Electronics All-in-One For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Electronics All-in-One For Dummies, 2nd Edition

by Doug Lowe
Released February 2017
Publisher(s): For Dummies
ISBN: 9781119320791

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Book description

A comprehensive collection of 8 books in 1 offering electronics guidance that can't be found anywhere else!

If you know a breadboard from a breadbox but want to take your hobby electronics skills to the next level, this is the only reference you need. Electronics All-in-One For Dummies has done the legwork for you — offering everything you need to enhance your experience as an electronics enthusiast in one convenient place.

Written by electronics guru and veteran For Dummies author Doug Lowe, this down-to-earth guide makes it easy to grasp such important topics as circuits, schematics, voltage, and safety concerns. Plus, it helps you have tons of fun getting your hands dirty working with the Raspberry Pi, creating special effects, making your own entertainment electronics, repairing existing electronics, learning to solder safely, and so much more.

  • Create your own schematics and breadboards
  • Become a circuit-building expert
  • Tackle analog, digital, and car electronics
  • Debunk and grasp confusing electronics concepts

If you're obsessed with all things electronics, look no further! This comprehensive guide is packed with all the electronics goodies you need to add that extra spark to your game!

Table of contents

    1. Cover
    2. Introduction
      1. About This Book
      2. Foolish Assumptions
      3. Icons Used in This Book
      4. Beyond the Book
      5. Where to Go from Here
    3. Book 1: Getting Started in Electronics
      1. Chapter 1: Welcome to Electronics
        1. What Is Electricity?
        2. But Really, What Is Electricity?
        3. What Is Electronics?
        4. What Can You Do with Electronics?
        5. Looking inside Electronic Devices
      2. Chapter 2: Understanding Electricity
        1. Pondering the Wonder of Electricity
        2. Looking for Electricity
        3. Peering Inside Atoms
        4. Examining the Elements
        5. Minding Your Charges
        6. Conductors and Insulators
        7. Understanding Current
        8. Understanding Voltage
        9. Comparing Direct and Alternating Current
        10. Understanding Power
      3. Chapter 3: Creating Your Mad-Scientist Lab
        1. Setting Up Your Mad-Scientist Lab
        2. Equipping Your Mad-Scientist Lab
        3. Stocking up on Basic Electronic Components
        4. One Last Thing
      4. Chapter 4: Staying Safe
        1. Facing the Realities of Electrical Dangers
        2. Other Ways to Stay Safe
        3. Keeping Safety Equipment on Hand
        4. Protecting Your Stuff from Static Discharges
      5. Chapter 5: Reading Schematic Diagrams
        1. Introducing a Simple Schematic Diagram
        2. Laying Out a Circuit
        3. To Connect or Not to Connect
        4. Looking at Commonly Used Symbols
        5. Simplifying Ground and Power Connections
        6. Labeling Components in a Schematic Diagram
        7. Representing Integrated Circuits in a Schematic Diagram
      6. Chapter 6: Building Projects
        1. Looking at the Process of Building an Electronic Project
        2. Envisioning Your Project
        3. Designing Your Circuit
        4. Prototyping Your Circuit on a Solderless Breadboard
        5. Constructing Your Circuit on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)
        6. Finding an Enclosure for Your Circuit
      7. Chapter 7: The Secrets of Successful Soldering
        1. Understanding How Solder Works
        2. Procuring What You Need to Solder
        3. Preparing to Solder
        4. Soldering a Solid Solder Joint
        5. Checking Your Work
        6. Desoldering
      8. Chapter 8: Measuring Circuits with a Multimeter
        1. Looking at Multimeters
        2. What a Multimeter Measures
        3. Using Your Multimeter
      9. Chapter 9: Catching Waves with an Oscilloscope
        1. Understanding Oscilloscopes
        2. Examining Waveforms
        3. Calibrating an Oscilloscope
        4. Displaying Signals
    4. Book 2: Working with Basic Electronic Components
      1. Chapter 1: Working with Basic Circuits
        1. What Is a Circuit?
        2. Using Batteries
        3. Building a Lamp Circuit
        4. Project 1: A Simple Lamp Circuit
        5. Working with Switches
        6. Building a Switched Lamp Circuit
        7. Project 2: A Lamp Controlled by a Switch
        8. Understand Series and Parallel Circuits
        9. Building a Series Lamp Circuit
        10. Project 3: A Series Lamp Circuit
        11. Building a Parallel Lamp Circuit
