Tools you will need - Revision history

ErnieHorning: Updated tool recommendations to reflect current controller technology, modernized programming and diagnostic equipment, clarified soldering guidance, updated terminology, and added commonly used tools for today's DIY hobbyists while preserving the original intent of the article.

2026-07-20T21:47:10Z

Updated tool recommendations to reflect current controller technology, modernized programming and diagnostic equipment, clarified soldering guidance, updated terminology, and added commonly used tools for today's DIY hobbyists while preserving the original intent of the article.

Dirknerkle at 16:14, 18 February 2019

2019-02-18T16:14:16Z

Dirknerkle at 16:09, 18 February 2019

2019-02-18T16:09:08Z

Dirknerkle at 16:08, 18 February 2019

2019-02-18T16:08:28Z

Dirknerkle at 16:05, 18 February 2019

2019-02-18T16:05:51Z

Dirknerkle at 16:04, 18 February 2019

2019-02-18T16:04:09Z

Dirknerkle at 16:27, 8 December 2018

2018-12-08T16:27:51Z

Admin at 15:51, 8 May 2015

2015-05-08T15:51:39Z

Admin at 15:37, 13 March 2015

2015-03-13T15:37:43Z

Admin: Created page with "'''Common, everyday household tools required''' :*You'll use screwdrivers in both blade and Phillips styles and in various sizes, one or more pliers, wire cutters, hammer, may..."

2015-01-31T22:11:37Z

Created page with "'''Common, everyday household tools required''' :*You'll use screwdrivers in both blade and Phillips styles and in various sizes, one or more pliers, wire cutters, hammer, may..."

New page

'''Common, everyday household tools required'''
:*You'll use screwdrivers in both blade and Phillips styles and in various sizes, one or more pliers, wire cutters, hammer, maybe Vise-grips, saws, tube cutters, files, drills and drill bits, wrenches, a flashlight, etc. No surprises here -- just the kinds of tools a homeowner usually needs for day-to-day maintenance around the home.

'''Special tools required'''
:*To assemble electronics, you'll need a good soldering iron or solder station (not a soldering "gun" as they're too hot to use), solder, flux, small wire nippers for circuit work, small needle-nosed pliers or forceps, very small screwdrivers, possibly a lighted magnifier or "helping hand" device to hold the circuit boards while you solder them.

:*You'll need a "programmer" for the controllers you decide to use. Most all controllers use various kinds of small programmable IC chips (called "PICs") and different kinds of chips sometimes need different kinds of programmers. Programmers are small self-contained devices that usually plug into your computer's USB port and typically cost between $15-$75 each. They use special software tools that come with the programmer itself or are freely downloadable from various web sites.

'''Diagnostic tools required'''
:*A VOM (Volt-Ohm-Meter) or DVM (Digital Volt Meter) is a necessity to measure the presence and values of voltages and electrical current. Most DIYers have more than one -- prices range anywhere from $10 and up; expect to spend about $25 for a decent one.

:*A cable tester of some kind. The VOM/DVM can be used for testing the connections of cables but other inexpensive testers are available that can quickly diagnose whether an 8-wire cat5 cable has a bad connection. (You can't appreciate how truly valuable such a tester is until you're outside on a frigid night trying to figure out why a controller is not responding to the computer controls!)

'''Extreme DIY tools - optional'''
:*Table saws, chop saws, radial arm saws, circular saws, band saws, etc. for constructing wooden display pieces.

:*An oscilloscope is a luxury item that not many DIYers have but it can be extremely helpful for advanced diagnostic situations involving controller circuitry and digital signals.

:*A logic analyzer is another advanced diagnostic tool that can help determine specific communication problems.

:*A welder is often handy for those who plan to design and build their own wire frames or big structures that require metal framing.

