Ham Workbench

SARA Electronics Workbench ~ last update: 09 Sep 2024

Ham Electronics Work Bench

If you are starting out as a new Ham or electronics hobbyist, you will soon find a need for having your own workbench. The ultimate electronics workbench is different for each person and changes as personal knowledge and interests evolve and as technology changes. Some people have two or three 'electronic' workbenchs - RF bench/AF bench/Computer bench/soldering bench, etc. The choices and decisions of precisely which tools and equipment you need to have available are not usually easily resolved when you are starting. The location where the bench will reside, the actual physical size, where the technical support information will be located (you will collect a lot of information), and how much 'extra equipment'/'parts storage' will be required are all factors to be considered and will impact your other tool choices. As your interests grow, perhaps adding 'more benches' will be a decision you will face. As we stated, many have a basic work bench, a ham/radio work bench and a computer/micro-controller bench. Each bench with it's own set of requirements and instrumentation / tool requirements.

   HINT: Add items to your 'gift lists' for birthdays and Christmas. This can help you add quickly to your bench!

SAFETY must ALWAYS be your very first and most important consideration on or around your workbench (and the hobby in all aspects). Make your bench as safe as possible. All work benches have electrical power involved in some manner. Include a single power emergency 'kill switch' into each of your bench design(s) and setup. Grounds, isolation and emergency shutoff are required areas to focus on.  Please, please make sure your entire bench area has Ground Fault Interruption [GFI] supplied power. "Electrical Isolated" power for all equipment being worked on is a major consideration. Improper consideration on grounds can KILL you. Think and act accordingly! Various pieces equipment are all potential electrical shock hazards. Include the "workbench lighting" in your safety list. You need to be able to see where you are going to make a connection(s) and touch things., if you are touching a piece of equipment and touch a lighting component (switch or fixture), what is the possible result? What equipment failures can be tolerated? The testing equipment and any 'units under test' require your considerations (with added failure modes). Insure proper fusing in all power circuits. A good article can be found in the March, 2019 QST magazine on page 36. if you are a member of the ARRL you can find an electronic copy of the article on the ARRL web site. PLEASE in all cases give some careful thoughts to your work bench power! Ground paths and shock hazards are 'sneaky' safety areas to be around... plan accordingly. Then re-do the thinking with a 'failed' piece of equipment - say a bad capacitor (short or open) in one of your pieces of gear (an instrument or unit under test or both)... are you still safe? If the answer is not 'Yes' then go think more BEFORE turning on any power.

A details list for you to consider {topics vary}:

TOOLS - WORKBENCH Here is a list of basis tools that 'well equipped' electronic workbenches will usually have available. The quantity can be added to as you learn and finances allow, but please remember: "You get what you pay for". Cheap tools will usually have a short life and may not be up to the task which your requirements may have for the tool. a 'cheap' special tool may be quite a bit better than 'no tool', just consider what your requirement should be. You do not need all these tools to start, but as you take on more workbench tasks, the list below will handle a very large portion of any bench task. There may be others that your needs/wants require in order to be "all inclusive" - add as you desire. Consider how you are going to provide storage and access to your tools (tool boxes vs drawers and shelves). Work benches are best utilized when you are comfortable at the bench, consider your chair or stool. I use several 'close-by' tool boxes and many shelf units for tools, equipment and spare parts. How easy is it to access the tool and return to storage when you are at the bench?

Experimenter Stuff:

Basic Mechanical Tools - Nearly 'required' for some tasks:

Additional Tool Considerations:

Electronic Tools (Instruments):

Equipment Additions (Electronic):

Electronic Components:

 Go online and search to get some tips about "Buying Electronic Components ", search for other ideas on electronic components on the internet. Try scavenging various components from used equipment (cheapest method and not just radios) and by going to a hamfest looking for components (inexpensive) and searching surplus component suppliers (bargains). If you purchase from electronic parts suppliers (most expensive) you can fill voids. Add slowly as your needs develop and "keep it organized" if not you will not easily find what you need. Old televisions, computers w/monitors, microwaves ovens, old Hi-Fis and radios are a few items that you can tear apart for components. My home has a ham shack, work bench, & general activities desk, general type work desk all of these with computers on a linked intranet system. Learn to use that computer to organize your parts collection. Use your computer to keep lists of materials on hand for any project (make a 'project card). I use "AZZ Cardfile" as a 'database' of my parts collection (do a web search). You can search the database (card contents) to find physical and electrical information on the item, I include what shelf I put it on last (I label my shelves.). For each part where I collected the part, links to internet data on the part, datasheet copy, schematic and pin out information, 'other thoughts' I may want in the future, etc. can all be stored on an azz card for the part. I keep an eye on the old equipment cabinets/boxes. I cannot estimate how many times I have used an "old piece gear" cabinet, repainted and filled in holes, new drilled, etc. to house a new project. Special attention to 'water proof cases' is a way to save a lot of money.

I test each component before placing it in stock. Unknown component status or failed components have a set place for them in storage. My 'stock component's are ready for quick and sure usage.

Please make sure you collect parts in a safe manner - search the internet for safety requirements. NEVER approach this task in a careless manner. Burns, electrical shocks, eye hazard, material chemical issues, hazardous material handling are a few of the important areas you need to ALWAYS consider. Make your environment a safe one for you and all family members and/or visitors!

Organization of the parts cannot be over stressed. If organized correctly, you will know what is 'on hand'/'in stock' and what you may need to look for at swaps and purchase opportunities. Search out datasheets for the components you collect and store them (on your computer). Use engineering simulation (see LT Spice - free version) and circuit board layout software (look on internet for free software) to design, analyze, and make circuit boards for projects. The design and construction of electronics can be a hobby unto itself, but it adds greatly to the personal satisfaction of many hams. If you keep it organized, you quickly determine what you have and decide if you need to purchase something for that next project. Hint: I will start the planning of a project by labeling a container and placing a list of all needed components inside. Then I place those parts in the container and cross off the item list for that project. When the list is completely crossed off, I am ready to start the assembly step. I usually place a schematic diagram and any referenced source or filenames inside for reminding me of what I was planning. It is not unusual to have several of these containers on the shelf. As I get time I will pull one down and do the construction. Sorry to admit that some of my 'projects' have shelf lives of a few years.

Small micro-controllers/microcomputers fit well into these project areas. This will lead to a need to understanding some various software languages and Integrated Development Environments [IDE] as you implement the designs. Only "you" limit what you may accomplish! This knowledge may even lead a younger person to consider a technical career along these lines. People with these skills are always in demand on the commercial fronts. Learn to take advantage of all your new knowledge. Ham Radio and computer technology feed off each other for quick technical understanding and knowledge growth.

Sometimes we need help with a technical issue or procedure. A place for some help is ARRL Technical Information Service. It is for ARRL members, but is a great place to search for information. Searching the internet has grown into a very productive process. There are countless 'YouTube' channels that have a lot of electronic workbench information for you. Searching a project concept can add significant knowledge before you waste time 'reinventing' the project design several times ~ even your 'hobby time' has limits and needs consideration.