CSC 258 lab familiarization

This document is primarily targetted at the Lab TAs -- what I want them to say (roughly). Most of these points are covered in more detail in the lab notes.
  1. Today is "look and touch", but don't USE. Next lab session is "use". We want to avoid broken equipment. But you should see everything now, so that you can understand the lab notes and the "practice lab" handout to prepare for the next session.
     
  2. We're not using the computers, just this stuff [point].
     
  3. You should sign up for all labs asap, and find a lab partner.
     
  4. See power supply, I/O board, breadboard. Power must be off while wiring. Look at the lab-notes handout picture and compare it to the real thing, so that it will make sense later.

    ... at this point, get the tupperware bucket for your group, also see chips in drawers, don't take any chips right now.
     

  5. Ribbon cable goes between i/o board and breadboard; must be grounded; insert carefully, remove very carefully (rock just slightly side-to-side; when it suddenly comes up it must not break the pins).
    (go through inserting it, show where the pins are, notch downward)
    Make sure there's space to put your wires! There's only one row of holes each, above and below. Must be centred vertically.
     
  6. Note chip-puller. If you don't use this you will break the pins. Or hurt yourself (really! pins are sharp!). The chip-puller allows you to pull the chip straight up. Otherwise it comes up suddenly, and usually at angle.
     
  7. Avoid long wires. That ribbon cable is the only long thing. Use colour creatively to make it easier to trace wires when you make a mistake or when you want to change something. (Do those changes with the power off!)
     
  8. Logic probe. Discuss use; begin by testing against power and ground (always be sure you can rely on your testing equipment!). Don't push it into the breadboard holes. Touch it to a chip pin, or if necessary, use a wire to go into the breadboard hole and then touch the logic probe to the wire.
     
  9. At the end, return the chips, sort them into the drawers.
     
  10. For the graded labs, prepare a complete wiring diagram in advance, with chip pin numbers labelled as suggested on the top of page 2.

[lab handouts] [main course page]