This department is for a mix of products in kit form, initially commercial items that we find relevant and useful to fellow boat geeks, and perhaps later a few of our own.
38-Watt Stereo Amplifier – $29.00 → 
This kit is well-loved by Sparkfun customers, and I’m using one aboard our research vessel. This is a fully functional, two-channel audio amplifier, complete with a standby switch, volume control and indicator LEDs. The kit also includes a 6400BG heatsink.
The STA540 is configured as a dual bridge amplifier capable of delivering up to 2x 38W (4Ω at 18V). This chip from STMicro is a 4-channel, class AB audio amplifier designed for high quality sound applications. Supply voltage directly powers the STA540, and should be within 8 to 22V.
This kit comes as a bag of parts, you’ll need to solder everything to the PCB. All components are through-hole, so it shouldn’t be too difficult. Here is the schematic (28K PDF), and the assembly instructions are at the Sparkfun site.
Digital Oscilloscope Kit – $47.00 →
This is a fully functional little scope with backlit LCD, 5M samples/second, 8-bit resolution, and up to 50V input with 100mV/div sensitivity. The board is already populated with the SMD stuff, so assembly is easy (all thru-hole), and it runs on 9 volts.
Analog bandwidth is 1 MHz and you can save captures to memory or transfer screen captures as a bitmap. Need to embed a scope in a panel for basic system monitoring, but don’t want to spend the money on hacking a real oscilloscope? This is for you. It’s also a low-cost starter scope…
I got this from Sparkfun with an embedded application in mind, then decided on a larger/faster solution (Owon). I’m thus selling it well below the standard retail price of $59.95, and only have this one. The kit is unopened.
Digital Multimeter Kit – $17.50 →
This kit provides you with everything you need to make your own multimeter capable of measuring voltage (0-30VDC, 0.05 resolution) current (0-500mA, 1mA resolution) and resistance (0-100kΩ). The resistance mode also includes a continuity test: the buzzer will sound when the resistance probes are shorted together… one of the essentials of any multimeter.
To measure voltage, connect your probes to the ‘Voltage’ and ‘Common’ pins; for current, use the ‘Current’ and ‘Common’ pins. Resistance measurement uses the ‘Res-1′ and ‘Res-2′ pins. The decimal points are used in resistance measurement mode to indicate 10kΩ and 100kΩ ranges.
Probes are not included – you can use banana plug test cables or solder on simple jumper wires. But really, the best use of this (given the variety of cheap handheld DMMs on the market) is an embedded application… panel-mounted and used to display the internal conditions of a system.
I don’t generally carry these, and just have one unit available.
Intermediate Electronics Tool Kit – $68.00 →
If you are setting up a lab (aboard a boat or at home), you’re going to need tools made for electronics work. This is a nice set for general assembly, soldering, and troubleshooting electronics projects, and is well-scaled to Arduino development or general boat geekery. Here’s what’s included:
- Digital multimeter
- 30W soldering iron (fixed temperature)
- Soldering iron stand
- Solder wick (25 ft) – wonderful stuff
- 10g tube of solder (leaded)
- Liquid flux pen
- Illuminated monocle magnifier for delicate work
- Third hand
- Solder vacuum
- Wire strippers (down to 30 AWG)
- Needle nose pliers
- Diagonal cutters
- Mini screwdriver
Overall savings over buying all the stuff separately is about $10, not to mention time and shipping… this will get you going immediately!
Deluxe Electronics Tool Kit – $175.00 →
This kit is all you need for a very capable electronics lab, including precision antistatic PCB work and circuit design. Already set up at home but need to establish a lab on your boat? Jumping into microcontroller projects and want to save time? Launching a small business around the Arduino? Here’s what’s included in our high-end kit:
- Analog 70W soldering iron (temperature-controlled)
- Solder wick (25 ft) – wonderful stuff
- Spool of solder (100g leaded, 63/37 resin core, .031″)
- Liquid flux pen (water soluble)
- Solder vacuum
- Red and black hook-up wire
- Black wirewrap wire
- Solder tip tinner and cleaner
- Digital multimeter
- Illuminated monocle magnifier for delicate work
- Third hand
- Hemostats – straight
- Curved tweezers (for SMD components)
- Hobby knife
- Wire strippers (down to 30 AWG)
- Needle nose pliers
- Diagonal cutters
- Mini screwdriver
The soldering station alone is an $80 item, and is lead-free capable thanks to the precise temperature control… adjustable from 220-480°C (428-896°F). It is ESD safe, has an auto-shutoff feature that will save your tips if you forget to turn the rig off, and has a comfortable soft textured grip. It heats up very fast, and if you don’t have the budget for a Metcal, this will come pretty close.
You can check out from any add-to-cart form, or use this…
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