Electronics explained in a simple way
You only need 3 components.
A transistor, a resistor and an LED.
See the video below to see how I connected it. Or skip the video if you prefer to read how to connect it.
Connect the resistor and LED in series from the positive supply to the collector of the transistor. Choose a resistor that sets the current of your LED to around 20 mA.
Connect the emitter of the transistor to the negative terminal of the supply. [Read more…] about How to make a simple touch sensor
Printing books is a bit complicated.
I started the process once for one of my books but gave up.
That’s why I’ve focused on eBooks.
But last year I published Electronics For Kids in print:
https://www.build-electronic-circuits.com/electronics-for-kids/
The trick to making it happen was to join forces with a publisher.
[Read more…] about 9 Circuits in print anyone?
A couple of weeks ago I took a course.
I learned one of the most useful skills I’ve learned in a long time:
Laser cutting.
It’s a machine with a laser that moves in 2 axes.
They have one at the makerspace I’m currently at in Oslo.
You can use it to cut and engrave plates of wood in whatever shape you want.
After taking the course, I started using the machine right away. I did this intentionally because I know how easy it is to forget if you don’t start practicing right away.
First, I cut out a laptop stand design I found online.
[Read more…] about Most useful skill I’ve learned in a long time
I just received an email from Ryan who works at Jameco.
He told me they’ve created a component kit for my book Electronics For Kids.
Apparently, they’d received many emails from people wanting an easy way to buy all the components for the book.
And here it is:
I haven’t tried it myself yet, but Jameco has many years experience making kits, so I’m sure they’ve done a good job.
[Read more…] about Finally, Electronics For Kids component kit
I was enjoying my freshly brewed morning coffee as a friend of mine arrived at the office.
(Well, it’s not really my office, but an awesome makerspace I sometimes go to.)
We had a long chat about Kicad and Eagle.
These are two popular applications for designing circuit boards.
I have been a long time Eagle user.
He’s a Kicad user.
But in the coffee roaster project I’m hired to work on, they use Kicad.
So, I had to switch.
There I was, a 20-year-old electronics student, not understanding how the transistor worked.
It’s a bit embarrassing to admit that it took me so long.
The story starts back in my first year at University.
I had played around with electronics since I was 14, and I was able to build circuits.
But I didn’t understand how most of them worked.
Now, I was in one of my first lectures at the University and the professor was explaining how electrons moved through the transistor.
This continued for many lectures.
I had no idea what he was talking about.
