Tools you will need - Revision history

Dirknerkle at 16:14, 18 February 2019

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Dirknerkle at 16:09, 18 February 2019

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Dirknerkle at 16:08, 18 February 2019

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Dirknerkle at 16:05, 18 February 2019

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Dirknerkle at 16:27, 8 December 2018

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Admin at 15:51, 8 May 2015

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Admin at 15:37, 13 March 2015

2015-03-13T15:37:43Z

Admin: Created page with "'''Common, everyday household tools required''' :*You'll use screwdrivers in both blade and Phillips styles and in various sizes, one or more pliers, wire cutters, hammer, may..."

2015-01-31T22:11:37Z

Created page with "'''Common, everyday household tools required''' :*You'll use screwdrivers in both blade and Phillips styles and in various sizes, one or more pliers, wire cutters, hammer, may..."

New page

'''Common, everyday household tools required'''
:*You'll use screwdrivers in both blade and Phillips styles and in various sizes, one or more pliers, wire cutters, hammer, maybe Vise-grips, saws, tube cutters, files, drills and drill bits, wrenches, a flashlight, etc. No surprises here -- just the kinds of tools a homeowner usually needs for day-to-day maintenance around the home.

'''Special tools required'''
:*To assemble electronics, you'll need a good soldering iron or solder station (not a soldering "gun" as they're too hot to use), solder, flux, small wire nippers for circuit work, small needle-nosed pliers or forceps, very small screwdrivers, possibly a lighted magnifier or "helping hand" device to hold the circuit boards while you solder them.

:*You'll need a "programmer" for the controllers you decide to use. Most all controllers use various kinds of small programmable IC chips (called "PICs") and different kinds of chips sometimes need different kinds of programmers. Programmers are small self-contained devices that usually plug into your computer's USB port and typically cost between $15-$75 each. They use special software tools that come with the programmer itself or are freely downloadable from various web sites.

'''Diagnostic tools required'''
:*A VOM (Volt-Ohm-Meter) or DVM (Digital Volt Meter) is a necessity to measure the presence and values of voltages and electrical current. Most DIYers have more than one -- prices range anywhere from $10 and up; expect to spend about $25 for a decent one.

:*A cable tester of some kind. The VOM/DVM can be used for testing the connections of cables but other inexpensive testers are available that can quickly diagnose whether an 8-wire cat5 cable has a bad connection. (You can't appreciate how truly valuable such a tester is until you're outside on a frigid night trying to figure out why a controller is not responding to the computer controls!)

'''Extreme DIY tools - optional'''
:*Table saws, chop saws, radial arm saws, circular saws, band saws, etc. for constructing wooden display pieces.

:*An oscilloscope is a luxury item that not many DIYers have but it can be extremely helpful for advanced diagnostic situations involving controller circuitry and digital signals.

:*A logic analyzer is another advanced diagnostic tool that can help determine specific communication problems.

:*A welder is often handy for those who plan to design and build their own wire frames or big structures that require metal framing.

:*Hot air station for assembling electronics that require a lot of tiny, surface-mount parts.

