Ask the Expert(s): The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide, for Engineers by Engineers

Finding the perfect gift for an engineer can sometimes be a tall task. But fear not, RS has asked engineers and other technical experts from our own in-house team, as well as from some of our 500+ suppliers, for their ideas on holiday gifts for the hard-to-shop-for engineer. Here’s what they suggested:

IO-Link starter kit from IFM

Recommended by Mohannad Shaban, RS

For those who are passionate about automation & control, this kit offers compatibility with all with all IO-Link-enabled devices regardless of the brand, allowing for quick and easy parameter setting and setup. To make it complete, combine the hardware in this starter kit with IO-Link software.

OKdo Mozilla WebThings Gateway Kit

Recommended by Hank Graham, RS

“IoT” continues to attract a lot of buzz, and the Mozilla WebThings Gateway Kit contains everything needed to connect IoT devices to your Wi-Fi network, and take control of your including IP cameras, lights, door, and motion sensors. Plus, the powerful rules engine lets you connect everything without any data privacy concerns.

OKdo RS Pro Raspberry Pi 4 Starter Kit 

Recommended by Neil Harrison, RS

Ideal for teens interested in tech, this eight-piece kit includes everything needed to get started with Raspberry Pi. It includes hardware, an online step-by-step guide, and sample projects to get up and running quickly. For engineers looking to make a complex-controlled system, simply plug the hardware into a monitor, keyboard, mouse, and power supply.

Raspberry Pi 400 Computer Kit

Recommended by the Maple Systems team

This Raspberry Pi computer kit is an all-in-one solution that is great for beginners and tinkerers alike. It includes a complete personal computer within a compact keyboard and can be used with a TV or computer monitor to learn to program using Raspberry Pi. Features include a quad-core 64-bit processor, wireless networking, dual-display output, and 4K video playback. Users can use it to create and edit documents as well as surf the internet.

Our experts made Raspberry Pi recommendations quite frequently; in addition to those mentioned above, RS’s Mark Russell recommends checking out the following items: Raspberry Pi 3 – Model B+ Premium Ki,t the Raspberry Pi 3 – Premium Display Kit, and the Raspberry Pi 3 – Complete Starter Kit.

The Vector Electronics & Technology (8015-1) prototyping board is also an excellent item to have on hand for Raspberry Pi projects. Another great option is the RS Advanced Solderless Breadboard to help combine industrial voltages and computer voltages.

Fluke117/323 Electrician’s Multimeter Combo Kit

Recommended by Jim Davis, RS

This multimeter combo kit pairs the new Fluke 117 DMM with a Fluke 323 clamp meter for productive and effective troubleshooting in one total solution. It also includes a durable, soft carrying case.

Arduino Starter Kit with UNO Board

Recommended by Jim Davis, RS

This starter kit is based around the Arduino Uno development board (included) and features the AVR ATmega328 microcontroller. It contains everything a budding engineer or engineer new to Arduino needs to get familiar with the Uno board and electronics.

Banner Engineering DBQ5 Test Box 

Recommended by Russ Freeman, RS

This test box works with any brand DC-powered sensor and is great for experimenting and testing photoelectric, proximity, and ultrasonic sensors. Clearly visible, illuminated LEDs indicate the switching status of the test box and an acoustic signal. Don’t forget batteries for the Banner DBQ5 to provide hours of power!

RS Pro Wi-Fi Snake Scope & RS Pro RS12 Compact Digital Multimeter

Recommended by Russ Bullmer, RS

The RS Pro Wi-Fi Snake Scope borescope is designed to inspect hard-to-reach or hard-to-see areas such as HVAC ductwork, equipment enclosures, or crowded engine compartments. It can wirelessly stream high-quality videos from its camera head to a tablet or smartphone screen. The RS Pro handheld digital multimeter is CAT III rated for 600 V and has a durable, double-molded plastic housing with a large high-contrast 2,000-count LCD.

Have any more gift ideas to add?  Leave a comment below and give us your suggestions for engineers and designers!