Electronics Projects for Dummies

Authors’ Acknowledgments
Contents at a Glance
Table of Contents
Introduction
	Why Buy This Book?
	Foolish Assumptions
	Safety, Safety, Safety!
	How This Book Is Organized
	Icons Used in This Book
Part I: Project Prep
	Chapter 1: Exploring the World of Electronics Projects
		What Is an Electronics Project, Anyway?
		Mixing and Matching Effects
		What Can You Do with Electronics Projects?
		What You Need to Get Started
	Chapter 2: Safety First
		Avoiding Shocks Like the Plague
		Protecting Electronic Components from Dreaded Static Discharge
		Working with the Tools of the Trade
		A Safe Workspace Is a Happy Workspace
	Chapter 3: Assembling Your Electronics Arsenal
		Tool Time
		Multimeter
		Components Primer
		The Nuts and Bolts of Building Materials
		Breadboard Basics
	Chapter 4: Running Down the Skills You Need
		It’s Symbolic: Reading a Schematic
		Breadboarding
		Soldering Your Circuit Board
		Measuring Stuff with a Multimeter
		Working with the Boxes that Contain Your Projects
Part II: Sounding Off!
	Chapter 5: Making Light Dance to the Music
		The Big Picture: Project Overview
		Scoping Out the Schematic
		Fancy Footwork: Exploring the Dance to the Music Circuit
		Building Alert: Construction Issues
		Perusing the Parts List
		Taking Things Step by Step
		Trying It Out
		Taking It Further
	Chapter 6: Focusing Sound with a Parabolic Microphone
		What a Dish! The Project Overview
		Scoping Out the Schematic
		Building Alert: Construction Issues
		Perusing the Parts List
		Taking Things Step by Step
		Trying It Out
		Taking It Further
	Chapter 7: Murmuring Merlin
		The Big Picture: Project Overview
		Scoping Out the Schematic
		Building Alert: Construction Issues
		Perusing the Parts List
		Taking Things Step by Step
		Trying It Out
		Taking It Further
	Chapter 8: Surfing the Airwaves
		The Big Picture: Project Overview
		Scoping Out the Schematic
		Building Alert: Construction Issues
		Perusing the Parts List
		Taking Things Step by Step
		Trying It Out
		Taking It Further
Part III: Let There Be Light
	Chapter 9: Scary Pumpkins
		The Big Picture: Project Overview
		Taking Things Step by Step
		Trying It Out
		Taking It Further
	Chapter 10: Dancing Dolphins
		The Big Picture: Project Overview
		Scoping Out the Schematic
		Building Alert: Construction Issues
		Perusing the Parts List
		Taking Things Step by Step
		Trying It Out
		Taking It Further
	Chapter 11: Controlling a Go-Kart, Infrared Style
		The Big Picture: Project Overview
		Scoping Out the Schematic
		Building Alert: Construction Issues
		Perusing the Parts List
		Taking Things Step by Step
		Trying It Out
		Taking It Further
Part IV: Good Vibrations
	Chapter 12: A Handy-Dandy Metal Detector
		The Big Picture: Project Overview
		Scoping Out the Schematic
		Building Alert: Construction Issues
		Perusing the Parts List
		Taking Things Step by Step
		Trying It Out
		Taking It Further
	Chapter 13: Sensitive Sam Walks the Line
		The Big Picture: Project Overview
		Scoping Out the Schematic
		Building Alert: Construction Issues
		Perusing the Parts List
		Taking Things Step by Step
		Trying It Out
		Taking It Further
	Chapter 14: Couch Pet-ato
		The Big Picture: Project Overview
		Scoping Out the Schematic
		Building Alert: Construction Issues
		Perusing the Parts List
		Taking Things Step by Step
		Trying It Out
		Taking It Further
Part V: The Part of Tens
	Chapter 15: Ten Great Parts Suppliers
		When Is a Supplier Right for You?
		Reynolds Electronics
		Hobby Engineering
		Jameco
		Digi-Key
		Mouser Electronics
		RadioShack
		Fry’s Electronics
		Electronic Goldmine
		Furturlec
		Maplin
	Chapter 16: Ten Great Electronics Resources
		Electronics Magazines
		Jumpstart Your Project Creativity with Circuits
		Web Sites That Teach You the Ropes
		Writing the Book on Electronics
	Chapter 17: Ten Specialized Electronics Resources
		Radio
		Audio and Music
		Robotics
Glossary
Index