Electronics All-in-One For Dummies

Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Book 1 Getting Started with Electronics
Chapter 1 Welcome to Electronics
What Is Electricity?
But Really, What Is Electricity?
What Is Electronics?
What Can You Do with Electronics?
Making noise
Making light
Transmitting to the world
Computing
Looking inside Electronic Devices
Chapter 2 Understanding Electricity
Pondering the Wonder of Electricity
Looking for Electricity
Peering Inside Atoms
Examining the Elements
Minding Your Charges
Conductors and Insulators
Understanding Current
Understanding Voltage
Comparing Direct and Alternating Current
Understanding Power
Chapter 3 Creating Your Mad-Scientist Lab
Setting Up Your Mad-Scientist Lab
Equipping Your Mad-Scientist Lab
Basic hand tools
Magnifying glasses
Third hands and hobby vises
Soldering iron
Multimeter
Solderless breadboard
Wire
Batteries
Other things to stock up on
Stocking up on Basic Electronic Components
Resistors
Capacitors
Diodes
Light-emitting diodes
Transistors
Integrated circuits
One Last Thing
Chapter 4 Staying Safe
Facing the Realities of Electrical Dangers
Household electrical current can kill you!
Even relatively small voltages can hurt you
Sometimes voltage hides in unexpected places
Other Ways to Stay Safe
Keeping Safety Equipment on Hand
Protecting Your Stuff from Static Discharges
Chapter 5 Reading Schematic Diagrams
Introducing a Simple Schematic Diagram
Laying Out a Circuit
To Connect or Not to Connect
Looking at Commonly Used Symbols
Simplifying Ground and Power Connections
Labeling Components in a Schematic Diagram
Representing Integrated Circuits in a Schematic Diagram
Chapter 6 Building Projects
Looking at the Process of Building an Electronic Project
Envisioning Your Project
Designing Your Circuit
Prototyping Your Circuit on a Solderless Breadboard
Understanding how solderless breadboards work
Laying out your circuit
Assembling the coin-toss circuit on a solderless breadboard
What if it doesn’t work?
Constructing Your Circuit on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)
Understanding how printed circuit boards work
Using a preprinted PCB
Building the coin-toss circuit on a PCB
Finding an Enclosure for Your Circuit
Working with a project box
Mounting the coin-toss circuit in a box
Chapter 7 The Secrets of Successful Soldering
Understanding How Solder Works
Procuring What You Need to Solder
Buying a soldering iron
Stocking up on solder
Other goodies you need
Preparing to Solder
Soldering a Solid Solder Joint
Checking Your Work
Desoldering
Chapter 8 Measuring Circuits with a Multimeter
Looking at Multimeters
What a Multimeter Measures
Ammeter
Voltmeter
Ohmmeter
Other measurements
Schematic symbols for meter functions
Using Your Multimeter
Measuring current
Measuring voltage
Measuring resistance
Chapter 9 Catching Waves with an Oscilloscope
Understanding Oscilloscopes
Examining Waveforms
Calibrating an Oscilloscope
Displaying Signals
Book 2 Working with Basic Electronic Components
Chapter 1 Working with Basic Circuits
What Is a Circuit?
Using Batteries
Building a Lamp Circuit
Project 1: A Simple Lamp Circuit
Parts
Steps
Working with Switches
The many ways to throw the switch
Making connections with poles and throws
Building a Switched Lamp Circuit
Project 2: A Lamp Controlled by a Switch
Parts
Steps
Understand Series and Parallel Circuits
Building a Series Lamp Circuit
Project 3: A Series Lamp Circuit
Parts
Steps
Building a Parallel Lamp Circuit
Project 4: A Parallel Lamp Circuit
Parts
Steps
Using Switches in Series and Parallel
Building a Series Switch Circuit
Project 5: A Series Switch Circuit
Parts
Steps
Building a Parallel Switch Circuit
Project 6: A Parallel Switch Circuit
Parts
Steps
Switching between Two Lamps
Project 7: Controlling Two Lamps with One Switch
Parts
Steps
Building a Three-Way Lamp Switch
Project 8: A Three-Way Light Switch
Parts
Steps
Reversing Polarity
Project 9: A Polarity-Reversing Circuit
Parts
Steps
Chapter 2 Working with Resistors
What Is Resistance?
Measuring Resistance
Looking at Ohm’s Law
Introducing Resistors
Reading Resistor Color Codes
Reading a resistor’s value
Understanding resistor tolerance
Understanding Resistor Power Ratings
Limiting Current with a Resistor
Project 10: Using a Current-Limiting Resistor
Parts
Steps
Combining Resistors
Combining resistors in series
Combining resistors in parallel
Mixing series and parallel resistors
Combining resistors in series and parallel
Project 11: Resistors in Series and Parallel
Parts
Steps
Dividing Voltage
Dividing Voltage with Resistors
Project 12: A Voltage Divider Circuit
Parts
Steps
Varying Resistance with a Potentiometer
Chapter 3 Working with Capacitors
What Is a Capacitor?
