- 2024
- Sep
- 27
An interesting modular digital trainer.
No, this doesn’t help you keep your digimon in check. At least, I don’t think it does…
I picked this interesting digital trainer device up at the recent Cleveland hamfest. Why? I’ve been getting back into experimenting now that I have a bit more time, and I don’t really have something like it. Sure, I have breadboards and things, but this has some amenities like indicators, switches, and a couple of clocks onboard, as well as power supplies. It’s made by a company called Dynalogic, and they specialize in modular breadboard systems for schools - this one even has “University of Toledo” (Ohio) on the bottom.
(Dynalogic has a website, but the last date is 2010. Not sure if they’re still in business or if they just don’t update often.)
It looks like a piece of late 1970s kit with the black case.
The power supplies, while operational, are a little low. 5V was 4.82, and both 15s were 14.4. Probably some bad caps in there, which wouldn’t be surprising for the age. I’ll open it up this winter and give it a check.
Dynalogic’s breadboards are made to be modular, and this one is no different. The black material under the board isn’t static foam, it’s velcro. You buy the base, then put whatever board you want on it - including stuff you make yourself. It’s really an interesting way of doing it, because there’s no special things needed - just put a couple spots of hook on the back and drop it on the box.
This unit appears to require the +5 and +15 volts, which is input at the little jacks on the top left- you’re supposed to run a standard breadboard wire down to them. This gives you a metal contact to tap from and run the rest of the devices on the board. As stated before, it features 8 indicators, 8 switches, 3 clocks, and some prototyping space (the chips on the breadboard were there when purchased and have no relation to the board.) Pretty simple in all, this is enough to do basic circuitry and give you some I/O. Nothing on here except some 555s.
The back of the board indicates that it’s hand soldered. Whether this was from Dynalogic or by a student, I don’t know. But in wasn’t wave soldered, that’s all I can tell you. You can see the velcro hooks.
Overall? This is a nice piece for the few bucks I gave for it, and it was drawing a lot of interest when I took it with me. I think, after cleaning up the supplies, that it will find a nice home on the bench.