Print PDF
Favorite
Email
Getting started with basic electronics is easier than you might think. This Instructable will hopefully demystify the basics of electronics so that anyone with an interest in building circuits can hit the ground running. This is a quick overview into practical electronics and it is not my goal to delve deeply into the science of electrical engineering. If you are interested in learning more about the science of basic electronics, Wikipedia is a good place to start your search.
By the end of this Instructable, anyone with an interest to learn basic electronics should be able to read a schematic and build a circuit using standard electronic components.
By the end of this Instructable, anyone with an interest to learn basic electronics should be able to read a schematic and build a circuit using standard electronic components.
Remove these ads by
Signing UpStep 1Electricity
There are two types of electrical signals , those being alternating current (AC), and direct current (DC).
With alternating current, the direction electricity flows throughout the circuit is constantly reversing. You may even say that it is alternating direction. The rate of reversal is measured in Hertz, which is the number of reversals per second. So, when they say that the US power supply is 60 Hz, what they mean is that it is reversing 120 times per second (twice per cycle).
With Direct Current, electricity flows in one direction between power and ground. In this arrangement there is always a positive source of voltage and ground (0V) source of voltage. You can test this by reading a battery with a multimeter. For great instructions on how to do this, check out Ladyada's multimeter page (you will want to measure voltage in particular).
Speaking of voltage, electricity is typically defined as having a voltage and a current rating. Voltage is obviously rated in Volts and current is rated in Amps. For instance, a brand new 9V battery would have a voltage of 9V and a current of around 500mA (500 milliamps).
Electricity can also be defined in terms of resistance and watts. We will talk a little bit about resistance in the next step, but I am not going to be going over Watts in depth. As you delve deeper into electronics you will encounter components with Watt ratings. It is important to never exceed the Wattage rating of a component, but fortunately that Wattage of your DC power supply can easily be calculated by multiplying the voltage and current of your power source.
If you want a better understanding of these different measurements, what they mean, and how they relate, check out this informative video on Ohm's Law.
Most basic electronic circuits use DC electricity. As such, all further discussion of electricity will revolve around DC electricity.
With alternating current, the direction electricity flows throughout the circuit is constantly reversing. You may even say that it is alternating direction. The rate of reversal is measured in Hertz, which is the number of reversals per second. So, when they say that the US power supply is 60 Hz, what they mean is that it is reversing 120 times per second (twice per cycle).
With Direct Current, electricity flows in one direction between power and ground. In this arrangement there is always a positive source of voltage and ground (0V) source of voltage. You can test this by reading a battery with a multimeter. For great instructions on how to do this, check out Ladyada's multimeter page (you will want to measure voltage in particular).
Speaking of voltage, electricity is typically defined as having a voltage and a current rating. Voltage is obviously rated in Volts and current is rated in Amps. For instance, a brand new 9V battery would have a voltage of 9V and a current of around 500mA (500 milliamps).
Electricity can also be defined in terms of resistance and watts. We will talk a little bit about resistance in the next step, but I am not going to be going over Watts in depth. As you delve deeper into electronics you will encounter components with Watt ratings. It is important to never exceed the Wattage rating of a component, but fortunately that Wattage of your DC power supply can easily be calculated by multiplying the voltage and current of your power source.
If you want a better understanding of these different measurements, what they mean, and how they relate, check out this informative video on Ohm's Law.
Most basic electronic circuits use DC electricity. As such, all further discussion of electricity will revolve around DC electricity.
| « Previous Step | Download PDFView All Steps | Next Step » |
just wondering, what is the output voltage of circuit three? I have built this circuit but it didn't work, I guess the 555 overheated. is it possible to blow the 555 while soldering? or maybe my 8 ohm 1 watt loudspeaker was too large.
Thanks! :))
This is Really A good thing for us that are trying to figgure out how to understand whats what.
Thank you
Simple circuit: A circle/path through which electricity passes to connect a power source to ONE component.
Series circuit: One large circle/path through which electricity passes to MORE THAN ONE component. The current flows on one circle path through all of the components. Thus, if one of the components (e.g., bulbs) is removed from the socket, the electricity stops flowing, and all of the bulbs in the series circuit stop lighting up.
Parallel circuit: 2 or more connecting circles/paths where each component is directly connected in its own circuit/circle to a power source. If one bulb is removed from the socket, the electricity still flows to the other bulbs.
@bboyman
in parallel, it comes from multiple wires, whereas in series, it goes through one wire...
first is parallel second is series
in parallel the power that goes through all of the lights only comes from one end instead of multiple power wires from the power source
You ask about the transistors in your RC car. Think about it this way..
The batteries in your controller are probably very small. Much smaller than the ones in the car. Those batteries are used to produce a very tiny radio signal that is received by the car. That signal would be far too weak to do a job such as steering the car. Some of the transistors in the car are used to amplify that radio signal so it can be used by other circuits to power the steering mechanism.
As for amplification. The radio signal itself doesn't get any bigger or stronger. The transistors are actually allowing the car battery to make a larger 'copy' of the original signal, much like the way a sign-maker would use a pantograph to produce a large sign using a small pattern.
How can I incorporate (modify) these 4 sets of lights to use 1 larger size battery?
Or, how to make these solar.
(in layman's terms),would be most appreciated.
Thank you SO much, in advance
I have trying to pick up electronics as a hobby for several months and never really understud what many of the components did or how to use them,
You really have know idea how much this helps in my plans for VwORLD DOMIENATION, MUAHAHAHA!!!!
i have a mic too but dont know how to use it
can u guide me to make led blink using mic
i hv build one using 3.5 mm jack but nee to incorporate mic in it but no success
They had it all complete with a question and answer fourm.
So...
NPN --> Collector = power ---> emitter = ground
PNP --> Collector = ground ---> emitter = power
Long live Johny 5... :)
Thank you for this instructable. Verry helpfull, I will now use it for reference rather than the useual pelethora of web searches.