ELEC 241 Lab

Chapter 3 Tools and Resources

If you look over the labs we have planned, it's clear that there's a considerable amount of work to be done. Fortunately we have a substantial collection of tools available to make this an efficient process. These include the materials used to build the circuits, tools to assemble them, instruments to analyze them, data analysis software, and of course documentation.

In this chapter we will take a brief inventory of the tools and resources we have available. A complete list, with more detailed descriptions, is contained in The UNILAB User's Manual.

Instruments

Each station also has a complement of "traditional" electronic instruments: A power supply, an oscilloscope, and a function generator. A digital multimeter (DMM) is also available for each station, but is kept in the equipment room.

Components

Each lab group will get a kit containing an assortment of resistors, capacitors, and semiconductors. These should be sufficient to build all the circuits we will study this semester, but if not additional components are available in the equipment room. Larger components, such as microphones, speakers, handsets, etc., are also kept in the equipment room, and must be left there between lab sessions, as we only have enough for each day's lab groups.

Interconnects

There are two kinds of things we will need to connect: components to each other to make circuits and instruments to circuits (and to each other) to measure signals.

Patch Cords: Patch cords are lengths of cable a foot or so long with a connector on each end. We have two kinds: with banana plugs for connecting to the power supply and DMM, and with BNC connectors for connecting to the oscilloscope and function generator. We also have BNC clip leads for connecting instruments directly to components, but the interface module provides an easier way to do this in most cases.
The Breadboard: Each lab group will be issued a breadboard and interface board. You may take these home with you between labs, or leave them in the equipment room, as you choose. In any event, place a label (also available in the equipment room) with the names of your group members and your lab day on the underside of the breadboard and on the back side of the interface board. The breadboard and interface board must be returned, in usable condition, at the end of the semester.

Tool Kit

Each student will be given a kit containing tools that will be useful in building circuits in the lab. It includes wire cutters, wire strippers, needle nose pliers, a chip puller, and a small screwdriver for adjusting trimpots. It also includes a BNC T connector and banana plug adapter for making interconnections with patch cords. These tools will be useful in several of your other lab courses, so try to hang onto them.

Lab PC

Each lab station has a Dell DX280 PC running Windows XP. It is connected to the network so you may access your Owlnet directory and your favorite web sites. In addition to the regular complement of features it contains a data acquisition card, allowing it to measure and produce signals in the circuits you will be building. Networked printing is available from the printer (printer name "ink") in the equipment room (A143).