Electronics Projects For Dummies

If you’ve caught the electronics bug, you’re ready to try all kinds of pro- jects that will help you develop your skills while creating weird and won- derful gadgets. That’s what this book is about: providing projects that are fun and interesting as well as helping you find out about all kinds of electronic circuits and components. Electronics Projects For Dummies is a great way to break into electronics or expand your electronics horizons. Here, we provide projects that allow you to dabble in using sound chips, motion detectors, light effects, and more. And all the projects are low voltage, so if you follow our safety advice, no elec- tronics folks will be hurt in the process.

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

The book contains 50 projects in all complete with comprehensive functional description, Parts list, Construction details such as PCB and Components' layouts, Testing guidelines, suitable alternatives in case of uncommon components and lead/pin identification guidelines in case of Semiconductor Devices and Integrated Circuits (ICs). the first three introductory chapters contain a lot of practical information. the first chapter gives operational basics and application relevant information in case of electronic components such as Resistors, Capacitors, Coils, Transformers, Diodes, Transistors, LEDs, Displays, SCRs, Opamps, Timers, Voltage Regulators and General purpose digital ICs such as Gates, Flip flops, Counters etc.

Why do the lights in a house turn on when you flip a switch? How does a remote-controlled car move? And what makes lights on TVs and microwaves blink? The technology around you may seem like magic, but most of it wouldn’t run without electricity. Electronics for Kids demystifies electricity with a collection of awesome hands-on projects. In Part 1, you’ll learn how current, voltage, and circuits work by making a battery out of a lemon, turning a metal bolt into an electromagnet, and transforming a paper cup and some magnets into a spinning motor. In Part 2, you’ll make even more cool stuff as you: –Solder a blinking LED circuit with resistors, capacitors, and relays –Turn a circuit into a touch sensor using your finger as a resistor –Build an alarm clock triggered by the sunrise –Create a musical instrument that makes sci-fi soundsThen, in Part 3, you’ll learn about digital electronics—things like logic gates and memory circuits—as you make a secret code checker and an electronic coin flipper. Finally, you’ll use everything you’ve learned to make the LED Reaction Game—test your reaction time as you try to catch a blinking light!With its clear explanations and assortment of hands-on projects, Electronics for Kids will have you building your own circuits in no time.

Want to hook up your home theater system? Want to fix it so your garage band rocks the neighborhood? Want to solder the faulty wire on your old phonograph so you can play those 60s albums you’ve kept all this time? Whether you’re a do-it-yourselfer , hobbyist, or student , this book will turn you on to real-world electronics. It quickly covers the essentials, and then focuses on the how-to instead of theory. It covers: Fundamental concepts such as circuits, schematics, voltage, safety, and more Tools of the trade, including multimeters, oscilloscopes, logic probes, and more Common electronic components (e.g. resistors, capacitors, transistors) Making circuits using breadboards and printed circuit boards Microcontrollers (implementation and programming) Author Gordon McComb has more than a million copies of his books in print, including his bestselling Robot Builder’s Bonanza and VCRs and Camcorders For Dummies. He really connects with readers! With lots of photos and step-by-step explanations, this book will have you connecting electronic components in no time! In fact, it includes fun ideas for great projects you can build in 30 minutes or less. You’ll be amazed! Then you can tackle cool robot projects that will amaze your friends! (The book gives you lots to choose from.) Students will find this a great reference and supplement to the typical dry, dull textbook. So whether you just want to bone up on electronics or want to get things hooked up, souped up, or fixed up,…whether you’re interested in fixing old electronic equipment, understanding guitar fuzz amps, or tinkering with robots, Electronics For Dummies is your quick connection to the stuff you need to know.

This second volume of the ­Arduino Project Handbook delivers 25 more ­beginner-friendly electronics projects. Get up and running with a crash course on the Arduino, and then pick any project that sparks your interest and start making! Each project includes cost and time estimates, simple instructions, colorful photos and circuit diagrams, a troubleshooting section, and the complete code to bring your build to life. With just the Arduino board and a handful of components, you’ll make gadgets like a rainbow light display, noise-level meter, digital piano, GPS speedo­meter, and fingerprint scanner. This collection of projects is a fast and fun way to get started with microcontrollers that’s perfect for beginners, hobbyists, parents, and educators. 25 Step-by-Step Projects LED Light Bar Light-Activated Night-Light Seven-Segment LED Countdown Timer LED Scrolling Marquee Mood Light Rainbow Strip Light NeoPixel Compass Arduino Piano Audio LED Visualizer Old-School Analog Dial Stepper Motor Temperature-Controlled Fan Ultrasonic Range Finder Digital Thermometer Bomb Decoder Game Serial LCD Screen Ultrasonic People Counter Nokia 5110 LCD Screen Pong Game OLED Breathalyzer Ultrasonic Soaker Fingerprint Scanner Ultrasonic Robot Internet-Controlled LED Voice-Controlled LED GPS Speedometer Uses the Arduino Uno board

Bring your ideas to life with the latest Arduino hardware and software Arduino is an affordable and readily available hardware development platform based around an open source, programmable circuit board. You can combine this programmable chip with a variety of sensors and actuators to sense your environment around you and control lights, motors, and sound. This flexible and easy-to-use combination of hardware and software can be used to create interactive robots, product prototypes and electronic artwork, whether you’re an artist, designer or tinkerer. Arduino For Dummies is a great place to start if you want to find out about Arduino and make the most of its incredible capabilities. It helps you become familiar with Arduino and what it involves, and offers inspiration for completing new and exciting projects. • Covers the latest software and hardware currently on the market • Includes updated examples and circuit board diagrams in addition to new resource chapters • Offers simple examples to teach fundamentals needed to move onto more advanced topics • Helps you grasp what’s possible with this fantastic little board Whether you’re a teacher, student, programmer, hobbyist, hacker, engineer, designer, or scientist, get ready to learn the latest this new technology has to offer!