2.) Tools

[FOOKz™]

Some of the tools that you find associated with modding and electronics are a multi-meter some people call it a Volt Meter or the Ohm Meter; a power supply; oscilloscope or "o-scope" for short; function generator that makes signals; some other equipment also includes soldering irons, strippers, diagonal cutters, breadboards, heat gun, logic probe, and common items you'll find in the everyday toolbox.

Multi-Meter There are many different varieties of the meter, the one pictured to the right is the Fluke-117 True RMS multi-meter it's a highly recommended brand for beginners and experts, they last a long time but they cost quite a bit. Other brands will have different features that can test a variety of things; to name a few they can test resistors, capacitors, transistors, diodes... etc. The meter pictured is called a Digital Multi-Meter or a DMM back in the day before digital technology there were analog meters which had a needle that points to the value you measure. Every time you use older meters you had to calibrate it using a known value of resistance. Analog meters are still used today, they look damn cool and will get the job done.

Oscilloscope The oscilloscope is a very intimidating piece of test equipment but I don't know what we would do without it. Pictured is a Fluke 199B "scope meter" they don't come cheap so i recommend an older CRT oscilloscope because they are generally easier to learn and are easier to calibrate. Normally "O-Scopes" cost an arm and a leg which is why you don't see people use them for personal use. O-Scopes are used in testing signals and waveforms... they are kind of like a TV. You are able to visualize a sound signal on the o-scope's screen or you are able to test how fast your rapidfire chip shoots. If you want to go out and buy one then I HIGHLY recommend a BK Precision Model 2120B Analog O-Scope because of their reliability and easy learning curve.

Bench Power Supply A power supply is like a battery but it's not portable. Power supplies normally step down the voltage then change it from AC to DC once they do that the power supply regulates the flow of electricity so its usable. The power supply is found in computers, chargers, cars, your TV, and almost anything that you can think of which plugs in to the wall. Power supplies in electronics are used to power and test your electronic circuits! There is a knob that controls voltage output as you need and some power supplies include an adjustment which controls the current limit. The power supply you see on the right is one of my personal favorites; its an Extech 382275 Switching power supply. It can handle 20 Amps at 30 Volts at peak performance but will only supply 30 Volts at 5 Amps at a constant rate. Extech supplies do not come cheap near the price of three New Xbox360 consoles. Fair power supplies will not cost nearly that much maybe around $60 or less.

Function Generator This cool device is a useful piece of test equipment that will synthesize a signal of various frequencies/speed/voltage. A function generator is essentially a power supply however it makes waveforms and signals. You can see to the right the primary signals generated by this equipment. Rapid fire chips are basically a simpler/very cheap/applied version of the function generator. Many people have really never seen one before mainly because of cost and you really won't recognize one since there's all sorts of shapes/sizes. You can cheaply build a function generator by [programming a PIC] or constructing a [555 timer circuit]. On the right you can see the analog o-scope measuring a sine wave signal produced by a function generator. Sine waves are what radios use, also its what comes from your wall outlet. Square waves are what computers use. Rapid fire chips uses combinations of those waves together to trick the system.

Breadboard These are neat if you don't have a soldering iron. Breadboards are the best devices for prototype and proof-of-concept. You will see these all around Acidmods and any other modding/electronics website. Maybe you already have one, but you had no clue what it was for? Breadboards are for inserting your components into the holes. There are rows and columns. In the breadboard to the right each row of five holes is connected together. A wire hooked up to the same row of five as another wire; that row will make both wires connected

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[joeb0032]

Pic Programmer: A microcomputer, microprocessor, or other equipment used for precise process control in data handling, communication, and manufacturing.
In other words, a programmer that can edit or program a Pic

[agenteddie]

nice list, thanks, going to have to do some shopping now

[Blazinkaos]

oh yes the backbone tool to electronics member using those in college.