Maker-First Steps in Electronics-Light guided rotating and moving plastic container

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Light guided rotating and moving plastic container

In previous Maker tutorials WE were using LEDs and vibration motors, WE will continue with it and adding some NEW components: a transistor and a LDR (Light-Dependent Resistor). WE will use ALSO AGAIN a plastic container, this time a transparent one so that persons could see WHAT’S inside (for the curious ones) 😉 This will ALSO push the makers WHO are building this project to work neatly as everyone could see the quality of THEIR work!!

Thus said, let me tell YOU that I first tried to fix the battery holder and the switch with instant glue; it didn’t work well!!

Example with instant glue to fix the battery holder and the switch: BAD solution as the glue reacts with the plastic and makes a BAD looking, NOR are they real well fixed on the plastic!!

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BETTER solution is to fix (solder) the battery holder and the switch on a small part of stripboard and to make the connection to the main stripboard (where all the components are) through a flat cable. Therefore we need to drill some holes with a 1 mm drill exactly there where the pins of the switch and the battery holder are. Now measure the length of the stripboard and once the holes are drilled, place the switch and the battery holder and solder them on the stripboard.

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NEW components are used in this project as a transistor, an LDR and a trimmer (adjustable resistor)

WE are using a transistor is this project; a transistor is a semiconductor who basically works as a switch or an amplifier. WE will NOT GO to much into theory, YOU can discover more in the “Learn more section below”.

START Text from http://www.build-electronic-circuits.com/ldr-circuit-diagram/

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Light dependent resistor or photoresistor is a device whose resistance is dependent on the strength of the light as they are composed of high resistance semiconductor material. When light hits the device, the photons give electrons energy. Higher the power of light, lower the strength of resistance. This particular action makes the electron jump into the conductive band and thus conduct electricity. Taking a cue from this concept, Øyvind Nydal Dahl, in this tutorial, has dealt in a circuit for LDR or Light Dependent Resistor to make a light detector.

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The above LDR Circuit Diagram works on the amount of light penetration. Hence, when it is completely dark, the LDR occupies high resistance. As a result, the voltage at the base of the transistor becomes too low to turn the transistor ON. At this stage, the current doesn’t flow from the collector to the emitter of the transistor, instead, it passes through the LDR and the potentiometer.

When the light is provided at comparatively low density, the LDR has low resistance. But it is sufficient enough to bring the voltage at the base of the transistor higher and also to turn the transistor ON. Once the transistor is turned on, current starts flowing through it from the positive battery terminal to the negative battery terminal covering R1 and the LED (IN OUR CASE, through the vibration motor). With this, the LED, lights up (IN OUR CASE, the motors go on vibration). [END Text from http://www.build-electronic-circuits.com/ldr-circuit-diagram/]

WE use the same schema as in above tutorial, BUT WE replace the LED by two (2) vibration motors. Check the schematics below, please.

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Learn more:

• Transistors
• LDR (Light-Dependent Resistor)
• Trimmer (Adjustable resistor)
• …

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The schematics of our project

Here below the schematics where YOU will see how the components are represented; ONLY eight (8) parts. The two vibration motors are in parallel.

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Check this layout please to find out how to connect the transistor.

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Learn more:

• Datasheet BD137

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The components

Please find below the components:

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For the details, please check below.

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Detailed parts list, supplier and prices

Please find below the detailed parts list as well as the supplier and the prices.

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Item and quantity	Supplier and order number	Price
A bit flat cable, silver wire and 1 x drinking straw	CONRAD: 604069-62	0,50€
1 x LDR (Light Depending Resistor)	CONRAD: 140374-62	2,59€
A bit heat shrinking tube		0,50€
1 x Switch	ADAFRUIT: ID 805	0,95€
1 x Battery CR2430	CONRAD: 612987-62	3,99€
2 x Vibrating Motors from Adafruit	ADAFRUIT: ID 1201 à 1,95€	3,90 €
1 x 5mm flashing LEDs from Adafruit pack of 10 is $4.95	ADAFRUIT: ID 680	0,50 €
1 x Battery holder	CONRAD: 65058-62	1,15€
1x Trimmer (variable resistor) 100k	CONRAD: 423858-62	2,69€
1 x Transistor BD137-16	CONRAD: 151036-62	0,23€
Total:		17€

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As you can see it is a very cheap project, ONLY 17 € and easy to realize! ALL what YOU need is a bit time, passion and here we GO! 😉 Have FUN!

Online ordering links:

• Adafruit
• Conrad
• …

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I used the upper cup of a yogurt (0,89€) which is transparent and BTW is delicious 😉.

 

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The tools needed

Check below please WHAT the tools are that you will need for this project. The small saw is needed to cut the stripboard.

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WE need also a mini drill to drill the wholes for the switch, the battery holder and the whole for adjusting the variable trimmer resistor.

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Details of the LED in the drinking straw

WE are using a multi color LED from ADAFRUIT (ID 680), a Diffused 5mm Fast Flashing RGB LED, which works with a voltage of 3 Volts; so we don’t need any resistor in series. To make a neatly connection we will use a flat cable and to avoid a shortcut we will fix our soldering with heat shrinking tube. Please follow the steps below.

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The LED will get soldered on the Plus and Minus of the second stripboard; it will flash permanently as far as the switch is on “ON position”.

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Learn more:

• LED (Light-emitting diodes)
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Practical Tip: LEDs are transparent, so the Cathode (Minus) looks always a bit larger as the Anode (Plus).

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The MAIN stripboard with the components

Below YOU can see the work in progress.

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In above photo you can see the soldering on the stripboard as well as the fixing with hot glue on the bottom.

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Some adjustments are needed

Do YOU remember that WE drilled a hole just in the height of the axis of the trimmer (adjustable resistor)? Check photo below, please.

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For this WE will need a 1 mm screwdriver and a torch. I used a mini LED torch from CONRAD (Item no.: 868885-62 for 6,99€).

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How-To make the adjustments: put the light source in front of the LDR and trim with the 1 mm screwdriver until the motors are vibrating, if the motors are already vibrating trim back (turn the reverse direction…). This might take some time until you got it to the right point; the motors should only vibrate WHEN the light source is on!!

 

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The video of our project

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Check out this video, which explains very well how it works.

