Electronics projects for dummies

Want to hook up your home theater system? Want to fix it so your garage band rocks the neighborhood? Want to solder the faulty wire on your old phonograph so you can play those 60s albums you've kept all this time? Whether you're a do-it-yourselfer , hobbyist, or student , this book will turn you on to real-world electronics. It quickly covers the essentials, and then focuses on the how-to instead of theory. It covers: Fundamental concepts such as circuits, schematics, voltage, safety, and more Tools of the trade, including multimeters, oscilloscopes, logic probes, and more Common electronic components (e.g. resistors, capacitors, transistors) Making circuits using breadboards and printed circuit boards Microcontrollers (implementation and programming) Author Gordon McComb has more than a million copies of his books in print, including his bestselling Robot Builder's Bonanza and VCRs and Camcorders For Dummies. He really connects with readers! With lots of photos and step-by-step explanations, this book will have you connecting electronic components in no time! In fact, it includes fun ideas for great projects you can build in 30 minutes or less. You'll be amazed! Then you can tackle cool robot projects that will amaze your friends! (The book gives you lots to choose from.) Students will find this a great reference and supplement to the typical dry, dull textbook. So whether you just want to bone up on electronics or want to get things hooked up, souped up, or fixed up,...whether you're interested in fixing old electronic equipment, understanding guitar fuzz amps, or tinkering with robots, Electronics For Dummies is your quick connection to the stuff you need to know. Content: Cover -- Authors' Acknowledgments -- Contents at a Glance -- Table of Contents -- Introduction -- Why Buy This Book? -- Foolish Assumptions -- Safety, Safety, Safety! -- How This Book Is Organized -- Icons Used in This Book -- Dedication -- About the Authors -- Part I: Project Prep -- Chapter 1: Exploring the World of Electronics Projects -- What Is an Electronics Project, Anyway? -- Mixing and Matching Effects -- What Can You Do with Electronics Projects? -- What You Need to Get Started -- Chapter 2: Safety First -- Avoiding Shocks Like the Plague -- Protecting Electronic Components from Dreaded Static Discharge -- Working with the Tools of the Trade -- A Safe Workspace Is a Happy Workspace -- Chapter 3: Assembling Your Electronics Arsenal -- Tool Time -- Multimeter -- Components Primer -- The Nuts and Bolts of Building Materials -- Breadboard Basics -- Chapter 4: Running Down the Skills You Need -- It's Symbolic: Reading a Schematic -- Breadboarding -- Soldering Your Circuit Board -- Measuring Stuff with a Multimeter -- Working with the Boxes that Contain Your Projects -- Part II: Sounding Off! -- Chapter 5: Making Light Dance to the Music -- The Big Picture: Project Overview -- Scoping Out the Schematic -- Fancy Footwork: Exploring the Dance to the Music Circuit -- Building Alert: Construction Issues -- Perusing the Parts List -- Taking Things Step by Step -- Trying It Out -- Taking It Further -- Chapter 6: Focusing Sound with a Parabolic Microphone -- What a Dish! The Project Overview -- Scoping Out the Schematic -- Building Alert: Construction Issues -- Perusing the Parts List -- Taking Things Step by Step -- Trying It Out -- Taking It Further -- Chapter 7: Murmuring Merlin -- The Big Picture: Project Overview -- Scoping Out the Schematic -- Building Alert: Construction Issues -- Perusing the Parts List -- Taking Things Step by Step -- Trying It Out -- Taking It Further -- Chapter 8: Surfing the Airwaves -- The Big Picture: Project Overview -- Scoping Out the Schematic -- Building Alert: Construction Issues -- Perusing the Parts List -- Taking Things Step by Step -- Trying It Out -- Taking It Further -- Part III: Let There Be Light -- Chapter 9: Scary Pumpkins -- The Big Picture: Project Overview -- Taking Things Step by Step -- Trying It Out -- Taking It Further -- Chapter 10: Dancing Dolphins -- The Big Picture: Project Overview -- Scoping Out the Schematic -- Building Alert: Construction Issues -- Perusing the Parts List -- Taking Things Step by Step -- Trying It Out -- Taking It Further -- Chapter 11: Controlling a Go-Kart, Infrared Style -- The Big Picture: Project Overview -- Scoping Out the Schematic -- Building Alert: Construction Issues -- Perusing the Parts List -- Taking Things Step by Step -- Trying It Out -- Taking It Further -- Part IV: Good Vibrations -- Chapter 12: A Handy-Dandy Metal Detector -- The Big Picture: Project Overview -- Scoping Out the Schematic -- Build. Want to hook up your home theater system? Want to fix it so your garage band rocks the neighborhood? Want to solder the faulty wire on your old phonograph so you can play those 60s albums you've kept all this time? Whether you're a do-it-yourselfer, hobbyist, or student, this book will turn you on to real-world electronics. It quickly covers the essentials, and then focuses on the how-to instead of theory. It covers: Fundamental concepts such as circuits, schematics, voltage, safety, and more Tools of the trade, including multimeters, oscilloscopes, logic probes, and more Common electronic components (e.g. resistors, capacitors, transistors) Making circuits using breadboards and printed circuit boards Microcontrollers (implementation and programming) Author Gordon McComb has more than a million copies of his books in print, including his bestselling Robot Builder's Bonanza and VCRs and Camcorders For Dummies. He really connects with readers! With lots of photos and step-by-step explanations, this book will have you connecting electronic components in no time! In fact, it includes fun ideas for great projects you can build in 30 minutes or less. You'll be amazed! Then you can tackle cool robot projects that will amaze your friends! (The book gives you lots to choose from.) Students will find this a great reference and supplement to the typical dry, dull textbook. So whether you just want to bone up on electronics or want to get things hooked up, souped up, or fixed up, ...whether you're interested in fixing old electronic equipment, understanding guitar fuzz amps, or tinkering with robots, Electronics For Dummies is your quick connection to the stuff you need to know.

