DescentBB

Ok, I've built a few computers in my day... but now I'd like to build my own parts/mods etc.

Specifically, I'd like to learn to design, build and test simple circuits, like blinking LED lights with on/off switches. I realize these can be commercially purchased, but it seems funner to create it myself, or at least be able to modify it if need be.

At the moment, I'm very dangerous....I have a soldering iron, see, and an urge to use it, but no idea how to...

Can you guys suggest some do-it yourself resources, or am I better off finding a class somewhere and getting hands-on training?

I got the same itch when I was about 13. I took a subscription to a specialized electronics magazine. Each month they'd present new circuits for various purposes (amps, battery chargers, A/D converters, etc.) and explain how they work. The DIY man could then go to the part shop with the part list and build it himself.

So that would be a good start. Stay away from digital or HF at first.

Try Radio Shack and see what info they have to offer. That and the well supplied stores have oodles of pieces parts.

Get a breadboard and some basic electrical components. Wires, diodes, transistors, etc.

hit radio shack, get one of the x-in-1 electronic boxes.

more than enough to get started.

fliptw wrote:hit radio shack, get one of the x-in-1 electronic boxes.

more than enough to get started.

Got one of those years ago for my daughter. She and I spent hours putting different circuits togeather.

I third that ... Radio Shack kits rock.

some of their parts are hella expensive tho

a white LED cost me 5.99

fliptw wrote:hit radio shack, get one of the x-in-1 electronic boxes.

more than enough to get started.

That, and get yourself a copy of Electronic Workbench. You can design the circuit in software, read the current and voltage at any given point in the circuit so you can see if you'll fry anything before you actually build it.

Avder wrote:Get a breadboard and some basic electrical components. Wires, diodes, transistors, etc.

I'll double that one. Get yourself a breadboard, some basic logic chips, 555 timers, and resisters/caps.

You can do tons of cool stuff with the logic gates, and 555 timers will produce a pulse for you. There are sites that sell them that will probably even send you a few sample chips. Also, a couple j/k flip flops would be good, too. Check out http://www.digikey.com/

Radio Shack's prices are terrible. Get a breadboard from anywhere else BUT Radio Shack. Their teeny one was $12 when I was last there, can find breadboards more than 3x the size and of better quality for that on eBay. For the other stuff, it's pretty tolerable, but you can usually find better prices elsewhere. Look around in a phone book or online, or ask people who live in the area for information about stores that sell electronic components. http://www.allelectronics.com is a great way to spend your money. My stuff from them is coming on Tuesday: 2 plastic sheets, DC-DC inverters, a 5 volt 2.5 amp switching wall wart, some caps, resettable "fuses", a cheap soldering iron stand, a 350 piece breadboard wire kit, and some other goodies for $41 shipped. There are plenty of other sites out there, have a look around. Google is your friend.

Another fun thing to try is microcontrollers, but get your basic electronics down before you try that. Especially on the subject of correctly biasing transistors. I never did, and I've lost a few output pins and transistors alike on my poor PIC16F877 because of it

A class isn't a bad idea, you can often find basic electronics courses at community colleges for very reasonable rates.

eBay is definitely a good place to get parts from, especially those things which are hard to find for decent prices in stores, or less common items. I got a used 240x64 graphic LCD with EL backlight and inverter for under $20 shipped, thing works great. Just be careful who you buy from, make sure nothing is fishy-looking on their pages.

And I must say this: Radio Shack LEDs suck. Take their "white" LEDs, for example. They are very expensive, and are of very poor quality (more yellow and blue than white, non-uniform color/brightness between LEDs, etc). If you just want some LEDs, get one of their 20 count things (no hope of high-brightness or blue/white LEDs that way though), but otherwise, look to eBay (100pc bags anyone? hehe) or other stores. Luxeon LEDs are yummy.

Speaking of which, for a source of power I'd just use an old ATX or AT power supply. (preferably an AT since you don't have to jumper them to turn them on) Then just wire one of the molex power cables onto a wiring bridge (four connection length) and then run wiring from that to your breadboard. Given the currents you'll be fooling with, I'd just use telephone wiring. That will be more than enough.

That bridge would set you back like $3 from Radio Shack. Their small breadboards may be pricy, but you can get one thats twice the length for $4 more.

If you need a diagram of the power supply setup, let me know. It won't take me more than a few seconds to set one up. I use a similar setup to power a couple fans off of the p4 12V lines.