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
1. Just What Is Electronics?
2. Checking Out Electric Current
3. Understanding Voltage
4. Putting Electrical Energy to Work
5. Using Circuits to Make Sure Electrons Arrive at Their Destination
6. Supplying Electrical Energy
7. Marveling at What Electrons Can Do
Chapter 2: Gearing Up to Explore Electronics
1. Getting the Tools You Need
2. Stocking Up on Essential Supplies
3. Getting Ready to Rumble
4. Using a Solderless Breadboard
Chapter 3: Running Around in Circuits
1. Comparing Closed, Open, and Short Circuits
2. Understanding Conventional Current Flow
3. Examining a Basic Circuit
Chapter 4: Making Connections
1. Creating Series and Parallel Circuits
2. Switching Electric Current On and Off
3. Creating a Combination Circuit
4. Switching On the Power
5. What Do Circuits Look Like?

Part 2: Controlling Current with Components

Chapter 5: Meeting Up with Resistance
1. Resisting the Flow of Current
2. Resistors: Passive Yet Powerful
3. Combining Resistors
Chapter 6: Obeying Ohm’s Law
1. Defining Ohm’s Law
2. Using Ohm’s Law to Analyze Circuits
3. Seeing Is Believing: Ohm’s Law Really Works!
4. What Is Ohm’s Law Really Good For?
5. The Power of Joule’s Law
Chapter 7: Getting Charged Up about Capacitors
1. Capacitors: Reservoirs for Electrical Energy
2. Charging and Discharging Capacitors
3. Discovering Uses for Capacitors
4. Characterizing Capacitors
5. Combining Capacitors
6. Teaming Up with Resistors
Chapter 8: Identifying with Inductors
1. Kissing Cousins: Magnetism and Electricity
2. Introducing the Inductor: A Coil with a Magnetic Personality
3. Uses for Inductors
4. Using Inductors in Circuits
5. Tuning in to Radio Broadcasts
6. Influencing the Coil Next Door: Transformers
Chapter 9: Diving into Diodes
1. Are We Conducting or Aren’t We?
2. Forming a Junction Diode
3. Using Diodes in Circuits
Chapter 10: Tremendously Talented Transistors
1. Transistors: Masters of Switching and Amplifying
2. Examining How Transistors Work
3. Amplifying Signals with a Transistor
4. Switching Signals with a Transistor
5. Choosing Transistors
6. Gaining Experience with Transistors
Chapter 11: Innovating with Integrated Circuits
1. Why ICs?
2. Linear, Digital, or Combination Plate?
3. Making Decisions with Logic
4. Using ICs
5. Using Your Logic
6. Hanging Out with Some Popular ICs
Chapter 12: Acquiring Additional Parts
1. Making Connections
2. Powering Up
3. Using Your Sensors
4. Experiencing the Outcome of Electronics

Part 3: Getting Serious about Electronics

Chapter 13: Preparing Your Lab and Ensuring Your Safety
1. Picking a Place to Practice Electronics
2. Acquiring Tools and Supplies
3. Stocking Up on Parts and Components
4. Protecting You and Your Electronics
Chapter 14: Interpreting Schematics
1. What’s a Schematic and Why Should I Care?
2. Seeing the Big Picture
3. Recognizing Symbols of Power
4. Labeling Circuit Components
5. Knowing Where to Take Measurements
6. Exploring a Schematic
7. Alternative Schematic Drawing Styles
Chapter 15: Building Circuits
1. Taking a Look at Solderless Breadboards
2. Building Circuits with Solderless Breadboards
3. Soldering 101
4. Creating a Permanent Circuit
Chapter 16: Mastering Your Multimeter to Measure Circuits
1. Multitasking with a Multimeter
2. Exploring Multimeters
3. Setting Up Your Multimeter
4. Operating Your Multimeter
5. Using a Multimeter to Check Your Circuits
Chapter 17: Putting Projects Together
1. Getting What You Need Right Off the Bat
2. Creating an LED Flasher Circuit
3. Creating an LED Bike Flasher
4. Catching Intruders with a Light-Sensing Alarm
5. Playing the C-Major Scale
6. Scaring Off the Bad Guys with a Siren
7. Building an Audio Amp with Volume Control
8. Creating Light Chasers
9. Red Light, Green Light, 1-2-3!

Part 4: The Part of Tens

Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Explore Electronics Further
1. Surfing for Circuits
2. Getting a Jumpstart with Hobby Kits
3. Simulating Circuit Operation
4. Scoping Out Signals
5. Counting Up Those Megahertz
6. Generating a Variety of Signals
7. Exploring Basic Computer Architectures
8. Microcontrolling Your Environment
9. Getting a Taste of Raspberry Pi
10. Try, Fry, and Try Again
Chapter 19: Ten Great Electronics Parts Sources
1. North America
2. Outside North America
3. What’s RoHS Compliance?
4. New or Surplus?

