electronics workbench

My view is that laptops are incompatible with hot soldering irons, power tools, etc... But anyway. There is an excellent book called 'The Radio and Eleectronics Laboratory Handbook' by M. G. Scroggie. Although somewhat dated (the edition I have covers valves only), and although it's about setting up a lab for analogue/radio work, it's still got a lot of useful tips in it. Try to track down a copy. The next thing is that you need to consider how much your test gear is used at the workbench rather than elsewhere. If you work on minicomputers and your main item of test gear is a LogicDart, then you take the instrument to the machine. If you work on ZX81s using a Tektronix 555 'scope, then you bring the machien to the instrument. This will determine if you need to make a permanent home for it at the bench or not. Think what instruments you need. One that many people forget, but which I'd include if I was setting up a workbench for microcomputer repairs is a video monitor (to cover all the standards you're likely to need). Possibly on one of those pivoting arms. A serial terminal on the bench can be very useful too (or you can use an HP95LX or something if you're pressed for space). You can never have too many power points. Allow at least 1 (preferably 1.5) for every instrument on the bench ('scope, logic analyser, bench PSU, video monitor, soldering iron, etc). And have plenty of them -- possibly a 'portable' distribution board ('power strip' I think) for the device under test. I'd arrange mains distribution at the back of the bench for the 'fixed' instruments, and have a least one portable strip that cna be brought to the front for the device under test. Try to have a master switch that will kill power to everything on the bench (and, although this will provoke flamage again, I'd make it double pole). Make sure everyone in the house knows how to turn off power in an emergency. -tony