Electronics Projects For Dummies

by Boysen, Earl; Muir, Nancy C.

• ISBN13: 9780470009680
• ISBN10: 0470009683
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-07-31
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

These projects are fun to build and fun to use Make lights dance to music, play with radio remote control, or build your own metal detector Who says the Science Fair has to end? If you love building gadgets, this book belongs on your radar. Here are complete directions for building ten cool creations that involve light, sound, or vibrations -- a weird microphone, remote control gizmos, talking toys, and more, with full parts and tools lists, safety guidelines, and wiring schematics. Check out ten cool electronics projects, including * Chapter 8 -- Surfing the Radio Waves (how to make your own radio) * Chapter 9 -- Scary Pumpkins (crazy Halloween decorations that have sound, light, and movement) * Chapter 12 -- Hitting Paydirt with an Electronic Metal Detector (a project that can pay for itself) Discover how to * Handle electronic components safely * Read a circuit diagram * Troubleshoot circuits with a multimeter * Build light-activated gadgets * Set up a motion detector * Transform electromagnetic waves into sound Companion Web site * Go to www.dummies.com/ go/electronicsprojectsfd * Explore new projects with other electronics hobbyists * Find additional information and project opportunities

Author Biography

Earl Boysen is an engineer who after 20 years in the computer chip industry, decided to slow down and move to a quiet town in Washington state. Earl is the co-author of Electronics For Dummies and Nanotechnology For Dummies. He lives with his wife, Nancy, in a house he built himself and finds himself as busy as ever with teaching, writing, house building, and acting. Visit Earl at his Web site to get reviews and information about the latest components and techniques for building projects: www.buildinggadgets.com.

