Make Electronics Shopping List

elec_shopping_ch1.markdown

Chapter 1 Parts List

Tools

###Small pliers

RadioShack 4.5-inch mini long-nose pliers, part number 64-0062, or Xcelite 4-inch mini long-nose pliers, model L4G. Or similar. The brand is unimportant. After you use them for a while, you'll develop your own preferences. In particular, you have to decide whether you like spring-loaded handles. If you decide you don't, you'll need a second pair of pliers to pull the springs out of the first.

I have small pliers, probably okay.

###Wire cutters

RadioShack 4.5-inch mini diagonal cutters, part number 64-0061, or Stanley 7-inch model 84-108. Or similar. Use them for cutting copper wire, not harder metals.

I should have wire cutters

Multimeter

Extech model EX410 or BK Precision model 2704-B or Amprobe model 5XP-A. Or similar.

I have a multimeter

Supplies

Batteries

The batteries should be disposable alkaline, the cheapest available, because we may destroy some of them. You should absolutely not use rechargeable batteries in Experiments 1 and 2.

• 9-volt battery. Quantity: 1
• AA batteries, 1.5 volts each. Quantity: 6

Battery holders and connectors

• Snap connector for 9-volt battery, with wires attached (Figure 1-8). Quantity: 1 RadioShack part number 270-325 or similar. Any snap conector that has wires attached will do.

• Battery holder for single AA cell, with wires attached (Figure 1-9). Quantity: 1 RadioShack part number 270-401 or Mouser.com catalog number 12BH311A-GR, or similar; any single-battery holder that has thin wires atached will do.

• Battery holder for four AA cells, with wires attached (Figure 1-10). Quantity: 1 All Electronics catalog number BH-342 or RadioShack part 270-391 or similar. Also, one battery carrier to hold two AA cells, from the same sources.

Alligator clips

Vinyl-insulated. Quantity: at least 6 All Electronics catalog number ALG-28 or RadioShack part number 270-1545 or similar.

Components

Fuses

Automotive-style, mini-blade type, 3 amps. Quantity: 3 RadioShack part number 270-1089, or Bussmann part ATM-3, available from automotive parts suppliers such as AutoZone (Figure 1-12).

Or similar. A blade-type fuse is easier to grip with alligator clips than a round cartridge fuse.

Potentiometers

Panel-mount, single-turn, 2K linear, 0.1 watt minimum. Quantity: 2 Alpha part RV170F-10-15R1-B23 or BI Technologies part P160KNPD-2QC25B2K, from Mouser.com or other component suppliers (Figure 1-13).

Or similar. The "watt" rating tells you how much power this component can handle. You don't need more than 0.5 watts.

Resistors

Assortment 1/4-watt minimum, various values but must include 470 ohms, 1K, and 2K or 2.2K. Quantity: at least 100 RadioShack part number 271-312.

Or search eBay for "resistor assorted."

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs)

Any size or color (Figures 1-14 and 1-15). Quantity: 10 RadioShack part num- ber 276-1622 or All Spectrum Electronics part K/LED1 from Mouser.com.

Or similar. Just about any LEDs will do for these first experiments.

elec_shopping_ch2.markdown

Chapter 2 Parts List

Devices

Power supply/universal AC adapter

Power supply/universal AC adapter, 3 to 12 volts at 1A (1,000 mA). Part number 273-0316 from RadioShack, part PH-62092 by Philips, or similar.

Breadboard

Breadboard suitable for integrated circuits. Quantity: 1 See Figures 2-2 and 2-3. Part 276-002 from RadioShack, model 383-X1000 made by PSP, part 923252-I by 3M, or similar. A breadboard that has screw terminals mounted beside it will be a little easier to use but more expensive than one that does not have terminals.

Wire strippers

Ideal model 45-121 wire strippers for 16- to 26-gauge wire, or similar. (The "gauge" of the wire tells you how thick it is. A higher gauge means a thinner wire. In this book, we will mainly be using thin wire of 20- to 24-gauge.)

