# PCB Intro Materials

## Intro

The following is a list I'm making of all the awesome kit that I've purchased over the years. I'm hoping to get Reddit's help expanding the list!

Almost everything I've listed below is under $10. Much of it is under $3. I've broken them into phases so don't feel like you have to spend it all at once. So, you're just barely getting started, you have maybe some projects in mind, but no idea what components you'll need, and while you'll need stuff eventually, it can come on the slowest boat from China and you'll never know the difference. This is going to sound basically exactly like an ad for AliExpress, but that's just cuz I'm going through my old orders, and telling you about the best, most useful ones. You can buy all of these from more reputable sites like Amazon, or other sites like eBay, but I do mostly AliExpress, LCSC, and if I need something quickly, or I need a specific thing with stats I can trust, I'll use Digikey. To keep costs low, I recommend AliExpress for anything you might plausibly buy on Amazon, and LCSC for anything you might plausibly buy from Digikey. I've had great luck with JLCPCB, but don't order the white solder mask, it's terrible. All other colors have been fine, black and green have been the best. Everything I list below from AliExpress I have received as the product that I ordered. Beware AliExpress though, there are scammers, and it's not perfect, if you need a product, consider buying it from two people, consider tracked shipping, and consider buying it from a reputable, long-established store, with many followers, my favourite store is obvious from the links below.

Ok, so, for building up a home lab to do electronics, first, breadboard phase, you'll want to start with an Arduino kit, they have tonnes of generic, useful components, like LEDs, capacitors, and resistors, and an actual breadboard.

I've never tried this before, but here's an invite code, it apparently will give us both coupons if you sign up with it, so, a little shameless here, but here's [the link](https://a.aliexpress.com/_mOjRFot).

### Beginner

#### Your first purchase

Buy an arduino kit like [this one for the atmega328p](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1729867945.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dnGSQ4r). They have all sorts of common components, resistors, diodes, capacitors, and breadboards. You'll be grabbing bits from this kit for years to come.

#### Tools

You'll NEED a bench power supply. For everything with power, I recommend buying it from a reputable, first world seller, not AliExpress. Make sure it measures voltage and amperage, and has at least a 4 digit display for each.

You'll eventually want an oscilloscope, but before you buy a real one, buy a [DIY oscilloscope kit](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32778225027.html).

You'll also eventually want a function generator, before you buy a real one, buy [the kit](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32862689682.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dM3NfH6). Only buy the expensive ones when you find that you need them, and the kits are good practice soldering.

[These wire strippers are so much better than the basic kind.](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32858789424.htm).

I love my [metal callipers](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32881692802.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dM3NfH6), but there are plastic ones that are just as good.

Buy some [extra breadboards and breadboard power modules, and breadboard wires](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32380158819.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dBzFbgq). You can never have too many breadboard wires. Especially red and black.

Get a [PCB ruler](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32393847675.html), do you have a ruler already? Well, does it have a reference to the size of an 0402 on it? Does it tell you the difference between an SSOP8 and an SOP8? Is it black and gold and looks awesome? Is it a dollar?

Buy [some little breadboards](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32658016071.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dpq9kxi) for circuits you always seem to reuse, like a bunch of status LEDs in various colors, and a bunch of capacitors, and a bunch of resistors, a 555 timer. If you keep rebuilding the same circuit in your breadboard, just make it on one of these, write down the pins on a piece of paper, and stab the THT components through the paper.

Buy [this power bank](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000191871773.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dpq9kxi) _specifically_. It measures volts and amps on its built in display, no it's not actually 20 000 mAh, it's like 8000 mAh, but you're not buying it for its capacity, you're buying it as a mobile power supply that can go up to 12V. Buy a dumb, cheap soldering iron kit, or go all in right away and get a Weller locally, once you start dealing with soldering a lot, you'll want the fine temperature control and solid construction of an expensive iron, as a hobbyist you can get away with the cheap ones.

Learn to solder with SMD kits [like this one](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32812908140.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4diHUKDD), pick your favorite projects. I recommend buying some different kits, like a [DIY power supply kit](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32904860329.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4diHUKDD), and then intentionally not building them, but instead using them as sources for various parts.

#### Through-Hole Breadboard Phase

Buy assorted kits for [capacitors](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32867575297.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dnGSQ4r), for [resistors](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32636020144.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dt35TsB), for [heat shrink](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32959717750.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dt35TsB), for [wires](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32909744994.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dt35TsB), for [diodes](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32633071171.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4diHUKDD).

Buy at least two [chunky 100W resistors](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32980369664.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dpq9kxi) before you make a power circuit. I recommend two 1 ohms and a 4 ohm. You can make 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 4.5, 5, or 6 Ohms with those, and they won't burn up.

#### Perfboard Phase

You've gotten comfortable on a breadboard, but now you want to make your circuit semi-permanent, or you're thinking of spinning a PCB, but before you do, you'll want to put it all together on a perfboard.

To make your first project on perfboard, buy the [green perfboards](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32985194874.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4diHUKDD), you CAN do the cheaper brown ones, but they suck ass.

You'll want [SMD to DIP adapters for the various chips](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32805222119.html?spm=2114.12010612.8148356.18.32a92735xSe2Rc).

You'll also want Pin headers, [male](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32873263301.html) and female.

#### Surface Mount and PCB Phase

Now you're getting fancy! Time to level up your game!

Also, you'll likely want to buy the assorted SMD packs for the common components. I recommend only using 0603 or smaller, unless you have specific need for a larger component. You'll want the practice soldering small things before you tackle your first QFN chip. For [resistors](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32621117061.html?spm=2114.12010615.8148356.6.32726d98UKFei6), for [capacitors](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32622995984.html?spm=2114.12010615.8148356.16.32726d98UKFei6), for [LEDs](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32798686869.html?spm=2114.12010615.8148356.7.32726d98UKFei6), for [diodes](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32863769935.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dM3NfH6),

For the PCB phase of your project, your soldering iron may still be fine, but when you eventually get to QFN packages, you'll want [a reflow air station](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32271891372.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4dblYYHh). If you want to prototype the PCB with sharpie beforehand, get [some Plated FR4](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32981402512.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.27424c4d4QCksV). Get the ferric chloride from a western supplier. If you're OK having the fabs build your accidents, and then waiting for the second spin of your PCB, then you can skip this.

Ok wow, that took me 2h to write all out. I hope it helps you! Good luck on your journey!