Electronics For Dummies (3rd Ed.)

2020·12.6 MB·English

by  Cathleen Shamieh

Electronics For Dummies®, 3rd Edition
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2019953012
ISBN 978-1-119-67559-4 (pbk); ISBN 978-1-119-67560-0 (epdf); ISBN 978-1-119-
67562-4 (epub)
Electronics For Dummies®
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Table of Contents
Cover
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Beyond the Book
Where to Go from Here
Part 1: Fathoming the Fundamentals of Electronics
Chapter 1: Introducing You to Electronics
Just What Is Electronics?
Checking Out Electric Current
Understanding Voltage
Putting Electrical Energy to Work
Using Circuits to Make Sure Electrons Arrive at Their Destination
Supplying Electrical Energy
Marveling at What Electrons Can Do
Chapter 2: Gearing Up to Explore Electronics
Getting the Tools You Need
Stocking Up on Essential Supplies
Getting Ready to Rumble
Using a Solderless Breadboard
Chapter 3: Running Around in Circuits
Comparing Closed, Open, and Short Circuits
Understanding Conventional Current Flow
Examining a Basic Circuit
Chapter 4: Making Connections
Creating Series and Parallel Circuits
Switching Electric Current On and Off
Creating a Combination Circuit
Switching On the Power
What Do Circuits Look Like?
Part 2: Controlling Current with Components
Chapter 5: Meeting Up with Resistance
Resisting the Flow of Current
Resistors: Passive Yet Powerful
Combining Resistors
Chapter 6: Obeying Ohm’s Law
Defining Ohm’s Law
Using Ohm’s Law to Analyze Circuits
Seeing Is Believing: Ohm’s Law Really Works!
What Is Ohm’s Law Really Good For?
The Power of Joule’s Law
Chapter 7: Getting Charged Up about Capacitors
Capacitors: Reservoirs for Electrical Energy
Charging and Discharging Capacitors
Discovering Uses for Capacitors
Characterizing Capacitors
Combining Capacitors
Teaming Up with Resistors
Chapter 8: Identifying with Inductors
Kissing Cousins: Magnetism and Electricity
Introducing the Inductor: A Coil with a Magnetic Personality
Uses for Inductors
Using Inductors in Circuits
Tuning in to Radio Broadcasts
Influencing the Coil Next Door: Transformers
Chapter 9: Diving into Diodes
Are We Conducting or Aren’t We?
Forming a Junction Diode
Using Diodes in Circuits
Chapter 10: Tremendously Talented Transistors
Transistors: Masters of Switching and Amplifying
Examining How Transistors Work
Amplifying Signals with a Transistor
Switching Signals with a Transistor
Choosing Transistors
Gaining Experience with Transistors
Chapter 11: Innovating with Integrated Circuits
Why ICs?
Linear, Digital, or Combination Plate?
Making Decisions with Logic
Using ICs
Using Your Logic
Hanging Out with Some Popular ICs
Chapter 12: Acquiring Additional Parts
Making Connections
Powering Up
Using Your Sensors
Experiencing the Outcome of Electronics
Part 3: Getting Serious about Electronics
Chapter 13: Preparing Your Lab and Ensuring Your Safety
Picking a Place to Practice Electronics
Acquiring Tools and Supplies
Stocking Up on Parts and Components
Protecting You and Your Electronics
Chapter 14: Interpreting Schematics
What’s a Schematic and Why Should I Care?
Seeing the Big Picture
Recognizing Symbols of Power
Labeling Circuit Components
Knowing Where to Take Measurements
Exploring a Schematic
Alternative Schematic Drawing Styles
Chapter 15: Building Circuits
Taking a Look at Solderless Breadboards
Building Circuits with Solderless Breadboards
Soldering 101
Creating a Permanent Circuit
Chapter 16: Mastering Your Multimeter to Measure Circuits
Multitasking with a Multimeter
Exploring Multimeters
Setting Up Your Multimeter
Operating Your Multimeter
Using a Multimeter to Check Your Circuits
Chapter 17: Putting Projects Together
Getting What You Need Right Off the Bat
Creating an LED Flasher Circuit
Creating an LED Bike Flasher
Catching Intruders with a Light-Sensing Alarm
Playing the C-Major Scale
Scaring Off the Bad Guys with a Siren
Building an Audio Amp with Volume Control
Creating Light Chasers
Red Light, Green Light, 1-2-3!
Part 4: The Part of Tens
Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Explore Electronics Further
Surfing for Circuits
Getting a Jumpstart with Hobby Kits
Simulating Circuit Operation
Scoping Out Signals
Counting Up Those Megahertz
Generating a Variety of Signals
Exploring Basic Computer Architectures
Microcontrolling Your Environment
Getting a Taste of Raspberry Pi
Try, Fry, and Try Again
Chapter 19: Ten Great Electronics Parts Sources
North America
Outside North America
What’s RoHS Compliance?
New or Surplus?
Glossary
Index
About the Author
Advertisement Page
Connect with Dummies
End User License Agreement
List of Tables
Chapter 5
TABLE 5-1 Resistor Color Coding
Chapter 7
TABLE 7-1 Capacitor Characteristics
