Make:

Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

• In addition to drill size (fraction, metric, letter and number) you need to have tap drill/screw clearance sizes as well. And don't forget wire gage as well, if you can fit it in...

  Posted by: NickCarter on August 2, 2006 at 10:46 AM

• you failed to mention one of the most important (to me), Ohm's law. i use the ohm pie here.

  Posted by: yo_tyler on August 2, 2006 at 10:48 AM

• Does anyone really use resistor color codes anymore? I just use the multimeter - faster and more accurate. Especially for caps.

  I'd say a list of pinouts of common ICs, and second the wire gauge sizes.

  Posted by: donkeybutter on August 2, 2006 at 10:51 AM

• I have three copies of the Pocket Ref. One in my desk, one in my shop, and one in my glove box. I can not recommend it highly enough. Virtually every chart, graph, table, and conversion factor I've ever needed in one small pocket sized book.

  John

  
  

  Posted by: jschuch on August 2, 2006 at 11:55 AM

• I'd suggest a guide to component polarity and orientation. For example, how can I tell from a diode's schematic symbol which way the physical part goes into the circuit? What about for LEDs? Capacitors? (These questions are rhetorical, BTW).
  

  Posted by: super_J_dynamite on August 2, 2006 at 12:03 PM

• I still use the color codes for resistors, especially when I scavenge for spare parts. I don't always carry a multimeter. If you commit the chart to memory, one can spot what the need right away. For charts I would suggest common IC Pinouts too.

  Posted by: morepowerdammit! on August 2, 2006 at 12:27 PM

• The Moody diagram lets you calculate the head loss in a pipe or duct or channel. ASME B1.1 gives you the real dimensions of screw threads for stress computations and ASME B4.1 tells you what tolerances to use on round parts so they fit together the way you want.

  Posted by: supertim on August 2, 2006 at 12:36 PM

• Bad Boys Rape Our Young Girls But Violet Gives Willingly.

  (i.e. Black Brown Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Violet Grey White)

  I can't belive I remember that 21 years after Electronics I class...

  Posted by: jkonrath on August 2, 2006 at 1:29 PM

• I learned the colors of the rainbow acronym a loooong time ago. Red Orange Green Blue Violet = ROYGeeBiv. So for resistors, I just remember BB ROYGeeBiv G. Easy to remember if you have that same stupid rainbow acronym stuck in your head. :)

  Posted by: Russtang on August 2, 2006 at 1:35 PM

• By far when asked, as a software developer, what is the most used mathematical formula I'd have to say: a/b = c/d

  Reduction of a fraction or making one numerical range conform to another is probably the most common "algorithm". (think of all of those progress bars with arbitrarily long or short tasks, how often do you think that there is a 1:1 pixel per task ratio :P )

  Posted by: Prozacgod on August 2, 2006 at 2:13 PM

• Metric. I love working with the SI but still need help when using the Imperial system

  Posted by: camilomunoz on August 2, 2006 at 3:16 PM

• super_J_dynamite, the bar on the diode schematic symbol is on the same side as the real component. if the bar-side is closest to the IC pin or whatever, the same goes in real life.

  Posted by: SonicReducer on August 2, 2006 at 9:26 PM

• I wouldn't need a resistor colour code chart myself, having memorised it many years ago. But, I'm suprised that nobody has mentioned the ASCII code table yet! I'd certainly find that useful, along with an instruction set summary for one's favourite microcontroller or microprocessor (Atmel AVR or 6809 in my case).
  

  Posted by: c0redump on August 3, 2006 at 6:22 AM

• Some other ideas:

  - Hardness scales for various materials (Mohs Scale of Hardness, and the others mentioned on that page (Rockwell, Vickers, and Brinell)

  - Melting points of various materials (nice chart here

  - Periodic table (not like I need to consult one frequently, but it's fun to have)

  - knots reference (maybe the ten most useful knots and what circumstances to use them in)

  Some techniques might be interesting to include, but they'd need to be chosen carefully (things which can commonly be applied to lots of different projects, but don't require too much detail -- like "how to drill square holes").

  Posted by: terrie on August 3, 2006 at 12:31 PM

• I dont have the Pocket Ref, but I did find a copy of Electronics Pocket Handbook at a Barnes and Noble. Its got tons of stuff, including the Police Radio "Ten" Codes, common IC pinouts, and even a rudimentary summary of old computer punch card codes.

  Posted by: Atharsia on August 3, 2006 at 1:06 PM

Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

Subscribe today, save 42% and get web access to MAKE free. MAKE Digital Edition is available only to subscribers.

$34.95 / 1 year
(4 Quarterly Issues)

Subscribe now