Electronics Projects For Dummies



From the Publisher:

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

Table of Contents:

Introduction 1
Why Buy This Book? 1
Foolish Assumptions 1
Safety, Safety, Safety! 2
How This Book Is Organized 2
Icons Used in This Book 3

Part I Project Prep 5
Chapter 1 Exploring the World of Electronics Projects 7
What Is an Electronics Project, Anyway? 7
Mixing and Matching Effects 9
What Can You Do with Electronics Projects? 10
What You Need to Get Started 13
Chapter 2 Safety First 17
Avoiding Shocks Like the Plague 17
Protecting Electronic Components from Dreaded Static Discharge 21
Working with the Tools of the Trade 23
A Safe Workspace Is a Happy Workspace 26
Chapter 3 Assembling Your Electronics Arsenal 31
Tool Time 31
Multimeter 37
Components Primer 38
The Nuts and Bolts of Building Materials 52
Breadboard Basics 54
Chapter 4 Running Down the Skills You Need 59
It's Symbolic: Reading a Schematic 59
Breadboarding 65
Soldering Your Circuit Board 70
Measuring Stuff with a Multimeter 76
Working with the Boxes that Contain Your Projects 78

Part II Sounding Off! 85
Chapter 5 Making Light Dance to the Music 87
The Big Picture: Project Overview 87
Scoping Out the Schematic 89
Fancy Footwork: Exploring the Dance to the Music Circuit 90
Building Alert: Construction Issues 92
Perusing the Parts List 92
Taking Things Step by Step 94
Trying It Out 111
Taking It Further 113
Chapter 6 Focusing Sound with a Parabolic Microphone 115
What a Dish! The Project Overview 115
Scoping Out the Schematic 117
Building Alert: Construction Issues 118
Perusing the Parts List 119
Taking Things Step by Step 122
Trying It Out 137
Taking It Further 137
Chapter 7 Murmuring Merlin 139
The Big Picture: Project Overview 139
Scoping Out the Schematic 141
Building Alert: Construction Issues 143
Perusing the Parts List 144
Taking Things Step by Step 147
Trying It Out 163
Taking It Further 164
Chapter 8 Surfing the Airwaves 165
The Big Picture: Project Overview 165
Scoping Out the Schematic 166
Building Alert: Construction Issues 169
Perusing the Parts List 169
Taking Things Step by Step 172
Trying It Out 183
Taking It Further 183

Part III Let There Be Light 185
Chapter 9 Scary Pumpkins 187
The Big Picture: Project Overview 187
Taking Things Step by Step 197
Trying It Out 211
Taking It Further 214
Chapter 10 Dancing Dolphins 215
The Big Picture: Project Overview 215
Scoping Out the Schematic 216
Building Alert: Construction Issues 221
Perusing the Parts List 221
Taking Things Step by Step 223
Trying It Out 237
Taking It Further 238
Chapter 11 Controlling a Go-Kart, Infrared Style 239
The Big Picture: Project Overview 239
Scoping Out the Schematic 241
Building Alert: Construction Issues 245
Perusing the Parts List 245
Taking Things Step by Step 249
Trying It Out 276
Taking It Further 277

Part IV Good Vibrations 279
Chapter 12 A Handy-Dandy Metal Detector 281
The Big Picture: Project Overview 281
Scoping Out the Schematic 282
Building Alert: Construction Issues 284
Perusing the Parts List 284
Taking Things Step by Step 286
Trying It Out 299
Taking It Further 300
Chapter 13 Sensitive Sam Walks the Line 301
The Big Picture: Project Overview 301
Scoping Out the Schematic 303
Building Alert: Construction Issues 309
Perusing the Parts List 309
Taking Things Step by Step 313
Trying It Out 340
Taking It Further 341
Chapter 14 Couch Pet-ato 343
The Big Picture: Project Overview 344
Scoping Out the Schematic 344
Building Alert: Construction Issues 346
Perusing the Parts List 346
Taking Things Step by Step 348
Trying It Out 359
Taking It Further 360

Part V The Part of Tens 361
Chapter 15 Ten Great Parts Suppliers 363
When Is a Supplier Right for You? 363
Reynolds Electronics 364
Hobby Engineering 365
Jameco 365
Digi-Key 365
Mouser Electronics 366
RadioShack 366
Fry's Electronics 366
Electronic Goldmine 367
Furturlec 367
Maplin 367
Chapter 16 Ten Great Electronics Resources 369
Electronics Magazines 369
Jumpstart Your Project Creativity with Circuits 371
Web Sites That Teach You the Ropes 372
Writing the Book on Electronics 374
Chapter 17 Ten Specialized Electronics Resources 375
Radio 375
Audio and Music 377
Robotics 378
Glossary 381
Index 391