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Equipment for A Perfect General Lab?
wdhowellsr asks: "I am currently setting up a lab that will need to provide me with the ability to test equipment for electronic systems from low voltage DC to super high voltage AC. I'm currently getting a Fluke 43b meter to be the primary testing equipment and will be wiring the entire lab to every possible variation of AC and DC voltage. I've tried to find resources on the web that would give me information regarding this but have been unable to find anything. What equipment would you consider for the 'perfect' lab, not just for electronics but for computers, chemistry, and biology?"
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A Jacob's Ladder is required equipment for any mad scientist's lab.
Anail Nathrock Uthvass Bethudd Dochiel Dienve
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You will need the laboratory equivalent of the machine that goes 'ping'.
I suggest the machine that goes zap, or the machine that goes boom.
Get both if you budget runs to that.
Note: this is assuming that you want to have some fun in your lab also... ... and have water standing by to put out the fire), but Marx generators are the better way to learn about high voltages. You can make a "small one" with parts from your local electronics hobbiest store
Jacobs ladders are fun (make sure you demonstrate the danger by putting something non-conductive in the path of the rising spark
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marx_generator and http://www.electricstuff.co.uk/marxgen.htm
You can also learn about the problems with scaling... once you get the small one working with 100,000 volts, you WILL get the urge to scale up and try for half a million but you will also learn how off-the-shelf parts can fail when pushed to the limit.
Also, I echo the first poster's comment: get some good safety glasses
when fooling around with high voltages, things explode.
Does anyone know where to get good quality ANALOG meters anymore? Everyone seems to have gone digital and I don't like 'em.
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Basically imagine your school science lab (you did have a science lab at school right?)
.. we could go on all day. A real lab depends on the precise task at hand and unless you are teaching it's unlikely
I'd start with lots of electrical outlets, some at bench level, some at floor level - you don't want trailing cables everywhere.
Then some good benches, something solid without plastic or metal, like a good oak surface. It won't collect static electricity
and unless you're doing work with serious pathogens wood is actualy a good surface to stay safe from bacteria if you look after it.
A fume cupboard - essential for chemistry, but even for destructive electrical tests that may release toxic vapour. And since you
will want cooling water a couple of taps and sinks at each end of the benches is probably important.
HV Electrical
Power supplies. A high current variac transformer, and for high voltages a cockroft-walton tappable multiplier or tesla for very
high voltages. Some very high voltage capacitors or Leyden jars for storing to do discharge tests, and a foil electrometer - because
a normal meter cannot measure such very high voltages. Lots of cable - and you need many types including super flexible braided cores
and probably some high current cable too. A neon field indicator or audiable field warning device (always approach *anything* in the lab holding this out in front of you, rubber gloves etc.
LV Electrical
At least two good bench multimeters, the old red LED digital kind are good to see from a distance. Lots of clips and test probes. A decent breadboarding system. An oscilloscope, dual beam with freeze. Clock source/oscillator or signal gens to cover the ranges you need
0.001Hz - 1GHz probably. If you're doing digital then a logic analyser and PC set up entirely as a high speed bus analysis tool.
An audio amplifier and loudspeaker. Wheatstone bridge and very flexible small voltage preamplifier with high and low impedence.
chemistry
Lots of glassware if you are doing chemistry obviously, plenty of round and conical flasks, some condensers, plenty of
bungs and rubber tubing of various sizes, quick-fit adaptors, test tubes,a very good balance preferably in its own cupboard
for weighing out reagents, a vacuum pump. An optical wavelength spectrometer would be nice but I'm guessing you can't afford
anything fancy like a mass spectrometer. Thermometers and process control thermocouples, a good electrical heater rather than
the old bunsen burners, an agitator (magnetic types are best), a very good freezer for ice, a basic collection of gas cylinders
including hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and two inert ones, one heavy one light neon, helium. Retort stands, clamps, clips and
things to arrange and secure your test rigs.
biology
An autoclave and UV or microwave sterilisation unit, petri dishes, decent microscopes and a good collection of stains.
A chromatography tank, and perhaps a good disecting unit with pinboard, scalples, lancet etc.
safety
goggles, a decent lab coat, that means one flash tested to very high fireproof standards not a nylon fashion accesory, or
consider getting specialised protective clothing suitable for the hazards you face. A gas detector at floor level is a good idea
at least one to pick up alkanes, monoxide and common heavy gas hazards. Your electrical system should be multi fused with earth leakage
circuit breakers.