:*Hot air station for assembling electronics that require a lot of tiny, surface-mount parts.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 '''Common, everyday household tools required'''
-:*You'll use screwdrivers in both blade and Phillips styles and in various sizes, one or more pliers, wire cutters, hammer, maybe Vise-grips, saws, tube cutters, files, drills and drill bits, wrenches, a flashlight, ladder, etc. No surprises here -- just the kinds of tools a homeowner usually needs for day-to-day maintenance around the home. A pair of low-cost walkie talkies and another family member can be very helpful, too -- especially during setup or when you're trying to diagnose a problem.
+:*You'll use screwdrivers in both blade and Phillips styles and in various sizes, one or more pliers, wire cutters, hammer, maybe Vise-grips, saws, tube cutters, files, drills and drill bits, wrenches, a flashlight, ladder, etc. No surprises here -- just the kinds of tools a homeowner usually needs for day-to-day maintenance around the home. A pair of low-cost walkie-talkies or mobile phones and another family member or helper can be very useful during setup or when diagnosing problems around the display. Many hobbyists prefer traditional leaded electronic solder because it is easier to work with than lead-free solder. Always solder in a well-ventilated area and follow appropriate safety precautions.
-'''Special tools required'''
+'''Special tools (depending on your projects)'''
-:*To assemble electronics, you'll need a good soldering iron or solder station (not a soldering "gun" -- they're too hot to use and can damage circuit boards), solder, flux, small wire nippers for circuit work, small needle-nosed pliers or forceps, very small screwdrivers, possibly a lighted magnifier or "helping hand" device to hold the circuit boards while you solder them. Note: lead-free solder is not recommended for DIY'ers unless you're very experienced with electronic circuitry.
+:*If you plan to assemble or repair electronic equipment, a good soldering iron or soldering station (rather than a soldering gun), solder, flux, small wire cutters, needle-nose pliers, precision screwdrivers, and a helping-hand or magnifier can make the job much easier.
-:*You'll need a "programmer" for the controllers you decide to use. Most all controllers use various kinds of small programmable IC chips (called "PICs") and different kinds of chips sometimes need different kinds of programmers. Programmers are small self-contained devices that usually plug into your computer's USB port and typically cost between $15-$75 each. They use special software tools that come with the programmer itself or are freely downloadable from various web sites. The programmer is necessary to customize the chips to do the effects you want them to do, and this is done with chip firmware. Firmware is the same to a programmable IC chip that software is for your personal computer.
+:*Some controllers require firmware to be installed or updated. Many modern controllers include built-in USB, Ethernet, or Wi-Fi firmware update capability and do not require a separate programmer. Older controllers and some specialized hardware may still require dedicated programming devices. They use special software tools that come with the programmer itself or are freely downloadable from various web sites. The programmer is necessary to customize the chips to do the effects you want them to do, and this is done with chip firmware. Firmware is the same to a programmable IC chip that software is for your personal computer.
 '''Diagnostic tools required'''
-:*A VOM (Volt-Ohm-Meter) or DVM (Digital Volt Meter) is a necessity to measure the presence and values of voltages and electrical current. Most DIYers have more than one -- prices range anywhere from $10 and up; expect to spend about $25 for a decent one.
+:*A digital multimeter (DMM) is one of the most important diagnostic tools you can own. It allows you to measure voltage, resistance, continuity, and often current. A quality meter is invaluable for troubleshooting electrical and electronic problems.
-:*A cable tester of some kind. The VOM/DVM can be used for testing the connections of cables but other inexpensive testers are available that can quickly diagnose whether an 8-wire cat5 cable has a bad connection. (You can't appreciate how truly valuable such a tester is until you're outside on a frigid night trying to figure out why a controller is not responding to the computer controls!)
+:*A cable tester of some kind. The DVM can be used for testing the connections of cables but other inexpensive testers are available that can quickly diagnose whether an 8-wire Ethernet cable (Cat5e, Cat6, or similar) has a bad connection. (You can't appreciate how truly valuable such a tester is until you're outside on a frigid night trying to figure out why a controller is not responding to the computer controls!)
 '''Advanced DIY tools - optional'''
 :*Table saw, chop saw, radial arm saw, circular saw, band saw, drill press, etc. for constructing wooden display pieces.
-:*An oscilloscope is a luxury item that not many DIYers have but it can be extremely helpful for advanced diagnostic situations involving controller circuitry and digital signals.
+:*An oscilloscope is an advanced diagnostic tool that can be extremely helpful when troubleshooting controller electronics, data signals, or communication problems, but it is not required for most hobbyists.
 :*A logic analyzer is another advanced diagnostic tool that can help determine specific communication problems.
@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 :*A welder is often handy for those who plan to design and build their own wire frames or big structures that require metal framing.
-:*Hot air solder station for assembling electronics that require a lot of tiny, surface-mount parts.
+:*A hot-air rework station is useful for assembling or repairing surface-mount electronics but is unnecessary for most DIYChristmas projects.

