Tools you will need

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, 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

• 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.

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!)

Advanced DIY tools - optional

• 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.

• 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 solder station for assembling electronics that require a lot of tiny, surface-mount parts.