Learning Electronics need Basic Test Equipment.

Question

I would like to get into learning about electronics and repair.

Can someone recommend some decent/cheap basic test equipment to get me started?

Specifically I have never used an oscilloscope but would like to learn. I know there are

analog and digital ones. I would like to be able to diagnose and repair small electronics

like headsets, video games, etc.

Thanks,

William

shabaz · Answer

Hi William, Everyone is different in the way they pick up things, but I think for learning electronics it would be good to augment looking at fixing equipment with also trying to build your own circuits too, and reading up some theory as well. Trying to learn by repairing is satisfying, but there is a high risk of frustration leading to giving up. (Also, avoid mains operated equipment). You'd be surprised but from reading some basic theory you can go very far knowing just a couple of the main formulas that crop up in electronics. jw0752 has compiled a list of beginners books here (paper books have more information than many websites!), and it is fairly essential to spend time with at least a few books. For first projects, there are hundreds on the element14 site, or alternatively you could pick up a kit such as the Velleman ones for any topics you fancy. Also the talkingelectronics site is very good, if you wish to get some bits and a plastic breadboard or stripboard and soldering iron to try out some beginners circuits. For test equipment, you'll likely want a multimeter as a first primary test tool. Since you'll likely end up with a few multimeters over time (and they are all useful) there is no harm in spending very little for your first one and using it with your beginner projects testing. You might want to do a bit of electronics experimentation/construct some projects and read some theory books first before an oscilloscope purchase, so that you can get a good idea of how much you then want to spend. Oscilloscopes are lower cost now than they used to be , so you have the options to spend very little (and end up with something not very usable like some $50 USB oscilloscopes) or spend a bit more and end up with something that will provide many years of good service for a few hundred $, which is still extremely cost-effective. But better to put off that oscilloscope decision for a bit until you've built a few electronic circuits and seen what the benefits and limitations of the multimeter are, and seen where you might want to apply an oscilloscope. When I first experimented with electronics, 'scopes were more expensive, so test tools included things like earphones (ideal for probing around and listening to electronic signals), LEDs (an LED and resistor is perfect for checking logic levels on some older circuits), and so on. Nowadays you don't need to wait so long to buy a 'scope if you're serious about electronics due to the lower cost, but still better to wait a bit I think, and get good theory in with some books, and practice with circuits and a multimeter. These are just some personal suggestions, others may have alternate methods to learn about electronics with minimal frustration.

jw0752 · Answer

Very good advice, Shabaz. Here is the link that you mentioned. https://www.element14.com/community/people/jw0752/blog/2015/11/04/i-want-to-do-electronics-where-do-i-start John

the-dubster · Answer

Bruce, similar situation here, except in the UK it was Autie Betty Windsor who taught me how to (try and) fix aircraft RADAR / Radio / Navigation / Flight Control System stuff.

Likewise with the 'scope - as I mentioned, also agree on the meter, and a good ole 'moving coil' can give you a fair amount of info - certainly for measurements that fluctuate / pulse at a relatively slow rate.

William, if you have a Fluke meter lying around then you're probably not going to need to buy another, my Fluke 89 iv has served me VERY well over the last 10+ years.

The only time my training (and common sense) let me down was tracing excessive current draw through an old TO-3 transistor (enough to smoke and arc a 1 watt resistor carbon on a TV mainboard). I ignored (failed to read) the 'WARNING - CHASSIS LIVE REGARDLESS OF MAINS POLARITY' label, wet my fingertip with a bit of saliva and touched the top of the TO-3 to see if it was getting warm . . . . . . . .

You can guess the rest, but it goes to prove that we never stop learning - or something like that . . . . .