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

Description

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 LearnReview the basic “patterns” of resistor usage—pull up, pull down, voltage divider, and current limiterUnderstand the requirements for circuits and how they are put togetherRead and differentiate what various parts of the schematics doDecide what considerations to take when choosing componentsUse all battery-powered circuits, so projects are safeWho This Book Is For Makers, students, and beginners of any age interested in getting started with electronics.  Table of Contents About the Author About the Technical Reviewer Acknowledgments Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Working the Examples 1.2 Initial Tools and Supplies 1.3 Safety Guidelines 1.4 Electrostatic Discharge 1.5 Using Your Multimeter Correctly Chapter 2: Dealing with Units 2.1 SI Units 2.2 Scaling Units 2.3 Using Abbreviations 2.4 Significant Figures Apply What You Have Learned Part I: Basic Concepts Chapter 3: What Is Electricity? 3.1 Charge 3.2 Measuring Charge and Current 3.3 AC vs. DC 3.4 Which Way Does Current Flow? Review Apply What You Have Learned Chapter 4: Voltage and Resistance 4.1 Picturing Voltage 4.2 Volts Are Relative 4.3 Relative Voltages and Ground Potential 4.4 Resistance Review Apply What You Have Learned Chapter 5: Your First Circuit 5.1 Circuit Requirements 5.2 Basic Components 5.3 Creating Your First Circuit 5.4 Adding Wires 5.5 Drawing Circuits 5.6 Drawing the Ground Review Apply What You Have Learned Chapter 6: Constructing and Testing Circuits 6.1 The Solderless Breadboard 6.2 Putting a Circuit onto a Breadboard 6.3 Using Fewer Wires 6.4 Testing Circuits with a Multimeter 6.5 Using a Multimeter with a Breadboard 6.6 Measuring Current with a Multimeter 6.7 Using a Power Regulator Review Apply What You Have Learned Chapter 7: Analyzing Series and Parallel Circuits 7.1 Series Circuits 7.2 Parallel Circuits 7.2.1 Kirchhoff’s Current Law 7.2.2 Kirchhoff’s Voltage Law 7.3 Equivalent Parallel Resistance 7.4 Wires in a Circuit 7.5 Wiring Parallel Circuits onto a Breadboard Review Apply What You Have Learned Chapter 8: Diodes and How to Use Them 8.1 Basic Diode Behavior 8.2 Circuit Calculations with Diodes in Series 8.3 Circuit Calculations with Diodes in Parallel 8.4 Diode Short Circuits 8.5 Nonconducting Diodes 8.6 Usage of Diodes 8.7 Other Types of Diode Protection 8.8 Zener Diodes 8.9 Schottky Diode 8.10 Diode-Like Behavior in Other Components Review Apply What You Have Learned Chapter 9: Basic Resistor Circuit Patterns 9.1 Switches and Buttons 9.2 Current-Limiting Resistor Pattern 9.3 Voltage Divider Pattern 9.3.1 Calculating the Voltages 9.3.2 Finding Resistor Ratios 9.3.3 Finding Resistor Values 9.3.4 General Considerations 9.4 The Pull-Up Resistor 9.5 Pull-Down Resistors Review Apply What You Have Learned Chapter 10: Understanding Power 10.1 Important Terms Related to Power 10.2 Power in Electronics 10.3 Component Power Limitations 10.4 Handling Power Dissipation with Heatsinks 10.5 Transforming Power 10.6 Amplifying Low-Power Signals Review Apply What You Have Learned Chapter 11: Integrated Circuits and Resistive Sensors 11.1 The Parts of an Integrated Circuit 11.2 The LM393 Voltage Comparator 11.3 The Importance and Problems of Datasheets 11.4 A Simple Circuit with the LM393 11.5 Resistive Sensors and Voltages 11.6 