Electronics Class

This class is targeted at the beginner who wants to learn electronics. It would make a fine prerequisite to the Microcontroller Course or the HAMClass

tease

These images form a slide show and a gestalt introduction to electronics. In which we map the techniques available to hackers and their surrounding requisite building blocks.

[[1]]mindmap

My hacking started with music and production. it wasn't exacly the tech; more for the ride.

[[2]] WMUC main studio

Complicated behaviour arises from iteration of simple models. Learning how to operate something like this is simpler and more subtle than it looks.

[[3]] wheatstone broadcast console

Easier to see is block diagram form; a gestural view of a complex system. WMUC recording suites and broadcast control rooms. Computing.

[[4]] signal diagram

Why study DC/baseband/RF electronics; anachronism?

[[5]] chill on the roof.

Space shuttle shots; APRS , RACES, field day. Social technical effects require proficiency.

[[6]] W3EAX tower

Small systems scale into big ones. 40,000 people at Operation ceasefire (united for peace& justice) '05 at the national mall. Standing between SS, Park police and thousands of protesters.

[[7]] ceasefire stage
[[8]] ceasefire 40k

No always smooth sailing.

[[9]] mars needs bolts

Building whimsey.

[[10]] lightup dance floor

Computer control over physical objects. microcontrollers + christmas tree lights.

[[11]] dance floor controller

Not always smooth. Electrical compatibility != political compatability

[[12]] hhr - phear the transaxle

More small systems iterated.

[[13]] fireworks diagram

DIY Ignition source in Berlin. in a pinch you don't need a parts catalog.

[[14]] igniter controller

Apologies to Dakami

[[15]] fireworks crates

Simple systems, RC control, Robots and igniters.

[[16]] wm greek fire

Recently robotics have become accessible to experimenters. Bluto cuts, welds and hugs.

[[17]] Welding robots!

Required Materials

(see also: our Suppliers page)

Multimeter $4
- Source: Harbor Freight

Soldering Iron (25-30w) $10
- Source: Harbor Freight

Solder ( 22ga )
- Source: Harbor Freight
- Source: Radio Shack
- Or ANYWHERE, really.

Bread Board ( or AshClassBoard ) $10
- Source: Mouser
- Source: Digi-Key

wire 24ga

30ga solid core wire

Resistors 10kohm

variable resistor 10kohm linear $1

switch [[18]]

leds (various)

capacitor 470uf (ish) [[19]]

pn2222 transistor $.03

1/8 male phono jack

Read The Fine Data Sheet:  They hide secrets in the documentation.

Metering

There are many like it but this one is mine.

Naming of parts
Should be a VOM - Volt Ohm Meter
- metering modes
  - restistance - Ohms of resistance
  - voltage - Volts
  - Current - Amps/Milliamps - check the leads
  - diode check - see [Diodes]
- leads - plugged into the right ports?
Continuity testing
- set the meter to the lowest resistance mode (200ohms or auto resistance)
- or perhaps Diode check; or even beeping
- reads "off scale" when the leads are unconnected, this is an open circuit
- firmly touch leads together -loopback test
- reads near 0 if the leads are crossed
Voltage testing
- set meter to 20Vdc or VautoDC
- touch leads to metered points
- the reading on the meter is the difference in voltages between the leads
- Try AC mains!! - safety second.

SwitchLab

use the continuity meter to diagram the electrical layout of the switch.
solder switch to the board.
test under power with meter voltage setting

Relays/Switches

Codespeak

SPDT - single pole dual throw
DPST - dual pole single throw
4P10T - ???

- Map this mystery switchLab

Wire

The basic wire is a pipe through which electrons can flow from the lowest voltage side to the highest (conventional current) up to the physical limits of the wire.

Condunctor vs. Insulators
Current limit via wire gauge [20]
Voltage limit via insulation.
Magnetic and Electric fields surround an energized wire (what?!)
And wire will respond with current when moved through magnetic flux
- bass pickups
- Lentz law
- Siemens, mho, ohms
strip wire
and don't nick the conductor

Electromagnetics

Einstein's "spukhafte Fernwirkung"
Quantum Electrodynamics
- Electron and photons interact - somehow
Gauss, Maxwell and
Permanent magnets useful - locked domains
- Ferro materials, Ni, Co, Sr, Rb, Nb, Nd, Cr and Fe.
- Except when they aren't - curie temperature.
Hall effect - sensing - spaceship drives
Motors, linear, rotary, vibrational, direct ( magnetohydrodynamic)
Radios
- EM probe demo
- EM spectrum
  - DC, ELF, SLF (submarines, blue whales), AF, LF,HF, (Short wave), VHF, UHF, Microwave, weird stuff, gamma rays (the incredible hulk, gian ants).

