Table of Contents
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Electronics Workshop equipment
Soldering
(A) HAKKO FX-888D soldering station
Temperature-controlled soldering station safe for use with electrostatic-sensitive devices. The temperature can be set using the buttons on the front of the unit. The display shows the current temperature of the tip.
SAFETY: When not in use the soldering station should be either physically unplugged, or switched off at both the soldering station and the power outlet to which it is connnected.
(B) Eye protection goggles
These should be worn when working with the soldering iron.
(C) Solder
The standard solder in the workshop contains 60% tin, 37.5% lead, and 2.5% silver (to increase electrical conductivity).
SAFETY: Solder contains flux which burns when heated. Avoid inhaling the fumes.
SAFETY: Because of the lead content you should wash your hands after soldering and avoid using your mouth to pull more solder out of the reel.
(D) Fume extractor
Directs flux fumes away from your soldering iron.
(E) Solder sucker
To remove large amounts of unwanted solder: press the plunger until it clicks, heat up the solder to be removed, place the tip of the solder sucker against the solder, press the button to release the plunger. The excess solder will be sucked into the body of the solder sucker.
It is recommended to empty the solder from the body after each use by holding the sucker tip-down and pressing the plunger several times.
(F) Solder wick
To remove small amounts of solder that cannot be sucked: place the tip of the solder wick over the unwanted solder, then heat the wick with the soldering iron. The wick will absorb the unwanted solder.
After use, trim the end of the wick that has soaked up the solder.
Hand tools
Wire strippers
Hold the tool in your right hand with the open part of the mechanism facing up and towards you. Feed the wire to strip into the mechanism from the left, just below the two top “jaws”. Squeeze the handle. The two “jaws” will move together and down, then apart. The insulation will be stripped from the tip of the wire to the right of the point where the “jaws” come together.
Test equipment
Multimeters
Sanwa CD770 digital multimeter
A digital multimeter that measures voltage, current, resistance, capacitance, and frequency.
Note: the test leads have protective covers on their connectors that must be removed before plugging them into the multimeter.
For all measurements: connect the black lead to the COM connector on the multimeter.
For all measurements except current: connect the red lead to the connector above the black lead.
The large rotary switch selects which quantity will be measured. From left-to-right:
- OFF means exactly what it says. Be sure to return the switch to this position when you are finished, to preserve the battery.
- V measures DC (⎓) or AC (∿) voltage. The display will indicate which type of voltage has been detected.
- Ohms (Ω) measures resistance.
- Hz measures frequency.
measures capacitance.
To measure current: connect the red lead to the connector on the right of the black lead.
The large rotary switch has two more positions, from left-to-right:
- μA measures DC or AC current in microamps.
- mA measures DC or AC current in milliamps.
WARNING: do not attempt to measure currents higher than 400mA as this will blow the internal fuse and the multimeter will stop working.
NOTE: The test lead connectors have protective covers which should be removed before use. The probes also have insulating covers which can be removed if necessary. Take care not to lose these covers and always replace them properly after use.
Sanwa YX-361TR analogue multimeter
Analogue multimeters respond much faster to input changes than digital multimeters, but they have two disadvantages:
- The measurement range (maximum possible value to display) has to be selected manually.
- A little practice is required to learn how to read the meter.
For all measurements: connect the black lead to the -COM input and the red lead to the + input.
The large rotary switch selects the quantity and range to be measured. Starting next to the -COM input, and moving clockwise:
- 1.5v battery tester indicates whether a battery is healthy when delivering 250mA.
- DCV measures positive DC voltages. The red lead must be connected to a more positive voltage than the black lead.
- DCV (null) measures DC voltage of either polarity. 0v is indicated by a meter reading in the centre of the display.
- ACV measures AC voltages.
- OFF is exactly what is says. Return the selector to this position when the meter is not in use.
- Ω measures resistance. Setting the range to “x1” enables a buzzer that indicates electrical continuity (0Ω resistance).
- DCmA measures DC current in milliamps.
SAFETY: Do not attempt to measure voltages larger than 250v as the insulation on the probes will not protect you!
WARNING: Do not attempt to measure currents larger than the indicated range or an internal fuse will blow and the meter will stop working.
NOTE: The test leads have protective covers over the connectors which must be removed before use. Do not lose them and always replace them after use.
Sanwa LCR700 inductance, capactitance, resistance meter
Measures inductance, capacitance, and resistance. Of most interest is the inductance measurement, because the other multimeters cannot measure it.
The meter is turned on or off using the round POWER button on the left of the front panel.
