book

Electronics for Beginners: A Practical Introduction to Schematics, Circuits, and Microcontrollers

Name: Electronics for Beginners: A Practical Introduction to Schematics, Circuits, and Microcontrollers
Author: Jonathan Bartlett
ISBN: 9781484259795

by Jonathan Bartlett

September 2020

Beginner

503 pages

11h 49m

English

Apress

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Electronics for Beginners
Acknowledgments
Table of Contents
About the Author
About the Technical Reviewer
1. Introduction
1.1 Working the Examples1.2 Initial Tools and Supplies1.3 Safety Guidelines1.4 Electrostatic Discharge1.5 Using Your Multimeter Correctly
2. Dealing with Units
2.1 SI Units2.2 Scaling Units2.3 Using Abbreviations2.4 Significant Figures2.5 Apply What You Have Learned
Part I: Basic Concepts
3. What Is Electricity?
3.1 Charge3.2 Measuring Charge and Current3.3 AC vs. DC3.4 Which Way Does Current Flow?3.5 Review3.6 Apply What You Have Learned
4. Voltage and Resistance
4.1 Picturing Voltage4.2 Volts Are Relative4.3 Relative Voltages and Ground Potential4.4 Resistance4.5 Review4.6 Apply What You Have Learned

5. Your First Circuit
5.1 Circuit Requirements5.2 Basic Components5.3 Creating Your First Circuit5.4 Adding Wires5.5 Drawing Circuits5.6 Drawing the Ground5.7 Review5.8 Apply What You Have Learned
6. Constructing and Testing Circuits
6.1 The Solderless Breadboard6.2 Putting a Circuit onto a Breadboard6.3 Using Fewer Wires6.4 Testing Circuits with a Multimeter6.5 Using a Multimeter with a Breadboard6.6 Measuring Current with a Multimeter6.7 Using a Power Regulator6.8 Review6.9 Apply What You Have Learned
7. Analyzing Series and Parallel Circuits
7.1 Series Circuits7.2 Parallel Circuits7.2.1 Kirchhoff’s Current Law7.2.2 Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law7.3 Equivalent Parallel Resistance7.4 Wires in a Circuit7.5 Wiring Parallel Circuits onto a Breadboard7.6 Review7.7 Apply What You Have Learned
8. Diodes and How to Use Them
8.1 Basic Diode Behavior8.2 Circuit Calculations with Diodes in Series8.3 Circuit Calculations with Diodes in Parallel8.4 Diode Short Circuits8.5 Nonconducting Diodes8.6 Usage of Diodes8.7 Other Types of Diode Protection8.8 Zener Diodes8.9 Schottky Diode8.10 Diode-Like Behavior in Other Components8.11 Review8.12 Apply What You Have Learned
9. Basic Resistor Circuit Patterns
9.1 Switches and Buttons9.2 Current-Limiting Resistor Pattern9.3 Voltage Divider Pattern9.3.1 Calculating the Voltages9.3.2 Finding Resistor Ratios9.3.3 Finding Resistor Values9.3.4 General Considerations9.4 The Pull-Up Resistor9.5 Pull-Down Resistors9.6 Review9.7 Apply What You Have Learned
10. Understanding Power
10.1 Important Terms Related to Power10.2 Power in Electronics10.3 Component Power Limitations10.4 Handling Power Dissipation with Heatsinks10.5 Transforming Power10.6 Amplifying Low-Power Signals10.7 Review10.8 Apply What You Have Learned
11. Integrated Circuits and Resistive Sensors
11.1 The Parts of an Integrated Circuit11.2 The LM393 Voltage Comparator11.3 The Importance and Problems of Datasheets11.4 A Simple Circuit with the LM39311.5 Resistive Sensors and Voltages11.6 Sensing and Reacting to Darkness11.7 Sources and Sinks11.8 Review11.9 Apply What You Have Learned
Part II: Digital Electronics and Microcontrollers
12. Using Logic ICs
12.1 Logic ICs12.2 Getting a 5 V Source12.3 Pull-Down Resistors12.4 Combining Logic Circuits12.5 Understanding Chip Names12.6 Review12.7 Apply What You Have Learned
13. Introduction to Microcontrollers
13.1 The ATmega328/P Chip13.2 The Arduino Environment13.3 The Arduino Uno13.4 Programming the Arduino13.5 Review13.6 Apply What You Have Learned
14. Building Projects with Arduino