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L’auteur Gust MEES est Formateur andragogique / pédagogique TIC, membre du “Comité Conseil” de “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), appelé maintenant BEESECURE, partenaire officiel (consultant) du Ministère de l’éducation au Luxembourg du projet  ”MySecureIT“, partenaire officiel du Ministère du Commerce au Luxembourg du projet ”CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure). L’auteur était aussi gagnant d’un concours en électronique en 1979 ( Pays germaniques ) et voyait son projet publié dans le magazine électronique “ELO”. The author Gust MEES is ICT Course Instructor, ”Member of the Advisory Board” from “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), BEESECURE, Official Partner (Consultant) from the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg, project “MySecureIT“, Official Partner from the Ministry of Commerce in Luxembourg, project “CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure). The author was also a winner of an electronics contest (Germanic countries) in 1979 and got his project published in the “Electronics Magazine ELO”).

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Stay tuned for next blog post(s) 😉

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Keywords necessary for me to create this blog post: LDR, Light Depending resistor, resistors, vibrating motors, LEDs, transparent plastic container (yogurt), strip board, flat cable, drinking straw, drilling, adjustable resistor, trimmer, transistor, drilling, hot glue,

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LEARNing By Doing-A MUST in Modern EDUcation for BEST Results

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Let us START with a Chinese proverb from Confucius <===> I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand. Already more than 1500 years ago, this wise man was talking about “Learning By Doing“. Please check below:

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Click image please to access more quotes from Confucius.

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More about Confucius:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius
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Research shows that hands-on learning is an effective way to teach students science. A 2009 study found that eighth-grade students who were involved in hands-on science projects demonstrated a deeper understanding of concepts than students who were taught with traditional methods such as textbook readings, lectures, and tests (Riskowski et al., 2009).

Learn more:

• Why Making Is Essential to Learning
• My Curation about Learning-By-Doing
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WHAT could get included into the Curriculum WITH Learning-By-Doing

 

WHY NOT including #MakerED as a <===> #LEARNingByDoing <===> into the curriculum!? WHAT’S that meaning? Let the students, learners tinker a bit about the subject taught; please find here below some topics with examples and explications:

 

 

• Physics
  • https://makerfaire.com/maker/entry/54969/
  • MakerED Physics on YouTube
• Electricity and Electronics
  • MakerED Electricity and Electronics on YouTube
• Mechanics
  • Mechanics and Design on YouTube
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Well, lots of more ideas to find on YouTube, give it a try 😉 Check out, below, please some videos to GET inspiration:

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Sustainability: EVERY kid (nearly) has a smartphone, right!? Smartphones can take ALSO photos (NOT ONLY selfies… use them on intelligent way), so WHY NOT using them to teach the kids about the nature?  To make them curious about WHAT is around them when they walk outside the house! Make it like an adventure, show them, guide them, show them ALSO WHERE to find plants, flowers by uploading an image on Google to find out WHAT it is; this is possible, click below please:

• https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/1325808?hl=en
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SHOW them How-To use Photo-Editors to enhance taken photos and to bring in text into the photos (this e.g. the name of the plants, photos, animals, insects…).

Learn more:

• PracTICE: LEARNing About Sustainability UP From The Early Age, A MUST!
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Learning by Doing has ALSO a lot to do with “Creativity“, use it in YOUR courses while using “ThingLink“, find some PracTICE examples below, please:

• PracTICE: Creativity Examples With ThingLink

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By using the above mentioned you will engage the students, learners, which will amplify the desire to learn on THEIR OWN! Read more about “Engagement” below please:

• http://www.scoop.it/t/21st-century-learning-and-teaching/?&tag=Engage-ME%21
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Check out ALSO the video below, please.

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Check ALSO my blog posts about Creativity, please,  to GET inspired:

• https://gustmees.wordpress.com/?s=creativity
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Keywords necessary for me to create this blog post: creativity, Chinese proverb, Confucius, Maker, MakerED, MakerSpaces, curriculum, Music (learning languages…), STEM.STEAM. Physics, Electronics. Electricity, Electrotechnic, Electromechanics, Mecatronic,

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. L’auteur Gust MEES est Formateur andragogique / pédagogique TIC, membre du “Comité Conseil” de “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), appelé maintenant BEESECURE, partenaire officiel (consultant) du Ministère de l’éducation au Luxembourg du projet  ”MySecureIT“, partenaire officiel du Ministère du Commerce au Luxembourg du projet ”CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure). . The author Gust MEES is ICT Course Instructor, ”Member of the Advisory Board” from “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), BEESECURE, Official Partner (Consultant) from the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg, project “MySecureIT“, Official Partner from the Ministry of Commerce in Luxembourg, project “CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure).

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Stay tuned for next blog post(s) 😉
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Maker-First steps in electronics-The moving, rotating and lighting Mini-Brush

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The moving, rotating and lighting Mini-Brush

In OUR previous electronics projects WE were tinkering around with vibration motors and flashing LEDs, well we will continue on the same schema to get a bit more soldering practice and to discover ALSO the use of heat shrink tube, accumulators and drinking straws. This is ALSO a soldering exercise with some fun, and knowledge acquirement as usually in my tutorials. WE will learn also about accumulators, rechargeable batteries. Using accumulators instead of batteries will save us a lot of money and it is ALSO providing LESS RECYCLING! 😉 WE do something GOOD for the nature <===> Sustainability!!

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OHM’s Law, resistors and LEDs

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As WE are using a 9 Volts accumulator (rechargeable battery) this time together with a LED, WE need to put a resistor in series to the LED to protect it.As

Learn more:

• LED (Light-emitting diodes)
• …

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Practical Tip: LEDs are transparent, so the Cathode (Minus) looks always a bit larger as the Anode (Plus).

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When working with electronics WE need to learn a bit theory and mathematics, BUT DON’T worry, it is very easy! First of all which is mandatory, is the “OHM’s Law“. YOU DON’T need to calculate! 😉 There is an online calculator who will do the job for YOU! Click the image below please to access the online calculator and play a bit around with it to get used to it, have fun.

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Click the image please to access the online calculator

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Let us make OUR calculation for the resistor: WE have a power supply of 9 Volts and the used LED has a maximum of 3 Volts while its current is 20 mA (milli Ampere). Thus meaning: 9 Volts – 3 Volts is 6 Volts which need to get dropped away from the LED to NOT destroy it! SO, on the resistor 6 Volts need to get derived away from the LED. Let us NOW convert the 6 Volts to milli Volts which gives us 6,000 mV. AND as R = U/I <===> 6,000 divided by 20 is 300! The resistor MUST have a value of 300 Ω, next standard value is 330 Ω!

WHEN YOU use the above online calculator YOU SHOULD give the values in VOLT and in Ampere; or WE have 20 mA which is 0,020 A. Check the online calculator below please:

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Useful online help:

• 4 Band Resistor Color Code Calculator

• LED Series Resistor Calculator

• Ohm’s Law Calculator

• Voltage, Current, Resistance, and Ohm’s Law

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WHAT are accumulators and WHAT’S different from batteries?