Im bored now
you need such flexibility.
And if you're building this America? I hope you realise Science is now illegal.
A good quality bench power supply is essential. For testing stuff "out of the box"
A fume hood. Trust me.
If you're paranoid, you might also want a small closable metal closet to keep chemicals in, maybe fireproof.
Of course, in these days of rampant terrorism, any interest in chemistry will get you flagged on a watchlist, so you might just do without
I am one of many. My idea is not unique, nor do I expect my voice alone to sway you. I speak in a chorus of opinion.
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I'm currently getting a Fluke 43b meter to be the primary testing equipment and will be wiring the entire lab to every possible variation of AC and DC voltage.
A knowlegeable person in the field would likely not have said this. This sentance implies to me that you're not old enough and mature enough to work with dangerous voltage & currents. Knowlege in electronics is a noble persuit. Be aware that it can be lethal.
A few things:
-if you're working with microelectonics, definitely a static strap of some sort - you can get a wrist strap that'll hook to your bench, or a heel strap that wraps around your foot.
-at least two multimeters, you're gonna need more than one.
-an oscilloscope
-a water-tight cabinet with some sort of dehumidifier - good for sensitive electronics, water-sensitive chemicals, and some biological material.
-a refrigerator. Good for lunch and bacterial cultures.
-possibly a centrifuge?
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
I can only guess that you left out physics by accident. Well, I'll cover the bases for you there - if you want to have a great physics lab you can get yourself a particle accelerator and maybe a tokamak reactor.
A monacle, white lab coat, and a faux German accent.
I have had good luck with the local university. They auction off the old equipment. I didn't get the electron microscope, but I did get a hood, laser, and even the cabinets and glassware. Most the stuff goes fairly cheap, I've never bid over $100. It's not just chemistry and biology. They have lots of computers and electronics by the pallet, but you'll need a large basement:) Good luck.
Simpson VOMs are available on ebay, and they are still being manufactured.
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Simpson still makes analog meters.
A Cadex C7000 battery analyzer
An SB-5 Carbon Pile load tester
An infrared thermometer
A spot welder
UV and infrared lighting equipment, maybe a couple of booths and a couple of handhelds
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High voltage + Water..... mmmm.... fried thomasdz
You cannot have a basic lab equipped for everything that you can imagine. You would not have the room for that, and even if money is no problem, it would be the most stupid investment you ever made if you have no plans to use it now. It would be much more enlighting if you told us who and why.
Just buy the stuff you need for now, and buy the other stuff when you actually have a need for it. what they all share is things like a good bench, high stools to sit on, lots of shelves to store your chemicals and gear on, and some good fluorescent lights.
For a biology lab: a bunsen-bruner, a fridge, a broodstove, an autoclave, a microwave, a variable powersupply, a centrifuge suitable for your size of testtubes, lots of glassware, beakers erlenmeyers, IVbottles and a lifetime supply of plastic petridishes and testtubes (epp or similar).
And if you want to do fusion for the physics part: have look at fusor.net (HV supply, vacuum pump, neutron counter, metal workshop)
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The biology part of the lab definitely needs equipment to run gel electrophoresis. Um...ok, so I can't think of anything witty to say, but everybody loves running gels! Besides, how else are you going to be able to do cheap and easy DNA analysis?
Insightful!
Visiting M5 Industries in San Francisco to see what Jamie and Adam have kicking around...
- a big wall-mounted red button for turning mains voltage off
Other suggestions can be found here."test equipment for electronic systems from low voltage DC to super high voltage AC."
Test for what? Normal operation? Electric shock hazards? RF emission? Noise sensitivity? The requirements for each are totally different.
"Super High Voltage" in the power transmission industry means upwards of 300,000 volts. That's for long-haul power lines. Three Gorges Dam power is going out at 750,000 volts. Do you really need those voltage levels? You don't work with voltages like that on a lab bench.
42" flat screen HDTV, your console(s) of choice, and a subscription to the spice channel....for all those long nights in the lab :P
Monstar L
Here in Silicon Valley, the place to go for lasers is HSC, Halted {Supply?Systems?} company in Sunnyvale. Their online catalog doesn't have much laser stuff, but the store generally has a lot of random high-powered laser parts as well as lots of other obsolete, surplus, and generally classic electronics and tools, and in general, if you're going to build a LaBoraTory for anything electrical or electronic, you've got to visit there.