Soldering

Hold the cold end.

Soldering ( for our purposes ) is the process of joining electrical contacts with a low melting point metal to make a mechanically and electrically strong connection.

Restrain long hair/clothing/jewelry.
Clean both parts of waxes, oils or debris.
- Ethanol/Methanol/SLX
- Flux/Rosin/Dry
Mechanically fit connections together
Clean and wet the iron
- Tip should be immaculate and bright
Heat both parts until hot
- Cheat, use another heating element
  - quartz floodlight, sterno, propane or mean stare.
- but not too hot - see blue smoke lab
Apply just enough solder to wet the contact surfaces
Wait for the connection to shine smoothly
remove the iron an test the connection
- yes it's hot stupid.
- the meter should find near 0 ohms of resistance between the two parts even when mechanically stressed.
- the meter should read "off scale" to everything that should be isolated
Splice practice
- Western Union Splice
- Pigtail Splice

Speakermaking lab

materials:

junk wire, lots of it
magnet ( stronger is better )

Test stuff:

multimeter
signal generator, (or music source)
power amp

Construction:

Make coil of wire 24ga 1" dia, 50-400 turns.
- use a form, marker, tp tube, pvc pipe
- Measure impedance > 1.5 ohm
Stick coil of wire to diaphram
Make stator/armature
- stick magnet to something - not too ferrous
stick diaphram near armature (correct axis??)
connect to amplifier; apply Rock!

Exercises for suckers:

Use the lentz law to calculate the force generated by thingy.
Why 8ohm speakers in the house?

Resistor

Not like the NYC variety

Resistors impede the flow of electrons across them; usually to protect components from excessive current.

Ohm's law
Diagonal IV curve.
symmetric

ResistorLab

solder resistors, meter and record;
compare to ohms law math

BlueSmokeLab

Get this out of the way early (and often)

turn off the switch
Solder the 30ga wire ends on to the lab 0 area
stow fingers away from wire
turn on switch

Power

Measured in watts (usally)

* .01w laser pointer
* .25w cell phone
* 1w 
* 15w car stereo
* 25w soldering iron
* 100w light bulb
* 1500w hair dryer
* 200 horsepower (750w/hp)
* 3 tons of Air conditioner capacity (3.5kw/ton)

The notion of instant work
Energy or work is expressed in joules (watt*second). Or perhaps (Kw*H)
Power(watts) = Current (Amps) * Volts

Electromechanical relay is a switch that's controlled electrically.

pros

Easy to design for
debugging (listen for satisfying click)
excelent isolation
high power control/$

cons

high drive current (mostly)
noisy (mostly)
slow
moving parts (eeew)

a typical relay - map this mystery relay lab

Diode

ScaryDataSheetLab

a favorite led [21]
LED ( Light emitting diode ) are diodes with a clear case.
electrons only permitted to flow in one direction: cathode to anode
- there are exceptions [diode breakdown voltage]
discontinuous IV curve
diode logic
the cathode is marked
the diode check function of the meter can reveal the correct polarity of a mystery diode with a suspect cathode mark.

Light Emitting Diode

the short lead is the cathode
LED's need current limiting (see BlueSmokeLab)

LEDLab

solder in 1kOhm resistor for the led , although you may use another if you can justify the value
Solder in the LED, with the short lead towards the ground.

Motor

Printed Circuits

Capacitor

470uf electrolytic cap

wikipedia capacitor <math>\operator {work} (V) = \frac {1}{2} 2)Cv^2 </math> Hmm.. no teX support here.

Applications

Filters
- Decoupling - Ripple rejection
- Blocking - Bias blocking
- Use in networks - equalization networks
Storage
- Pump and dump - Photoflash.
- Tank application - DC - DC converters
Esoteric
- Sensors - Strain gauge
- Microphones - Old school

Transistor

PN2222 N channel transistor

little amplifierlab

class A amp
DC blocking caps
bias resistors
fixed gain
inverted waveform

Digital Logic

AND C = A & B
OR C = A | B
NOT C = !A
NOR C = !(A|B)
NAND C = !(A&B)
MUX C = select A(n) based on B(n)

IC

LM386 Audio Amplifier [22]

ElectronicsClass

From HacDC Wiki

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