circuits

Weekend Projects – Game Show Buttons

Complete instructions for this Weekend Project can be found at http://makeprojects.com/Project/Game-Show-Buttons/1916.

In this project, taken from Charles Platt’s book Make: Electronics, we’re going to breadboard a fairly complex circuit using 555 timers and an “OR” logic gate.

Using these and some other, common components, we’ll create game show buttons. When one button is pressed, it automatically locks out the other one until the quizmaster flips a reset switch.

An “OR gate” is one of several types of basic logic gates. The logic of ORs are, as the name suggests, if input A or B is true (on), output X is true (on); thus, in this design, if either player presses their button, the circuit will go true (on), locking out the other push button, and can only be reset via the toggle switch. This circuit is ideal for two-person quiz contests!

“I’ll take ‘Cool Projects’ for 100, Alex!”

Continue Reading May 4th, 2012April 13th, 2015 Makemagazineuser

Weekend Projects – Solar Joule Bracelet

Complete instructions for this Weekend Projects can be found at
http://makeprojects.com/Project/Solar-Joule-Bracelet/22/1

The Solar Joule Bracelet combines two separate projects, a solar battery and a “joule thief,” to build a wearable circuit that powers an LED. Solar energy flows through the photodiodes, building up a supercapacitor, which essentially acts like a battery. This energy is then delivered to the joule thief, where oscillations eventually exceed the LED’s forward voltage, making it light up. Once fully charged, these oscillations will occur so fast that the LED will appear continuously bright, visible even during daytime!

Best of all, this circuit’s design allows you to install it where and how you wish!

Continue Reading May 4th, 2012April 13th, 2015 Makemagazineuser

Squishy Circuits – Sylvia’s Mini Maker Show

By Super Awesome Sylvia and her dad, James Are you curious about experimenting with electronics, but the fear of electric shock or soldering iron burns keep you away? Why not try squishy circuits! With a special recipe of food-safe, kitchen-made, pliable dough developed at the University of St. Thomas, kids of all ages can easily […]

Continue Reading January 17th, 2012 Techninja424

DIY Contact Mic – Collin’s Lab

It’s amazing what a little disk can do … when it’s layered with piezoelectric crystals. Piezo disks are impressively sensitive to vibration and can easily be adapted to work as a contact microphones. The trick is the preamp – a basic circuit used to match the piezo’s signal to levels compatible with modern audio gear inputs. The resulting piezo/preamp combo can be used for electrifying an acoustic guitar or simply exploring the lesser-heard world of small sound around us.

Continue Reading December 20th, 2011April 14th, 2015 Collin Cunningham1

Collin’s Lab: Schematics

http://bit.ly/uBjkMR
Schematics are the functional diagram of electronic circuits. With so many designs available on the web, understanding how to read schematics can unlock a world of possibilities for the electronics maker. In fact, if you can read a schematic, you can build a circuit before even understanding how it works!

Continue Reading November 15th, 2011October 14th, 2015 Collin Cunningham2

Circuit Skills: Infrared Light

http://wp.me/p1CIX9-udv

Infrared light may be invisible to the human eye – but it’s usefulness in the world of electronics is easy to see. IR emitters & detectors can be used in a variety of different ways – most of us use them for wireless communication everyday.

Continue Reading November 1st, 2011October 14th, 2015 Collin Cunningham