Electronic Toolbox 2 - Electronic Toolbox

Introducing, Electronic Toolbox 2!

The new edition of a proven classic.

Electronic-Toolbox Pro has accompanied us for many years as a reference, calculation aid, and reliable partner in the lab, lecture hall, or at the workbench. For engineers, electronics enthusiasts, students, radio amateurs, and anyone who likes to tinker, it has long become more than just an app.

With Electronic-Toolbox 2 we continue this project. Originally we planned it as a larger update, but it quickly became clear that its scope was growing: a fundamentally modernized toolbox that preserves everything familiar while opening the door to new possibilities. So we carefully reworked and improved every tool, every interface, and every feature. In the end it was no longer an update but a new app that stands on its own.

Electronic-Toolbox 2 builds directly on the heritage of the original toolbox. We wanted to create a transition that feels familiar but noticeably fresher. With new technology, a clearer interface, and many subtle improvements, it should reliably accompany us in the years to come — a toolbox for our passion.

Get it on the Apple App Store…

Have a look to the Manual: Electronic Toolbox Manual

What stayed the same: the proven foundation

Electronic-Toolbox did not earn its place by accident. For many years it has been a reliable companion — in the lab, during studies, or at the workbench. That’s why we focused the new version exactly where it matters: we keep what has proven itself and improve it where it makes sense. The familiar tools are still there, just as you need and expect them. At the same time we have modernized, refined, or expanded many areas.

The original Electronic-Toolbox earned its place not by accident. It was a dependable companion in the lab, in lectures, and at the workbench. Consistency is a feature — not just a state. The new version builds on that very foundation: familiar tools where they make sense, and a respectful approach to established habits.

All previous tools are included — every calculation tool as well as all resources. Some will look familiar at first glance, others have received new details or features. One example is the Battery Charge tool, which now uses an interactive graph and is therefore much more illustrative.

Electronic-Toolbox 2 therefore remains what it always was: a reliable tool — only more modern, clearer, and ready for the coming years.

The transition: careful rather than abrupt

From the beginning it was important to us that the switch to the new toolbox not be a rupture. Many of you have been working with Electronic-Toolbox Pro for years — and we know you can’t just replace familiar tools. Therefore the previous version remains fully usable and will continue to be maintained.

If you wish, you can switch to the new version at your own pace. Existing users can get a discounted bundle that allows both versions to be used in parallel. That way you can get to know the new toolbox without losing familiar workflows.

Data, settings, and working habits remain preserved. We want the transition to feel natural — not like a fresh start, but like a familiar step forward.

What's new in Electronic-Toolbox 2

With Electronic-Toolbox 2 we didn’t want to simply redo everything but to do the right things better.

One of the biggest changes concerns the platform itself. Electronic-Toolbox 2 is now a Universal App that runs natively on iPhone, iPad and Mac. Buy it once and use it everywhere — your tools, favorites and settings stay perfectly in step via iCloud. Start a calculation on your phone, refine it on the iPad, then review results on the Mac with keyboard and trackpad precision — the experience is consistent and fast on every device. Your toolbox is always with you and always up to date, whether at the bench, in the lab or on the go.

If you like to work in parallel, the new Multi‑Window Support on the Mac keeps everything in view. Open resources on one side and calculations on the other, or place multiple tools side by side. Compare values, copy results and drag text or numbers between windows while keeping your focus. It plays nicely with macOS windowing, Mission Control and external displays, so you can build the workspace that fits your project — less switching, more doing.

We also rethought how you reach your tools. Frequently used items can be pinned so they stay visible in the sidebar and are just one click away. Whether it’s the resistor decoder, tables or a calculator you open dozens of times a day — pin it once and it’s there across sessions and devices. This reduces navigation overhead and keeps your workflow flowing, especially during repetitive tasks.

The popular PDF export is still built in — and more polished. Turn results and intermediate steps into clean, shareable documents with consistent formatting that looks good in emails, on paper and in project archives. Include inputs and units for traceability, then send via Mail, save to Files or attach to tickets with a single tap. When you need to document work for colleagues — or for future you — it takes seconds.

Many tools now respond directly to your input. The Battery Charge tool, for example, visualizes charge curves interactively: adjust parameters, hover for precise values and immediately see how changes affect time, current and state of charge. The goal is clarity — fewer guesses, more insight — so you can verify assumptions quickly and make decisions with confidence.

