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(s): Earl Boysen; Nancy C. Muir
Series: For Dummies
Publisher: For Dummies
Year: 2006
Language: English
Pages: 408
Authors’ Acknowledgments
Contents at a Glance
Table of Contents
Introduction
Why Buy This Book?
Foolish Assumptions
Safety, Safety, Safety!
How This Book Is Organized
Icons Used in This Book
Part I: Project Prep
Chapter 1: Exploring the World of Electronics Projects
What Is an Electronics Project, Anyway?
Mixing and Matching Effects
What Can You Do with Electronics Projects?
What You Need to Get Started
Chapter 2: Safety First
Avoiding Shocks Like the Plague
Protecting Electronic Components from Dreaded Static Discharge
Working with the Tools of the Trade
A Safe Workspace Is a Happy Workspace
Chapter 3: Assembling Your Electronics Arsenal
Tool Time
Multimeter
Components Primer
The Nuts and Bolts of Building Materials
Breadboard Basics
Chapter 4: Running Down the Skills You Need
It’s Symbolic: Reading a Schematic
Breadboarding
Soldering Your Circuit Board
Measuring Stuff with a Multimeter
Working with the Boxes that Contain Your Projects
Part II: Sounding Off!
Chapter 5: Making Light Dance to the Music
The Big Picture: Project Overview
Scoping Out the Schematic
Fancy Footwork: Exploring the Dance to the Music Circuit
Building Alert: Construction Issues
Perusing the Parts List
Taking Things Step by Step
Trying It Out
Taking It Further
Chapter 6: Focusing Sound with a Parabolic Microphone
What a Dish! The Project Overview
Scoping Out the Schematic
Building Alert: Construction Issues
Perusing the Parts List
Taking Things Step by Step
Trying It Out
Taking It Further
Chapter 7: Murmuring Merlin
The Big Picture: Project Overview
Scoping Out the Schematic
Building Alert: Construction Issues
Perusing the Parts List
Taking Things Step by Step
Trying It Out
Taking It Further
Chapter 8: Surfing the Airwaves
The Big Picture: Project Overview
Scoping Out the Schematic
Building Alert: Construction Issues
Perusing the Parts List
Taking Things Step by Step
Trying It Out
Taking It Further
Part III: Let There Be Light
Chapter 9: Scary Pumpkins
The Big Picture: Project Overview
Taking Things Step by Step
Trying It Out
Taking It Further
Chapter 10: Dancing Dolphins
The Big Picture: Project Overview
Scoping Out the Schematic
Building Alert: Construction Issues
Perusing the Parts List
Taking Things Step by Step
Trying It Out
Taking It Further
Chapter 11: Controlling a Go-Kart, Infrared Style
The Big Picture: Project Overview
Scoping Out the Schematic
Building Alert: Construction Issues
Perusing the Parts List
Taking Things Step by Step
Trying It Out
Taking It Further
Part IV: Good Vibrations
Chapter 12: A Handy-Dandy Metal Detector
The Big Picture: Project Overview
Scoping Out the Schematic
Building Alert: Construction Issues
Perusing the Parts List
Taking Things Step by Step
Trying It Out
Taking It Further
Chapter 13: Sensitive Sam Walks the Line
The Big Picture: Project Overview
Scoping Out the Schematic
Building Alert: Construction Issues
Perusing the Parts List
Taking Things Step by Step
Trying It Out
Taking It Further
Chapter 14: Couch Pet-ato
The Big Picture: Project Overview
Scoping Out the Schematic
Building Alert: Construction Issues
Perusing the Parts List
Taking Things Step by Step
Trying It Out
Taking It Further
Part V: The Part of Tens
Chapter 15: Ten Great Parts Suppliers
When Is a Supplier Right for You?
Reynolds Electronics
Hobby Engineering
Jameco
Digi-Key
Mouser Electronics
RadioShack
Fry’s Electronics
Electronic Goldmine
Furturlec
Maplin
Chapter 16: Ten Great Electronics Resources
Electronics Magazines
Jumpstart Your Project Creativity with Circuits
Web Sites That Teach You the Ropes
Writing the Book on Electronics
Chapter 17: Ten Specialized Electronics Resources
Radio
Audio and Music
Robotics
Glossary
Index
