The Electronics Hobbyist

The Arduino is based on the microcontrollers from Atmel. Here are current Arduinos available (the architecture is open source, and anyone can build their own “Arduino” based on the technical specs that are available for download from the official Arduino website).

• Duemilanove: “Duemilanove” means 2009 in Italian and is named after the year of its release. The Duemilanove is the latest in a series of USB Arduino boards. It is based on the ATmega328 and has 14 digital input/output pins (of which 6 can be used as PWM outputs) and 6 analog inputs.
• Mega: The Arduino Mega is based on the ATmega1280. It has 54 digital input/output pins (of which 14 can be used as PWM outputs) and 16 analog inputs.

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Schematic: A diagram of an electrical circuit that uses standardized symbols for the components.

Semiconductor: A material of electrical resistance between that of a conductor and an insulator. It is used to construct diodes, transistors, and integrated circuits.

Solder: A tin-lead alloy that becomes liquid when heated to above 360 degrees. It has low resistance, like other metals, and provides a strong mounting.

Switch: A device used to connect or disconnect the wires in an electric circuit, turning it on or off.

Transistor: A three-terminal, solid-state electronic device designed to amplify, oscillate, or switch the flow of current between two terminals.

Voltage: The measure of difference of electric potential across a material or between two points in a circuit.

Volts (V): The unit of measure for voltage.

Insulator: A material that has high electrical resistance and is therefore a poor conductor of electricity.

Integrated Circuit (IC): A type of digital circuit in which transistors, diodes, resistors and capacitors are constructed on a semiconductor base.

Light Emitting Diode (LED): A type of diode that generates light when current flows through it.

Ohm’s Law: The relationship between voltage, current and resistance.

Ohm (Ω): The unit of measure for resistance.

Printed Circuit Board (PCB): A board in which components are connected using a thin coat of conductive material “printed” on the board instead of wires. It is used for mounting electrical components.

Resistance: The electrical friction between an electric current and the material it is flowing through that causes electricity to be dissipated as heat.

Resistor: An electrical component used to introduce resistance into a circuit.

Digital Circuit: A circuit in which inputs and outputs have only two possible states: low (0) or high (1).

Diode: A two-terminal electronic device that allows current to flow in only one direction.

Direct Current (DC): Current that flows across a material in one direction only.

Disc Capacitor: A type of capacitor that has low capacitance and is used mostly in high frequency circuits. Disc capacitors are not polarized.

Electrolytic Capacitor: A type of capacitor that has high capacitance and is used mostly in low frequency circuits. Electrolytic capacitors are polarized.

Electronics: The science and technology concerned with and based on electricity and its applications.

Farad (F): The unit of measure for capacitance.

Ground: A common name for the reference point in an electrical circuit at which the measured voltage is taken to be zero.

Alternating Current (AC): Current that is periodically reversing its direction of flow.

Ampere (A): The unit of measure for electric current. Commonly shortened to “amp”.

Battery: A device which uses a chemical reaction to convert chemical energy directly into electrical energy.

Capacitance: A measure of the electric charge that can be stored on a conductor; the ability of such conductors to store electric charge.

Capacitor: An electrical component that introduces capacitance in electric circuits.

Conductor: A material that has low electrical resistance and can therefore efficiently allow electrical current to flow through it.

Current: A measure of the flow of electric charge passing any point of a wire per unit of time.

Surround yourself with all things electronics:

Books: hobby electronics books on Amazon.com

Magazines:

• MAKE Magazine
• Nuts and Volts
• Everyday Practical Electronics
• Circuit Cellar

Read up on electronics online:

• electronics2000.co.uk
• Hobby Projects
• Hobby DIY Garage

Find good sources of electronics parts and components:

There are plenty of reliable electronics supplies stores online such as Parts Express, Jameco Electronics and Little Bird Electronics. Also check out local junk yards and flea markets, and last but not the least, ebay.

Whether your interest in an electronics hobby stems from the desire to build your own gadgets or to modify existing electronics devices so they perform better – or at least differently – it is important that you take the best approach possible in order to get the most enjoyment from your hobby.

When you are first starting out you should put together a kit of essential tools. A simple kit should have the following set of basic, good quality tools:

• Wire cutter and stripper
• Soldering iron and solder
• Soldering iron stand (optional)
• Desoldering tool (optional)
• Pair of small pliers – long nose pliers
  
• Screwdrivers – small straight type and medium cross point type
• Test equipment – multimeter (optional)

If possible you should get a wooden board/bench to use as a dedicated work area.

For introductory courses on electronics as a hobby checkout the website below:
http://www.hobby-electronics.info/links/courses.php