Case
08-29-2006, 04:12 AM
I am going to use this thread as getting started DIY tutorial section for beginners to electronics and what not. I will continue to post installments on this thread so lets try to keep it some what clean with Q&A's ect, i don't want to know what you think or tell me im doing a good job so that this becoems a pure information based thread for thoes tryign to get started. Either way I want to keep this some what condensed and get it started off slow and simple. Feel free to contribute though after all it is a forum its needed :)
* Installment #1 - The Essentials *
Any way Lets get started. When working with electronics theres a few basic must have things in your arsenal. So lets start by getting the Essentials in a nice shopping list for you. I will go into the meaning of some of the lingo i use such as what Tinned means in the next installment.
- Solderless Breadboard 6.5x3.125 (http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=20757) - First thing to get is a Solderless Breadboard. Any creation you make that involves any type of circutry needs a place to test everything out before you go into soldering every thing together this is a essential item when creating your own projects and to test things with. A fairly small one that Jameco sells is ideal, they have other sizes but this is HUGE you can do large projects on a board this size but you can get a bigger one if you wish.
- AC to DC Unregulated Wall Transformer (http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=100870) Well having a power supply to test your toys with are also essential. Having at least 12v wall wart to strip and use on your breadboard is perfect, you can all ways use regulators and other small cheap components that cost cents to get the exact voltage you need for a particular item or project. Later we can go into converting a old ATX computer power supply to a bench desktop power supply for projects. You can buy one cheap if you dont all ready have a spare one laying around the house.
- Solid Hook-up Wire - 22 AWG (http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=36767) This is a solid copper wire in the perfect gage to use with your breadboard as hookup wire and it is pre-tinned also making soldering easy. This is a good all around wire for general purpose use, as you get into cretin projects you may have special requirements for that given project but more on that later.
- 6" Premium T6 Wire Stripper (http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=161234) - Quality built strippers feature looping holes, built-in wire cutters, precision knife-type blades for accurate easy strip every time. These are essential must have, a good pair is all ways a must cant tell you how frustrating it is with a bad pair! ALL WAYS REMEMBER use these on copper wire only! You can damage them if you don't.
- 25-Watt Soldering Iron (http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=170587) A good Soldering iron is well essential, ideally you don't want anything over 25 watts or you will end up burning your components. If you want to spend some extra money they do make soldering irons that have adjustable power/temp. If you plan on doing a wide arange of projects in the long term I would suggest invest a little money into a good adjustable soldering station like this one. (http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=236110)
- A roll of Solder (http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=209074) Well this you will need to actually solder things... a roll like this will last you forever.
- Helping Hands (http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=1413&sku=38022&engine=froogle) - I cant tell you how great these are... once you start soldering things you will understand that you cant live with out a pair of these babies.
The Magnafier on these are usualy crap and I just end up removing them any way but for the 7 bucks they usualy cost I own maybe 6 of them.
- Digital Multimeter (http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=220759) This is also a must have, this will be used for all sorts of testing and other very important functions. I will go into more what this is used for later but this is like painting with out paint if you don't have one.
Now these items are the Core tools you need for getting started building your own electronic components. There of course are obvious things you will need at one point like screwdrivers ect and more specialized tools as we get to advanced projects.
The main two stores I use for most of my electronics ordering is Mouser Electronics (http://www.mouser.com/) and Jameco. (http://www.jameco.com) I will put together a parts resource list soon enugh but right now these are the most important two. Happy hunting I will get onto my next installment soon.
* Installment #1 - The Essentials *
Any way Lets get started. When working with electronics theres a few basic must have things in your arsenal. So lets start by getting the Essentials in a nice shopping list for you. I will go into the meaning of some of the lingo i use such as what Tinned means in the next installment.
- Solderless Breadboard 6.5x3.125 (http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=20757) - First thing to get is a Solderless Breadboard. Any creation you make that involves any type of circutry needs a place to test everything out before you go into soldering every thing together this is a essential item when creating your own projects and to test things with. A fairly small one that Jameco sells is ideal, they have other sizes but this is HUGE you can do large projects on a board this size but you can get a bigger one if you wish.
- AC to DC Unregulated Wall Transformer (http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=100870) Well having a power supply to test your toys with are also essential. Having at least 12v wall wart to strip and use on your breadboard is perfect, you can all ways use regulators and other small cheap components that cost cents to get the exact voltage you need for a particular item or project. Later we can go into converting a old ATX computer power supply to a bench desktop power supply for projects. You can buy one cheap if you dont all ready have a spare one laying around the house.
- Solid Hook-up Wire - 22 AWG (http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=36767) This is a solid copper wire in the perfect gage to use with your breadboard as hookup wire and it is pre-tinned also making soldering easy. This is a good all around wire for general purpose use, as you get into cretin projects you may have special requirements for that given project but more on that later.
- 6" Premium T6 Wire Stripper (http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=161234) - Quality built strippers feature looping holes, built-in wire cutters, precision knife-type blades for accurate easy strip every time. These are essential must have, a good pair is all ways a must cant tell you how frustrating it is with a bad pair! ALL WAYS REMEMBER use these on copper wire only! You can damage them if you don't.
- 25-Watt Soldering Iron (http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=170587) A good Soldering iron is well essential, ideally you don't want anything over 25 watts or you will end up burning your components. If you want to spend some extra money they do make soldering irons that have adjustable power/temp. If you plan on doing a wide arange of projects in the long term I would suggest invest a little money into a good adjustable soldering station like this one. (http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=236110)
- A roll of Solder (http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=209074) Well this you will need to actually solder things... a roll like this will last you forever.
- Helping Hands (http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat_id=1413&sku=38022&engine=froogle) - I cant tell you how great these are... once you start soldering things you will understand that you cant live with out a pair of these babies.
The Magnafier on these are usualy crap and I just end up removing them any way but for the 7 bucks they usualy cost I own maybe 6 of them.
- Digital Multimeter (http://www.jameco.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&productId=220759) This is also a must have, this will be used for all sorts of testing and other very important functions. I will go into more what this is used for later but this is like painting with out paint if you don't have one.
Now these items are the Core tools you need for getting started building your own electronic components. There of course are obvious things you will need at one point like screwdrivers ect and more specialized tools as we get to advanced projects.
The main two stores I use for most of my electronics ordering is Mouser Electronics (http://www.mouser.com/) and Jameco. (http://www.jameco.com) I will put together a parts resource list soon enugh but right now these are the most important two. Happy hunting I will get onto my next installment soon.