are you still safe? If the answer is not 'Yes' then go think more BEFROE turning on any power.Ī details list for you to consider for safety: Then re-do the thinking with a 'failed' piece of equipment - say a bad capacitor in one of your pieces test gear. PLEASE in all cases give some careful thoughts to your work bench power! Ground pathes and shock hazzards are 'sneaky' safety areas to be around. if you are a member of the ARRL you can find an electronic copy of the article on the ARRL web site. A good article can be found in the March, 2019 QST magazine on page 36. Insure proper fusing in all power circuits. Include the "workbench lighting" in your list, if you are touching a piece of equipment and touch a lighting component (switch or fixture), what is the possible result? The testing equipment and any units under test require your considerations. Think and act accordingly! Various pieces equipment are all potential electrical shock hazzards. Improper consideration on grounds can KILL you. Isolated power for all equipment being worked on is a major consideration. Please, please make sure your entire bench area has Ground Fault Interuption supplied power. Include a single power emergency 'kill switch' into your bench design and setup. All work benches have electrical power involved in some manner. SAFETY must ALWAYS be your very first and most important consideration on or around your workbench. This can help you add quickly to your bench! HINT: Add items to your 'gift lists' for birthdays and Christmas.
Many have a basic work bench, a ham/radio work bench and a computer/microcontroller bench. As your interests grow, perhaps adding 'more benches' will be decision to face. The location where the bench will reside, the actual physical size, where the technical support information will be located, and how much 'extra equipment'/'parts storage' will be required are all factors to be considered and will impact your other tool choices. The choices and decisions of precisely which tools and equipment you need to have available are not easily resolved. The ultimate electronics workbench is different for each person and changes as personal knowledge and interests evolve and as technology changes. If you are starting out as a new Ham or electronics hobbyist, you will soon find a need for having your own workbench. Quickly Find Something! Select your Search Range ~ either choice opens in a new Window.