TABLE 7-2 Capacitor Value Reference
TABLE 7-3 Capacitor Tolerance Markings
Chapter 12
TABLE 12-1 Wires Commonly Used in Electronics Projects
Chapter 13
TABLE 13-1 Effects of Current on Average Human Body
Chapter 14
TABLE 14-1 Symbols for Analog Components
List of Illustrations
Chapter 1
FIGURE 1-1: The dimmer electronics in this circuit control the flow of electric...
FIGURE 1-2: This helium atom consists of 2 protons and 2 neutrons in the nucleu...
FIGURE 1-3: A copper atom consists of 29 protons, 35 neutrons, and 29 electrons...
FIGURE 1-4: Electron flow through a conductor is analogous to a bucket brigade.
FIGURE 1-5: A difference in charge between metal plates in a battery creates a ...
FIGURE 1-6: A simple circuit consisting of a power source, a load, and a path f...
FIGURE 1-7: Direct current (DC) generated by a battery.
FIGURE 1-8: This calculator is powered by photovoltaic cells.
FIGURE 1-9: Circuit symbols for a battery (left), AC power source (center), and...
Chapter 2
FIGURE 2-1: A multimeter and spring-loaded test clips.
FIGURE 2-2: This solderless breadboard has 830 contact holes.
FIGURE 2-3: The Weller WES51 soldering station includes a temperature-adjustabl...
FIGURE 2-4: A gauged wire stripper/cutter and needle-nose pliers.
FIGURE 2-5: An antistatic wrist strap can prevent you from zapping sensitive co...
FIGURE 2-6: A sampling of the electronic components used in the experiments and...
FIGURE 2-7: Prepare your batteries for use in a solderless breadboard.
FIGURE 2-8: The contact holes in a solderless breadboard are arranged in rows a...
Chapter 3
FIGURE 3-1: A closed circuit allows current to flow, but an open circuit leaves...
FIGURE 3-2: A switch in the open position disconnects the light bulb from the b...
FIGURE 3-3: Closing the switch completes the conductive path in this flashlight...
FIGURE 3-4: In a short circuit, current may be diverted from the path you inten...
FIGURE 3-5: Conventional current flows one way; electrons flow the other way.
FIGURE 3-6: Current delivers electrical energy from the battery to the resistor...
FIGURE 3-7: Alligator clips connect components in this simple LED circuit.
FIGURE 3-8: The LED circuit is easy to set up on a solderless breadboard.
FIGURE 3-9: A neater way to build your circuit. The yellow line shows the path ...
FIGURE 3-10: Measure the voltage supplied by the battery pack.
FIGURE 3-11: Measure the voltage across the resistor.
FIGURE 3-12: Measure the voltage across the LED.
FIGURE 3-13: The voltage supplied by the battery is dropped across the resistor...
FIGURE 3-14: To measure current, insert your multimeter into the path through w...
Chapter 4
FIGURE 4-1: In a series circuit, current flows through each component sequentia...
FIGURE 4-2: Two ways to set up the circuit with two LEDs in series.
FIGURE 4-3: Light bulbs are often arranged in a parallel circuit so if one burn...
FIGURE 4-4: Two ways to set up the circuit with two LEDs in parallel.
FIGURE 4-5: Measure the current flowing through the resistor.
FIGURE 4-6: Measure the current flowing through LED1 (left) and LED2 (right).
FIGURE 4-7: From top to bottom: two toggle switches, a rocker switch, and a lea...
FIGURE 4-8: Circuit symbols for single-pole, single-throw (SPST), single-pole, ...
FIGURE 4-9: By opening and closing switches in this series-parallel circuit, yo...
FIGURE 4-10: By turning just the rightmost switch on, only the green LED receiv...
FIGURE 4-11: With all three switches off, none of the LEDs receives current (le...
FIGURE 4-12: An SPDT switch can be used as an on/off switch by connecting just ...
FIGURE 4-13: Using an SPDT switch as an on/off switch.
FIGURE 4-14: A switch connects and disconnects a battery from the power rails o...
FIGURE 4-15: A green LED indicates whether the breadboard is powered up or not.
FIGURE 4-16: The green LED in the top right signals that voltage is applied to ...
FIGURE 4-17: A dimmer switch is a simple electronic circuit with just a few com...
FIGURE 4-18: Computer hard drive electronics.
Chapter 5
FIGURE 5-1: Resistors come in a variety of sizes and resistance values.
FIGURE 5-2: The resistor limits the amount of current, I, flowing into sensitiv...
FIGURE 5-3: Two ways to set up the resistor-LED circuit.
FIGURE 5-4: Higher values of resistance restrict current more, resulting in les...
FIGURE 5-5: Use two resistors to create a voltage divider, a common technique f...
FIGURE 5-6: Two ways to build the voltage divider circuit.
FIGURE 5-7: Measure the total voltage supplied by the battery (left) and the vo...
FIGURE 5-8: Circuit symbols for a fixed resistor (left), potentiometer (center)...
FIGURE 5-9: Use your multimeter set on ohms to measure the actual resistance of...