Glossary

Index

About the Author

Advertisement Page

Connect with Dummies

End User License Agreement

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...
FIGURE 5-10: Decode the resistor’s stripe pattern to determine the resistance.
FIGURE 5-11: You vary the resistance of these 10 kΩ dial pots by rotating a sha...
FIGURE 5-12: A potentiometer has a wiper that moves along a resistance track.
FIGURE 5-13: The combined resistance of two or more resistors in series is the ...
FIGURE 5-14: A resistor in series with a potentiometer ensures that current to ...
FIGURE 5-15: The combined resistance of two or more resistors in parallel is al...
FIGURE 5-16: Many circuits include a combination of parallel and series resista...

Chapter 6

FIGURE 6-1: A voltage of 9 V applied to a resistor of 1 kΩ produces a current o...
FIGURE 6-2: To calculate the current through this circuit, determine the equiva...
FIGURE 6-3: This voltage divider circuit reduces the 9-volt supply to 5 volts a...
FIGURE 6-4: With a simple series circuit, you can witness Ohm’s Law in action.
FIGURE 6-5: Your solderless breadboard makes the connections between components...
FIGURE 6-6: Analyze complex circuits by applying Ohm’s Law and calculating equi...
FIGURE 6-7: You can use Ohm’s Law to determine the minimum resistance you need ...

Chapter 7

FIGURE 7-1: Capacitors come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
FIGURE 7-2: When a battery is placed in a circuit with a capacitor, the capacit...
FIGURE 7-3: This circuit enables you to watch a capacitor charging and discharg...
FIGURE 7-4: Setting up the capacitor charging/discharging circuit.
FIGURE 7-5: Circuit symbols for capacitors.
FIGURE 7-6: Capacitors in parallel add up.
FIGURE 7-7: Capacitors in series work against each other, reducing overall capa...
FIGURE 7-8: The capacitor charges until its voltage equals the supply voltage.
FIGURE 7-9: The voltage across a capacitor changes over time as the capacitor c...
FIGURE 7-10: By choosing different resistance values, you can alter the charge ...
FIGURE 7-11: Circuit setup for observing different RC time constants for chargi...

Chapter 8

FIGURE 8-1: Magnetic lines of force exist in parallel flux lines from a magnet’...
FIGURE 8-2: Current flowing through a wire produces a weak magnetic field aroun...
FIGURE 8-3: Moving a magnet inside a coil of wire induces a current in the wire...
FIGURE 8-4: Moving a magnet near a coil of wire induces a current in the wire.
FIGURE 8-5: Circuit symbol for an inductor.
FIGURE 8-6: An inductor delays changes in current.
FIGURE 8-7: An RLC circuit has a resonant frequency, at which the maximum curre...
FIGURE 8-8: The current in a series RLC circuit is highest at the resonant freq...
FIGURE 8-9: Circuit symbol for a crystal.
FIGURE 8-10: Circuit symbols for an air-core transformer and a solid-core trans...

Chapter 9

FIGURE 9-1: Diodes are two-terminal semiconductor devices similar in size and s...
FIGURE 9-2: Silicon and other semiconductor materials contain strong covalent b...
FIGURE 9-3: A diode is made up of a single pn-junction.
FIGURE 9-4: Circuit symbols for different types of semiconductor diodes.
FIGURE 9-5: The battery on the left forward-biases the diode, allowing current ...
FIGURE 9-6: The diode in this circuit clips off the lower portion of the AC sou...
FIGURE 9-7: In a bridge rectifier, four diodes transform an AC voltage or curre...
FIGURE 9-8: The Zener diode stabilizes the voltage drop across the load in this...
FIGURE 9-9: The cathode (negative side) of a typical single-color LED is attach...
FIGURE 9-10: Be sure to insert a resistor in series with an LED to limit curren...
FIGURE 9-11: Use this circuit to turn an LED on and off, and to vary the intens...
FIGURE 9-12: By turning the pot’s knob, you vary the voltage across the LED. Wh...