Nancy Muir is the author of over 50 books on topics ranging from desktop computer applications to distance learning and electronics. She has a certificate in distance learning design and has taught technical writing at the university level. Prior to her freelance writing career, she held management positions in the publishing and software industries. She lives with her husband Earl and their benevolent owners — their dog and cat. Nancy’s company, The Publishing Studio, has its Web site at www.pubstudio.com.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(1)
Why Buy This Book?	1	(1)
Foolish Assumptions	1	(1)
Safety, Safety, Safety!	2	(1)
How This Book Is Organized	2	(1)
Part I: Project Prep	2	(1)
Part II: Sounding Off!	3	(1)
Part III: Let There Be Light	3	(1)
Part IV: Good Vibrations	3	(1)
Part V: The Part of Tens	3	(1)
Icons Used in This Book	3	(2)
Part I: Project Prep	5	(80)
Exploring the World of Electronics Projects	7	(10)
What Is an Electronics Project, Anyway?	7	(2)
Electronics, mechanics, robotics: Huh?	8	(1)
Programmable versus nonprogrammable	8	(1)
Mixing and Matching Effects	9	(1)
What Can You Do with Electronics Projects?	10	(3)
Just for the fun of it	10	(2)
Building things you can actually use	12	(1)
Picking up lots of cool stuff along the way	12	(1)
What You Need to Get Started	13	(4)
How much will it cost?	13	(1)
Space . . . the final frontier	14	(3)
Safety First	17	(14)
Avoiding Shocks Like the Plague	17	(4)
How voltage and current can get you	18	(1)
How much is too much?	18	(2)
Common sense: Protecting yourself from getting shocked	20	(1)
Protecting Electronic Components from Dreaded Static Discharge	21	(2)
What static discharge can do	21	(1)
How to guard against ESD	22	(1)
Working with the Tools of the Trade	23	(3)
Safe soldering	24	(1)
Running with sharp objects: Cutting, sawing, and drilling	25	(1)
A Safe Workspace Is a Happy Workspace	26	(5)
Dressing for safety	26	(3)
Clean up your stuff!	29	(1)
Keeping kids and pets out of your space	29	(2)
Assembling Your Electronics Arsenal	31	(28)
Tool Time	31	(6)
Soldering prerequisites	32	(1)
Drills that come in handy	33	(1)
Hacking away with saws	34	(1)
Garden variety tools: Pliers, screwdrivers, wire strippers, and more	35	(2)
Multimeter	37	(1)
Components Primer	38	(14)
Running down discrete components: Resistors, capacitors, and transistors	39	(3)
ICs	42	(3)
The switch is on	45	(3)
Sensors	48	(1)
Microphones	48	(2)
Let there be light: Light emitting diodes	50	(1)
Speaking up about speakers	50	(1)
Buzzers	51	(1)
The Nuts and Bolts of Building Materials	52	(2)
Plastic	52	(1)
Wood	52	(1)
Build it yourself	53	(1)
Holding it all together	53	(1)
Holding down wires	54	(1)
Breadboard Basics	54	(5)
Wires pull it all together	56	(2)
Connectors	58	(1)
Running Down the Skills You Need	59	(26)
It's Symbolic: Reading a Schematic	59	(6)
Perusing a simple schematic	60	(2)
Switching gears with switches	62	(1)
Schematic variables	63	(1)
Pulling it all together	64	(1)
Breadboarding	65	(5)
The anatomy of a breadboard	66	(1)
Figuring and finessing the layout	67	(1)
Inserting wires and components	68	(2)
Soldering Your Circuit Board	70	(6)
Using a soldering iron	71	(1)
Working with solder	72	(3)
Soldering extras	75	(1)
Measuring Stuff with a Multimeter	76	(2)
How a multimeter works	76	(1)
Reading resistance	77	(1)
Measuring voltage	77	(1)
Working with the Boxes that Contain Your Projects	78	(7)
Working with boxes	78	(1)
Mounting your project in a box	79	(6)
Part II: Sounding Off!	85	(100)
Making Light Dance to the Music	87	(28)
The Big Picture: Project Overview	87	(2)
Scoping Out the Schematic	89	(1)
Fancy Footwork: Exploring the Dance to the Music Circuit	90	(2)
Building Alert: Construction Issues	92	(1)
Perusing the Parts List	92	(2)
Taking Things Step by Step	94	(17)
Building a circuit	94	(7)
Let there be lights	101	(7)
Adding the rest of the doohickeys	108	(3)
Trying It Out	111	(2)
Taking It Further	113	(2)
Focusing Sound with a Parabolic Microphone	115	(24)
What a Dish! The Project Overview	115	(2)
Scoping Out the Schematic	117	(1)
Building Alert: Construction Issues	118	(1)
Perusing the Parts List	119	(3)
Taking Things Step by Step	122	(15)
Building an amplifier circuit	123	(3)
Mounting everything on the dish	126	(12)
Mounting the microphone	138
Mounting switches and more on the box	132	(2)
Putting everything together	134	(3)
Trying It Out	137	(1)
Taking It Further	137	(2)
Murmuring Merlin	139	(26)
The Big Picture: Project Overview	139	(2)
Scoping Out the Schematic	141	(2)
Building Alert: Construction Issues	143	(1)
Perusing the Parts List	144	(3)
Taking Things Step by Step	147	(16)
Creating Merlin's circuit	147	(5)
Making the box puppet-friendly	152	(7)
