All Guides

Last updated: October 2026 Soldering tips fit by series, not by brand: a Hakko FX-888DX takes T18 tips, a Weller WE1010 takes ET tips, a JBC T245 handle takes …

Last updated: October 2026 For most people the Pinecil V2 is the better buy: it costs well under half as much, runs the open-source IronOS firmware out of the …

Last updated: October 2026 To update Pinecil firmware on Windows, hold the [-] button while you plug a USB data cable into the iron’s USB-C port, keep …

Last updated: October 2026 This table puts the published specs of ten popular multimeters, from a roughly $43 AstroAI to the $580 Fluke 87V, side by side: …

Last updated: October 2026 To add a footprint library in KiCad 10, open Preferences → Manage Footprint Libraries… from the PCB Editor or Footprint Editor, pick …

Last updated: October 2026 To use an oscilloscope, connect a compensated probe to a channel, clip its ground lead to your circuit’s ground, then set the …

Last updated: October 2026 To use a multimeter, plug the black lead into COM, plug the red lead into the jack that matches what you are measuring, turn the dial …

Last updated: October 2026 To test continuity with a multimeter, turn the circuit off, set the dial to continuity (the speaker or sound-wave symbol), plug the …

Last updated: October 2026 To test a capacitor with a multimeter, remove power, discharge the capacitor through a resistor, take it out of the circuit, then …

Last updated: October 2026 To solder a through-hole part, tin a clean iron tip, touch it so it heats both the copper pad and the component lead at the same …

Last updated: October 2026 For most hobbyists in 2026, the Pinecil V2 is the best soldering iron to start with: it costs about $26 to $36 at Pine64’s …

Last updated: October 2026 For most hobby electronics, the best solder is a 63/37 tin-lead wire with a rosin flux core, such as Kester 44 or MG Chemicals 4880 …

Last updated: October 2026 For most hobby electronics benches, the Brymen BM235 is the best all-round multimeter: 6000 counts, true-RMS, full microamp to amp …

Last updated: October 2026 The best multimeter for most electricians in 2026 is the Fluke 117 (about $305 at Fluke): it is true-RMS, rated CAT III 600 V, and …

Last updated: October 2026 For most hobbyists in 2026, the best budget oscilloscope is a 12-bit scope from either the Rigol DHO800 series (from about $329) or …

Last updated: October 2026 For most hobby and student benches, the best bench power supply in 2026 is a single-channel 30 V, 5 A linear unit such as the Korad …