Chapter 10

FIGURE 10-1: Circuit symbols for bipolar junction transistors and field-effect ...
FIGURE 10-2: Bipolar junction transistors contain two pn-junctions: the base-em...
FIGURE 10-3: In a field-effect transistor (FET), voltage applied to the gate co...
FIGURE 10-4: The drab, dull packaging of the average transistor is just a cover...
FIGURE 10-5: Like a valve, a transistor can be off (no current), fully on (maxi...
FIGURE 10-6: A transistor works as a switch or an amplifier, depending on what ...
FIGURE 10-7: By strategically positioning a few resistors in a transistor circu...
FIGURE 10-8: Blocking capacitor C1 helps maintain the bias of the transistor by...
FIGURE 10-9: A pair of LEDs helps you visualize the amplification capabilities ...
FIGURE 10-10: The small base current barely lights the red LED, while the large...
FIGURE 10-11: A Darlington pair can be used as a touch switch.
FIGURE 10-12: One way to set up the touch switch transistor circuit. You can tu...

Chapter 11

FIGURE 11-1: Circuit symbols for logic gates.
FIGURE 11-2: Functional diagram of the industry-standard 7400 quad 2-input NAND...
FIGURE 11-3: Truth tables tell you the outputs of a logic gate for each combina...
FIGURE 11-4: The truth table for the half-adder circuit.
FIGURE 11-5: The half-adder circuit consists of an AND gate and an XOR gate.
FIGURE 11-6: A popular form of integrated circuit is the dual in-line package (...
FIGURE 11-7: IC pin numbering runs counterclockwise from the upper left.
FIGURE 11-8: Use an LED to show the output of a NAND logic gate.
FIGURE 11-9: With SW1 (top switch) on (slider right) and SW2 (bottom switch) of...
FIGURE 11-10: Three NAND gates configured to create an OR gate.
FIGURE 11-11: Using the 74HC00 to demonstrate both a single NAND gate and an OR...
FIGURE 11-12: Pinout of a standard 8-pin op amp, such as the LM741.
FIGURE 11-13: An inverting op-amp circuit provides uniform gain over a wide ran...
FIGURE 11-14: 555 timer IC pinout.
FIGURE 11-15: A 555 astable multivibrator circuit configuration.
FIGURE 11-16: Series of voltage pulses from a 555 astable multivibrator circuit...
FIGURE 11-17: Triggered by closing the momentary switch at pin 2, the 555 monos...
FIGURE 11-18: The 555 bistable circuit (or flip-flop) produces a high output wh...
FIGURE 11-19: Use an LED to visualize the output of a flip-flop circuit.
FIGURE 11-20: The SPDT switch is used to both trigger and reset the 555 timer i...
FIGURE 11-21: Pinout of the 4017 CMOS decade counter.
FIGURE 11-22: The square chip that Mr. Washington is gazing at is a microcontro...

Chapter 12

FIGURE 12-1: Both stranded and solid wire are commonly used in electronics.
FIGURE 12-2: An analog audio cable (left) and an HDMI cable (right) facilitate ...
FIGURE 12-3: Circuit symbols for a cell (left) and a battery (right).
FIGURE 12-4: A battery clip makes it easy to connect a 9-volt battery to your c...
FIGURE 12-5: Four 1.5 volt batteries in a battery holder produce about 6 volts ...
FIGURE 12-6: This AC adapter converts 120 volts AC to 7.5 volts DC and supplies...
FIGURE 12-7: Circuit symbols for a variety of sensors.
FIGURE 12-8: Circuit symbols for some popular output transducers.
FIGURE 12-9: The parts of a garden-variety speaker: two magnets and a cone.
FIGURE 12-10: This noisy little buzzer is simple to operate.
FIGURE 12-11: How the parts of a simple DC motor fit together.

Chapter 13

FIGURE 13-1: Multimeters measure voltage, resistance, and current.
FIGURE 13-2: Some soldering iron models are temperature-adjustable and come wit...
FIGURE 13-3: Diagonal cutters trim wire ends flush to the surface.
FIGURE 13-4: These helping hands combine alligator clips with a magnifying glas...
FIGURE 13-5: You can build a circuit on a small solderless breadboard in just m...
FIGURE 13-6: An antistatic wrist strap reduces or eliminates the risk of electr...

Chapter 14

FIGURE 14-1: Block diagram representing a radio-receiver system.
FIGURE 14-2: You may encounter a number of variations in how a schematic shows ...
FIGURE 14-3: A simple schematic shows the connections between a battery and a r...
FIGURE 14-4: Symbols for power and ground.
FIGURE 14-5: A simpler way to show the connections between a battery and a resi...
FIGURE 14-6: Some circuits require positive and negative power supplies.
FIGURE 14-7: Different ways to represent a circuit’s common ground connections.
FIGURE 14-8: Symbols for logic gates.
FIGURE 14-9: Two different schematic representations of the same circuit.
FIGURE 14-10: Symbols for switches and relays.
FIGURE 14-11: Symbols for input and output transducers.
FIGURE 14-12: Symbols for connections to other circuits.
FIGURE 14-13: Symbols for common test instruments.
FIGURE 14-14: The schematic and parts list used for the LED flasher project in ...
FIGURE 14-15: Schematic symbols used for circuits designed in Europe.