Please read the below articles to understand:

 

• Rechargeable battery

• GLOSSARY OF BATTERY TERMS

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The schematics of our project

Here below the schematics where YOU will see how the components are represented; ONLY five (5) parts.

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 Detailed parts list, supplier and prices

Please find below the detailed parts list as well as the supplier and the prices.

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Item and quantity	Supplier and order number	Price
1 x Mini-Brush	CACTUS (Supermarket)	2,50€
A bit heatshrink tube		0,50€
1 x Switch	CONRAD: 701351-62	1,09€
1 x 9 Volts accumulator	CONRAD: 251290 – 62	11,99€
1 x 9 Volts Motor from Adafruit	Adafruit: ID 711	1,84€
1 x 5mm flashing LEDs from Adafruit pack of 10 is $4.95	Adafruit: ID 680	0,50 €
Just for fun: a plastic mouse	CACTUS (Supermarket)	5€
Total:	without the plastic mouse	18,42€
	with plastic mouse	23,42€

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As you can see it is a very cheap project, ONLY 18,42€ and easy to realize! ALL what YOU need is a bit time, passion and here we GO! 😉 Have FUN!

Online ordering links:

• Adafruit
• Conrad
• …

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The tools needed

Check below please WHAT the tools are that you will need for this project. The small saw is needed to cut off the handle of the mini brush.

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Click image please to enlarge.

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Working with heat shrink tube

[START text from Wikipedia] Heat shrink tubing (or, commonly, heat shrink or heatshrink) is a shrinkable plastic tube used to insulate wires, providing abrasion resistance and environmental protection for stranded and solid wire conductors, connections, joints and terminals in electrical work. It can also be used to repair the insulation on wires or to bundle them together, to protect wires or small parts from minor abrasion, and to create cable entry seals, offering environmental sealing protection. Heat shrink tubing is ordinarily made of nylon or polyolefin, which shrinks radially (but not longitudinally) when heated, to between one-half and one-sixth of its diameter. [END text from Wikipedia]

Learn more:

• Heat-shrink tubing

• …

Watch the video below please to see the How-To to work with heat shrink tube.

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Optimizing the design

I first started to make a normal cabling and the mess I saw didn’t make me feel proud and comfortable, there was something embarrassing! I looked around on my working bench and I discovered some drinking straws which I bought (can’t remember for what, bought them as I was feeling to do so…). I took one and was plying it and suddenly the idea was there to hide the cables inside and WHY NOT to incorporate a super bright LED: the idea was born 😉

 

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The video of our project

Check the video below please:

 

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Keywords necessary for me to create this blog post: instant glue, hot glue, 9 Volts Mini-Motor, resistors in series for LEDs, LED, switch, schematics, drinking straws, unbalance, hexagonal nut, hiding cables in drinking straw (Design Thinking), creativity, accumulators and batteries (difference), …

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L’auteur Gust MEES est Formateur andragogique / pédagogique TIC, membre du “Comité Conseil” de “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), appelé maintenant BEESECURE, partenaire officiel (consultant) du Ministère de l’éducation au Luxembourg du projet  ”MySecureIT“, partenaire officiel du Ministère du Commerce au Luxembourg du projet ”CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure). L’auteur était aussi gagnant d’un concours en électronique en 1979 ( Pays germaniques ) et voyait son projet publié dans le magazine électronique “ELO”. The author Gust MEES is ICT Course Instructor, ”Member of the Advisory Board” from “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), BEESECURE, Official Partner (Consultant) from the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg, project “MySecureIT“, Official Partner from the Ministry of Commerce in Luxembourg, project “CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure). The author was also a winner of an electronics contest (Germanic countries) in 1979 and got his project published in the “Electronics Magazine ELO”).

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Stay tuned for next blog post(s) 😉

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Maker-First steps in electronics-knowing WHERE to buy the stuff-Electronics Distributors

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WHERE to buy the electronics stuff!?

I am getting very often asked from persons WHO follow my curation (ideas for makerspaces) and my blog posts WHERE they can buy the necessary proposed stuff. Please find below a non-exhaustive list:

List of online Electronics shops (mostly for Europe, but some are delivering ALSO global):

• CONRAD
  • Delivery and costs
• VÖLKNER
  • Delivery and costs
• REICHELT
  • Delivery and costs
    • REICHELTPEDIA
• POLLIN
  • Delivery and costs
• BÜRKLIN
  • Delivery and costs
• RUTRONIK
•  RS Components International the world’s largest distributor of electronics and maintenance products.
• Sparkfun
  • Worldwide distributors, delivery and costs
• ALLELECTRONICS
• BUDGETRONICS
  • Delivery and costs
• ADAFRUIT
  • Delivery and costs
• MAPLIN
  • Delivery and costs
• VELLEMANN (Mostly electronics kits)
• COMELEC (FR): Robotics, electronics, kits, very interesting…
• ALIEXPRESS
• WEIDMANN-ELEKTRONIK Especially for IPM-165 Radar-Sensor with preamplifier
• …

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L’auteur Gust MEES est Formateur andragogique / pédagogique TIC, membre du “Comité Conseil” de “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), appelé maintenant BEESECURE, partenaire officiel (consultant) du Ministère de l’éducation au Luxembourg du projet  ”MySecureIT“, partenaire officiel du Ministère du Commerce au Luxembourg du projet ”CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure). L’auteur était aussi gagnant d’un concours en électronique en 1979 ( Pays germaniques ) et voyait son projet publié dans le magazine électronique “ELO”. The author Gust MEES is ICT Course Instructor, ”Member of the Advisory Board” from “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), BEESECURE, Official Partner (Consultant) from the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg, project “MySecureIT“, Official Partner from the Ministry of Commerce in Luxembourg, project “CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure). The author was also a winner of an electronics contest (Germanic countries) in 1979 and got his project published in the “Electronics Magazine ELO”).

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Stay tuned for next blog post(s) 😉

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Maker-First Steps in Electronics-Moving and rotating statue

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In OUR previous electronics projects WE were tinkering around with vibration motors and flashing LEDs, well we will continue on the same schema to get a bit more soldering practice and to discover ALSO the use of heat shrink tube. This is ALSO a soldering exercise with some fun, and knowledge acquirement as usually in my tutorials. WE will learn also about Lithium batteries and their power by connecting them in parallel.

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OHM’s Law, resistors and LEDs

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Learn more:

• LED (Light-emitting diodes)
• …

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Practical Tip: LEDs are transparent, so the Cathode (Minus) looks always a bit larger as the Anode (Plus).

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.

When working with electronics WE need to learn a bit theory and mathematics, BUT DON’T worry, it is very easy! First of all which is mandatory, is the “OHM’s Law“. YOU DON’T need to calculate! 😉 There is an online calculator who will do the job for YOU! Click the image below please to access the online calculator and play a bit around with it to get used to it, have fun.

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Click the image please to access the online calculator

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Useful online help:

• 4 Band Resistor Color Code Calculator

• LED Series Resistor Calculator

• Ohm’s Law Calculator

• Voltage, Current, Resistance, and Ohm’s Law

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The schematics of our project

Here below the schematics where YOU will see how the components are represented; YOU will remark that we have three (3) times a parallel circuit. Two batteries in parallel, two flashing LEDs in parallel and two vibration motors in parallel.The resistors are NOT shown in the schematic as THEY are NOT connected, they are just used as stabilization of the statue!

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WHY connecting batteries in parallel!? Check below, please:

• http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/serial_and_parallel_battery_configurations
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To find it out I recommend to make a bit PracTICE:

1. Try first to use ONLY 1 battery CR2032 and let run the statue.
2. NOW use two (2) batteries CR2032 and let run the statue.
3. Use NOW ONLY one (1) battery CR2430 (they are bigger in diameter and on power) and let run the statue.
4. NOW use two (2) batteries CR2430 and let run the statue.

Both batteries deliver 3 Volts, BUT there is a difference in the possible current they can deliver. The CR2032 delivers 225 mAh and the CR2430 delivers 280 mAh!

Through THIS “Learning-By-Doing” YOU will easily understand it!

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Detailed parts list, supplier and prices

Please find below the detailed parts list as well as the supplier and the prices.

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Item and quantity	Supplier and order number	Price
1 x Stripboard	CONRAD: 529531	2,19€
Silver wire 1 mm / 14 m <===> +/- 30 cm needed	CONRAD: 607657	0,40€
1 x Switch	Adafruit: ID 805	0,95€
2 x Button cell holder à 1,29€	CONRAD: 650546	2,58€
2 x Vibration motor from Adafruit	Adafruit: ID 1201	1,95€
2 x 5mm flashing LEDs from Adafruit pack of 10 is $4.95	Adafruit: ID 680	1 €
2 x Cell CR2032 à 4,19€	CONRAD: 651088	8,358€
2 x Cell CR2430 à 3,99€	CONRAD: 612987	7,98€
Total:		25,43€

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As you can see it is a very cheap project, ONLY 25,43€ and easy to realize! ALL what YOU need is a bit time, passion and here we GO! 😉 Have FUN!

Online ordering links:

• Adafruit
• Conrad
• …

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The tools needed

Check below please WHAT the tools are that you will need for this project. The small saw is needed to cut out a small piece of 55 x 45 mm from the stripboard.

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Click image please to enlarge.

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Working with heat shrink tube

[START text from Wikipedia] Heat shrink tubing (or, commonly, heat shrink or heatshrink) is a shrinkable plastic tube used to insulate wires, providing abrasion resistance and environmental protection for stranded and solid wire conductors, connections, joints and terminals in electrical work. It can also be used to repair the insulation on wires or to bundle them together, to protect wires or small parts from minor abrasion, and to create cable entry seals, offering environmental sealing protection. Heat shrink tubing is ordinarily made of nylon or polyolefin, which shrinks radially (but not longitudinally) when heated, to between one-half and one-sixth of its diameter. [END text from Wikipedia]

Learn more:

• Heat-shrink tubing

• …

Watch the video below please to see the How-To to work with heat shrink tube.

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The video of our project

Please check the video below to see our project on action.

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Very important

In OUR above project we are using two (2) 3 mm red LEDs in parallel. It DOESN’T work when YOU take two different colors, I tried it out 😉 WHY!??? Please check links below:

• Why exactly can’t a single resistor be used for many parallel LEDs?
• Schaltungen mit LEDs (auf deutsch)
• ….

 

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Keywords necessary for me to create this blog post: Power resistors, flashing LEDs, switch, CR2032, CR2430, Lithium Batteries, stripboard, heat shrinking tube,

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L’auteur Gust MEES est Formateur andragogique / pédagogique TIC, membre du “Comité Conseil” de “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), appelé maintenant BEESECURE, partenaire officiel (consultant) du Ministère de l’éducation au Luxembourg du projet  ”MySecureIT“, partenaire officiel du Ministère du Commerce au Luxembourg du projet ”CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure). L’auteur était aussi gagnant d’un concours en électronique en 1979 ( Pays germaniques ) et voyait son projet publié dans le magazine électronique “ELO”. The author Gust MEES is ICT Course Instructor, ”Member of the Advisory Board” from “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), BEESECURE, Official Partner (Consultant) from the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg, project “MySecureIT“, Official Partner from the Ministry of Commerce in Luxembourg, project “CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure). The author was also a winner of an electronics contest (Germanic countries) in 1979 and got his project published in the “Electronics Magazine ELO”).

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Stay tuned for next blog post(s) 😉

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Maker-First Steps in Electronics-The rotating and moving plastic container

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The rotating and moving plastic container

Click image please to enlarge.

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In previous blog post (tutorial) WE used a vibration motor from an old smartphone and we were learning also about the How-To about a vibration motor is working; it is about “Unbalance“. This unbalance is normally unwanted for motors, but for vibration motors it is a MUST. The motor we used was a 3 Volts motor and very small. In THIS NEW project we will use a 9 Volts DC-Motor and we will create from a normal motor a vibration motor with a little trick.

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Click image please to enlarge.

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We will use a square nut and saw it in the middle, then taking the hot glue pistol and gluing it (one half) on the shaft of the 9 Volts DC-Motor.

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Learn more:

• http://www.instructables.com/id/Vibrating-Motors/
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9 Volts DC Motors are actually very cheap, check below please:

• https://www.adafruit.com/?q=dc%20motors&p=1&
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Let us have a look on the unbalance and vibrations motors

A vibrating motor is essentially a motor that is improperly balanced. In other words, there is an off-centered weight attached to the motor’s rotational shaft that causes the motor to wobble. The amount of wobble can be changed by the amount of weight that you attach, the weight’s distance from the shaft, and the speed at which the motor spins.

Learn more:

• http://www.instructables.com/id/Vibrating-Motors/
• …

 

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Click image please to access the article.

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The schematics

Let us first have a look on the schematics where WE will discover some NEW stuff, a mini motor; in this case it is an “vibration motor“.

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Click image please to enlarge

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As you can see there is NOTHING special; we just put five (5) elements (4 flashing LEDS, a vibration motor) in parallel. The motor will get fixed with hot glue on the bottom. And we have a switch to switch on/off our circuit. As battery we use a 9 Volts battery which will get fixed with “VELCRO” on the bottom.

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Learn more:

• What are “Series” and “Parallel” Circuits?
• Vibration Motors
• …

Calculating the resistor value with a 9 Volts battery and knowing that the flashing LEDs will be 3 Volts and consuming 20 mA. SO: 9-3=6 Volts which will get needed to take away from the LEDs. Check below please:

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The shown value is 300 Ohms, but that is NOT a standard value. We will use a 330 Ohm resistor, as it is a standard value.

Useful online help:

• 4 Band Resistor Color Code Calculator

• LED Series Resistor Calculator

• Ohm’s Law Calculator

• Voltage, Current, Resistance, and Ohm’s Law

 

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The tools needed

Check below please WHAT the tools are that you will need for this project. The small saw is needed to cut out a small piece of 55 x 45 mm from the stripboard. That part is needed for soldering the resistor and the switch and is used to make the necessary connections to the other parts.

 

 

Click image please to enlarge.

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Concerning the hot-glue pistol which you need as well, I recommend the one from “STEINEL” as it is a Cordless all-purpose glue applicator. Neat, practical, accurate. Cordless hot-melt glue pen neo1 for all gluing jobs around the home, particularly lightweight and practical, cordless gluing with rechargeable Li-Ion battery, ready for gluing in 15 sec.

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Learn more:

• http://www.steinel.de/en/hot-air-gluing/hot-melt-glue-applicators/neo1.html
• …

The price is around 35€, but worth to spend that money, comfortable precise working…

 

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The Parts List

As mostly usual in my tutorials, WE will create on the beginning ONLY small stuff with some effects and a little bit of theory to give YOU the fun and the sense for electronics. SO, in this project there also ONLY a few components, such as: 9 Volts DC-Motor, Flashing LEDs, 1 resistor, 1 switch, a 9 Volts Battery, a plastic container (actually a Ricotta Cheese plastic container).

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Item and quantity	Supplier and order number	Price
1 x Stripboard	CONRAD: 529531	2,19€
VELCRO tape  +/- 10 cm needed à 16,99€/1 m	CONRAD: 546887	1,70€
1 x Empty plastic container +/- 10 cm diameter
1 x Switch	CONRAD: 1377837	2,19€
1 x 9 Volts battery	CONRAD: 658014	3,99€
1 x 9 Volt Battery Clip	CONRAD: 624691	0,44€
4 x 5mm flashing LEDs pack of 10 is $4.95	ADAFRUIT: ID 680	2,40€
1 x Flat Bandcable	CONRAD: 604069	0,30€
1 x 9 Volts DC-Motor	ADAFRUIT: ID711	1,95 €
1 x Resistor 330 Ohm 4 x LED clips 5 mm 100 pces is 9,99€	CONRAD: 405191 CONRAD: 185806	0,10€  0,40€
TOTAL:		15,66€

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As you can see it is a very cheap project, ONLY 15,66€ and easy to realize! ALL what YOU need is a bit time, passion and here we GO! 😉 Have FUN!

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The video of the project

Please check the video below to see it in action.

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L’auteur Gust MEES est Formateur andragogique / pédagogique TIC, membre du “Comité Conseil” de “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), appelé maintenant BEESECURE, partenaire officiel (consultant) du Ministère de l’éducation au Luxembourg du projet  ”MySecureIT“, partenaire officiel du Ministère du Commerce au Luxembourg du projet ”CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure). L’auteur était aussi gagnant d’un concours en électronique en 1979 ( Pays germaniques ) et voyait son projet publié dans le magazine électronique “ELO”. The author Gust MEES is ICT Course Instructor, ”Member of the Advisory Board” from “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), BEESECURE, Official Partner (Consultant) from the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg, project “MySecureIT“, Official Partner from the Ministry of Commerce in Luxembourg, project “CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure). The author was also a winner of an electronics contest (Germanic countries) in 1979 and got his project published in the “Electronics Magazine ELO”).

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Keywords necessary for me to create this blog post: Bandkabel, Unbalance explication, DC Motors, vibration motors,

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Stay tuned for next blog post(s) 😉

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Maker-First Steps in Electronics-Soldering Learning-The Mini BUG Robot

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The Mini BUG Robot

In last blog post (tutorial) WE were practicing OUR soldering by creating “JOHNNY the ski-man“, a bit “Electronics-Art” using electronics components. In the video below, which I created with the FREEWARE <===> Windows Movie Maker <===> WE see ALSO “The Mini BUG Robot” who gives “JOHNNY” a ride. It is very easy to build that mini robot as there are ONLY six (6) components to solder.

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The schematics

Let us first have a look on the schematics where WE will discover some NEW stuff, a mini motor; in this case it is an “vibration motor” which is used in smartphones. THEY exist as round, rectangular and in disk format, please check <===> Vibration Motor Images <===> in Google searches (images).

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As you can see there is NOTHING special; we just put four (4) elements (2 LEDS, a vibration motor and a tantalum capacitor) in parallel. And we have a switch to switch on/off our circuit. As battery we use a “CR2032“.

Learn more:

• What are “Series” and “Parallel” Circuits?
• Vibration Motors
• …

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Click image please to access the article.

 

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The electronics parts list

Check below please to find out about the electronic components.

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Click image please to enlarge.

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Detailed parts list, supplier and prices

Please find below the detailed parts list as well as the supplier and the prices.

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Item and quantity	Supplier and order number	Price
1 x Stripboard	CONRAD: 529531	2,19€
Silver wire 1 mm / 14 m <===> +/- 30 cm needed	CONRAD: 607657	0,40€
1 x Tantalum capacitor 47 uF/16V	CONRAD: 481777	2,99€
1 x Switch	CONRAD: 1377837	2,19€
1 x Button cell holder	CONRAD: 650546	1,29€
1 x Vibration motor from old smartphone
2 x 3mm LEDs red	CONRAD: 759472 à 0,20€	0,40€
1 x Cell CR2032	CONRAD: 651088	4,19€
Total:		13,65€

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As you can see it is a very cheap project, ONLY 13,65€ and easy to realize! ALL what YOU need is a bit time, passion and here we GO! 😉 Have FUN!

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The tools needed

Check below please WHAT the tools are that you will need for this project. The small saw is needed to cut out a small piece of 55 x 45 mm from the stripboard.

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Click image please to enlarge.

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The soldering

Click image please to enlarge.

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Feel FREE to make the wiring and connections as YOU want by following the schematics; on left-hand side you will see how I did it. Fix the vibration motor with a bit hot glue onto the stripboard as well (components side).

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Concerning the legs of the “Mini BUG Robot”: Cut 2 pieces of 9 mm off from silver wire and bend them both sides at +/- 3,5 cm, see PIC please, and solder them onto the stripboard.

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Very important

In OUR above project we are using two (2) 3 mm red LEDs in parallel. It DOESN’T work when YOU take two different colors, I tried it out 😉 WHY!??? Please check links below:

• Why exactly can’t a single resistor be used for many parallel LEDs?
• Schaltungen mit LEDs (auf deutsch)
• …

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L’auteur Gust MEES est Formateur andragogique / pédagogique TIC, membre du “Comité Conseil” de “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), appelé maintenant BEESECURE, partenaire officiel (consultant) du Ministère de l’éducation au Luxembourg du projet  ”MySecureIT“, partenaire officiel du Ministère du Commerce au Luxembourg du projet ”CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure). L’auteur était aussi gagnant d’un concours en électronique en 1979 ( Pays germaniques ) et voyait son projet publié dans le magazine électronique “ELO”. The author Gust MEES is ICT Course Instructor, ”Member of the Advisory Board” from “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), BEESECURE, Official Partner (Consultant) from the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg, project “MySecureIT“, Official Partner from the Ministry of Commerce in Luxembourg, project “CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure). The author was also a winner of an electronics contest (Germanic countries) in 1979 and got his project published in the “Electronics Magazine ELO”).

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Stay tuned for next blog post(s) 😉

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Electronics Books and Software for Makers-MakerED and MakerSpaces

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My selection of Electronics books

For ANY projects WE will create there are books and also online documentations which WE will need to learn from and to GET NEW ideas as well. I will propose to YOU a selection of books and links which I have read and learned from as well; links which I use as well to incorporate into my tutorials as ALSO YouTube videos to learn from.

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I bought these books on Amazon, find the references for ordering them here, please:

• The Forrest Mims Engineer’s Notebook (Englisch)

• Make: Electronics: Learning Through Discovery

• The Forrest Mims Circuit Scrapbook Volume II

• Fritzing for Inventors: Take Your Electronics Project from Prototype to Product
• …

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Software, online and/or for download

WE are really lucky today because of ICT and the internet to learn about electronics; it was NEVER THAT easy as today!! WE can find simulation software as well as schematics drawing software online and/or for download as for FREE (Open Source and FREEWARE). I remember 49 years ago when I was 12 years old and tinkering around, using curiosity to find out on the How-To things were working by disassembling them, whatever it was… Later, I was working after school (12 1/2 years old starting till 20 years…) around on any place in the village (farmer, café, gardening for private persons, etc.) to earn some money to be able to buy me necessary stuff for my electronics lab…

Nowadays WE GET all the necessary stuff online and WE DON’T need anymore to purchase an oscilloscope and a Multimeter for measuring as one can simulate everything straight on through FREE software. I am feeling HAPPY for that as it allows LEARNERS from any society status to learn about electronics!

Please check below for useful articles on Software:

• My curation about electronics
• YouTube Electronics Simulation
• …

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Check out ALSO, please, my my other blog posts about maker, MakerED, MakerSpaces:

• Ideas for Maker Spaces and MakerED-Electronics-1-Xmas Tree
• Electronics Starter Kit for Makers
• Maker-First Steps in Electronics, the basics
• …

More to come soon, stay tuned 😉

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L’auteur Gust MEES est Formateur andragogique / pédagogique TIC, membre du “Comité Conseil” de “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), appelé maintenant BEESECURE, partenaire officiel (consultant) du Ministère de l’éducation au Luxembourg du projet  ”MySecureIT“, partenaire officiel du Ministère du Commerce au Luxembourg du projet ”CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure). L’auteur était aussi gagnant d’un concours en électronique en 1979 ( Pays germaniques ) et voyait son projet publié dans le magazine électronique “ELO”. The author Gust MEES is ICT Course Instructor, ”Member of the Advisory Board” from “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), BEESECURE, Official Partner (Consultant) from the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg, project “MySecureIT“, Official Partner from the Ministry of Commerce in Luxembourg, project “CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure). The author was also a winner of an electronics contest (Germanic countries) in 1979 and got his project published in the “Electronics Magazine ELO”).

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Stay tuned for next blog post(s) 😉

 

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Maker-First Steps in Electronics-Soldering Learning-Electronics Art

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Maker-First Steps in Electronics-Soldering Learning

When WE start with electronics on the beginning we can work with so-called “Breadboards“(see photo below please), but soon or later soldering will become a MUST and an habit! SO, the BEST WE can do is to GET some PracTICE with soldering; in this tutorial we will make a bit “Electronics-Art“. WE will use already known electronic components such as resistors, stripboard parts (we will need to saw and rasp…),  a LED and an IC (Integrated Circuit), a NEW component. OUR project will ONLY serve as soldering PracTICE as there will be NO function of the electronic used, SO the IC could be ALSO a damaged one (useful recycling) 😉

Breadboard: Click image please to enlarge

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Learn more:

• Breadboards (Wikipedia)
• …

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Please click image to access the article for more information.

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As YOU might have seen in the image of “JOHNNY the ski-man“, some resistors are BIGGER then others! WHY and what is its meaning!? Well, WE have to go back to “OHM’s Law“, as BIGGER resistors in size are, as MORE POWER they can dissipate; I used 1/2 Watt and 1 Watt resistors. Please check below.

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Learn more:

• OHM’s Law Calculator online
• Explications about Power and resistors
• Basic Idea for Resistors

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Parts List of the components used

Click image to enlarge please.

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The following components are required:

Six (6) resistors of 1/2 Watt, two (2) resistors of 1 Watt, one (1) IC (14 or 16 pins), one (1) LED, two (2) diodes (1N4007), some colored rigid wire for the scarf, 1 mm² rigid copper cable wire and 1 mm silver wire.

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Tools needed.

Click image please to enlarge.

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The following tools are required:

Vise, rasp, solder iron and solder wire, electronic cutter, electronic flat-nosed pliers, small handsaw and don’t forget the vacuum cleaner for cleaning up the working place later, please 😉

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Learn more:

• Different types of saws
• …
• …

 

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Where to start? The mechanical part

Click image please to enlarge.

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WE will start with the hardest part of the job, the skis. The skis are made of a small part of a stripboard which has to be sawn; we count four (4) holes and saw along the strips there, see pic. The length would be about 5 cm ( +/- 2 inches).

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Click image please to enlarge.

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Once the two (2) pieces of the stripboard sawn they must get rasped to look smooth. See pic please.

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Click image please to enlarge.

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As the stripboard pieces are rectangular on the edges they must get rounded as well with the rasp, see pic details please.

Solder together now the three rows on the top of the stripboard as shown in image, this will give a bit weight to keep the balance once the other electronic components are soldered.

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The soldering

Click image please to enlarge.

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SO, the hardest job is done now! UP to solder the electronic components, but where to start!? Start first with the soldering of the diode (1N4007) on both skis, followed by soldering the small resistors, check pic please.

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A little exercise: WHAT are the values in OHM (Ω) of the resistors used (check pic, please)? Hint: if YOU don’t remember how the code is working, check here <===> http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/textbook/reference/chpt-2/resistor-color-codes/ <===> and/or here for an online calculator <===> http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/tools/resistor-color-code-calculator/.

BTW: for OUR project it doesn’t matter which value the resistors have as they are used ONLY for the soldering PracTICE..

Concerning the PracTICE about soldering check <===> https://www.kemo-electronic.de/en/loetkurs.php?page=1 <===> A GREAT step-by-step guide.

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Hint: For THOSE who can’t wait for NEXT tutorial, have a look on my proposed links in this tutorial and YOU will find more 😉

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Check out ALSO, please, my my other blog posts about Maker, MakerED, MakerSpaces:

• Ideas for Maker Spaces and MakerED-Electronics-1-Xmas Tree
• Electronics Starter Kit for Makers
• Maker-First Steps in Electronics, the basics
• …

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The finished project

SO, that’s it folks!  Wishing YOU some fun with this project and hopefully you will get more interested about electronics 😉 Check the video below please to see OUR STAR in action… BTW: The “Mini BUG Robot” present in the video will get proposed ALSO in another tutorial…

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L’auteur Gust MEES est Formateur andragogique / pédagogique TIC, membre du “Comité Conseil” de “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), appelé maintenant BEESECURE, partenaire officiel (consultant) du Ministère de l’éducation au Luxembourg du projet  ”MySecureIT“, partenaire officiel du Ministère du Commerce au Luxembourg du projet ”CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure). L’auteur était aussi gagnant d’un concours en électronique en 1979 ( Pays germaniques ) et voyait son projet publié dans le magazine électronique “ELO”. The author Gust MEES is ICT Course Instructor, ”Member of the Advisory Board” from “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), BEESECURE, Official Partner (Consultant) from the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg, project “MySecureIT“, Official Partner from the Ministry of Commerce in Luxembourg, project “CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure). The author was also a winner of an electronics contest (Germanic countries) in 1979 and got his project published in the “Electronics Magazine ELO”).

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Stay tuned for next blog post(s) 😉

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Maker-First Steps in Electronics-Building a Power Supply

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Building a Variable Power Supply With Few Components

Click the image please to enlarge

In previous tutorial Maker-First Steps in Electronics, the basics WE got a bit the PracTICE of soldering and WE learned ALSO about schematics, resistors, LEDs, diodes and OHM’s Law. WE used ALSO a 9 Volt battery as a power supply for our projects; BUT batteries are expensive (3,99 €) and when playing around a lot on experimenting WE would use a lot of them. This will certainly be the case as on the beginning while tinkering around, my personal experience, as one is curios and tries out everything. Which is good by the way, but better is to build a variable power supply for few money and for small projects like WE are working on.

SO, let us have a look on the schematic about WHAT WE will create next. WE will discover some NEW components, such as a voltage regulator integrated circuit (IC), a variable resistor (potentiometer), capacitors, electrolytic capacitors… which WE will learn more about as well in this tutorial.

WE had already the experience with a stripboard, which we will continue (on the beginning) to build our variable power supply. It will be a very easy one with ONLY 10 components to solder on the stripboard. The tension will be adjustable  by a potentiometer (variable resistor) from 0-24 Volts and a maximum current of 1 Ampere. WE will ALSO provide it with a switch so that we can ALSO use it as a Volt-Meter to measure the tensions on our strip-board projects…

WE will ALSO learn to drill and to rasp as WE will enclose our project into an enclosure; well mechanics are part as well when one tinkers with electronics 😉

WE will solder measure points on the strip-board as well. so we can learn about measuring and to understand what is going on when AC gets through a rectifier bridge and becomes DC…

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Schematics

Electronic Schematics – Need-To-Know

BEST explication I have found and WHICH I agree!!! Electronic schematics are like recipes for electronics. They tell you what ingredients to use and how to mix the ingredients. But instead of using text to explain the recipe, a drawing is used.

Learn more:

• http://www.build-electronic-circuits.com/electronic-schematics/

Please check the schematics of OUR project below:

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The above schema was created with:

• TinyCAD
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Fuse	Rectifier bridge	Voltage Regulator
Transformer	Capacitors and Polarized Capacitors (Electrolytic Capacitors)	Variable Resistor (Potentiometer)
Resistors

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Learn more:

• Electrical and electronics symbols
• How to Read a Schematic
• Reading Schematics
• Electronic schematics

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The Components and the Parts List

Please check below the photo to get familiarized with the parts.

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In above image WE see parts which we used already in first tutorial <===> Electronics Starter Kit for Makers <===> such as resistors, diodes  and the stripbord. NEW components are (please check the links below to learn more):

• AC Waveform and AC Circuit Theory
• Capacitors
  • Kunststoff-Folien Kondensatoren (Deutsch)
• Electrolyte Capacitors (polarized)
  • Elektrolyt Kondensatoren (Deutsch)
• Adjustable Voltage Regulator (such as LM317T)
• Potentiometer (variable resistor)
  • Potentiometer (Deutsch)
• Bridge Rectifier (4 Diodes)
  • Gleichrichter (Deutsch)
•  LCD-Panelmeter
• Transformer
  • Transformatoren (Deutsch)
• Resistors
  • Widerstände (Deutsch)
• My curation about Electronics
• Liste elektrischer und elektronischer Bauelemente (Wikipedia)
• Elektronik-Wissen (Deutsch)
• …

This time WE will ALSO need to use some tools and mechanical parts; well electronics without mechanics doesn’t exist 😉 Will get explained in a new tutorial…

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List of online Electronics shops (mostly for Europe, but some are delivering ALSO global):

• CONRAD
  • Delivery and costs
• VÖLKNER
  • Delivery and costs
• REICHELT
  • Delivery and costs
    • REICHELTPEDIA
• POLLIN
  • Delivery and costs
• BÜRKLIN
  • Delivery and costs
• RUTRONIK
•  RS Components International the world’s largest distributor of electronics and maintenance products.
• Sparkfun
  • Worldwide distributors, delivery and costs
• ALLELECTRONICS
• BUDGETRONICS
  • Delivery and costs
• …

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Detailed parts list, supplier and prices

Please find below the detailed parts list as well as the supplier and the prices.

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Item and quantity	Supplier and order number	Price
1 x Transformer 230V/1A	CONRAD: 710422	15,99€
1 x Bridge rectifier B40/C7000-4000	CONRAD: 501980	4,49€
2 x Electrolyte capacitor 1000uF/63V	CONRAD: 1472875 à 1,49€	2,98€
1 x Diode 1N4007	CONRAD: 1262766	0,22€
1 x Resistor 100 Ω	CONRAD: 405132	0,10€
1 x Potentiometer 4K7 Ω	CONRAD: 440778	1,99€
1 x Knob for potentiometer	CONRAD: 715840	1,09€
1 x LM317T	CONRAD: 176001	0,34€
1 x Capacitor MKS2-1uF/63V	CONRAD: 455318	1,49€
1 x Panel-Meter	CONRAD: 101950	35,99€
1 Heatsink for LM317T	CONRAD: 183870	1,03€
1 x Mounting-Kit TO220	CONRAD: 155140	0,72€
1 x Stripboard	CONRAD: 529531	2,19€
2 x PCB Connector 2 pins	CONRAD: 1192188 à 0,28€	0,56€
Total:		69,18€

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Check out this video tutorial to understand

A GREAT video tutorial to watch for understanding about the used “Voltage Regulator Chip LM317T“:

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First tests without the transformer

I propose to make the first test(s) without the transformer; by using a 9 Volts battery! This to make sure that there isn’t any mistake on the wiring as a short-circuit could cause damage!! Check photo below please:

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Click image please to enlarge

 

Using a copy of the schematics and a pen to erase the done connections already; this allows to keep an eye on how far one is…

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Safety FIRST as WE are working with 230 Volts!!

I will propose two different projects, one for NEWBIES and one for advanced users! NEWBIES will NOT solder the transformer on the stripboard, BUT will connect it to the stripboard by <===> Safety FIRST rules <===> and advanced users could solder it on the stripboard by respecting these Safety rules! WE will use ALSO heat-shrinking tubes to insulate ALL the components where 230 Volts is connected to assume that nobody could touch them to avoid electrical shock by touching!!!

Learn more about heat-shrinking tubes:

• In English on Wikipedia
• In German on Wikipedia
• …

 

I am NOT the guy WHO follows any rules, BUT THESE ONE I follow myself ALSO as it is mandatory!! YOUR life and/or the life of OTHERS could be in danger if NOT followed!!! SO, take YOUR responsibility, please 😉 Well, enough blabla, let us have a look WHY:

Learn more:

• Electric shock (English)
• Stromunfall (Deutsch)
• …

Check photos below please:

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Click image please to enlarge.

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Click image please to enlarge

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Let us protect and ALSO our workbench with a plastic underground (plastic is insulating…), check below please:

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Click above image please to enlarge it.

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Two different projects, one for NEWBIES and one for advanced users: thus meaning; NEWBIES will NOT solder the transformer on the stripboard, BUT fixing and connecting it apart! Advanced users will be able to solder the transformer on the stripboard by taking care of safety rules, check above image please for connected transformer on the stripboard and image below please for transformer connected with wires to the stripboard .

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Building UP from the beginning a system for wiring

WE have two different possibilities for the wiring and connection of the components on the stripboard:

1. Using really wiring with colored insulated wires
2. Using ONLY the copper strips on the stripboard to make the connections
3. OR using both as I did in above; one red colored wire was used to make a connection…

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WHEN WE use the wiring with colored insulated wires, we need to have a system in it, let us define UP from the beginning which colors mean WHAT! I propose this:

• Red for the “PLUS” of DC Power Supply
• Blue for the “Minus” (Ground) of DC Power Supply
• Green for the connections of AC
• White or blank silver wire for bridges on the stripboard: connections from one component to the other…

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List of free electronics circuit simulators

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Click image please to access the video

Nowadays WE have the chance to profit from FREE Simulator software to examine the How-To circuits work, please find below some useful links:

• List of free electronics circuit simulators

• …

 

Please check below for useful articles on Software:

• My curation about electronics
• YouTube Electronics Simulation
• …

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Learn more:

• http://makezine.com/projects/0-24-volt-2-amp-bench-top-power-supply/
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• …
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Next steps to come

Well, first build the above and finish it! Later WE will bring in ALSO some test points (soldering them on the stripboard) for measuring the voltage on different points and we will solder as well on the stripboard some more components to protect out project against short circuits, an electronic fuse with ONLY five (5) components. WE, once finished the above mentioned will then go for mechanical works as the whole will get fit into an enclosure. There will be then a bit drilling, rasping and…

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Some electronics projects made +/- 25-30 years ago, check video below please 😉 I stopped tinkering around for the peace of our conjugal life, well wife was right! I had to much hobbies; NOW I am retired and I have too much time, SO I started again…

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Keywords necessary for me to create this blog post: Learning about alternative current (AC), Direct current (DC), Zenerdiodes, Voltage regulators, 7809, LM317T, Panelmeter, Digital Voltmeter, testing, measuring, test points, potentiometer, variable resistors, capacitors, electrolytic capacitors, LCD Display…

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L’auteur Gust MEES est Formateur andragogique / pédagogique TIC, membre du “Comité Conseil” de “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), appelé maintenant BEESECURE, partenaire officiel (consultant) du Ministère de l’éducation au Luxembourg du projet  ”MySecureIT“, partenaire officiel du Ministère du Commerce au Luxembourg du projet ”CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure). L’auteur était aussi gagnant d’un concours en électronique en 1979 ( Pays germaniques ) et voyait son projet publié dans le magazine électronique “ELO”. The author Gust MEES is ICT Course Instructor, ”Member of the Advisory Board” from “Luxembourg Safer Internet” (LuSI), BEESECURE, Official Partner (Consultant) from the Ministry of Education in Luxembourg, project “MySecureIT“, Official Partner from the Ministry of Commerce in Luxembourg, project “CASES” (Cyberworld Awareness and Security Enhancement Structure). The author was also a winner of an electronics contest (Germanic countries) in 1979 and got his project published in the “Electronics Magazine ELO”).

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Stay tuned for next blog post(s) 😉

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