Make Electronics

Shopping List: Experiments 1 Through 5

4 Chapter 1

Battery holder for four AA cells, with wires attached (Figure 1-10). Quan-

tity: 1. All Electronics catalog number BH-342 or RadioShack part 270-

or similar.

Alligator clips

Vinyl-insulated. Quantity: at least 6. All Electronics catalog number ALG-

or RadioShack part number 270-1545 or similar (Figure 1-11).

Components

You may not know what some of these items are, or what they do. Just look

for the part numbers and descriptions, and match them with the photographs

shown here. Very quickly, in the learning by discovery process, all will be revealed.

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.

Figure 1-14. Typical 5-mm diameter light-

emitting diode (LED).

Figure 1-15. Jumbo-sized LED (1 cm

diameter) is not necessarily brighter or

more expensive. For most of the experi-

ments in this book, buy whatever LEDs

you like the look of.

Figure 1-10. Battery carrier for four AA
cells, to be installed in series, delivering 6
volts.

Figure 1-11. Alligator clips inside vinyl
sheaths, which reduce the chance of ac-
cidental short circuits.

Figure 1-12. A 3-amp fuse intended primar-
ily for automotive use, shown here larger
than actual size.

Figure 1-13. Potentiometers come in many
shapes and sizes, with different lengths of
shafts intended for different types of knobs.
For our purposes, any style will do, but the
larger-sized ones are easier to play with.