Any hack takes time and space to put together. The surfncircuits lab is no different. My last project started out as an idea and ended up taking over the whole kitchen table.
And while it is fun to think about a super portable compact lab, The reality is hack projects need space. The kitchen table is a great catch-all location, but SurfnCircuits really needs a lab! Not everyone in my family appreciates looking at kook electronic parts while eating. 🙂
So with a better lab space as the goal , what is the optimal space requirement? There is one universal law of physics that we must keep in mind
A hack project will fill up any space provided.
The photo above is one simple example of this law for the simple cell phone charging hack. With the law defined, what are the items needed and space required for the lab bench when building a project?
- A laptop, smart phone and/or desktop computer.! (12″x18″)
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A power supply : (8″x8″x15″)
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Oscilloscope (18″x 9″ x 9″)
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Multimeter. (3″x6″x2″)
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Wire cutters, strippers, soldering iron, tools (12″x12″)
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Schematics and notes. (18″x18″)
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Solder/solderless breadboard. (24″ x 18″)
The result is that the smallest space we need is three square feet of space. However I want a little more room to have a couple of projects going at the same time. I’m thinking a lab bench that is 24-30 inches deep and 36-48 inches wide will be perfect. Now I need to find the space in the house!
I’m guessing I’ll find the space in the garage…..
Let me know if you have any thoughts on the matter.
SurfnCircuits needs a Lab! 🙂
The garage is ideal: reorganize and create a little man cave in there! Or use your office space instead and put a barn sliding door on it.
The Barn door idea is awesome. 🙂
I built an electronics work bench in my man cave (wife approved catchall-electronics Lab). It consists of a 6 foot bright white kitchen counter top from Lowe’s.
I built the support risers from 2x4s framing black painted OSB plywood. I then sanded and varnished the 2x4s. The risers are extended above the countertop to provide a pegboard for tools and support a 40W 4 foot flouresent fixture. I added a 10 outlet power strip at the back of the countertop and below the pegboard. Then just to the left there is a typical single gang box housing a standard wall switch to control the light.
All of the wiring is household romex spliced in a dual gang box at the back of the bench. SJ wire extends from there to a three prong plug to supply power.
That sound great and thanks for sharing. You should attach a picture here …I think that works on this blog or start you own. :). Since the time of writing this blog entry, I have also eked out a man cave in the garage, and a buddy sold me a work bench he bought from Costco. But I still need to work on good lighting , like you 40W fluorescent lights , and a shelving system that can hold my o-scope, FG, soldering Iron, projects, etc. I want to add a few shelves above the bench and on a 7 foot wall in garage. Thoughts ?