Sensing and Reacting to Darkness Sources and Sinks Review Apply What You Have Learned Part II: Digital Electronics and Microcontrollers Chapter 12: Using Logic ICs 12.1 Logic ICs 12.2 Getting a 5 V Source 12.3 Pull-Down Resistors 12.4 Combining Logic Circuits 12.5 Understanding Chip Names Review Apply What You Have Learned Chapter 13: Introduction to Microcontrollers 13.1 The ATmega328/P Chip 13.2 The Arduino Environment 13.3 The Arduino Uno 13.4 Programming the Arduino Review Apply What You Have Learned Chapter 14: Building Projects with Arduino 14.1 Powering Your Breadboard from an Arduino Uno 14.2 Wiring Inputs and Outputs to an Arduino Uno 14.3 A Simple Arduino Project with LEDs 14.4 Changing Functionality Without Rewiring Review Apply What You Have Learned Chapter 15: Analog Input and Output on an Arduino 15.1 Reading Analog Inputs 15.2 Analog Output with PWM Review Apply What You Have Learned Part III: Capacitors and Inductors Chapter 16: Capacitors 16.1 What Is a Capacitor? 16.2 How Capacitors Work 16.3 Types of Capacitors 16.4 Charging and Discharging a Capacitor 16.5 Series and Parallel Capacitances 16.6 Capacitors and AC and DC 16.7 Using Capacitors in a Circuit Review Exercises Chapter 17: Capacitors as Timers 17.1 Time Constants 17.2 Constructing a Simple Timer Circuit 17.3 Resetting Our Timer Review Apply What You Have Learned Chapter 18: Introduction to Oscillator Circuits 18.1 Oscillation Basics 18.2 The Importance of Oscillating Circuits 18.3 Building an Oscillator 18.4 Calculating On and Off Times with the 555 18.5 Choosing the Capacitor Review Apply What You Have Learned Chapter 19: Producing Sound with Oscillations 19.1 How Sound Is Produced by Speakers 19.2 Graphing Electricity 19.3 Outputting a Tone to Headphones 19.4 AC vs. DC 19.5 Using Capacitors to Separate AC and DC Components 19.6 Speaker Wattage 19.7 Sound Control Review Apply What You Have Learned Chapter 20: Inductors 20.1 Inductors, Coils, and Magnetic Flux 20.1.1 What Is an Inductor? 20.1.2 What Is Magnetic Flux? 20.1.3 What Is the Difference Between Electric and Magnetic Fields 20.2 Induced Voltages 20.3 Resisting Changes in Current 20.4 Analogy from Mechanics 20.5 Uses of Inductors 20.6 Inductive Kick Review Apply What You Have Learned Chapter 21: Inductors and Capacitors in Circuits 21.1 RL Circuits and Time Constants 21.2 Inductors and Capacitors as Filters 21.3 Parallel and Series Capacitors and Inductors Review Apply What You Have Learned Chapter 22: Reactance and Impedance 22.1 Reactance 22.2 Impedance 22.3 RLC Circuits 22.4 Ohm’s Law for AC Circuits 22.5 Resonant Frequencies of RLC Circuits 22.6 Low-Pass Filters 22.7 Converting a PWM Signal into a Voltage Review Exercises Chapter 23: DC Motors 23.1 Theory of Operation 23.2 Important Facts About Motors 23.3 Using a Motor in a Circuit 23.4 Attaching Things to Motors 23.5 Bidirectional Motors 23.6 Servo Motors 23.7 Stepper Motors Review Apply What You Have Learned Part IV: Amplification Circuits Chapter 24: Amplifying Power with Transistors 24.1 An Amplification Parable 24.2 Amplifying with Transistors 24.3 Parts of the BJT 24.4 NPN Transistor Operation Basics Rule 1: The Transistor Is Off by Default Rule 2: VBE Needs to Be 0.6 V to Turn the Transistor On Rule 3: VBE Will Always Be Exactly 0.6 V When the Transistor Is On Rule 4: The Collector Should Always Be More Positive Than the Emitter Rule 5: When the