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Hi all,
I'm a week or two new to the list and am preparing to jump into a K2 building project. I need to upgrade some of my gadgets, though, and one is the DMM - my current one doesn't measure capacitance. Does anyone have any recommendations? Would the cheap one at http://multimeterwarehouse.com/DT9205f.htm be good enough? It's the age old challenge of trying to not spend too much but trying to not buy trash, too. I remember someone's email signature from a few years ago that was along the lines of, "Engineers aren't cheap, they just optimize cost." :-) In that vein, any recommendations for a decent soldering station - maybe Jameco's analog, temp. controlled $58 one with a screwdriver tip? It's Jameco part #229673 at http://jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=129019 The dinky soldering iron I have now has been used to successfully build a QRP rig and a variety of other things, but nothing has been nearly as expensive as a K2 either, so I figure it'd be wise to play it safe. Thanks for any tips! (Pardon the pun.) Mike AB3AP _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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Mike,
The soldering station you have in mind will do just fine; I am sure. Personally, I have used Weller soldering tools. I use them at work and am just "used" to them. The one that you're looking at from Jameco looks like it will do the job just fine. As far as the DVM goes, I didn't use the capacitance measuring features on mine when I built my K1 and K2. The voltage and resistance settings were all that I used. I have Flukes at work; but really can't bring one of those home. I used my 'lil one that I bought from Radio Shack. It's quite simple; but did a fine job. Good luck and have fun! 73 de Larry W2LJ K2 #4090 - K1 #1647 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Mike Markowski
Mike wrote:
I need to upgrade some of my gadgets, though, and one is the DMM - my current one doesn't measure capacitance. Does anyone have any recommendations? Would the cheap one at http://multimeterwarehouse.com/DT9205f.htm be good enough? It's the age old challenge of trying to not spend too much but trying to not buy trash, too. ------------------------ Wow! Such a price! I have found consistently that one gets about what one pays for. CE makes pretty good stuff. So what makes it cheap? It seems to me that there are two major differences between DMMs at high and low prices: Speed and Ruggedness. Almost every DMM uses one of a very small number of "application-specific integrated circuits" (ASICs)that are made in huge quantities for this market. The price of the ASIC is largely based on its speed. A cheap DMM can take 2 or 3 seconds to produce a reading, where an expensive one is almost instantaneous. Slowness is a nuisance in most readings, but it's a disaster if you're trying to "peak" a reading in real time! You are talking about upgrading. If your old DMM will do this, you're already fixed up. (I even keep a d'Arsonval meter "VOM" around for 'peaking' work). But If you want something to take over all the chores of meter readings, you need to consider that. "Fast" meters tend to the in the +$100 range. A full four-digit display is often very handy too, especially in a meter in which you are trying to do "peaking" adjustments. This one looks to be a 3 or 3-1/2 digit display. That's typical of cheaper meters too. There are some differences in other functions too, but they are usually minor. A lot of folks expect the accuracy of cheaper meters to be less too, but in my experience that is not the case. Again, the resistance dividers are made with modern precision manufacturing technology. It just isn't cost effective for someone trying to build a cheap meter to try to find a cheap divider. So the accuracy tends to be very similar, regardless of cost. The other big issue that I've noticed is that the high-priced meters tend to be more rugged. Of course, you only need a rugged meter if you treat it that way. It's sort of a "given" that my Flukes were going to take a nose-dive onto a steel deck plate working on ships all the time. So they had the rubber boots attached. But around the workbench? Hasn't happened yet! I was suddenly shy my Fluke one time when I needed a part for it. In the middle of some work, I cruised to Radio Shack and picked up one of their meters that sold for about $80. It's slow, but does an excellent job on capacitance (it has a parasitic capacitance of about 111 pF, but it will accurately measure a 5 pF cap - displaying it as 116 pF. And it goes up into the many-microfarad. Ranges. It's a four-digit meter, and the voltages are within a fraction of a percent of my Fluke or my Bel-Merit (an expensive pen-type meter). I got a freebie CE meter once from Mouser or Digi-Key when I placed an order. Within the limits of its 3-digit display, it's as accurate as any of my others. Ron AC7AC _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Mike Markowski
The Xytronics soldering station you are considering is a fine choice....I borrowed an Xytronics model 168 soldering station (different model, but similar, has analog temp meter) to assemble the first 1/2 of my K2, when my "lender" needed it to be returned for his own projects. I purchased a Techamerica (Radio Shack brand on sale for $50 at the time) and finished the K2 with it, but the "iron" is much longer and clumsier to use than the Xytronics. Best part of this story is that last summer I found a brand new in the box, never used Xytronic Model 168 at a garage sale for $5.00 !! Also included was a 1 lb. new roll of Kester 44 solder! I/m sure the gent that sold it didn't know what he had....probably was given as a gift?
> In that vein, any recommendations for a decent soldering station - maybe > Jameco's analog, temp. controlled $58 one with a screwdriver tip? It's > Jameco part #229673 at > > http://jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=100 > 01&catalogId=10001&productId=129019 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Mike Markowski
Mike
I strongly recommend the AADC L/C IIB (http://www.mtechnologies.com/aade/#lcm) It has become a pretty much a standard for QRPers interesting in homebrewing. It is far more accurate and useful than the L and/or C measuring ability of most DMMs. When my sons were growing up and got into cars, I taught them to buy the best tool for the job they were doing, within reason. For L and C measurement, you can't beat the LC IIB. Good luck and 73 Bob N6WG -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] [mailto:[hidden email]]On Behalf Of Mike Markowski Sent: Saturday, March 05, 2005 12:01 PM To: Elecraft Subject: [Elecraft] Prep time Hi all, I'm a week or two new to the list and am preparing to jump into a K2 building project. I need to upgrade some of my gadgets, though, and one is the DMM - my current one doesn't measure capacitance. Does anyone have any recommendations? Would the cheap one at http://multimeterwarehouse.com/DT9205f.htm be good enough? It's the age old challenge of trying to not spend too much but trying to not buy trash, too. I remember someone's email signature from a few years ago that was along the lines of, "Engineers aren't cheap, they just optimize cost." :-) In that vein, any recommendations for a decent soldering station - maybe Jameco's analog, temp. controlled $58 one with a screwdriver tip? It's Jameco part #229673 at http://jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId =10001&catalogId=10001&productId=129019 The dinky soldering iron I have now has been used to successfully build a QRP rig and a variety of other things, but nothing has been nearly as expensive as a K2 either, so I figure it'd be wise to play it safe. Thanks for any tips! (Pardon the pun.) Mike AB3AP _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Rich Ardolino
Many thanks for the very helpful replies to my question. I'll be
placing an order to get my workbench in shape, and will then place the B-i-g O-r-d-e-r for a K2 and a few add-ons. Thanks again, Mike AB3AP _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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In reply to this post by Mike Markowski
A quick followup to my own post in case anyone else is considering
buying the Xytronic soldering station I mentioned. It was out of stock at Jameco and was $60 - not sure why I thought it was $58. Good news, though. Howard Electronic Instrs. has it for $50. It's at http://www.howardelectronics.com/xytronic/379.html Within the US, shipping UPS ground from KS to PA brought the order to just under $55. Mike AB3AP Mike Markowski wrote on 03/05/05 15:01 ET: > [...] > In that vein, any recommendations for a decent soldering station - maybe > Jameco's analog, temp. controlled $58 one with a screwdriver tip? It's > Jameco part #229673 at > > http://jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=129019 _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [hidden email] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com |
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