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 (http://www.dummies.com/go/electronicsprojectsfd) www.dummies.com/go/electronicsprojectsfd * Explore new projects with other electronics hobbyists * Find additional information and project opportunities Authors’ Acknowledgments 9 Contents at a Glance 11 Table of Contents 13 Introduction 21 Why Buy This Book? 21 Foolish Assumptions 21 Safety, Safety, Safety! 22 How This Book Is Organized 22 Icons Used in This Book 23 Part I: Project Prep 25 Chapter 1: Exploring the World of Electronics Projects 27 What Is an Electronics Project, Anyway? 27 Mixing and Matching Effects 29 What Can You Do with Electronics Projects? 30 What You Need to Get Started 33 Chapter 2: Safety First 37 Avoiding Shocks Like the Plague 37 Protecting Electronic Components from Dreaded Static Discharge 41 Working with the Tools of the Trade 43 A Safe Workspace Is a Happy Workspace 46 Chapter 3: Assembling Your Electronics Arsenal 51 Tool Time 51 Multimeter 57 Components Primer 58 The Nuts and Bolts of Building Materials 72 Breadboard Basics 74 Chapter 4: Running Down the Skills You Need 79 It’s Symbolic: Reading a Schematic 79 Breadboarding 85 Soldering Your Circuit Board 90 Measuring Stuff with a Multimeter 96 Working with the Boxes that Contain Your Projects 98 Part II: Sounding Off! 105 Chapter 5: Making Light Dance to the Music 107 The Big Picture: Project Overview 107 Scoping Out the Schematic 109 Fancy Footwork: Exploring the Dance to the Music Circuit 110 Building Alert: Construction Issues 112 Perusing the Parts List 112 Taking Things Step by Step 114 Trying It Out 131 Taking It Further 133 Chapter 6: Focusing Sound with a Parabolic Microphone 135 What a Dish! The Project Overview 135 Scoping Out the Schematic 137 Building Alert: Construction Issues 138 Perusing the Parts List 139 Taking Things Step by Step 142 Trying It Out 157 Taking It Further 157 Chapter 7: Murmuring Merlin 159 The Big Picture: Project Overview 159 Scoping Out the Schematic 161 Building Alert: Construction Issues 163 Perusing the Parts List 164 Taking Things Step by Step 167 Trying It Out 183 Taking It Further 184 Chapter 8: Surfing the Airwaves 185 The Big Picture: Project Overview 185 Scoping Out the Schematic 186 Building Alert: Construction Issues 189 Perusing the Parts List 189 Taking Things Step by Step 192 Trying It Out 203 Taking It Further 203 Part III: Let There Be Light 205 Chapter 9: Scary Pumpkins 207 The Big Picture: Project Overview 207 Taking Things Step by Step 217 Trying It Out 231 Taking It Further 234 Chapter 10: Dancing Dolphins 235 The Big Picture: Project Overview 235 Scoping Out the Schematic 236 Building Alert: Construction Issues 241 Perusing the Parts List 241 Taking Things Step by Step 243 Trying It Out 257 Taking It Further 258 Chapter 11: Controlling a Go-Kart, Infrared Style 259 The Big Picture: Project Overview 259 Scoping Out the Schematic 261 Building Alert: Construction Issues 265 Perusing the Parts List 265 Taking Things Step by Step 269 Trying It Out 296 Taking It Further 297 Part IV: Good Vibrations 299 Chapter 12: A Handy-Dandy Metal Detector 301 The Big Picture: Project Overview 301 Scoping Out the Schematic 302 Building Alert: Construction Issues 304 Perusing the Parts List 304 Taking Things Step by Step 306 Trying It Out 319 Taking It Further 320 Chapter 13: Sensitive Sam Walks the Line 321 The Big Picture: Project Overview 321 Scoping Out the Schematic 323 Building Alert: Construction Issues 329 Perusing the Parts List 329 Taking Things Step by Step 333 Trying It Out 360 Taking It Further 361 Chapter 14: Couch Pet-ato 363 The Big Picture: Project Overview 364 Scoping Out the Schematic 364 Building Alert: Construction Issues 366 Perusing the Parts List 366 Taking Things Step by Step 368 Trying It Out 379 Taking It Further 380 Part V: The Part of Tens 381 Chapter 15: Ten Great Parts Suppliers 383 When Is a Supplier Right for You? 383 Reynolds Electronics 384 Hobby Engineering 385 Jameco 385 Digi-Key 385 Mouser Electronics 386 RadioShack 386 Fry’s Electronics 386 Electronic Goldmine 387 Furturlec 387 Maplin 387 Chapter 16: Ten Great Electronics Resources 389 Electronics Magazines 389 Jumpstart Your Project Creativity with Circuits 391 Web Sites That Teach You the Ropes 392 Writing the Book on Electronics 394 Chapter 17: Ten Specialized Electronics Resources 395 Radio 395 Audio and Music 397 Robotics 398 Glossary 401 Index 411
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
