DIY KITs - Survey

[bcd]

Growing up in the UK I was always working on some project or another, and loved the Maplin kits, although I think I only ever finished a few. A lot of the projects in the other mags didn't have kits available, or you had to order the PCBs from overseas, so I didn't do much with them.

Unfortunately I was one of those people who did it for a hobby first and then made it a job - does that make it a Jobbie ? (You might NOT want to put that in Wikipedia)

When I moved to Australia 10 years ago I was blown away by the availability of the kits that appeared in the Electronics Mags over here. Three major electronics firms would make complete versions of designs from the mags. One think I did find disappointing was the availability of things like PICs and specialist parts.

Things are better now with companies like Futurelec and at a pinch (or an arm and a leg) Farnell for all my PIC needs. Dontronics is also a favourite for all the more advanced stuff. As for kits, companies like kitsrus.com in Hong Kong have some good kits, although most are short form with limited instructions.

I still love a good kit, but I also like a good article that explains the how and why the designer has chosen to do things that way. Kits with PICs are great, as long as the author explains what's going on in the code - even in rough form. I think too many people getting into the game today assume all you need is a single IC to do everything.

Just my au$0.02 (0.001p) worth.

Bill.

[T.Jackson]

Thanks for your participation everyone. However I'd like a few 100 or so replies to this thread, so please take just a few brief moments to participate.

[BobK]

Hello,

I was a big fan of Heath Kits growing up. Where'd they go? I used to be real good at building things. Wirewrap and point to point. Too many to count! I got away from electronics for 10 years because the eyes were going bad. Trifocals now and someone needed something special so here I am back to building things. I like the easy availability of PCB's so I buy 3 boards and build something. I would only buy a kit if it was something I realy wanted and didn't want to take the time to just build it myself. Having an enclosure that looks good is important. My current project was built around a small enclosure from TEKO so it was relatively easy to build and looks very presentable to my customer.

I really would like to get into SMT but it looks so teadious to do with the solder screens, paste, tweezers, trembling hands, oven, etc. Another current project is perfect for SMT but only if the customer wants more than 100. Still in prototype testing.

I did see a kit I was thinking of buying from Jaycar though and that was the clock with the seconds LEDs filling up as the seconds went by. Just never got around to ordering it.

Hope this helps Trent.

BobK

[bbarney]

Sorry Trent I meant to do this in my other post

F 1. I frequently purchase KITs? (True / False)
T 2. I occasionally purchase them?
F 3. I'm too advanced, I never buy them anymore?
F 4. I have never purchased a KIT before?

F 5. I buy KITs to learn new skills?
T 6. I only buy KITs if they do something that I want?
F 7. I only buy KITs if they don't have surface mount parts?
F 8. I prefer to buy KITs with surface mount technology?

F 9. Most KITs now are boring?
T 10.I prefer KITs that involve digital stuff, like PICs?
F 11.I prefer audio & other analog KITs?
T 12.I prefer KITs that require a computer?

T 13.I don't mind KITs that have single sided PCB's?
F 14.I refuse to buy KITs unless the boards are solder masked?
F 15.I refuse to buy KITs that don't have boards with silkscreen overlays?
T16.I don't care about the PCB, I'd prefer to save money buying it cheaper?

F 17.I refuse to buy a KIT if I can go and buy it cheaper already made?
F 18.I refuse to buy a KIT unless it has been published in a magazine?
F 19.I refuse to buy a KIT unless I completely understand the circuit?
T 20.I would like to see more KITs for sale on the internet?

F 21.I never buy KITs from the internet, I prefer to buy them in a shop?
F 22.I don't like heavy amounts of soldering in KITs?
T 23.I like soldering, this is why I buy them?
T 24.I prefer KITs that come with project boxes & silk screened panels?

[T.Jackson]

I did see a kit I was thinking of buying from Jaycar though and that was the clock with the seconds LEDs filling up as the seconds went by. Just never got around to ordering it.

