While it is always fun to play with the newest development board or electronics gadget, there are a few staples in our lab that we simply could not live without.
To have a fully functional lab, keep these 10 parts on hand at all times.
1. Resistors and Capacitors
Is it cheating to lump these together? Maybe, but these tend to come in packs that cover multiple values. If you choose to order a la carte, we always find ourselves reaching for 10ohm and 1kohm resistors, and 1uF and 1000uF capacitors. For the widest variety of applications, I prefer my resistors are rated to least a quarter watt and my capacitors are rated to at least 25VDC.
When it comes to translating the physical world into the digital realm, there are few things as versatile as an analog output distance sensor. We’ve used them in everything from an autonomous robot to our custom cornhole set, and we love the ease of setup and use.
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There are many reasons you may want to know the temperature of your system, and a three-pin
analog-output temp sensor is an easy way to feel the heat. These parts take a little tinkering if you need accurate readings, but they’re great for getting an idea of relative temperature.
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4. Standard BJT
Tiny transistors are the basis of all modern electronics, and we use the large versions in prototyping. It’s a good idea to have a stash of NPN transistors rated to at least 50V and 0.5A, preferably with a low Vbe that allows the device to be driven by a 3.3V microcontroller output.
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We all know how I feel about LEDs but if I had to choose a favorite of favorites, I would pick white 5mm LEDs. White LEDs can be colored with a sharpie in a pinch, are large enough to work with comfortably, and light up brightly when supplied with 3.3V from an MCU or 3V from a coin cell battery.
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This is a bit pricey for a home lab, but we use our DC power supply every single day. You can limit the current going into a project when you plug it in for the first time to prevent catastrophic failures, and check small parts of systems without powering the entire thing. I prefer to have at least two outputs with a system power rating above 150W, because I tend to create current-intensive LED projects.
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Whether you are repairing jewelry or intricate electronics, it’s always a good idea to have a super-heated rod capable of melting metal. While we love our temperature controlled, multi-output Weller soldering station, I still throw my 40W fire-starter in my bag for anything I need to do away from our lab.
8. Arduino Mega
No matter how great of an engineer you are, it’s hard to beat the Arduino when you need to quickly proof out an idea. In a pinch you can use it as a low-level data logger or function generator as well as perform more basic tasks like testing out a lighting pattern.
9. 9V Batteries
LiPo batteries may be all the rage, but we will never run out of uses for a standard 9V battery. They can power the aforementioned Arduino, a huge amount of LEDs, and most other things we encounter on the hobbyist circuit.
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No one enjoys fumbling for a certain wire to cut power to a project, but most starter kits only come with tactile switches to be used as momentary inputs. Having a few heavy duty toggle switches on hand, especially those with multiple throws, lets you control a project elegantly and safely from the start.
Bonus: Fire Extinguisher!
No lab, home or otherwise, is complete without a fully charged fire extinguisher capable of putting out an electrical (Class C) fire. A standard ABC fire extinguisher is fine for most purposes, though we recommend an ABC Halotron Extinguisher. Halotron extinguishers disperse liquid that is non-conducting and that does not cause static shock, making them perfect for rooms with sensitive electronic equipment.