When approaching electronics for the first time, I found that it is best to ease yourself into the subject. Here at NovaMods we intend to cover very basic concepts of electricity and our goal is always instant gratification. One of the basic concepts of electronics work is ‘making connections’. Making connections requires a few tools but once you have collected this inexpensive set, there are a myriad of projects that you can easily tackle….. NovaMods projects included!

• Multimeter

  The multimeter is an essential tool in electronics work. In many situations, it is the very best way to ‘debug’ a circuit. Learning to use a multimeter is a very important skill in electronics.

  

• Soldering Iron

  Learning to use a soldering iron may be the single most important skill in electronics. This tool is essential for creating connections on your circuit.

  

• Helping Hands

  The helping hands tool is very handy when it comes to holding parts in place while soldering. These are very inexpeisive and sometimes come with a magnifying lens to inspect tiny electronic connections and part numbers. It is very helpful to have a set of two.

  

• Wire & Solder

  Electricity is an amazing thing. It will flow through any conductive substance almost instantly and it’s path can be controlled by carefully making connections. Wire can be purchased in different gauges and with different colored casings. Solder is what we melt onto the wires with the soldering iron. When cool, it provides a very strong connection that can be hard to break

  

• Wire Stripper

  While it is possible to strip wire with clippers, it is way easier and more precise to use wire strippers. Even the mid range wire strippers are inexpensive so it is a very valuable tool to have.

  

• Needle Nose Pliers

  Needle nose pliers are essential for bending wire and reaching into tight spots.

  

• Wire Clippers

  While some needle nose pliers have wire clippers, it is better to buy a separate pair to clip wire and to trim the extra wire on your circuit.

  

• Awl

  Although this is not really an electronics tool, it is really helpful to have a way of poking holes. Many of the electronic components we work with will be “through hole”, meaning they are meant to be placed on a perforated board. The awl can create a hole perfect for mounting a component.

  

• Glue Gun

  The glue gun is not essential for electronics work, but it can really come in handy. Sometimes you need to glue a wire down or use a big glob of glue to protect a delicate connection. Hot glue is great for quick work but it is not always permanent.

  

Please comment with any suggestions for additional *beginner* electronic tools.