Chapter 15

FIGURE 15-1: Solderless breadboards come in a variety of sizes. This one has 83...
FIGURE 15-2: The contact holes in a solderless breadboard are arranged in rows ...
FIGURE 15-3: Tools of the trade (top to bottom): wire cutter/stripper, mini nee...
FIGURE 15-4: Prestripped jumper wires can save you time and agony.
FIGURE 15-5: Cutting, stripping, and bending an interconnect wire.
FIGURE 15-6: Strip and bend the ends of jumper wire, and clip the leads of comp...
FIGURE 15-7: Holding the iron at an angle, first, apply heat to the metal parts...
FIGURE 15-8: A variety of perfboards are available for use in constructing perm...
FIGURE 15-9: Several buses run up and down this perfboard, which is well suited...

Chapter 16

FIGURE 16-1: Multimeters measure voltage, resistance, current, and continuity.
FIGURE 16-2: Spring-loaded test clips prevent accidental contact.
FIGURE 16-3: Circuit symbols for common test instruments.
FIGURE 16-4: This circa-1980s analog multimeter uses a needle to indicate volta...
FIGURE 16-5: Digital multimeters provide a wide variety of measurement options.
FIGURE 16-6: Touch the test probes of the meter together and verify a zero ohms...
FIGURE 16-7: A simple resistor-LED circuit.
FIGURE 16-8: Measuring voltage drops in a resistor-LED circuit.
FIGURE 16-9: To measure current, connect the meter in series with the circuit o...
FIGURE 16-10: Connect the test leads to the first and center, center and third,...
FIGURE 16-11: Purchase or make a bleeder jumper, used for draining excess charg...
FIGURE 16-12: A bipolar transistor is like two diodes in one package.

Chapter 17

FIGURE 17-1: Schematic of the single LED flasher circuit.
FIGURE 17-2: An LED flasher with parts mounted on a solderless board. (555 time...
FIGURE 17-3: The LED bike flasher circuit. Values of R1, R2, and C1 are selecte...
FIGURE 17-4: Schematic of a light alarm.
FIGURE 17-5: The C-major scale circuit, with labels added to show you which swi...
FIGURE 17-6: A police-type siren made from two 555 timer ICs.
FIGURE 17-7: Schematic of the audio amplifier.
FIGURE 17-8: Schematic for Light Chaser 1.
FIGURE 17-9: Schematic for Light Chaser 2.
FIGURE 17-10: Schematic for a three-light traffic signal.
FIGURE 17-11: The pulse train from the 555 timer chip triggers the 4017 decade ...

Introduction

Are you curious to know what makes your iPhone tick? How about your tablet, stereo system, GPS device, HDTV — well, just about every other electronic thing you use to entertain yourself and enrich your life?

Or have you wondered how resistors, diodes, transistors, capacitors, and other building blocks of electronics work? Been tempted to try building your own electronic devices? Well, you’ve come to the right place!

Electronics For Dummies, 3rd Edition, is your entrée into the exciting world of modern electronics. Loaded with illustrations and plain-English explanations, this book enables you to understand, create, and troubleshoot your own electronic devices.

About This Book

All too often, electronics seems like a mystery because it involves controlling something you can’t see — electric current — which you’ve been warned repeatedly not to touch. That’s enough to scare away most people. But as you continue to experience the daily benefits of electronics, you may begin to wonder how it’s possible to make so many incredible things happen in such small spaces.

This book offers you a chance to satisfy your curiosity about electronics while having a lot of fun along the way. You get a basic understanding of exactly what electronics is, down-to-earth explanations (and gobs of illustrations) of how major electronic components — and the rules that govern them — work, and step-by-step instructions for building and testing working electronic circuits and projects. Although this book doesn’t pretend to answer all your questions about electronics, it gives you a good grounding in the essentials and prepares you to dig deeper into the world of electronic circuits.

I assume that you may want to jump around this book a bit, diving deep into a topic that holds special interest for you and possibly skimming through other topics. For this reason, I provide loads of chapter cross-references to point you to information that can fill in any gaps or refresh your memory on a topic.

