Electronics Laboratory Equipment List Essentials
Key Takeaways
- An electronics laboratory equipment list should include a multimeter, oscilloscope, power supplies, function generator, soldering iron, and precision hand tools.
- The primary measurement tool used for observing a waveform is the oscilloscope.
- A standalone function generator is essential.
Oscilloscopes are a key element of a standard electronics laboratory equipment list
When working with electronics circuits, you may need hand tools, measuring instruments, power supplies, and soldering stations to set up, test, or operate the actual circuit. It is important that your electronics lab design includes critical electronics equipment. Depending on the budget, you can add more items to your electronic laboratory equipment list, but there are a few standard items that are essential for any electronics lab. In this article, we will break down the six most important items to include on your electronics laboratory equipment list.
What to Include on Your Electronics Laboratory Equipment List
Consider rigging up a simple circuit on a general-purpose PCB. To solder the components, you need a soldering iron tool. To connect various components on the board, wires are utilized. To cut and strip the wires, you may need hand tools such as a wire cutter or wire stripper. Once the circuit is wired up, you can ensure the continuity in the circuit using a multimeter. In most electronics, the power supply is DC and, usually, regulated DC power supplies are used. To test the circuit performance for various input waveforms, function generators are employed. If the circuit is operating properly, the next step is to measure and record the outputs or intermediate results. To measure the voltage or current, you may rely on measuring instruments such as a multimeter, voltmeter, or ammeter. To observe the waveforms, oscilloscopes or power analyzers are used.
For a simple circuit, you need all the above-mentioned equipment, and as the complexity of the circuit increases, you will need even more equipment. Here is a basic list of the most essential tools that should be on every electronics laboratory equipment list:
- Multimeter
- Oscilloscope
- Power supplies
- Function generator
- Soldering iron
- Precision mechanical tools
Let’s discuss each one of these critical pieces of electronics laboratory equipment in detail.
Multimeters
Digital and analog multimeters are equally important in an electronics lab. They are useful in measuring voltages, current, and resistance. While debugging or troubleshooting designs and prototypes, multimeters are used for checking continuity. They are useful in testing diodes, transistors, and temperature sensors. The measurement flexibility, accuracy, and precision offered by multimeters make them an essential item on any electronics laboratory equipment list.
Oscilloscopes
It is important to observe the intermediate and output waveforms of a circuit while conducting experiments or testing various stages of a circuit. The primary measurement tool used for observing the waveform is an oscilloscope. Oscilloscopes display waveforms with amplitude on the y-axis and time on the x-axis. The graphical representation of the waveform in this format provides a clear understanding of the signal and helps in tracking circuit problems and monitoring the performance of the circuit for various inputs or parameter variations.
An oscilloscope is a staple piece of electronics equipment in a laboratory. Oscilloscopes can be digital or analog. The selection of the oscilloscope is based on the type (analog or digital), bandwidth or largest frequency, the number of channels, and supplied accessories. Digital oscilloscopes offer options for measuring peak-to-peak voltage, frequency, pulse width, and waveforms.
Power Supplies
For electronics circuit testing, DC power supplies are critical. The two types of power supplies used in electronics laboratories are:
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Linear regulated power supplies
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Switched-mode power supplies
Laboratory power supplies are expected to function in constant-voltage and constant-current mode to test components and circuit stages without developing a power regulation circuit. A regulated DC power supply is a fundamental requirement of any laboratory.
Function Generator
The function generator replaces the traditional analog circuit-based generation of waveforms like a sine wave, rectangular wave, triangular wave, etc. The quality of the waveform generated by function generators is excellent compared to analog circuit waves. These generators provide the option to vary the magnitude and frequency precisely.
Soldering Iron
Soldering iron is needed to assemble electronics components on printed circuit boards. The soldering iron tool melts the solder and establishes the electrical and physical connection between two surfaces. The regulation to use only lead-free solder replaced unregulated soldering irons of less than 50W. Modern irons are high-power, with good control over temperature. If you want to rig a PCB, you will need a soldering station in your laboratory.
Precision Mechanical Tools
Every lab needs mechanical hand tools to help with the basic tasks of cutting, twisting, stripping, picking, etc. Precision mechanical hand tools such as wire cutters, wire strippers, pliers, ESD-safe tweezers, and screwdrivers help with these tasks.
These are just the basics of a standard electronics laboratory equipment list. Advanced labs might also include power analyzers, programmable power supplies, spectrum analyzers, etc. Circuit design software is also a crucial element in most electronics laboratories. Cadence software offers PCB design and simulation tools that are suitable for all levels of design.
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