        12. Project 4: A Parallel Lamp Circuit
        13. Using Switches in Series and Parallel
        14. Building a Series Switch Circuit
        15. Project 5: A Series Switch Circuit
        16. Building a Parallel Switch Circuit
        17. Project 6: A Parallel Switch Circuit
        18. Switching between Two Lamps
        19. Project 7: Controlling Two Lamps with One Switch
        20. Building a Three-Way Lamp Switch
        21. Project 8: A Three-Way Light Switch
        22. Reversing Polarity
        23. Project 9: A Polarity-Reversing Circuit
      2. Chapter 2: Working with Resistors
        1. What Is Resistance?
        2. Measuring Resistance
        3. Looking at Ohm’s Law
        4. Introducing Resistors
        5. Reading Resistor Color Codes
        6. Understanding Resistor Power Ratings
        7. Limiting Current with a Resistor
        8. Project 10: Using a Current-Limiting Resistor
        9. Combining Resistors
        10. Project 11: Resistors in Series and Parallel
        11. Dividing Voltage
        12. Dividing Voltage with Resistors
        13. Project 12: A Voltage Divider Circuit
        14. Varying Resistance with a Potentiometer
      3. Chapter 3: Working with Capacitors
        1. What Is a Capacitor?
        2. Counting Capacitance
        3. Reading Capacitor Values
        4. The Many Sizes and Shapes of Capacitors
        5. Calculating Time Constants for Resistor/Capacitor Networks
        6. Combining Capacitors
        7. Putting Capacitors to Work
        8. Charging and Discharging a Capacitor
        9. Project 13: Charging and Discharging a Capacitor
        10. Blocking DC while Passing AC
        11. Project 14: Blocking Direct Current
      4. Chapter 4: Working with Inductors
        1. What Is Magnetism?
        2. Examining Electromagnets
        3. Inducing Current
        4. Calculating RL Time Constants
        5. Calculating Inductive Reactance
        6. Combining Inductors
        7. Putting Inductors to Work
      5. Chapter 5: Working with Diodes and LEDs
        1. What Is a Semiconductor?
        2. Introducing Diodes
        3. The Many Types of Diodes
        4. Using a Diode to Block Reverse Polarity
        5. Project 15: Blocking Reverse Polarity
        6. Putting Rectifiers to Work
        7. Building Rectifier Circuits
        8. Project 16: Rectifier Circuits
        9. Introducing Light Emitting Diodes
        10. Using LEDs to Detect Polarity
        11. Project 17: An LED Polarity Detector
      6. Chapter 6: Working with Transistors
        1. What’s the Big Deal about Transistors?
        2. Amplifying with a Transistor
        3. Using a Transistor as a Switch
        4. An LED Driver Circuit
        5. Project 18: A Transistor LED Driver
        6. Looking at a Simple NOT Gate Circuit
        7. Building a NOT Gate
        8. Project 19: A NOT Gate
        9. Oscillating with a Transistor
        10. Building an LED Flasher
        11. Project 20: An LED Flasher
        12. Wrapping Up Our Exploration of Discrete Components
    5. Book 3: Working with Integrated Circuits
      1. Chapter 1: Introducing Integrated Circuits
        1. What Exactly Is an Integrated Circuit?
        2. Looking at How Integrated Circuits Are Made
        3. Integrated Circuit Packages
        4. Using ICs in Schematic Diagrams
        5. Powering ICs
        6. Avoiding Static and Heat Damage
        7. Reading IC Data Sheets
        8. Popular Integrated Circuits
      2. Chapter 2: The Fabulous 555 Timer Chip
        1. Looking at How the 555 Works
        2. Understanding 555 Modes
        3. Using the 555 in Monostable (One-Shot) Mode
        4. Using the 555 in Astable (Oscillator) Mode
        5. Using the 555 in Bistable (Flip-Flop) Mode
        6. Using the 555 Timer Output
        7. Doubling Up with the 556 Dual Timer
        8. Making a One-Shot Timer
        9. Project 21: A One-Shot 555 Timer Circuit
        10. Making an LED Flasher
        11. Project 22: An LED Flasher
        12. Using a Set/Reset Switch
        13. Project 23: An LED Flasher with a Set/Reset Switch
        14. Making a Beeper
        15. Project 24: An Audible Beeper
      3. Chapter 3: Working with Op-Amps
        1. Looking at Operational Amplifiers
        2. Understanding Open Loop-Amplifiers
        3. Looking at Closed Loop-Amplifiers
        4. Using an Op-Amp as a Unity Gain Amplifier
        5. Using an Op-Amp as a Voltage Comparator
        6. Adding Voltages
        7. Working with Op-Amp ICs
    6. Book 4: Beyond Direct Current
      1. Chapter 1: Getting into Alternating Current
        1. What Is Alternating Current?
        2. Measuring Alternating Current
        3. Understanding Alternators
        4. Understanding Motors