Bill Stewart
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Well if that were a real concern one could use distilled water which supposedly won't complete a circuit.
I almost forgot... about 50 HELPING HANDS
I use these all day every day.
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For a good instrumentation electronics lab you need: an oscilloscope, a spectrum analyzer, and a wave generator. Fortunately, these can be found for really cheap via www.govliquidation.com. You'll probably pay more for pickup and shipping than the equipment itself, unless you are close enough to pick them up yourself.
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"Every possible variation of AC and DC voltage" isn't even close to a competent statement of requirements. Hint: start with books, rather than specific items of test equipment.
The usual axiom is that an hour in the library is worth a day in the lab. That's a debatable tradeoff, because the lab is usually much more fun. However, if your knowledge and experience base is such that an hour in the library is worth a month in the lab and a week in the hospital... you'd probably better go the library route.
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May I suggest 'Pocket Ref' by Thomas J Glover. It's one of the most compact and useful reference books out there. It will fit on any shelf, bench, in a drawer, or literally in your pocket. But it contains useful charts, conversions, and other general information about more topics than I can list here.
d p/1885071337/
http://www.amazon.com/Pocket-Ref-Thomas-J-Glover/
Or go down to your local hardware store, most of them stock it too.
For electronics, you can't beat the NI Elvis system. It's basically a breadboard with built-in power supplies, scope inputs, function generators, etc. It interfaces with your computer to give you a scope, multimeter, and a ton of other tools.
One experiment you might like to try (it's pretty easy) is determining Boltzmann's constant. You can do it with an extremely simple circuit and a light bulb.
Start off simple though. From your question, it doesn't look like you have that much experience. You will kill yourself if you try hooking up stuff like 10kV power supplies. For any serious work, you'll end up needing equipment that requires 3-phase plugs. You'll most likely have to attach the plugs to the cables yourself. I would get an electrician to do the wiring for you, otherwise you'll burn down your house, destroy your equipment, and kill yourself when you hook something up wrong and send 70 amps through your equipment and through yourself.
Of course, in these days of rampant terrorism, any interest in chemistry will get you flagged on a watchlist, so you might just do without
That has been going on for MANY years due to the War On Drugs. Just ordering chemical glassware can get you on a drug-making suspect list.
OTOH, the book "Building Scientific Apparatus" has a chapter on blowing your own glass, as well as much other useful info.
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Or if you have the funds rats and monkeys. And sharks.
Lasers Controlled Games!
... that the people decrying this "loss of freedom" are, politically, the ones who are most often taking it away.
Think about it; you always hear the right wing whining and puling (and repeating urban legends, mostly) about product safety laws and environmental regulations taking away the little guy's right to invent, but it's the right wing politicos who are actually doing it.
My wife's lab had been doing basic science for 20 years without a peep from the government, but now a day doesn't pass without some bullshit "war on terror" facism shutting down a project.
Try shipping 100 test tubes of water samples by air these days. GOOD LUCK.
I don't know too much about chemistry or biology, electronics is where I live. For that I woould suggest the following:
Fluke 187 or 189 multimeter - they are the best - don't settle for less, you'll regret it later
Oscilloscope - preferably digital, 4 channel color screen is best (like a Tektronix 2014), although 2 channels B&W is better than nothing. Do yourself a favour and get one with the highest bandwidth you can afford, it always pays off. 100MHz is a reasonable compromise though.
Signal Generator - Analog ones are OK, digitals are more versatile but more expensive. At minimum it should be albe to do sine and square waves, from 10Hz to 1MHz
Isolating Transformer - Can't stress enough how much this will save your ass. Sized appropriately for what you're working on, but 2kVA is a good size for general use.
Variac - sized appropriately as for the Iso TX. 1kVA is usually enough. USed for soft-starting things when you're not sure, and for general power supply at moderate voltages.
Bench supply - 0-30V, 3A, 2 channels. Shoudl cover most SELV stuff.
Soldering iron - base-station type with a non-magnetic tip. Hakko make some nice ones at the moment, so do Pace and Metcal. Also, several thicknesses of solder (really thin for SMT, thicker for through-hole) and a selection of tips for the iron.
Heat-Gun - for heat shrink, and drying things, and doing solder paste the crude way.
Hand Tools - Screw drivers, nut drivers, hacksaw, drills, that sort of thing. You'll need them.
Paper with squares on it and pencils - schematics are drawn on graph paper, end of story.
I'm sure there's more but that should at least kick you off.