So many people starting out in electronics, especially beginning to dabble in the world of Arduino and similar boards, just don't have the basic equipment to do the job properly. And not only that, they don't even know what the basic equipment is.
So here's a list of things you should have on your desk no matter if you have just got your first Arduino or if, like me, you are a seasoned veteran.
Tools
Wire Cutters
Invest in a good pair. You'll find it's worth the extra cost. The big
bulky ones you get in general toolkits aren't great for electronics. You
need something with a good fine end to them to get into those tight
spaces.
Wire Strippers
Invest in a good pair. You'll find it's worth the extra cost. The big
bulky ones you get in general toolkits aren't great for electronics. You
need something with a good fine end to them to get into those tight
spaces.
Soldering Iron
Not all soldering irons are created equal. You really need a temperature
controlled one if you are to prevent damage to your electronics. On top
of that, if you can afford it, get one where the heating element is
contained in the tip of the iron not the shaft: these heat up much
faster and hold their heat better.
Test Equipment
Digital Multimeter
The number one most important piece of kit is the digital multimeter. It
combines most of the functions you will need on a day to day basis in
one simple to use device - ammeter, voltmeter, resistance, even
sometimes capacitance and inductance. You really can't live without one.
Oscilloscope
For closer inspection of signals you can't beat an oscilloscope. Entry
level digital ones now are reasonably priced, but if you don't mind
something somewhat heavier you can get some great bargains on old
analogue oscilloscopes on eBay. More functions for the same price, just
somewhat heavier and can be more tricky to use.
Logic Analyser
Full featured logic analysers can be very very expensive. However
your PC makes a great logic analyser if you have the right dongle. And
you can get some really cheap on AliExpress. For example this one, which
works really well with Sigrok.
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