        5. Understanding Transformers
        6. Working with Line Voltage
        7. Using Line Voltage in Your Projects
        8. Wires and Connectors for Working with Line Voltage
        9. Using Fuses to Protect Line-Voltage Circuits
        10. Using Relays to Control Line-Voltage Circuits
      2. Chapter 2: Building Power Supplies
        1. Using a Power Adapter
        2. Understanding What a Power Supply Does
        3. Transforming Voltage
        4. Turning AC into DC
        5. Filtering Rectified Current
        6. Regulating Voltage
      3. Chapter 3: Understanding Radio
        1. Understanding Radio Waves
        2. Transmitting and Receiving Radio
        3. Understanding AM Radio
        4. Understanding FM Radio
        5. Building a Crystal Radio
      4. Chapter 4: Working with Infrared
        1. Introducing Infrared Light
        2. Detecting Infrared Light
        3. Project 25: A Simple IR Detector
        4. Creating Infrared Light
        5. Building a Proximity Detector
        6. Building a Common-Emitter Proximity Detector
        7. Project 26: A Common-Emitter Proximity Detector
        8. Building a Common-Collector Proximity Detector
        9. Project 27: A Common-Collector Proximity Detector
    7. Book 5: Doing Digital Electronics
      1. Chapter 1: Understanding Digital Electronics
        1. Distinguishing Analog and Digital Electronics
        2. Understanding Binary
        3. Using Switches to Build Gates
        4. Project 28: A Simple AND Circuit
        5. Project 29: A Simple OR Circuit
        6. Project 30: A Simple XOR Circuit
      2. Chapter 2: Getting Logical
        1. Introducing Boolean Logic and Logic Gates
        2. Looking at NOT Gates
        3. Looking at AND Gates
        4. Looking at OR Gates
        5. Looking at NAND Gates
        6. Looking at NOR Gates
        7. Looking at XOR and XNOR Gates
        8. De Marvelous De Morgan’s Theorem
        9. All You Need Is NAND (Or NOR)
        10. Using Software to Practice with gates
      3. Chapter 3: Working with Logic Circuits
        1. Creating Logic Gates with Transistors
        2. Project 31: A Transistor NOT Gate
        3. Project 32: A Transistor NAND Gate
        4. Project 33: A Transistor NOR Gate
        5. Introducing Integrated Circuit Logic Gates
        6. Introducing the Versatile 4000-Series Logic Gates
        7. Building Projects with the 4011 Quad Two-Input NAND Gate
        8. Project 34: A CMOS NAND Gate
        9. Project 35: A CMOS AND Gate
        10. Project 36: A CMOS OR Gate
        11. Project 37: A CMOS NOR Gate
      4. Chapter 4: Working with Flip-Flops
        1. Looking at Latches
        2. Project 38: An Active-High Latch
        3. Project 39: An Active-Low Latch
        4. Looking at Gated Latches
        5. Project 40: A Gated D Latch
        6. Introducing Flip-Flops
        7. Project 41: A D Flip-Flop
        8. Project 42: A Toggle Flip-Flop
        9. Debouncing a Clock Input
      5. Chapter 5: Introducing Microcontrollers
        1. Introducing Microcontrollers
        2. Programming a Microcontroller
        3. Working with I/O Pins
    8. Book 6: Working with Arduino Microprocessors
      1. Chapter 1: Introducing Arduino
        1. Introducing the Arduino UNO
        2. Buying an UNO Starter Kit
        3. Installing the Arduino IDE
        4. Connecting to an UNO
        5. Looking at a Simple Arduino Sketch
        6. Running the Blink Program
        7. Using a Digital I/O Pin to Control an LED
        8. Project 43: Blinking an LED with an Arduino UNO
      2. Chapter 2: Creating Arduino Sketches
        1. Introducing C
        2. Building a Test Circuit
        3. Project 44: An Arduino LED Test Board
        4. Flashing the LEDs
        5. Using Comments
        6. Creating Identifiers
        7. Using Variables
        8. Doing Math
        9. A Program That Uses Variables and Math
        10. Using If Statements
        11. Using While Loops
        12. Using For Loops
        13. Crafting Your Own Functions
      3. Chapter 3: More Arduino Programming Tricks
        1. Using a Push Button with an Arduino
        2. Checking the Status of a Switch in Arduino
        3. Project 45: A Push-Button Controlled Arduino LED Flasher
        4. Randomizing Your Programs
        5. Reading a Value from a Potentiometer
        6. Project 46: A Variable-Rate LED Flasher
      4. Chapter 4: An Arduino Proximity Sensor
        1. Using an Ultrasonic Range Finder
        2. Using an LCD
        3. Building a Proximity Sensor
        4. Project 47: An Arduino Proximity Sensor
    9. Book 7: Working with BASIC Stamp Processors
      1. Chapter 1: Introducing the BASIC Stamp
        1. Introducing the BASIC Stamp
        2. Buying a BASIC Stamp