Counting Capacitance
Reading Capacitor Values
The Many Sizes and Shapes of Capacitors
Calculating Time Constants for Resistor/Capacitor Networks
Combining Capacitors
Combining capacitors in parallel
Connecting capacitors in series
Putting Capacitors to Work
Charging and Discharging a Capacitor
Project 13: Charging and Discharging a Capacitor
Parts
Steps
Blocking DC while Passing AC
Project 14: Blocking Direct Current
Parts
Steps
Chapter 4 Working with Inductors
What Is Magnetism?
The north and south of magnetism
Pondering permanent magnets
Examining Electromagnets
Inducing Current
Inductance and the art of resisting change
Regarding henry
Calculating RL Time Constants
Calculating Inductive Reactance
Combining Inductors
Putting Inductors to Work
Chapter 5 Working with Diodes and LEDs
What Is a Semiconductor?
Doping: It’s not just for athletes
Understanding p-n junctions
Introducing Diodes
The Many Types of Diodes
Rectifier diodes
Signal diodes
Zener diodes
Using a Diode to Block Reverse Polarity
Project 15: Blocking Reverse Polarity
Parts
Steps
Putting Rectifiers to Work
Building Rectifier Circuits
Project 16: Rectifier Circuits
Parts
Steps
Introducing Light Emitting Diodes
Using LEDs to Detect Polarity
Project 17: An LED Polarity Detector
Parts
Steps
Chapter 6 Working with Transistors
What’s the Big Deal about Transistors?
Why were transistors invented?
Looking inside a transistor
Examining transistor specifications
Amplifying with a Transistor
Using a Transistor as a Switch
An LED Driver Circuit
Project 18: A Transistor LED Driver
Parts
Steps
Looking at a Simple NOT Gate Circuit
Building a NOT Gate
Project 19: A NOT Gate
Parts
Steps
Oscillating with a Transistor
Building an LED Flasher
Project 20: An LED Flasher
Parts
Steps
Wrapping Up Our Exploration of Discrete Components
Book 3 Working with Integrated Circuits
Chapter 1 Introducing Integrated Circuits
What Exactly Is an Integrated Circuit?
Looking at How Integrated Circuits Are Made
Integrated Circuit Packages
Using ICs in Schematic Diagrams
Powering ICs
Avoiding Static and Heat Damage
Reading IC Data Sheets
Popular Integrated Circuits
555 Timer
741 and LM324 Op-Amp
78xx Voltage Regulator
74xx Logic Family
Chapter 2 The Fabulous 555 Timer Chip
Looking at How the 555 Works
Understanding 555 Modes
Using the 555 in Monostable (One-Shot) Mode
Looking at a typical 555 monostable circuit
Looking at the resistor-capacitor circuit in a monostable timer
Calculating the time interval for a monostable circuit
Using the 555 in Astable (Oscillator) Mode
Looking at a typical astable circuit
Controlling the time intervals in an astable 555 circuit
Calculating the duty cycle
Using the 555 in Bistable (Flip-Flop) Mode
Using the 555 Timer Output
Doubling Up with the 556 Dual Timer
Making a One-Shot Timer
Project 21: A One-Shot 555 Timer Circuit
Parts
Steps
Making an LED Flasher
Project 22: An LED Flasher
Parts
Steps
Using a Set/Reset Switch
Project 23: An LED Flasher with a Set/Reset Switch
Parts
Steps
Making a Beeper
Project 24: An Audible Beeper
Parts
Steps
Chapter 3 Working with Op-Amps
Looking at Operational Amplifiers
Understanding Open Loop-Amplifiers
Looking at Closed Loop-Amplifiers
Using an Op-Amp as a Unity Gain Amplifier
Configuring a unity follower
Configuring a unity inverter
Using an Op-Amp as a Voltage Comparator
Adding Voltages
Working with Op-Amp ICs
Book 4 Beyond Direct Current
Chapter 1 Getting into Alternating Current
What Is Alternating Current?