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 '''Special tools required'''
-:*To assemble electronics, you'll need a good soldering iron or solder station (not a soldering "gun" as they're too hot to use), solder, flux, small wire nippers for circuit work, small needle-nosed pliers or forceps, very small screwdrivers, possibly a lighted magnifier or "helping hand" device to hold the circuit boards while you solder them. Note: lead-free solder is not recommended for DIY'ers unless you're very experienced with electronic circuitry.
+:*To assemble electronics, you'll need a good soldering iron or solder station (not a soldering "gun" -- they're too hot to use and can damage circuit boards), solder, flux, small wire nippers for circuit work, small needle-nosed pliers or forceps, very small screwdrivers, possibly a lighted magnifier or "helping hand" device to hold the circuit boards while you solder them. Note: lead-free solder is not recommended for DIY'ers unless you're very experienced with electronic circuitry.
 :*You'll need a "programmer" for the controllers you decide to use. Most all controllers use various kinds of small programmable IC chips (called "PICs") and different kinds of chips sometimes need different kinds of programmers. Programmers are small self-contained devices that usually plug into your computer's USB port and typically cost between $15-$75 each. They use special software tools that come with the programmer itself or are freely downloadable from various web sites. The programmer is necessary to customize the chips to do the effects you want them to do, and this is done with chip firmware. Firmware is the same to a programmable IC chip that software is for your personal computer.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 '''Common, everyday household tools required'''
-:*You'll use screwdrivers in both blade and Phillips styles and in various sizes, one or more pliers, wire cutters, hammer, maybe Vise-grips, saws, tube cutters, files, drills and drill bits, wrenches, a flashlight, etc. No surprises here -- just the kinds of tools a homeowner usually needs for day-to-day maintenance around the home. A pair of low-cost walkie talkies and another family member can be very helpful, too -- especially during setup or when you're trying to diagnose a problem.
+:*You'll use screwdrivers in both blade and Phillips styles and in various sizes, one or more pliers, wire cutters, hammer, maybe Vise-grips, saws, tube cutters, files, drills and drill bits, wrenches, a flashlight, ladder, etc. No surprises here -- just the kinds of tools a homeowner usually needs for day-to-day maintenance around the home. A pair of low-cost walkie talkies and another family member can be very helpful, too -- especially during setup or when you're trying to diagnose a problem.
 '''Special tools required'''

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 '''Special tools required'''
-:*To assemble electronics, you'll need a good soldering iron or solder station (not a soldering "gun" as they're too hot to use), solder, flux, small wire nippers for circuit work, small needle-nosed pliers or forceps, very small screwdrivers, possibly a lighted magnifier or "helping hand" device to hold the circuit boards while you solder them.
+:*To assemble electronics, you'll need a good soldering iron or solder station (not a soldering "gun" as they're too hot to use), solder, flux, small wire nippers for circuit work, small needle-nosed pliers or forceps, very small screwdrivers, possibly a lighted magnifier or "helping hand" device to hold the circuit boards while you solder them. Note: lead-free solder is not recommended for DIY'ers unless you're very experienced with electronic circuitry.
 :*You'll need a "programmer" for the controllers you decide to use. Most all controllers use various kinds of small programmable IC chips (called "PICs") and different kinds of chips sometimes need different kinds of programmers. Programmers are small self-contained devices that usually plug into your computer's USB port and typically cost between $15-$75 each. They use special software tools that come with the programmer itself or are freely downloadable from various web sites. The programmer is necessary to customize the chips to do the effects you want them to do, and this is done with chip firmware. Firmware is the same to a programmable IC chip that software is for your personal computer.

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 '''Advanced DIY tools - optional'''
-:*Table saws, chop saws, radial arm saws, circular saws, band saws, etc. for constructing wooden display pieces.
+:*Table saw, chop saw, radial arm saw, circular saw, band saw, drill press, etc. for constructing wooden display pieces.
 :*An oscilloscope is a luxury item that not many DIYers have but it can be extremely helpful for advanced diagnostic situations involving controller circuitry and digital signals.
@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 :*A welder is often handy for those who plan to design and build their own wire frames or big structures that require metal framing.
-:*Hot air station for assembling electronics that require a lot of tiny, surface-mount parts.
+:*Hot air solder station for assembling electronics that require a lot of tiny, surface-mount parts.

@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 :*A cable tester of some kind. The VOM/DVM can be used for testing the connections of cables but other inexpensive testers are available that can quickly diagnose whether an 8-wire cat5 cable has a bad connection. (You can't appreciate how truly valuable such a tester is until you're outside on a frigid night trying to figure out why a controller is not responding to the computer controls!)
-'''Extreme DIY tools - optional'''
+'''Extreme/Advanced DIY tools - optional'''
 :*Table saws, chop saws, radial arm saws, circular saws, band saws, etc. for constructing wooden display pieces.