What do you guys suggest having on your test bench so that you can trouble shoot gear?

This is my current list of gear but looking to see if there is anything else that I need.

100mhz O-Scope
B&K Benchtop DMM
Craftsman Handheld DMM

And well thats it.
It would be handy to have a tone generator so that its a little easier to follow traces to find bad components.

Other than that what do you guys suggest?

The biggest time savers I have here have been the EDS cap analyzer and the Vu-Data transistor checker. Both do a "pretty" reliable job checking in-circuit, which saves a lot of solder time.

Ron

A de-soldering station!:thmbsp:

A de-soldering station!:thmbsp:


Seconded.....

A de-soldering station!:thmbsp:

Third...

He has the de-soldering station.

John

Soldering iron
Oscilliscope - Dual channel with green CRT
Multimeter with lots of functions, such as transistor checking(pnp and npn), etc.
Lots of good screw drivers, pliars and wire cutters/strippers
A good Hammer

Agree with all of the above and then add in some dummy loads and a computer nearby for looking parts up. J.

an isolation transformer is important too.

Isolation xformer?? What would I use that for? Just curious.

A variac something else i need.

a frequence generator and something to trace thd
and somebody for smd soldering

Isolation xformer?? What would I use that for? Just curious.

A variac something else i need.

An isolation transformer, (aka, variac), makes the voltages within the unit relevant only to themselves, rather than ground. If you want to get get shocked, you'ld need to reach in with both hands, as opposed to reaching in with one hand and getting shocked to ground.

It "isolates" the unit from true Earth ground.

Soldering iron
Oscilliscope - Dual channel with green CRT
Multimeter with lots of functions, such as transistor checking(pnp and npn), etc.
Lots of good screw drivers, pliars and wire cutters/strippers
A good Hammer

And don't forget a good trash can for next to the bench! :yes:

I've abandoned the function generator these days for a computer-connected outboard sound card. Current one I use is a Presonus Firepod. Overkill, but I also do onsite recordings of local bands so it serves double duty.

You can do the same thing with an M-Audio Audiophile or similar USB-based box.

I use a freeware synthsizer that operates with Cubase - the recording software to generate all the waveforms I need.

Otherwise, the only thing I could add to the above posts is a good bench set at the proper height for working on things standing up as well as sitting on a stool. I always like to have a clear path to get away if I put fingers where they shouldn't be. I've hurt myself more stumbling over things as I step away from the bench when I get a minor shock than the electricity ever has.

Hope that helps.....

Cheers,

David

A variac is NOT isolated and therefore does not provide any protection. A variac is a autotransformer so it contiains a direct connection to the mains.
To safely work on equipment a variac must be use it conjunction with an isolation transformer.

(the following is quoted from http://www.andamooka.org/reader.pl?pgid=liecACAC_9 )

"Seeing as how we can tap any transformer winding to obtain the equivalent of several windings (albeit with loss of electrical isolation between them), it makes sense that it should be possible to forego electrical isolation altogether and build a transformer from a single winding. Indeed this is possible, and the resulting device is called an autotransformer: "

(see fig. 1 Below)


I don't want to start anything, but Artie you should make sure your comments are correct as what you said could put someone in danger

-Ted

An isolation transformer, (aka, variac), makes the voltages within the unit relevant only to themselves, rather than ground. If you want to get get shocked, you'ld need to reach in with both hands, as opposed to reaching in with one hand and getting shocked to ground.

It "isolates" the unit from true Earth ground.


Actually some variacs may provide isolation but most of them are auto-transformers, and provide no isolation, just variable voltages.
An isolation transformer will have a separate primary and secondary
that are electrically isolated from each other. I have both an isolation
transformer and a variac (non isolating) on my bench.

A 1/1 AC power supply (line conditioner to plug your scope and variac into for protection and stability), a good set of insulated tweekers (small drivers), bins for connectors (like the mini butt connectors I use when replacing lamps), long neck tweezers or hemostats for grabbing at stuff that will always fall into that impossible cragg between boards), a case of DeOxit (for your faithful side), a little car wax for those funky aluminum faceplate blotches, soldering picks/tools, and anti-static solder shears.

OOH yea! And a variable DC power supply too!

A variac is NOT isolated and therefore does not provide any protection. A variac is a autotransformer so it contiains a direct connection to the mains.
To safely work on equipment a variac must be use it conjunction with an isolation transformer.

(the following is quoted from http://www.andamooka.org/reader.pl?pgid=liecACAC_9 )

"Seeing as how we can tap any transformer winding to obtain the equivalent of several windings (albeit with loss of electrical isolation between them), it makes sense that it should be possible to forego electrical isolation altogether and build a transformer from a single winding. Indeed this is possible, and the resulting device is called an autotransformer: "

(see fig. 1 Below)


I don't want to start anything, but Artie you should make sure your comments are correct as what you said could put someone in danger

-Ted
Ted is exactly correct. A variac provides absolutely ZERO isolation.

Variacs are used to vary the line voltage, never to isolate.