All these changes pursue one goal: to preserve the familiar workflow while noticeably improving it — so that the toolbox remains what it always was — only more modern, clearer, and closer to everyday practice.

A look into the tools

The toolbox remains a toolkit for everyone who works with electronics, learns, or simply enjoys tinkering. It combines reference materials, calculation aids, and practical tools that make everyday life in the lab, workshop, or on the go easier.

Working with the Raspberry Pi? You’ll find a compact but complete reference for the most important boards and their pinouts. Clear diagrams show numbering, voltage levels and alternate functions so you can wire safely and avoid trial and error. It’s the information you reach for most during prototyping — organized, readable and quickly searchable right when you need it.

The Tables tool gathers practical reference data for components, standards and measurements in one place. It includes accumulators and battery families (primary and button cells), physical constants, cable color codes including DIN schemes, coax cable characteristics, electrical conductivity of materials, IP ratings, SMD package sizes, sensor specifications, toroid core data, SI units and conversions, microwave frequency bands, PoE classes, ISO/ANSI drill sizes, tone tables such as CTCSS and NAC, DIN car terminal assignments, 3D‑printing references, and more. Everything is searchable, uses consistent units, and is curated for reliability — copy values directly into your work or share them in seconds.

The oscilloscope view gives you a precise look at signals when timing matters. Use rolling mode for continuously changing waveforms. It’s a focused aid for bringing circuits into spec or diagnosing odd behavior — the clarity you need without distraction.

For quick checks, the Resistor Code decoder translates color bands into exact values instantly. It supports 3‑, 4‑, 5‑ and 6‑band resistors including tolerance and temperature coefficient, and can perform the reverse lookup when you already know the target value. It’s the fastest way to turn stripes into numbers on the bench.

Working with coils? Compute inductance and related parameters without reaching for a calculator. Use the built‑in formulas, choose the geometry that matches your part and see how changing dimensions, turns or core values affects the result. Everything is shown with units and intermediate steps where helpful, so results are not only fast but traceable.

Each of these tools has been reworked with the same goal: to stay as close to practice as possible. We didn’t want gimmicks, but tools you can rely on — just as you’ve always expected from Electronic-Toolbox.

The way forward

The toolbox is a living project. Many details of the original app matured over years — we continue to maintain them and expand where it makes sense. Our claim: relevant features first, implemented solidly — and then consistently expanded. Your feedback flows in short, regular cycles.

We hope you’re as excited as we are about this next step with Electronic-Toolbox and that you’ll help us continue to develop the best toolkit for our hobby and passion in the years to come.

From the developer

Electronic-Toolbox 2 was developed by me, Jan Roskosch, the son of the developer of the original Electronic-Toolbox Marcus Roskosch, and was created in close collaboration. At that time it was one of my father’s first published apps and started a long and successful journey to follow his passion. I find myself in the same place now and am therefore grateful for the opportunity to carry on the legacy and to connect your passion with ours.

Frequently asked questions

Will the old app remain usable? Yes. The original Electronic-Toolbox remains available and functional. It will simply no longer receive updates. That is the purpose of Electronic-Toolbox 2.

Is there a discount for existing customers? Yes, a discounted bundle allows switching at a reduced price.

Are truly all previous tools included? Yes — all calculation tools and resources are part of the new app. Some areas have been expanded (e.g., interactive graph in the Battery Charge tool).

What’s missing compared to before? The project feature, the Circuit-Editor and the integrated calculator are currently not part of the app. Background: iPad provides a system-wide calculator; projects are being rethought and will be revisited at a later time.

How does the license work? As a Universal App: buy once, use on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Note about Electronic-Toolbox Pro

The original Electronic-Toolbox Pro remains available in the App Store as a standalone app and fully usable. Some Pro-version features — such as the circuit editor and project management — are not included in the new edition and remain reserved for the Pro app for now. Existing customers can continue to use the Pro app or switch to the new version at their leisure via a discounted bundle. Ongoing development focuses primarily on Electronic-Toolbox 2, while the Pro app is maintained and accessible.

If you’d like to support the direction, send us your feedback — and tell us which tool would help you next the most.

Download Electronic Toolbox 2 (iPhone, iPad & Mac — Universal App)