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Is it me or does that seem overkill? I went to Radio Shack and an autoparts store to buy three parts. A battery holder for 8 AA alkaline batteries, a 9V power lead (it's at 12v though), and a cigarette lighter adapter. I already had a car charger for the phone with a USB port on it. Wired the three together and I have a nice compact little power brick capable for recharging my iPhone and variety of other USB or 12V devices for a few days before the batteries go down. I use it camping too. $2.99 + $2.00 + $6.00 + $1.00 = http://ots.mwrc.net/images/dyn/sitemin_file2.php/product_images/119474/image/SP-8+Battery+Holder+copy.jpg http://rsk.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pRS1C-2160125w345.jpg http://www.powerwerx.com/_images/products/atcsocketbare_xlrg.jpg

A good connector solution. Pick a popular connector line from Molex or somesuch...

For low voltage power connections I heartily recommend Anderson Powerpoles - Amateur radio folk have pretty much standardized on these - they work well and are genderless. These guys have gone all crazy over them, and offer lots of useful things like power distribution blocks, etc.

A good connector solution. Pick a popular connector line from Molex or somesuch...

For low voltage power connections I heartily recommend Anderson Powerpoles - Amateur radio folk have pretty much standardized on these - they work well and are genderless. These guys have gone all crazy over them, and offer lots of useful things like power distribution blocks, etc.

Maybe not symmetric, but "genderless". See Anderson PowerPole connectors:
http://www.powerwerx.com/assembly.asp

No male/female parts, and there's only one way it will fit. Doesn't solve the problem of needing to line up the "tops" of each half of the connection.

It is possible, however, to have a plug/socket set that allows you to plug it in "up" or "down". You just need double the number of contacts as signals and put all your signals on one half of the plug and wire each signal wire in the socket to two contacts on the socket, in a mirrored configuration. Waste of space, but orientation is irrelevant.

Yeah, the medium-power DC standard is called "twelve volts on a pair of Powerpoles", and all my DC-capable laptop chargers have been modded to take it as input.

For less power, there's USB. For more power, AC is usually appropriate, but the larger Powerpole connectors (SB 350 series in particular) are common on truck winches, tow truck jumper cables, golf carts, and electric forklifts.

You can't go wrong with a Bitscope, USBee, or DigiView, three computer-based logic analyzers with various extra features.

Consider using genderless Anderson PowerPole connectors in lieu of, or in addition to, banana plugs on your test leads. It's nice to be able to just mix and match 'gator clips, micrograbbers, screw terminals, and what-have-you into custom test leads. You can do this with stacking banana plugs too, but they leave the male plug exposed when you're done. You could cover it with a plastic "screw protector" cover, but PowerPoles are cooler. Powerwerx also sells the "floppy noodle" rubber-insulated test lead wire, if you're like me and prefer to just build your own.

Run a big tinned-copper-braid ground strap across the back of the bench. Get the kind with grommets in it so you have easy attachment points for anything, plus the fine braid means it performs better than a busbar at high frequencies.

I've collected a pile of fun links in http://del.icio.us/myself248/electronics, which might also give you some project ideas. Read the Toolmonger archives if you're bored, and post some of your favorite finds using the "submit a tool" form.

As for test gear, you'll always find a reason to have a PC on the bench, and not just so you can run your bitscope. Hell, you'll probably want to play some tunes in the lab, so include some speakers in the plan. Anyway, look at swing-arm monitor mounts, most of which are modifiable to hold a whole laptop. Getting it up off the bench will save a lot of space and discourage clutter. Get an older machine, or a Toughbook, since you'll want a real hardware parallel port for some projects.

If you do RF work, get a Unidapt kit. Mix and match connectors between BNC, N, SMA, TNC, UHF, and so on. They now offer "wifi" connectors like RP-TNC, MMCX, RP-SMA, etc. Thus proving that the FCC's "nonstandard connector" mandate doesn't really stop anyone, it just forces a proliferation of unnecessary "standards". Bastards.

Whatever you're doing, you'll find a use for a Panavise. You'll want several heads, I'd suggest starting with the standard 303 head and the extra-wide 376. Get two bases instead of swapping heads into one base, it'll give you more versatility.

I can't believe I survived so long on five-dollar pencil soldering irons. I recently picked up a refurbished Edsyn soldering station from EAE Sales and the difference just blew me away. Not only does it work more easily, which I expected, but it warms up in no time flat, since it has a big honkin' heating element that it normally runs at a very low duty cycle. If I'm heating something large, it simply runs more, which means this little featherweight iron is actually capable of much bigger jobs than the clunky Radio Shack unit it replaced. I've relegated the cheapies to toolbox duty, and the Edsyn perches proudly in the center of my workspace.

Speaking of soldering, consider ventilation. Another poster mentioned a fume hood, and that's a fine idea. Look into a flexible-arm fume extractor too. Actually, just get the whole catalog from Lab Safety Supply and order one of everything. :)

Ergonomics are important if you're spending a lot of time in the lab. Look at rubber floor mats, with whatever level of chemical resistance you feel is appropriate. Jigsaw-style interlockable sections make it easy to replace worn or damaged pieces, though they can allow spills to reach the base layer. Consider sound absorbing walls too, if you'll have blowers or other noise-generating equipment running a l

These are becoming the standard 12V (13.8V) connector in the amateur radio emergency services. Several companies make power strips that use them. It doesn't help with the multi-voltage end of things... Unless everyone just standardizes on 12V, with regulators/converters in the device to drop it to what it wants...

These are becoming the standard 12V (13.8V) connector in the amateur radio emergency services. Several companies make power strips that use them. It doesn't help with the multi-voltage end of things... Unless everyone just standardizes on 12V, with regulators/converters in the device to drop it to what it wants...

I love connectors. I love sticking wires into a DB25 to make my TI82 talk to my PC. I love crimping RJ45's (nothing beats that satisfying perfect crimp). I love squishing down a 50 pin IDC with a pair of visegrips (or a vise, if I'm lucky :)). Maybe it sounds trivial, but there's just something about connectors and interfaces that makes me smile. Yes, I am insane.

Might as well plug my favorite DC power connectors, Andersen Powerpoles Modular, color-coded, genderless, super-easy to assemble, safe, positive click on connect, etc. Emergency services are quickly adopting them as the standard for all 13.8v (12v nominal) gear for their setups. Perhaps a few cents more than the cheap barrel connectors or Molexes, but they're definitely worth it. I've driven over 12-year-old Powerpole connectors and they're none the worse for wear.

(no connection between me and andersen besides happy customer status, btw.)