        3. Working with the BASIC Stamp HomeWork Board
        4. Connecting to BASIC Stamp I/O Pins
        5. Installing the BASIC Stamp Windows Editor
        6. Connecting to a BASIC Stamp
        7. Writing Your First PBASIC Program
        8. Project 48: Hello, World!
        9. Flashing an LED with a BASIC Stamp
        10. Project 49: An LED Flasher
      2. Chapter 2: Programming in PBASIC
        1. Introducing PBASIC
        2. Building a Test Circuit
        3. Project 50: An LED Test Board
        4. Flashing the LEDs
        5. Using Comments
        6. Creating Names
        7. Using Constants
        8. Assigning Names to I/O Pins
        9. Using Variables
        10. Doing Math
        11. Using If Statements
        12. Using DO Loops
        13. Using FOR Loops
      3. Chapter 3: More PBASIC Programming Tricks
        1. Using a Push Button with a BASIC Stamp
        2. Checking the Status of a Switch in PBASIC
        3. Project 51: A Push-Button-Controlled LED Flasher
        4. Randomizing Your Programs
        5. Reading a Value from a Potentiometer
        6. Project 52: Using a Potentiometer to Control Flashing LEDs
        7. Using Subroutines and the GOSUB Command
      4. Chapter 4: Adding Sound and Motion to Your BASIC Stamp Projects
        1. Using a Piezo Speaker with a BASIC Stamp
        2. Project 53: Creating Sound with a Piezo Speaker
        3. Using a Servo with a BASIC Stamp
        4. Project 54: Using a Servo with a BASIC Stamp
    10. Book 8: Working with Raspberry Pi
      1. Chapter 1: Introducing Raspberry Pi
        1. Introducing the Raspberry Pi
        2. Considering Raspberry Pi Versions
        3. Setting Up a Raspberry Pi
        4. Installing the Raspbian Operating System
        5. Logging In to Raspberry Pi
        6. Understanding the File System
        7. Fixing the Keyboard
        8. Writing Your First Raspberry Pi Program
        9. Examining GPIO Ports
        10. Connecting an LED to a GPIO Port
        11. Flashing an LED in Python
        12. Configuring IDLE for Root Privileges
        13. Building a Raspberry Pi LED Flasher
        14. Project 55: Blinking an LED with a Raspberry Pi
      2. Chapter 2: Programming in Python
        1. Looking Closer at Python
        2. Building a Test Circuit
        3. Project 56: A Raspberry Pi LED Test Board
        4. Flashing the LEDs
        5. Using Comments
        6. Creating Identifiers
        7. Using Constants
        8. Using Variables
        9. Creating Your Own Functions
        10. Using If Statements
        11. Using While Loops
        12. Using For Loops
        13. Looking at Python Lists
      3. Chapter 3: Reading Digital and Analog Input
        1. Using a GPIO Port for Digital Input
        2. Checking the Status of a Switch in Python
        3. Project 57: A Push-Button-Controlled Raspberry Pi LED Flasher
        4. Reading Analog Input
        5. Enabling SPI on Your Raspberry Pi
        6. Using the MCP3008 in Python
        7. Using the mcp3008 Package
        8. Project 58: A Variable-Rate LED Flasher
    11. Book 9: Special Effects
      1. Chapter 1: Building a Color Organ
        1. Examining the Color Organ Project
        2. Understanding How the Color Organ Works
        3. Getting What You Need to Build the Color Organ
        4. Assembling the Color Organ
        5. Using the Color Organ
      2. Chapter 2: Animating Holiday Lights
        1. Introducing the ShowTime PC Controller
        2. Looking at a Basic Light-O-Rama Setup
        3. Understanding Channels and Sequences
        4. Choosing Lights for Your Display
        5. Designing Your Layout
        6. Assembling the ShowTime PC Controller
        7. Connecting the Controller to a Computer
        8. Testing the ShowTime PC Controller
        9. Using the Light-O-Rama Sequence Editor
        10. Understanding Sequences
        11. Creating a Musical Sequence
        12. Visualizing Your Show
      3. Chapter 3: Building an Animatronic Prop Controller
        1. Looking at the Requirements of Animatronic Prop Control
        2. Examining a Typical Animatronic Prop
        3. Building the Prop Controller
        4. Programming the Prop-1 Controller
        5. Sending Commands to the RC-4 or AP-16+ Modules
        6. Programming the RC-4 Relay Control Module
        7. Programming the AP-16+ Audio Player Module
        8. Programming the PIR Motion Detector
        9. Looking at Complete Jack-in-the-Box Program
    12. About the Author
    13. Advertisement Page
    14. Connect with Dummies
    15. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: Electronics All-in-One For Dummies, 2nd Edition
  • Author(s): Doug Lowe
  • Release date: February 2017
  • Publisher(s): For Dummies
  • ISBN: 9781119320791