Workshop
Tools, soldering equipment, and workplace supplies.
Frequently asked questions about tools and power supply
How do I assemble the LED clock kit?
You’ll find the illustrated step-by-step guide for free in our guides section. You need a soldering iron, solder and about two hours — no prior knowledge is required, as the kit is designed as a soldering exercise.
Which soldering exercises are suitable for beginners?
Kits with through-hole components and large solder pads. The Funduino Cube is made for exactly this: you solder it together and can then keep using it as a learning system. For pure practice, there are simple soldering kits where something blinks or beeps at the end.
LM2596 or XL6009 — which voltage converter is right?
The LM2596 is a step-down converter: it turns a higher voltage into a lower one, for example 12 V to 5 V. The XL6009 is a step-up converter and works the other way around, for example from 5 V to 12 V. If you want to step the voltage down, use the LM2596.
Which charge controller is suitable for LiFePO4 batteries?
It’s important that the controller explicitly supports LiFePO4: the end-of-charge voltage is 3.65 V per cell, which is lower than for typical lithium-ion cells. A controller designed for Li-ion will overcharge LiFePO4 cells.
How many watts does a 5 V, 3.4 A power supply have?
17 watts. You calculate power as voltage times current, so 5 V × 3.4 A = 17 W. When choosing one, plan in some headroom — running a power supply at its limit all the time shortens its service life.
Where can I buy a multimeter?
Right here in our shop under Measurement technology. For electronics projects, a device that measures voltage, current, resistance and continuity is enough. In practice, you’ll use the continuity test with a beep most often.