Programming sounds	159	(3)
Hooking up the puppet	162	(1)
Trying It Out	163	(1)
Taking It Further	164	(1)
Surfing the Airwaves	165	(20)
The Big Picture: Project Overview	165	(1)
Scoping Out the Schematic	166	(3)
Building Alert: Construction Issues	169	(1)
Perusing the Parts List	169	(3)
Taking Things Step by Step	172	(11)
Building a radio circuit	172	(2)
Making a box into a radio	174	(5)
Coaxing the coil	179	(1)
Putting it all together	180	(3)
Trying It Out	183	(1)
Taking It Further	183	(2)
Part III: Let There Be Light	185	(94)
Scary Pumpkins	187	(28)
The Big Picture: Project Overview	187	(10)
Scoping out the schematic	189	(4)
Building alert: Construction issues	193	(1)
Perusing the parts list	194	(3)
Taking Things Step by Step	197	(14)
Making a silent pumpkin	197	(8)
Making a talking pumpkin	205	(6)
Trying It Out	211	(3)
Taking It Further	214	(1)
Dancing Dolphins	215	(24)
The Big Picture: Project Overview	215	(1)
Scoping Out the Schematic	216	(5)
Getting in the swim: Exploring the dolphin circuit	218	(1)
Setting up the light show	219	(2)
Building Alert: Construction Issues	221	(1)
Perusing the Parts List	221	(2)
A circuit with a porpoise	221	(1)
Making your dolphins boogie	222	(1)
Taking Things Step by Step	223	(14)
Making the circuit	224	(5)
Making dolphins	229	(8)
Trying It Out	237	(1)
Taking It Further	238	(1)
Controlling a Go-Kart, Infrared Style	239	(40)
The Big Picture: Project Overview	239	(2)
Scoping Out the Schematic	241	(4)
Transmitting at the speed of light	241	(1)
Receiving what the transmitter sends	242	(1)
Controlling motor behavior	243	(2)
Building Alert: Construction Issues	245	(1)
Perusing the Parts List	245	(4)
Go-kart transmitter parts list	246	(1)
Go-kart receiver/chassis parts list	247	(2)
Taking Things Step by Step	249	(27)
Making the transmitter	249	(11)
Making the receiver circuit board	260	(8)
Building the go-kart	268	(8)
Trying It Out	276	(1)
Taking It Further	277	(2)
Part IV: Good Vibrations	279	(82)
A Handy-Dandy Metal Detector	281	(20)
The Big Picture: Project Overview	281	(1)
Scoping Out the Schematic	282	(2)
Building Alert: Construction Issues	284	(1)
Perusing the Parts List	284	(2)
Taking Things Step by Step	286	(13)
Building a metal detector circuit	286	(5)
Building the box to house the circuit	291	(2)
Putting it all together	293	(1)
Handling the handle	294	(5)
Trying It Out	299	(1)
Taking It Further	300	(1)
Sensitive Sam Walks the Line	301	(42)
The Big Picture: Project Overview	301	(2)
Scoping Out the Schematic	303	(6)
Transmitting Sam's commands	303	(2)
Helping Sam receive his commands	305	(4)
Building Alert: Construction Issues	309	(1)
Perusing the Parts List	309	(4)
Tallying up transmitter bits and pieces	309	(2)
Running down receiver and container parts	311	(2)
Taking Things Step by Step	313	(30)
Making the transmitter circuit and remote control box	313	(8)
Making the receiver circuit	321	(11)
Building Sensitive Sam's chassis	332	(8)
Trying It Out	340	(1)
Taking It Further	341	(2)
Couch Pet-ato	343	(18)
The Big Picture: Project Overview	344	(1)
Scoping Out the Schematic	344	(2)
Building Alert: Construction Issues	346	(1)
Perusing the Parts List	346	(2)
Taking Things Step by Step	348	(11)
Trying It Out	359	(1)
Taking It Further	360	(1)
Part V: The Part of Tens	361	(20)
Ten Great Parts Suppliers	363	(6)
When Is a Supplier Right for You?	363	(1)
Reynolds Electronics	364	(1)
Hobby Engineering	365	(1)
Jameco	365	(1)
Digi-Key	365	(1)
Mouser Electronics	366	(1)
RadioShack	366	(1)
Fry's Electronics	366	(1)
Electronic Goldmine	367	(1)
Furturlec	367	(1)
Maplin	367	(2)
Ten Great Electronics Resources	369	(6)
Electronics Magazines	369	(2)
Nuts & Volts magazine	370	(1)
Everyday Practical Electronics magazine	370	(1)
Silicon Chip magazine	370	(1)
Jumpstart Your Project Creativity with Circuits	371	(1)
Electronics Lab	371	(1)
Circuits for the Hobbyist	371	(1)
Discover Circuits	371	(1)
Bowden's Hobby Circuits	372	(1)
FC's Electronic Circuits	372	(1)
Web Sites That Teach You the Ropes	372	(2)
Electronics Teacher Web site	373	(1)
The Electronics Club Web site	373	(1)
Electronics Tutorials Web site	373	(1)
All About Circuits discussion forum	373	(1)
Writing the Book on Electronics	374	(1)
Ten Specialized Electronics Resources	375	(6)
Radio	375	(2)
Ian Purdie's electronics tutorial radio design pages	376	(1)
QRP Quarterly	376	(1)
Australian Radio Resource Page	376	(1)
QRP/SWL HomeBuilder	376	(1)
IK3OIL	377	(1)
Audio and Music	377	(1)
The Guitar Effects Oriented (GEO) Web Page	377	(1)
Bob's Vacuum Tube Audio Projects Page	378	(1)
Effectronics	378	(1)
Robotics	378	(3)
The BEAM Reference Library	378	(1)
Robot magazine	379	(2)
Glossary	381	(10)
Index	391