To: "MikeMac" 
Subject: Re: What's in your toolkits/toolbelts?
References: <[email protected]>

Having some experience on those fields I write my comments:

> Light Tech
> Sound Dude
> Stage Tech
> Board Op (Lighting/Sound)
Also experience on video field.


Leatherman (classic leatherman): 
Have this always with you. Use it to do whatever you
need to do where you don't have the more proper tools around.

Screwdrivers based on the expected need: 
If you expect to need few screws, then an proper screwdriver 
is a must. Leaterman is not very convient screwdriver 
(it works but is not nice to use for this) and does not 
provide any electrical insulation between your hand and the 
screw you are workign with.

Soldering iron: 
Necessary when you need to fix some cables that get broken on the 
field. When doing soldering, also some solderign tin wire and 
tool to strip the wire insulation are useful. 
Dependign on the needs I have used either a small gas powered 
soldering iron (most convient to carry around) or 
an electronically powered traditional soldering iron 
(if lots of solderign expected then temperature controller iron).

A multimeter: 
I use a multimeter to check lots of things. I found Mastech multimeter 
that can do traditional multimeter function, frequency, capacitance, 
sound level, light level, humidity and temperature quite useful. 
Those sound level, light level, humidity and temperature ranges 
did not seem to be the most accurate on the meter I used, but 
have proven to be useful even as they are besides the normal 
multimeter functions. Beep sound when testign cables is useful. 
Properly constructed meter electronics and proper measurement 
cables for safe measurements (you don't want to try your luck 
on mains power measurements).

Clamp-on ammeter with good sensitivity (10 mA or better):
Can be used to measure current on mains cables 
(have a short cable that has plug/jack on ends and different 
wires separate so you can clamp on 
Clamp-on ammeter is also useful when hunting down ground loop 
noise problems (clamp over whole audio/video cable to see the 
current leaking on their shield, clamp over mains cable 
to see the current circulating on grounding wire).


Behringer Cable Tester CT100:
This tests all your common cables (6.3 mm, 3.5 mm, RCA, XLR etx..) if they 
work and even shows wirign for adaptation cables from one connector model 
to another. Also function to help to find bad cables (flex the cable 
and see if it cuts connection even for very short time when you flex it). 
Works also as audio signal generator. Shows if there is phantom power 
on the mic line or not (this test also works to show if there is power 
on ClearCom line). 


Small portable VU meter:
A line signal VU meter with connector adapters for different connectors 
(6.3 mm, RCA, XLR). I built once small one from old Velleman kit. 
This has been invaluable tool for hunting down signal connection 
problems when signals come from many equipment and are routed 
around... easy to measure signal on every connection point to 
see where it goes. 


Gaffa tape: 
Put cables on place. Tape things together.. 
Secure non-locking connectors together. 
Use as some kind of insulator to avoid accidential 
ground connections to avoid ground loop.s.

PVC tape: 
For insulating cable connections, damaged cables etc.. 

Maglite: 
You leed a portable ligth. Mini Maglite is a classic for 
all kinds of tech work. Nowadays there are also good LED 
lamps that are useful. 

-- 
Tomi Engdahl (http://www.iki.fi/then/)
Take a look at my electronics web links and documents at 
http://www.epanorama.net/