Basic samples to request from TI?

Thread Starter

thakid87

Joined May 23, 2009
121
Hello.

I want to take advantage of the free samples that TI offers to better my knowledge of electronics.

What are some basic things that I should get? My goal in mind is just knowledge. All I have access to is DC voltage, so I guess I should stick to their IC's that can work off DC voltage.

What do you guys recommend? I don't know anything about the nomenclature of these chips, so I would really appreciate some recommendations.
 

retched

Joined Dec 5, 2009
5,207
Most of the samples these days are of very small Surface Mount ICs.

So, when ordering samples, check to see if they make or offer the IC in a PDIP package. You will need serious soldering equiptment.

These things can have leads .6 MM apart. there is no way to breadboard these guys alone. You need to purchace expensive adapters to get them to breadboard.

So, be sure to check that BEFORE ordering. You only get 8 samples per order, so better to not waste samples on parts you cant use.
 

Thread Starter

thakid87

Joined May 23, 2009
121
Can you guys recommend some of the more simple ICs to learn? I'll check the packages once I know which to get, of which I am clueless right now.
 

retched

Joined Dec 5, 2009
5,207
I dont think you will get any of their 'simple' ICs as samples. The whole reason for their sample program is to try out their new 'TI' only stuff.

The ICs you should be learning is the ones you find throughout the eBook.

Like a 555, and LM741 ( ;) ) and some of the 4XXX cmos counters.

You can get these for a few tens of cents a piece.

Read through the All About Circuits eBook, and check out the experiments.

Also, instead of buying of trying to get samples to learn, you can use a simulation program to simulate the ICs and learn how they work without spending a dime.

LTSpice is a free simulation program with a very active Yahoo Group with many IC models to play with.

Here is a link to the software:
http://www.linear.com/designtools/software/

Here is the YahooGroups group for LTSpice:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/LTspice/

And the AAC eBook:
http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_1/index.html
 
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