14.1 Powering Your Breadboard from an Arduino Uno14.2 Wiring Inputs and Outputs to an Arduino Uno14.3 A Simple Arduino Project with LEDs14.4 Changing Functionality Without Rewiring14.5 Review14.6 Apply What You Have Learned
15. Analog Input and Output on an Arduino
15.1 Reading Analog Inputs15.2 Analog Output with PWM15.3 Review15.4 Apply What You Have Learned
Part III: Capacitors and Inductors
16. Capacitors
16.1 What Is a Capacitor?16.2 How Capacitors Work16.3 Types of Capacitors16.4 Charging and Discharging a Capacitor16.5 Series and Parallel Capacitances16.6 Capacitors and AC and DC16.7 Using Capacitors in a Circuit16.8 Review16.9 Exercises
17. Capacitors as Timers
17.1 Time Constants17.2 Constructing a Simple Timer Circuit17.3 Resetting Our Timer17.4 Review17.5 Apply What You Have Learned
18. Introduction to Oscillator Circuits
18.1 Oscillation Basics18.2 The Importance of Oscillating Circuits18.3 Building an Oscillator18.4 Calculating On and Off Times with the 55518.5 Choosing the Capacitor18.6 Review18.7 Apply What You Have Learned
19. Producing Sound with Oscillations
19.1 How Sound Is Produced by Speakers19.2 Graphing Electricity19.3 Outputting a Tone to Headphones19.4 AC vs. DC19.5 Using Capacitors to Separate AC and DC Components19.6 Speaker Wattage19.7 Sound Control19.8 Review19.9 Apply What You Have Learned
20. Inductors
20.1 Inductors, Coils, and Magnetic Flux20.1.1 What Is an Inductor?20.1.2 What Is Magnetic Flux?20.1.3 What Is the Difference Between Electric and Magnetic Fields20.2 Induced Voltages20.3 Resisting Changes in Current20.4 Analogy from Mechanics20.5 Uses of Inductors20.6 Inductive KickReviewApply What You Have Learned
21. Inductors and Capacitors in Circuits
21.1 RL Circuits and Time Constants21.2 Inductors and Capacitors as Filters21.3 Parallel and Series Capacitors and InductorsReviewApply What You Have Learned
22. Reactance and Impedance
22.1 Reactance22.2 Impedance22.3 RLC Circuits22.4 Ohm’s Law for AC Circuits22.5 Resonant Frequencies of RLC Circuits22.6 Low-Pass Filters22.7 Converting a PWM Signal into a VoltageReviewExercises
23. DC Motors
23.1 Theory of Operation23.2 Important Facts About Motors23.3 Using a Motor in a Circuit23.4 Attaching Things to Motors23.5 Bidirectional Motors23.6 Servo Motors23.7 Stepper MotorsReviewApply What You Have Learned
Part IV: Amplification Circuits
24. Amplifying Power with Transistors
24.1 An Amplification Parable24.2 Amplifying with Transistors24.3 Parts of the BJT24.4 NPN Transistor Operation BasicsRule 1: The Transistor Is Off by DefaultRule 2: VBE Needs to Be 0.6 V to Turn the Transistor OnRule 3: VBE Will Always Be Exactly 0.6 V When the Transistor Is OnRule 4: The Collector Should Always Be More Positive Than the EmitterRule 5: When the Transistor Is On, ICE Is a Linear Amplification of IBERule 6: The Transistor Cannot Amplify More Than the Collector Can SupplyRule 7: If the Base Voltage Is Greater Than the Collector Voltage, the Transistor Is Saturated24.5 The Transistor as a Switch24.6 Connecting a Transistor to an Arduino Output24.7 Stabilizing Transistor Beta With a Feedback Resistor24.8 A Word of CautionReviewApply What You Have Learned
25. Transistor Voltage Amplifiers
25.1 Converting Current into Voltage with Ohm’s Law25.2 Reading the Amplified Signal25.3 Amplifying an Audio Signal25.4 Adding a Second Stage25.5 Using an OscilloscopeReviewApply What You Have Learned
26. Examining Partial Circuits
26.1 The Need for a Model26.2 Calculating Thévenin Equivalent Values26.3 Another Way of Calculating Thévenin Resistance26.4 Finding the Thévenin Equivalent of an AC Circuit with Reactive Elements26.5 Using Thévenin Equivalent Descriptions26.6 Finding Thévenin Equivalent Circuits ExperimentallyReviewApply What You Have Learned
27. Using Field Effect Transistors for Switching and Logic Applications