The table of contents at the front of this book provides an excellent resource that you can use to quickly locate exactly what you’re looking for. You’ll also find the glossary useful when you get stuck on a particular term and need to review its definition. Finally, the folks at Wiley have thoughtfully provided a thorough index at the back of the book to assist you in narrowing your reading to specific pages.

It is my hope that when you’re finished with this book, you realize that electronics isn’t as complicated as you may have once thought. And, it is my intent to arm you with the knowledge and confidence you need to charge ahead in the exciting field of electronics.

Foolish Assumptions

In writing this book, I made a few assumptions about the skill level and interests of you and other readers when it comes to the field of electronics. I tailored the book based on the following assumptions:

You don’t know much — if anything — about electronics.
You aren’t necessarily well versed in physics or mathematics, but you’re at least moderately comfortable with introductory high school algebra.
You want to find out how resistors, capacitors, diodes, transistors, and other electronic components actually work.
You want to see for yourself — in simple circuits you can build — how each component does its job.
You're interested in building — and understanding the operation of — circuits that actually accomplish something useful.
You have a pioneering spirit — that is, a willingness to experiment, accept periodic setbacks, and tackle any problems that may crop up — tempered by an interest in your personal safety.

I start from scratch — explaining what electric current is and why circuits are necessary for current to flow — and build from there. You find easy-to-understand descriptions of how each electronic component works supported by lots of illustrative photographs and diagrams. In 9 of the first 11 chapters, you find one or more mini projects you can build in 15 minutes or so; each is designed to showcase how a particular component works.

Later in the book, I provide several fun projects you can build in an hour or less, and I explain the workings of each one in detail. By building these projects, you get to see firsthand how various components work together to make something cool — sometimes even useful — happen.

As you embark on this electronics tour, expect to make some mistakes along the way. Mistakes are fine; they help enhance your understanding of and appreciation for electronics. Keep in mind: no pain, no gain. (Or should I say, no transistor, no gain?)

Icons Used in This Book

Tips alert you to information that can truly save you time, headaches, or money (or all three!). You’ll find that if you use my tips, your electronics experience will be that much more enjoyable.

This icon reminds you of important ideas or facts that you should keep in mind while exploring the fascinating world of electronics.

Even though this entire book is about technical stuff, I flag certain topics to alert you to deeper technical information that might require a little more brain power to digest. If you choose to skip this information, that’s okay — you can still follow along just fine.

When you tinker with electronics, you’re bound to encounter situations that call for extreme caution. Enter the Warning icon, a not-so-gentle reminder to take extra precautions to avoid personal injury or prevent damage to your tools, components, circuits — or your pocketbook.

Beyond the Book

I have written a lot of extra content that you won’t find in this book. Go online to find the following:

Cheat sheet (www.dummies.com/cheatsheet/electronics): Here you’ll find important formulas and other information you may want to refer to quickly and easily when you’re working with a circuit.
Online articles covering additional topics (www.dummies.com/extras/electronics): Discover how semiconductors conduct, find out what an oscilloscope is and how it is used, and get more information designed to enhance your knowledge and use of electronics.
Updates (www.dummies.com/extras/electronics): Go to this link to find any significate updates or corrections to the material in this book. (My editor made me add the part about corrections, but since I dun’t maek mistacks, they’re wont be any errata posted. By the weigh, do you want too by a bridge?)

Where to Go from Here

You can use this book in a number of ways. If you start at the beginning (a good place to start), you discover the basics of electronics, add to your knowledge one component at a time, and then put it all together by building projects in your fully outfitted electronics lab.

Or, if you’ve always been curious about, say, how transistors work, you can jump right into Chapter 10, find out about those amazing little three-legged components, and build a couple of transistor circuits. With a chapter each focused on resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits (ICs), you can direct your energy to a single chapter to master the component of your choice.

This book also serves as a useful reference, so when you start creating your own circuits, you can go back into the book to refresh your memory on a particular component or rule that governs circuits.

Here are my recommendations for good places to start in this book:

Chapter 1: Start here if you want to get introduced to three of the most important concepts in electronics: current, voltage, and power.
Chapter 3: Jump straight to this chapter if you’re anxious to build your first circuit, examine voltages and currents with your multimeter, and make power calculations.
Chapter 13: If you know you’ll be addicted to your electronics habit, start with Chapter 13 to find out how to set up your mad-scientist electronics lab, and then go back to the earlier chapters to find out how all the stuff you just bought works.

I hope you thoroughly enjoy the journey you are about to begin. Now, go forth, and explore!

Part 1

Fathoming the Fundamentals of Electronics

IN THIS PART …

Discovering what makes electronics so fascinating

Shopping for circuit components and tools

Experimenting with series and parallel circuits