$8.00 US Signal Generator Kit

RE: $8.00 US Signal Generator Kit

idanre1 — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 09:49:10 GMT

Hi John

I read your review and it gave me a drive to shop one for myself [View:/resized-image/__size/16x16/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-735e4472-1201-443b-b1c9-9bd11061027e/contentimage_5F00_1.png:16:16]

First, thanks allot for detailed review.

I managed to solder my kit (see attached photos) and when I finished I connected it to a 9V/600mAH transformer.

Acording to the intruction 9V is a legal voltage (don't know, maybe 600mHA is too much) but after 5 min of operation the 100uF capacitor just puffed with a light whistle [View:/resized-image/__size/16x16/__key/commentfiles/f7d226abd59f475c9d224a79e3f0ec07-735e4472-1201-443b-b1c9-9bd11061027e/contentimage_5F00_2.png:16:16]

during these 5 min I connected my multipeter to try reading the frequencies with no success (I don't have a scope so this is my best solution).

I wonder if you could see attached photos and manage to figure out if i did some 0-order mistake...

Photos: https://goo.gl/photos/Bx41CmWwZ78eCJK86

Also:

I managed to insert it into the plexi glass... maybe they increased the screws or something...

I i needed to break two edges on the box to make room for the power jack and to the output cables.

Best regards

Idan

RE: $8.00 US Signal Generator Kit

DAB — Sat, 27 Aug 2016 18:20:44 GMT

Nice post John.

Nothing like putting toys together to brighten your day.

Nice build.

DAB

RE: $8.00 US Signal Generator Kit

michaelkellett — Sat, 27 Aug 2016 08:43:39 GMT

Hello John,

I wonder who (if anyone) is making the chip now - it was made by Exar but they don't seem to make them any more (Digikey say it's obsolete and there is no reference to it as a product on Exar's website.)

These little analogue signal generators can be quite useful.

I once designed a signal generator that worked on the same principle but used CA3080s (also obsolete now I think) for the triangle sweep generator and the sine converter. There was a reason we couldn't use the Intersil 8038 (which is like and was around before the XR2206).

There's a good article here with links to Exar's data sheet and an applications note.