You may also consider the Kronus Automatic Wire Strippers, part 64- 0083 from RadioShack, or GB Automatic Wire Strippers, part SE-92 from Amazon.com.

The Kronus and GB wire strippers are functionally identical. The advantage of their design is that it enables you to strip insulation from a wire with one hand. But they do not work well on really thin wire.

Supplies

Hookup wire

Solid-conductor, 22-gauge, minimum 25 feet of each color. Part 278-1221 from RadioShack, catalog item 9948T17 from McMaster- Carr, or check eBay for deals.

It's easy to buy the wrong kind of wire. You need solid-core wire, which has a single conductor inside the plastic insulation, not stranded, which has multiple, thinner conductors. See Figures 2-7 and 2-8. You're going to be pushing wires into little holes in a "breadboard," and stranded wire won't let you do this. You will also have problems if you buy wire thicker than 22-gauge. Remember: the lower the gauge number, the thicker the wire.

For a little extra money, you can buy an assortment of precut sections of wire, with ends stripped and ready for use. Try catalog item JW-140 (jumper wire assortment) from All Electronics or search eBay for "breadboard wire."

Patch cords

Patch cords are not strictly necessary but very convenient. You don't want audio or video patch cords, which have a plug on each end; you want wires with alligator clips on each end, also sometimes referred to as "test leads." Try catalog item 461-1176-ND from Digi-Key or catalog item MTL- 10 from All Electronics.

Components

Pushbutton

Momentary-on, SPST, sometimes referred to as OFF-(ON) or (ON)-OFF type. Must be PCB- or PC-mount, meaning is extremely small with thin spiky contacts on the bottom. Quantity: 1.

Examples are part number AB11AP by NKK, part MPA103B04 by Alco- switch, or part EP11SD1CBE by C&K. If you have a choice, buy the cheapest, as we're going to switch very low current.

Switches

Toggle switch, single-pole, double-throw (SPDT), sometimes referred to as ON-ON type. Quantity: 2.

Model S302T-RO by NKK is ideal; it has screw terminals that will eliminate the need for alligator clips. Other options are catalog item MTS-4PC from All Electronics or part 275-603 from RadioShack.

We won't be switching large currents or high voltages, so the exact type of switch is unimportant. However, the terminals on larger-size switches are spaced wider apart, which makes them easier to deal with.

Relays

DPDT, nonlatching, 12v DC. Quantity: 2.

It's important to get the right kind of relay—one whose configuration matches the pictures I'll be using. Look for parts FTR-F1CA012V or FTR-F1CD012V by Fujitsu, G2RL-24-DC12 by Omron, or OMI-SH-212D by Tyco. Avoid substitutions.

Potentiometer

1 megohm linear potentiometer, Part number 271-211 from RadioShack, part number 24N-1M-15R-R from Jameco, or similar.

Transistors

NPN transistor, general-purpose, such as 2N2222 by STMicroelectronics, part PN2222 by Fairchild, or part 2N2222 from RadioShack. Quantity: 4.

2N6027 programmable unijunction transistor manufactured by On Semiconductor or Motorola. Quantity: 4 (allowing for 2 spares in case of damage).

Capacitors

Electrolytic capacitors, assorted. Must be rated for a minimum of 25 volts and include at least one capacitor of 1,000 μF (microfarads) and two capacitors of 2.2 μF. If you search on eBay, make sure you find electrolytic capacitors. If they're rated for higher voltages, that's OK, although they will be physically larger than you need.

Ceramic capacitors, assorted. Make sure you get at least one rated at 0.0047 μF (which can also be written as 4.7 nF).

Resistors

If you bought only a minimal selection for experiments 1 through 5, now's the time to buy a larger assortment, so that you won't be stuck needing the one value that you don't have. 1/4-watt minimum.

Loudspeaker

Any 8Ω, 1-inch miniature loudspeaker such as part 273-092 from RadioShack.

Thank you for this list! Very clean and good looking;