That clock is very good but grossly over priced. I kind of know of the designer, I actually worked on his wireless nurse call system in my previous job. Ironically, the built in clock on this system was quite possibly its only major fault. It kept time within +/- 10 mins a month. I was constantly called out to adjust these things. I have heard that early versions of the LED clock also kept time less than perfectly but the problem has since been rectified. All told - $180 is just way too much of an ask. No thanks. Oh! and I'll add that it took almost 2 years to develop !!! (This would possibly explain the price tag)

[Pic_User]

That clock is very good but grossly over priced. I kind of know of the designer, I actually worked on his wireless nurse call system in my previous job. Ironically, the built in clock on this system was quite possibly its only major fault. It kept time within +/- 10 mins a month. I was constantly called out to adjust these things. I have heard that early versions of the LED clock also kept time less than perfectly but the problem has since been rectified. All told - $180 is just way too much of an ask. No thanks. Oh! and I'll add that it took almost 2 years to develop !!! (This would possibly explain the price tag)

How about....
We could decide upon a nifty PIC / electronics project that we want to do together.

Say a clock very similar to Jaycar clock:
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=KC5404

Work together on the ideas to be incorporated into the project.
Collectively, write, test, debug the PBP code. Test till we have a working prototype.
Design the electronics, lay out the printed circuit board (PCB).
Get the boards etched, (prepaid (paypal) by members wanting one).
Buy the parts in bulk, (prepaid (paypal) by members wanting them).
Ship the “kits”, (prepaid (paypal) by members wanting them).

Get the kits in the mail.
Put the kits together, discuss problems, mods, ideas for changes in the PBP code.

This all may fall flat and we loose our invested money, but what if it did work, what’s the next kit?
This would be interesting even to the people not “buying the kit”, as a group effort.
Maybe, not the clock but something less costly to start.
-Adam-

[T.Jackson]

Hi Adam,

Jaycar Electronics actual own the copyright to that project. Certain they would pursue legal action if an inferior (copied / similar) product became available. Some may argue that a similar product with some unique character would fall under the Creative Comms act. http://creativecommons.org/

I don't recommend doing a project like this and trying to sell it. The director of Jaycar is a very rich, powerful & highly persuasive man (From what I've heard). Not a good idea bud.

[bcd]

How about a PIC controlled binary clock?. Something that is a fun project, but also useful to learn binary? (Although most of them are actually BCD rather than true binary).

Good for beginners and nerdy enough for people like me !!!

Bill.

[keithdoxey]

Hi Adam,

Jaycar Electronics actual own the copyright to that project. Certain they would pursue legal action if an inferior (copied / similar) product became available. Some may argue that a similar product with some unique character would fall under the Creative Comms act. http://creativecommons.org/

I don't recommend doing a project like this and trying to sell it. The director of Jaycar is a very rich, powerful & highly persuasive man (From what I've heard). Not a good idea bud.

There are already similar products in existance. The Broadcast Industry has used similar looking LED clocks for many years such as this one sold by Canford Audio

http://www.canford.co.uk/commerce/pr...oductid=58-782

The Broadcast clocks are generally slaved from a master time controller to ensure all displays are exactly the same but the general look of the Jaycar project isnt significantly different to those existing commercial products.

Reading the description of how the Jaycar kit animates the process of illuminating the next second LED would appear to be about the only unique aspect of their design.

Please note that I am not advocating that anyone should rip off someone elses design but pointing out the similar products can be developed by different people in different locations at the same time.

For many years TV stations have used graphics of clock with seconds appearing as the minute progresses.

Several years ago, Maplin published a design for an MSF controlled digital clock using a PIC and BiColour LED displays. If the MSF radio signal was absent the clock would keep time by its own crystal reference but the display would be red to indicate that it may not be totally accurate. When displaying the time received from the MSF radio signal the display was green.