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 '''Special tools required'''
-:*To assemble electronics, you'll need a good soldering iron or solder station (not a soldering "gun" as they're too hot to use), solder, flux, small wire nippers for circuit work, small needle-nosed pliers or forceps, very small screwdrivers, possibly a lighted magnifier or "helping hand" device to hold the circuit boards while you solder them. Note: lead-free solder is not recommended for DIY'ers unless you're very experienced with electronic circuitry.
+:*To assemble electronics, you'll need a good soldering iron or solder station (not a soldering "gun" -- they're too hot to use and can damage circuit boards), solder, flux, small wire nippers for circuit work, small needle-nosed pliers or forceps, very small screwdrivers, possibly a lighted magnifier or "helping hand" device to hold the circuit boards while you solder them. Note: lead-free solder is not recommended for DIY'ers unless you're very experienced with electronic circuitry.
 :*You'll need a "programmer" for the controllers you decide to use. Most all controllers use various kinds of small programmable IC chips (called "PICs") and different kinds of chips sometimes need different kinds of programmers. Programmers are small self-contained devices that usually plug into your computer's USB port and typically cost between $15-$75 each. They use special software tools that come with the programmer itself or are freely downloadable from various web sites. The programmer is necessary to customize the chips to do the effects you want them to do, and this is done with chip firmware. Firmware is the same to a programmable IC chip that software is for your personal computer.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 '''Common, everyday household tools required'''
-:*You'll use screwdrivers in both blade and Phillips styles and in various sizes, one or more pliers, wire cutters, hammer, maybe Vise-grips, saws, tube cutters, files, drills and drill bits, wrenches, a flashlight, etc. No surprises here -- just the kinds of tools a homeowner usually needs for day-to-day maintenance around the home. A pair of low-cost walkie talkies and another family member can be very helpful, too -- especially during setup or when you're trying to diagnose a problem.
+:*You'll use screwdrivers in both blade and Phillips styles and in various sizes, one or more pliers, wire cutters, hammer, maybe Vise-grips, saws, tube cutters, files, drills and drill bits, wrenches, a flashlight, ladder, etc. No surprises here -- just the kinds of tools a homeowner usually needs for day-to-day maintenance around the home. A pair of low-cost walkie talkies and another family member can be very helpful, too -- especially during setup or when you're trying to diagnose a problem.
 '''Special tools required'''

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 '''Special tools required'''
-:*To assemble electronics, you'll need a good soldering iron or solder station (not a soldering "gun" as they're too hot to use), solder, flux, small wire nippers for circuit work, small needle-nosed pliers or forceps, very small screwdrivers, possibly a lighted magnifier or "helping hand" device to hold the circuit boards while you solder them.
+:*To assemble electronics, you'll need a good soldering iron or solder station (not a soldering "gun" as they're too hot to use), solder, flux, small wire nippers for circuit work, small needle-nosed pliers or forceps, very small screwdrivers, possibly a lighted magnifier or "helping hand" device to hold the circuit boards while you solder them. Note: lead-free solder is not recommended for DIY'ers unless you're very experienced with electronic circuitry.
 :*You'll need a "programmer" for the controllers you decide to use. Most all controllers use various kinds of small programmable IC chips (called "PICs") and different kinds of chips sometimes need different kinds of programmers. Programmers are small self-contained devices that usually plug into your computer's USB port and typically cost between $15-$75 each. They use special software tools that come with the programmer itself or are freely downloadable from various web sites. The programmer is necessary to customize the chips to do the effects you want them to do, and this is done with chip firmware. Firmware is the same to a programmable IC chip that software is for your personal computer.

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 '''Advanced DIY tools - optional'''
-:*Table saws, chop saws, radial arm saws, circular saws, band saws, etc. for constructing wooden display pieces.
+:*Table saw, chop saw, radial arm saw, circular saw, band saw, drill press, etc. for constructing wooden display pieces.
 :*An oscilloscope is a luxury item that not many DIYers have but it can be extremely helpful for advanced diagnostic situations involving controller circuitry and digital signals.
@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 :*A welder is often handy for those who plan to design and build their own wire frames or big structures that require metal framing.
-:*Hot air station for assembling electronics that require a lot of tiny, surface-mount parts.
+:*Hot air solder station for assembling electronics that require a lot of tiny, surface-mount parts.

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 :*A cable tester of some kind. The VOM/DVM can be used for testing the connections of cables but other inexpensive testers are available that can quickly diagnose whether an 8-wire cat5 cable has a bad connection. (You can't appreciate how truly valuable such a tester is until you're outside on a frigid night trying to figure out why a controller is not responding to the computer controls!)
-'''Extreme/Advanced DIY tools - optional'''
+'''Advanced DIY tools - optional'''
 :*Table saws, chop saws, radial arm saws, circular saws, band saws, etc. for constructing wooden display pieces.