Connect the red lead to the left connector and the black lead to the right connector. Turn on the meter. Connect an inductor, capacitor, or resistor between the two test leads. The display will indicate what kind of device was connected and its value in the appropriate units.
If you are testing a polarised electrolytic (or similar) capacitor:
- Make sure the capacitor is fully discharged by connecting a 1k resistor between its terminals for several seconds.
- Connect the + (longer) lead of the capacitor to the red clip. Connect the - (shorter, marked with a stripe) lead of the capacitor to the black clip.
SAFETY: never touch the leads of a large electrolytic capacitor as the discharge current can burn or even kill you. Never use a piece of metal or wire to discharge a large electrolytic capacitor as the current can cause heating that permanently welds the metal to the capacitor's leads or terminals.
NOTE: the meter comes with a small, green bridging circuit that can be plugged in above the test lead connectors. You should not need to use it. Ignore it but also be careful not to lose it.
NOTE: turn the meter off when not in use.
Oscilloscopes
Keysight DSOX4024A
Basic operation
Connect the test lead(s) to the corresponding input(s) (A). The connector plug has to be pushed gently onto the socket and then turned clockwise to lock it in place.
NOTE: Each lead is colour-coded so that you can match the probe with the colour used on the oscilloscope panel and display.
Connect the tip of the test probe to the signal being investigated. Connect the black clip to a ground point on your circuit under test.
NOTE: You must connect the black clip to a ground point on your circuit or the signal will not be properly captured by the oscilloscope.
Adjust the vertical position knob (B) until the trace is visible and at the height you desire. Adjust the vertical scale (C) to obtain the desired waveform height.
Adjust the horizonal timebase control (D) until you see the desired number of cycles of your waveform. Adjust the horizontal position (E) until the interesting part of the waveform is centred.
Adjust the trigger level (F) if necessary to obtain a stable waveform display.
If you see an unwanted purple trace displayed over your waveform, disable mathematics mode (G).
Tektronix MDO3102
Basic operation
Connect the test lead(s) to the input connectors (A). Hold the black connector block so that the button is on top. Press the button gently and push the connector block onto the input socket. Release the button. The connector block should be locked to the socket.
NOTE: Each lead is colour-coded so that you can match the probe with the colour used on the oscilloscope panel and display.
Connect the test probe to the signal to be investigated. Connect the black clip to a ground point on the same circuit.
NOTE: You must connect the black clip to a ground point on your circuit or the signal will not be properly captured by the oscilloscope.
Adjust the vertical position (B) of the trace until it is at the desired height. Adjust the vertical scale (C) of the trace until the waveform is of the desired height.
Adjust the horizontal timebase (D) until the desired number of waveform cycles are displayed. Adjust the horizontal position (E) until the interesting part of the cycle is in the centre of the display.
Adjust the trigger level (F) if necessary to obtain a stable waveform display.
National VP-5520B
Basic operation
Connect the input leads (A). Push the connector plug gently onto the socket and then twist clockwise to lock it in place.
Connect the tip of the test probe to the signal being investigated. Connect the clip of the probe to a ground point on your circuit under test.
NOTE: You must connect the clip to a ground point on your circuit or the signal will not be properly captured by the oscilloscope.
Adjust the vertical position (B) of the trace until it is at the desired place on the display. Adjust the vertical scale (C) until the waveform is of the desired height. The selector switch indicates how many volts of signal change correspond to one vertical division on the display.
Adjust the horizontal main sweep time (D) until the desired number of waveform cycles are displayed. The selector indicated how many microseconds, milliseconds, or seconds of time correspond to each horizontal division on the display.
Adjust the horizontal position (E) until the interesting part of the waveform is in the centre of the display.
Adjust the trigger level (F) if necessary to obtain a stable display.
Adjust the brightness of the scale, the intensity of the traces, or the focus of the traces (G) to obtain a clear, crisp display.
(No product page available.)
Power supplies
TAKASAGO LX-2-018-2A
Press the orange OUTPUT button to enable the output.
Press the small black VOLT/CURR button to change the display from voltage being delivered to current being drawn. The green LED in the middle of the display indicates V or A, respectively.
With the voltage being displayed, use the VOLTAGE control to adjust the output voltage between 0v and 20v.
Use the CURRENT knob to limit the amount of current that can be drawn. If the circuit attempts to draw more than that amount of current you set, the red CC indicator will light up.
Manufacturer's product page (JA only)
Trash box
While waiting for our official trash receptacles to arrive we have provided this unique, high-tech, HAKKO brand “trash box” instead. Use it freely to dispose of any dry waste that you generate during circuit prototyping and construction.