These projects are fun to build and fun to use
Make lights dance to music, play with radio remote control, or build your own metal detector Who says the Science Fair has to end? If you love building gadgets, this book belongs on your radar. Here are complete directions for building ten cool creations that involve light, sound, or vibrations -- a weird microphone, remote control gizmos, talking toys, and more, with full parts and tools lists, safety guidelines, and wiring schematics. Check out ten cool electronics projects, including
* Chapter 8 -- Surfing the Radio Waves (how to make your own radio)
* Chapter 9 -- Scary Pumpkins (crazy Halloween decorations that have sound, light, and movement)
* Chapter 12 -- Hitting Paydirt with an Electronic Metal Detector (a project that can pay for itself) Discover how to
* Handle electronic components safely
* Read a circuit diagram
* Troubleshoot circuits with a multimeter
* Build light-activated gadgets
* Set up a motion detector
* Transform electromagnetic waves into sound Companion Web site
* Go to www.dummies.com/go/electronicsprojectsfd
* Explore new projects with other electronics hobbyists
* Find additional information and project opportunities

Begin having fun with electronics projects right away. Explore the basic concepts of electronics, build your electronics workbench, and create cool projects. Wish you could fix that faulty doorbell, hook up a motion detector, or maybe build your very own robot? This book will really get you charged up! It won't make you an electrician, but it covers the basics, choosing and using tools, and how to build more than a dozen really cool, inexpensive gizmos. You'll be shocked at how easy it is!Discover how to: Master electricity basics; Fill up your electronics parts bin; Read circuit schematics; Test circuits with multimeters; Design your own printed circuit boards; Build robots and program their actions.--Back cover The follow-up to the highly successful Electronics For Dummies (0764576607), this book is perfect for the do-it-yourselfer who is interested in creating unique and fun electronics at home. Abstract: The follow-up to the highly successful Electronics For Dummies (0764576607), this book is perfect for the do-it-yourselfer who is interested in creating unique and fun electronics at home Includes material on buying electronics equipment, common electronics components, schematics, electronic circuits, soldering, multimeters, logic probes, oscilloscopes, breadboard circuits, printed circuit boards, microcontrollers, robotics, testing, and formulas A practical introduction to electronics that covers tools and equipment, safety, circuits, schematics, soldering, multimeters, logic probes, and oscilloscopes and provides instructions for several simple projects, including printed circuit boards and robots Provides instructions for building ten electronic gadgets, including an AM radio, an infrared go-kart, a metal detector, and a parabolic microphone.