27.1 Operation of a FET27.2 The N-Channel Enhancement Mode MOSFET27.3 Using a MOSFET27.4 MOSFETs in Logic CircuitsReviewApply What You Have Learned
28. Going Further
Appendix A: Glossary
Appendix B: Electronics Symbols
Appendix C: Integrated Circuit Naming Conventions
C.1 Logic Chip Basic Conventions
Appendix D: More Math Than You Wanted to Know
D.1 Basic FormulasD.1.1 Charge and Current QuantitiesD.1.2 Volt QuantitiesD.1.3 Resistance and Conductance QuantitiesD.1.4 Ohm’s LawD.1.5 PowerD.1.6 CapacitanceD.1.7 InductanceD.2 SemiconductorsD.2.1 DiodesD.2.2 NPN BJTD.3 DC Motor CalculationsD.4 555 Timer Oscillator Frequency EquationD.5 Output Gain Calculations in BJT Common Emitter ApplicationsD.6 The Thévenin FormulaD.7 Electronics and CalculusD.7.1 Current and VoltageD.7.2 Capacitors and InductorsD.7.3 Time Constants
Appendix E: Simplified Datasheets for Common Devices
E.1 BatteriesE.1.1 OverviewE.1.2 VariationsE.1.3 NotesE.2 ResistorsE.2.1 OverviewE.2.2 Finding a Resistor ValueE.3 DiodesE.3.1 OverviewE.3.2 VariationsE.3.3 Forward Voltage DropE.3.4 UsagesE.4 CapacitorsE.4.1 OverviewE.4.2 VariationsE.4.3 Finding Capacitance ValuesE.5 InductorsE.5.1 OverviewE.5.2 UsesE.5.3 Inductive KickE.5.4 Inductor Color CodesE.6 NPN BJTsE.6.1 OverviewE.6.2 VariationsE.6.3 Pin ConfigurationE.6.4 Design ConsiderationsE.7 YwRobot Power ModuleE.7.1 OverviewE.7.2 VariationsE.7.3 Pin ConfigurationE.7.4 LimitationsE.8 555 TimerE.8.1 OverviewE.8.2 VariationsE.8.3 Pin ConfigurationE.8.4 SpecificationsE.8.5 Implementation ExampleE.9 LM393 and LM339 Voltage ComparatorE.9.1 OverviewE.9.2 VariationsE.9.3 SpecificationsE.10 CD4081 and 7408 Quad-AND GateE.10.1 OverviewE.10.2 VariationsE.10.3 Specifications (CD4081)E.10.4 Specifications (7408)E.11 CD4071 and 7432 Quad-OR GateE.11.1 OverviewE.11.2 VariationsE.11.3 Specifications (CD4071)E.11.4 Specifications (7432)E.12 CD4001 and 7402 Quad-NOR GateE.12.1 OverviewE.12.2 VariationsE.12.3 Specifications (CD4001)E.12.4 Specifications (7402)E.13 CD4011 and 7400 Quad-NAND GateE.13.1 OverviewE.13.2 VariationsE.13.3 Specifications (CD4011)E.13.4 Specifications (7400)E.14 CD4070 and 7486 Quad-XOR GateE.14.1 OverviewE.14.2 VariationsE.14.3 Specifications (CD4070)E.14.4 Specifications (7486)E.15 LM78xx Voltage RegulatorE.15.1 OverviewE.15.2 VariationsE.15.3 SpecificationsE.15.4 Usage Notes
Index

Overview

Jump start your journey with electronics! If you’ve thought about getting into electronics, but don’t know where to start, this book gives you the information you need. Starting with the basics of electricity and circuits, you'll be introduced to digital electronics and microcontrollers, capacitors and inductors, and amplification circuits – all while gaining the basic tools and information you need to start working with low-power electronics.

Electronics for Beginners walks the fine line of focusing on projects-based learning, while still keeping electronics front and center. You'll learn the mathematics of circuits in an uncomplicated fashion and see how schematics map on to actual breadboards. Written for the absolute beginner, this book steers clear of being too math heavy, giving readers the key information they need to get started on their electronics journey.

What You’ll Learn

Review the basic “patterns” of resistor usage—pull up, pull down, voltage divider, and current limiter
Understand the requirements for circuits and how they are put together
Read and differentiate what various parts of the schematics do
Decide what considerations to take when choosing components
Use all battery-powered circuits, so projects are safe

Who This Book Is For

Makers, students, and beginners of any age interested in getting started with electronics.

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