — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

If you’re a beginner to hobby electronics, here is a short list of the most basic terms you will encounter as you venture into your electronics hobby.

Alternating Current (AC): Current that is periodically reversing its direction of flow.

Ampere (A): The unit of measure for electric current. Commonly shortened to “amp”.

Battery: A device which uses a chemical reaction to convert chemical energy directly into electrical energy.

Capacitance: A measure of the electric charge that can be stored on a conductor; the ability of such conductors to store electric charge.

Capacitor: An electrical component that introduces capacitance in electric circuits.

Conductor: A material that has low electrical resistance and can therefore efficiently allow electrical current to flow through it.

Current: A measure of the flow of electric charge passing any point of a wire per unit of time.

You might also enjoy:

Starting Out on an Electronics Hobby – Resources

Natalia — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:13:00 +0000

Surround yourself with all things electronics:

Books: hobby electronics books on Amazon.com

Magazines:

Read up on electronics online:

Find good sources of electronics parts and components:

There are plenty of reliable electronics supplies stores online such as Parts Express, Jameco Electronics and CuteDigi. Also check out local junk yards and flea markets, and last but not the least, ebay.

You might also enjoy:

Starting Out on an Electronics Hobby – Tools

Natalia — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:40:00 +0000

Whether your interest in an electronics hobby stems from the desire to build your own gadgets or to modify existing electronics devices so they perform better – or at least differently – it is important that you take the best approach possible in order to get the most enjoyment from your hobby.

When you are first starting out you should put together a kit of essential tools. A simple kit should have the following set of basic, good quality tools:

Wire cutter and stripper
Soldering iron and solder
Soldering iron stand (optional)
Desoldering tool (optional)
Pair of small pliers – long nose pliers
Screwdrivers – small straight type and medium cross point type
Test equipment – multimeter (optional)

If possible you should get a wooden board/bench to use as a dedicated work area.

For introductory courses on electronics as a hobby checkout the website below:
http://www.hobby-electronics.info/links/courses.php

You might also enjoy: