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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:
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:
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 andSecurityEnhancementStructure). 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”).
Building a Variable Power Supply With Few Components
Click the image please to enlarge
In previous tutorial Maker-First Steps in Electronics, the basicsWE 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.
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):
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):
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 connectedto assume that nobody could touch them to avoid electrical shock by touching!!!
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:
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:
Using really wiring with colored insulated wires
Using ONLY the copper strips on the stripboard to make the connections
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:
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 andSecurityEnhancementStructure). 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”).
I propose to work with system when WE use strip-boards; thus meaning: preparing them ALL the same way. Any electronics project will need a power supply, so WE will start with the power supply which will mostly be a 9 Volt battery. WE will use the outside strips to connect them to plus and minus and WE will ALSO provide a diode (1N4007) to protect against polarity reversal. As a newbie in electronics this might be the best way to protect you to destroy the electronic parts if + and – would get reversed 😉 With normal rectifier diodes the power supply voltage will typically drop by 0.8 volts. WE will have then ONLY 8.2 Volts which is enough in most cases.
WE will solder also a PCB-Connector (Printed Circuit Board Connector) where we can feed the strip-board with the power supply.
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SO, as WE will solder a bit, it will be also a soldering training before we start on more serious projects later 😉
Check below please how the finished project will look, which we will discuss in detail on the How-To. WE use a 100 mm x 75 mm strip-board (CONRAD 529531 – 62 for 2,19€).
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Necessary material
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In above image I used a 2 pin screw terminal from CONRAD (1192188 – 62) for 0,28€ and for the wire I choose from a “Wire Kit from Velleman” (60 m from different colors).
full core, 0.2mm²
colours: 5 metres : white / blue / brown / green / yellow / orange / grey / violet + 10 metres : black / red
external diameter: 1.4 mm
max. voltage: 60 V
max. current: 4.3 A
PVC insulation
tinned CU
AWG24
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To make sure to have proper bent edges; I suggest to bend the diode (1N4007) over the left-hand side shown “Wire Bender” (CONRAD 425869 – 62 at 3,29€).
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First start to solder the 2 pin screw terminal in the middle of the strip-board, followed by the diode (1N4007). Now measure the distance and cut the wires. For the red wire (Plus) it will be 4 cm (3 cm distance), the blue wire (Minus) will be 6 cm (5 cm distance). Take the electronics cutter and strip off o,5 cm of the insulation at each end and bend it. Put it into the holes in the strip-board and solder it. P.S.: WE will use the red wire for the Plus (+) and the blue wire for the Minus (-) of the power supply; that are internationally conventions in electronics. Sometimes for the Minus (-) is also used the black color (see 9 Volt battery clip).
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Solder the wires and cut off the stick out wire close to the soldering with the electronics cutter.
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Strip-board solder side
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Click the above image please to enlarge it
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Cutting off stick out wire
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Click the above image please to enlarge it
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Disconnect the upper strips from the lower
strips by breaking the copper with
a 4,5 mm HSS drill
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Click the above image please to enlarge it
Selfmade stripboard cutter
with a grill handle
and an 4.5 mm HSS drill
Click image please to enlarge
When WE want to start with electronics there is a little bit theory to learn as well; in electronics there are special symbols who get used in schematics. Any component (even a battery) has its own symbol. In the following tutorials and projects, WE will learn by easy step-by-step WHAT they are and HOW to make OUR PracTICE (to GET used to it…) with them. I am certainly NOT a friend of learning by heart, BUT symbols need to get learned that way to understand schematics of electronics!
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Symbols used in this tutorial: battery, resistors, LEDs and diodes…
Here below a small description about the How-To to work with strip-boards in general:
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After viewing the above tutorial YOU will understand. The above tutorial uses the FREE software “Fritzing” which WE will use as well in the next blog posts; you can download it here:
Here the wiring and soldering on the strip-board, as well as the parts list:
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As You have remarked, I added ALSO a resistor and a LED (Light-Emitting Diode); the red (could also bee a green one) LED is lightning when the power supply (9 Volt battery) is connected. SO, YOU might solder the two components (330 Ohm resistor and LED) as well, not mandatory BUT it will give YOU a bit more training on soldering and alerts YOU to NOT solder when it is on!! NEVER work on whatever project with connected (switched on) power supply <===> Safety first!
WHY has the resistor a value of 330 Ohm?
In above example we used a 5 mm red LED with this characteristics: 2.25 Volt and 20 mA current (that’s the maximum values which DON’T have to become higher otherwise the LED will get destroyed) and as power supply we use a 9 Volts battery. WE will use the “Online Calculator” to calculate the value of the resistor. First let us do some mental calculation, there WE DON’T need any calculator. WE have a 9 Volts battery and the LED will have maximum 2.25 Volts, so “9 V – 2.25 V = 6.75 V” which needs to get taken away from the LED to avoid destruction.
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THAT value of 337.5 Ohms doesn’t exist! Resistors are manufactured by following <===> In 1952 the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) decided to define the resistance and tolerance values into a norm, to ease the mass manufacturing of resistors. These are referred to as preferred values or E-series, and they are published in standard IEC 60063:1963. These standard values are also valid for other components like capacitors, inductors and Zener diodes. The preferred values for resistors were established in 1952, but the concept of the geometric series was already introduced by army engineer Renard in the 1870s.
By checking the below link, WE will see that the closest value is 330 Ohm. BTW: The symbol for “Ohm” is “Ω“; SO, we write 330 Ω. Tip: You find it in the “Special Characters” in any editing software.
In the above website is a video integrated which explains very well about the How-To of that norm, give it a try.
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MY experience described in ONLY some phrases: Give the LEARNers, students (whatever age) the freedom of LEARNing without squeezing THEM into a FRAME and concentrate on guiding them as a coach by analyzing THEIR behavior and show them the How-To to become self-directed learners, autodidacts. SHOW THEM ALSO up from the beginning WHAT THE <===> LEARNing Path <===> will be with design of it and explain THEM that they could design themselves it with a short introduction on the How-To. THEY will learn the ICT-PracTICE which will help them once out of the <===> #SchoolCocoon <===> to be ready for Life-Long LEARNing and to be able to adapt very quickly in the workforce! WHEN YOU show the LEARNers, students <===> WHAT the profit is for THEIR private life <===> YOU will engage them very quickly 😉 AND DON’T teach THEM more as necessary, propose them some links to go further ONLY for those who want!!
Check ALSO (Up from 11 years old, give THEM THE confidence THEY need to grow):
WHAT’S my message and WHY did I create this blog post!?
Well, I will encourage all youth and also adults, seniors, oldies to become <===>Life-Long LEARNers <===> and staying Up-To-Date with their knowledge, especially concerning their skills in ICT, called NOW <===> #eSkills <===>! In the modern world YOU will change YOUR job probably +/- 12 times in YOUR working career, it is very rare to stay life-long in the same job and/or same company!!! SO… The workforce is looking for people with ICT skills which YOU mostly didn’t learn at school, right!?
Bring in YOUR kids to such creative makerplaces WHERE THEY can develop (and perhaps parents as well…) THEIR creativity and GET interested in something WHICH could boost THEIR interest into ICT in their future 😉
YOU won’t have (mostly) the time to learn by visiting courses, right!? START to become Life-Long LEARNers by LEARNing on YOUR OWN pace, by becoming <===> Autodidacts <===> Self-Directed LEARNers. YOU are able to, I did it, so can YOU!? 😉
I found a job because of my ICT eSkills and I am STILL LEARNing on a daily base routine for being Up-To Date with my <===> Professional Development <===>, even being retired NOW! THE pleasure of LEARNing!
I did THE <===> ICT PracTICE <===> and THAT’S WHAT the workforce needs!!!
Due to my eSkills I could share my knowledge AND expertise ALSO with the below mentioned as well as to a broad range of visitors from around the globe!
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 calculatorwho 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
Here below the schematics where YOU will see how the components are represented; YOU will remark that ANY component gets represented with its part number as well, apart from the battery.
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LED’s explained in German in a Video Tutorial
Please check the video tutorial below, in Deutsch:
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Print out this sheet for YOUR PracTICE
Here below THE sheet for PracTICE, ALL the necessary stuff is on it to make sure that the project will be successful. Print it out please and give it to YOUR learners, as well for YOU 😉
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Have FUN and stay tuned for the next tutorials about electronics 😉
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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 andSecurityEnhancementStructure). 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”).
Check my #curation to find best articles, blogs and courses about #education #itsecurity #CyberSecurity #EdCollCoach #GlobalEDU #cyberbullying, #AR #RA #augmentedreality #health #science #QR #qrcodes in EN, FR, DE…
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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…
MY experience described in ONLY some phrases: Give the 
EDU: Digital CitiZENship, CyberSecurity, eSkills, Modern EDU by Gust MEES 