Measuring Alternating Current
Understanding Alternators
Understanding Motors
Understanding Transformers
Working with Line Voltage
Using Line Voltage in Your Projects
Being safe with line voltage
Understanding hot, neutral, and ground
Wires and Connectors for Working with Line Voltage
Using Fuses to Protect Line-Voltage Circuits
Using Relays to Control Line-Voltage Circuits
Chapter 2 Building Power Supplies
Using a Power Adapter
Understanding What a Power Supply Does
Transforming Voltage
Turning AC into DC
Half-wave rectifier
Full-wave rectifier
Bridge rectifier
Filtering Rectified Current
Regulating Voltage
Chapter 3 Understanding Radio
Understanding Radio Waves
Transmitting and Receiving Radio
Understanding radio transmitters
Understanding radio receivers
Understanding AM Radio
Understanding FM Radio
Building a Crystal Radio
Looking at a simple crystal radio circuit
Gathering your parts
Building the coil
Assembling the circuit
Stringing up an antenna
Connecting to ground
Using the crystal radio
Chapter 4 Working with Infrared
Introducing Infrared Light
Detecting Infrared Light
Project 25: A Simple IR Detector
Parts
Steps
Creating Infrared Light
Building a Proximity Detector
Building a Common-Emitter Proximity Detector
Project 26: A Common-Emitter Proximity Detector
Parts
Steps
Building a Common-Collector Proximity Detector
Project 27: A Common-Collector Proximity Detector
Parts
Steps
Book 5 Doing Digital Electronics
Chapter 1 Understanding Digital Electronics
Distinguishing Analog and Digital Electronics
Understanding Binary
Knowing your number systems
Counting by ones
Doing the logic thing
Using Switches to Build Gates
Project 28: A Simple AND Circuit
Parts
Steps
Project 29: A Simple OR Circuit
Parts
Steps
Project 30: A Simple XOR Circuit
Parts
Steps
Chapter 2 Getting Logical
Introducing Boolean Logic and Logic Gates
Looking at NOT Gates
Looking at AND Gates
Looking at OR Gates
Looking at NAND Gates
Looking at NOR Gates
Looking at XOR and XNOR Gates
De Marvelous De Morgan’s Theorem
All You Need Is NAND (Or NOR)
Universal NAND gates
Universal NOR gates
Using Software to Practice with Gates
Chapter 3 Working with Logic Circuits
Creating Logic Gates with Transistors
A transistor NOT gate circuit
Project 31: A Transistor NOT Gate
Parts
Steps
A transistor AND gate circuit
A transistor NAND gate circuit
Project 32: A Transistor NAND Gate
Parts
Steps
A transistor OR gate circuit
A transistor NOR gate circuit
Project 33: A Transistor NOR Gate
Parts
Steps
Introducing Integrated Circuit Logic Gates
Introducing the Versatile 4000-Series Logic Gates
Building Projects with the 4011 Quad Two-Input NAND Gate
Project 34: A CMOS NAND Gate
Parts
Steps
Project 35: A CMOS AND Gate
Parts
Steps
Project 36: A CMOS OR Gate
Parts
Steps
Project 37: A CMOS NOR Gate
Parts
Steps
Chapter 4 Working with Flip-Flops
Looking at Latches
Project 38: An Active-High Latch
Parts
Steps
Project 39: An Active-Low Latch
Parts
Steps
Looking at Gated Latches
Project 40: A Gated D Latch
Parts
Steps
Introducing Flip-Flops
Project 41: A D Flip-Flop
Parts
Steps
Project 42: A Toggle Flip-Flop
Parts
Steps
Debouncing a Clock Input
Chapter 5 Introducing Microcontrollers
Introducing Microcontrollers
Programming a Microcontroller
Working with I/O Pins
Book 6 Working with Arduino Microprocessors
Chapter 1 Introducing Arduino
Introducing the Arduino UNO
Buying an UNO Starter Kit
Installing the Arduino IDE
Connecting to an UNO
Looking at a Simple Arduino Sketch
Running the Blink Program
Using a Digital I/O Pin to Control an LED
Project 43: Blinking an LED with an Arduino UNO
Parts
Steps
Chapter 2 Creating Arduino Sketches
Introducing C
Working with a Prototyping Shield
Building a Test Circuit
Project 44: An Arduino LED Test Circuit
Parts
Steps
Flashing the LEDs
Using Comments
Creating Identifiers
Using Variables
Doing Math
A Program That Uses Variables and Math
Using If Statements
Using While Loops
Using For Loops
Crafting Your Own Functions
Chapter 3 More Arduino Programming Tricks
Using a Push Button with an Arduino
Checking the Status of a Switch in Arduino
Project 45: A Push-Button Controlled Arduino LED Flasher
Parts
Steps
Randomizing Your Programs
Reading a Value from a Potentiometer
Project 46: A Variable-Rate LED Flasher
Parts
Steps
Chapter 4 An Arduino Proximity Sensor
Using an Ultrasonic Range Finder
