[sdiy] just got one of these...what can/should I do with it?

[Eric Brombaugh]

On Feb 1, 2009, at 6:07 PM, Horton wrote:

> I just got a Global Specialties PB-503 Proto Board off a guy for free.
> He thought the function generator in it would be a wacky oscillator or
> something and could never get any sound out of it (hee hee). I
> shouldn't laugh, though, because I barely understand what I have on my
> hands. Here's a link:
>
> http://www.tequipment.net/GlobalSpecialtiesPB503.html

Nice find. My wife got me the predecessor to this for my birthday many  
years ago and I've found it very useful. The +/- variable supply is  
handy for powering the op-amps & other analog stuff, while a dedicated  
+5V supply is good for older logic families. The oscillator provides a  
0V-centered shaped sine and triangle waveform or a 5V clock signal.   
I'm guessing it's an 8038-based design or equivalent. Frequency range  
is fairly wide - not high enough for a MCU clock, but good for testing  
things.

The protoboard area is pretty standard stuff - 3x normal 0.3" spacing  
for ICs with bus bars running between that can be jumpered as  
necessary to the supply busses that run across the top. Be aware that  
the vertical busses are split in the middle - I usually jumper the top  
& bottom halves together. I've sometimes used the switches, pots,  
buttons and LEDs. The BNC jacks are less handy and I can't recall ever  
having used the speaker.

> I've been doing everything so far with a breadboard and 9v battery,
> and sometimes a Radio Shack Learning Lab (runs off of AA's)...can I
> basically replace that with this

This should take the place of your 9V/ AA batteries and provide you  
with true bipolar supplies to boot.

> I'm kind of freaked out by the fact
> that it plugs into the wall, but it seems to only actually spit out DC
> from the three little terminals at the top. How do I use this thing -
> can I just use the same jumper wires I've been using with a regular
> breadboard? Am I going to get shocked if I'm grabbing resistors and
> exposed leads and stuff? I'm intimidated by this thing...

The supply on mine is fully isolated so it's safe from line voltages.  
You shouldn't be able to crank the voltage up high enough to hurt  
yourself, unless you're prone to licking your circuits or using low- 
impedance bio-sensing contacts. Grabbing bare leads with dry fingers  
should be fine. (Disclaimer - IANAL, Professional driver on closed  
course, Don't try this at home, etc.)

Eric