Transistor Is On, ICE Is a Linear Amplification of IBE Rule 6: The Transistor Cannot Amplify More Than the Collector Can Supply Rule 7: If the Base Voltage Is Greater Than the Collector Voltage, the Transistor Is Saturated 24.5 The Transistor as a Switch 24.6 Connecting a Transistor to an Arduino Output 24.7 Stabilizing Transistor Beta With a Feedback Resistor 24.8 A Word of Caution Review Apply What You Have Learned Chapter 25: Transistor Voltage Amplifiers 25.1 Converting Current into Voltage with Ohm’s Law 25.2 Reading the Amplified Signal 25.3 Amplifying an Audio Signal 25.4 Adding a Second Stage 25.5 Using an Oscilloscope Review Apply What You Have Learned Chapter 26: Examining Partial Circuits 26.1 The Need for a Model 26.2 Calculating Thévenin Equivalent Values 26.3 Another Way of Calculating Thévenin Resistance 26.4 Finding the Thévenin Equivalent of an AC Circuit with Reactive Elements 26.5 Using Thévenin Equivalent Descriptions 26.6 Finding Thévenin Equivalent Circuits Experimentally Review Apply What You Have Learned Chapter 27: Using Field Effect Transistors for Switching and Logic Applications 27.1 Operation of a FET 27.2 The N-Channel Enhancement Mode MOSFET 27.3 Using a MOSFET 27.4 MOSFETs in Logic Circuits Review Apply What You Have Learned Chapter 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 Formulas D.1.1 Charge and Current Quantities D.1.2 Volt Quantities D.1.3 Resistance and Conductance Quantities D.1.4 Ohm’s Law D.1.5 Power D.1.6 Capacitance D.1.7 Inductance D.2 Semiconductors D.2.1 Diodes D.2.2 NPN BJT D.3 DC Motor Calculations D.4 555 Timer Oscillator Frequency Equation D.5 Output Gain Calculations in BJT Common Emitter Applications D.6 The Thévenin Formula D.7 Electronics and Calculus D.7.1 Current and Voltage D.7.2 Capacitors and Inductors D.7.3 Time Constants Appendix E: Simplified Datasheets for Common Devices E.1 Batteries E.1.1 Overview E.1.2 Variations E.1.3 Notes E.2 Resistors E.2.1 Overview E.2.2 Finding a Resistor Value Diodes E.3.1 Overview E.3.2 Variations E.3.3 Forward Voltage Drop E.3.4 Usages E.4 Capacitors E.4.1 Overview E.4.2 Variations E.4.3 Finding Capacitance Values E.5 Inductors E.5.1 Overview E.5.2 Uses E.5.3 Inductive Kick E.5.4 Inductor Color Codes E.6 NPN BJTs E.6.1 Overview E.6.2 Variations E.6.3 Pin Configuration E.6.4 Design Considerations E.7 YwRobot Power Module E.7.1 Overview E.7.2 Variations E.7.3 Pin Configuration E.7.4 Limitations E.8 555 Timer E.8.1 Overview E.8.2 Variations E.8.3 Pin Configuration E.8.4 Specifications E.8.5 Implementation Example E.9 LM393 and LM339 Voltage Comparator E.9.1 Overview E.9.2 Variations E.9.3 Specifications E.10 CD4081 and 7408 Quad-AND Gate E.10.1 Overview E.10.2 Variations E.10.3 Specifications (CD4081) E.10.4 Specifications (7408) E.11 CD4071 and 7432 Quad-OR Gate E.11.1 Overview E.11.2 Variations E.11.3 Specifications (CD4071) E.11.4 Specifications (7432) E.12 CD4001 and 7402 Quad-NOR Gate E.12.1 Overview E.12.2 Variations E.12.3 Specifications (CD4001) E.12.4 Specifications (7402) E.13 CD4011 and 7400 Quad-NAND Gate E.13.1 Overview E.13.2 Variations E.13.3 Specifications (CD4011) E.13.4 Specifications (7400) E.14 CD4070 and 7486 Quad-XOR Gate E.14.1 Overview E.14.2 Variations E.14.3 Specifications (CD4070) E.14.4 Specifications (7486) E.15 LM78xx Voltage Regulator E.15.1 Overview E.15.2 Variations E.15.3 Specifications E.15.4 Usage Notes Index