Looking at the HC-SR04 Range Finder
Generating a trigger pulse
Reading pulse input
Doing the math
Using an LCD
Connecting an LCD to Arduino
Programming the LCD
Building a Proximity Sensor
Project 47: An Arduino Proximity Sensor
Parts
Steps
Chapter 5 Adding Sound and Motion to Your Arduino Projects
Using a Speaker with an Arduino
Using the tone function
Connecting a speaker to an Arduino
Project 48: Creating Sound with a Speaker
Parts
Steps
Sounding the alarm with Morse code
Playing a siren
Playing a song
Using an MP3 Shield
Assembling the Music Maker shield
Preparing the micro-SD card
Programming the Music Maker shield
Building an Arduino Music Player
Project 49: Using a Music Maker Shield to Play Sounds
Parts
Steps
Using a Servo with an Arduino
Connecting a servo to an Arduino
Programming a servo
Building a servo project
Project 50: Using a Servo with an Arduino
Parts
Steps
Chapter 6 Keypads and Keyboards
Using a Keypad
How a keypad works
Connecting a keypad to an Arduino
Programming a keypad
Setting Up a Keypad
Defining the number of rows and columns
Defining the row and column pins
Defining the keymap
Using a Keypad variable
Detecting when a key has been pressed
Building a Keypad Circuit
Project 51: Using a Keypad
Parts
Steps
Using an Arduino for Computer Keyboard Input
Using the Keyboard library
Sending a line via the keyboard
Using the switch statement to simplify choices
Pressing and holding keys
Building a Windows Keypad Gadget
Project 52: A Windows Keypad Gadget
Parts
Steps
Book 7 Working with Raspberry Pi
Chapter 1 Introducing Raspberry Pi
Introducing the Raspberry Pi
Considering Raspberry Pi Versions
Setting Up a Raspberry Pi
Installing the Raspberry Pi Operating System
Starting Up Your Raspberry Pi
Understanding the File System
Writing Your First Raspberry Pi Program
Examining GPIO Ports
Connecting an LED to a GPIO Port
Flashing an LED in Python
Building a Raspberry Pi LED Flasher
Project 51: Blinking an LED with a Raspberry Pi
Parts
Steps
Chapter 2 Programming in Python
Looking Closer at Python
Building a Test Circuit
Project 52: A Raspberry Pi LED Test Board
Parts
Steps
Flashing the LEDs
Using Comments
Creating Identifiers
Using Constants
Using Variables
Creating Your Own Functions
Using If Statements
Using While Loops
Using For Loops
Looking at Python Lists
Chapter 3 Reading Digital and Analog Input
Using a GPIO Port for Digital Input
Checking the Status of a Switch in Python
Project 53: A Push-Button-Controlled Raspberry Pi LED Flasher
Parts
Steps
Reading Analog Input
Enabling SPI on Your Raspberry Pi
Using the MCP3008 in Python
Using the mcp3008 Package
Project 54: A Variable-Rate LED Flasher
Parts
Steps
Book 8 Special Effects
Chapter 1 Building a Color Organ
Examining the Color Organ Project
Understanding How the Color Organ Works
Getting What You Need to Build the Color Organ
Assembling the Color Organ
Using the Color Organ
Chapter 2 Animating Holiday Lights
Introducing the ShowTime PC Controller
Looking at a Basic Light-O-Rama Setup
Understanding Channels and Sequences
Choosing Lights for Your Display
Designing Your Layout
Assembling the ShowTime PC Controller
Connecting the Controller to a Computer
Testing the ShowTime PC Controller
Using the Light-O-Rama Sequence Editor
Understanding Sequences
Creating a Musical Sequence
Visualizing Your Show
Chapter 3 Building an Animatronic Prop Controller
Looking at the Requirements of Animatronic Prop Control
Examining a Typical Animatronic Prop
Building the Prop Controller
Programming the Prop-1 Controller
Sending Commands to the RC-4 or AP-16+ Modules
Programming the RC-4 Relay Control Module
Turning all relays off
Turning an individual relay on or off
Setting all four relays at once
Using symbols to make RC-4 commands more readable
A sample program for controlling all four RC-4 relays
Programming the AP-16+ Audio Player Module
Resetting the AP-16+
Changing the volume
Playing a specific file
Waiting for a file to finish playing
A Sample AP-16+ Program
Programming the PIR Motion Detector
Looking at Complete Jack-in-the-Box Program
Chapter 4 Re-Creating a Retro Science-Fiction Robot Head
Looking to Robby and B-9 For Inspiration
Conceiving VIN-e
Introducing VIN-e 1.0
The dome
The base
The central pillar
The eyes and nose
The mouth
The “vacuum tubes”
The antenna
Looking at VIN-e’s Electronics
A Final Word about Safety
Index
EULA