How to Build Electronic Projects

This article will help you get started if you have never built an electronics project before. Electronics projects are great fun, and very educational.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A computer with web access, and books on the subject
• A soldering iron (preferably a temp. adjustable station)
• solder, flux, and small hand tools.
• components & PCBs
• practice, practice, practice

1. Learn all you can about electronics. Educate yourself about electronics theory so you will know what the components do, why, and what else they can be used for. Most components serve several different purposes depending on how they are used in a schematic. This will be the longest step, and it is on going. You will never stop learning about electronics once you start. It is fascinating, and there is always more to learn.

2. Solder, and iron. All you really need to get started on most basic starter projects is a soldering gun, some paste flux, and appropriate solder. For intricate PCB's(printed circuit boards)you will need a soldering station so you can adjust for the correct temperature. Also soldering stations usually come with a pencil style iron for the small spaces you will be working with. The most common type of solder is 60/40 or 63/37. The numbers represent the tin/lead ratio of the solder alloy. Even though newer solder contains no lead, it is still rated this way to avoid confusion, and let you know what the melting temperatures of the alloys are. The more lead, the lower the melting temperature.

3. Tools, and equipment. After you have blown up a few starter kits(yes, this is a natural, and necessary part of the process. Have fun with it.) You will find lots of neat tools of the trade. I like the little "helping hands" kits you can get on eBay, electronics web sites, Radio Shack, etc... You will also find small, smooth jawed pliers, and various spring loaded heat sinks, or alligator clips very helpful. For some projects you will need an appropriate power supply. This is all very much a matter of personal preference. What works for you, gets the job done, and fits in your budget. Most electronics hobby kits, and materials aren't overly expensive, and sometimes the cool, expensive stuff doesn't work as well as the cheap tricks do. This is part of the fun, and exploration though. You now have an excuse to buy new toys, and gadgets.

4. Components, and projects. You will probably want to start with a simple guided project the first few times. There are literally thousands available on-line. A whole lot of the schematics(plans) are free if you buy the components, or kits from most hobbyist suppliers. There are thousands of hobbyist's forums on the web also with free plans for download. I don't recommend starting with a lot of the plans from forums however because most assume you have a certain level of previous experience, and already have the correct components, or are able to identify, and purchase the correct things. Learning about the components, and how to identify them is one of the first things you need to learn along side electronics theory, and starter kits do a really good job with this. In the resources section of this article I have included the website that I use almost exclusively for components, and projects. They have everything you can imagine, from tools, and equipment, tips, and learning material, to every component you would ever need. Start there, and go to the "Tips& hints" tab on the home page. Start with "choosing components: Part1", and keep clicking, and reading down the list of articles for a really good emersion into what you will need to get going. I would stay away from Radio Shack, and other retail outlets like it because their prices are horribly inflated. A common resistor from Radio Shack, or Fry' s is about $.35. The same resistor from a wholesaler is $.06 individually, and $.02 bulk.

5. Continuing education. After you have a few novice projects under your belt. Move on to more, and more complex stuff. Challenge yourself. Don't shy away from a project because you think it is too big, or too complex. Learn up to it until you can tackle it. Then start designing your own projects, and building things freehand. That's where the REAL fun begins!

Tips & Warnings

• Be patient, don't expect your first attempt to go smoothly. If it does, great, but don't expect your second attempt to go smoothly!
• Doing electronics projects is calming for me. You have to be still, quiet, and focus. If you get frustrated walk away. If it isn't fun anymore stop, and come back when it piques your interest again.
• Shop out the best price for your equipment, and components. Retailers are expensive, and online wholesalers are an order of magnitude cheaper. Most wholesalers will sell in small quantities to the public. Some even give samples away free!
• Keep your work area clean, organized, and well lit. A pair of reading glasses will be quite helpful too.
• You will be working with hot, sharp, and sometimes electrically charged items. Use appropriate safety gear, and common sense.
• NEVER leave a heated iron or an open project powered on, and unattended. The fire hazard is not worth the time you think you would save by not waiting for the iron to heat, or the project to power up again.

Resources

• Electronics Express

[csmarie]

on 5/2/2009 This is one of those goals that I've never done, it is so interesting. 5*